If you ever have the opportunity to take a trip using Google Maps with 'Avoid Highways' I highly recommend it. There's a whole world out there of tiny towns that seem to be stuck in time, bucolic rolling hills dotted with ancient family farms and giant silos, and relics of a bygone era. Today's drive north with it's twists and turns and ups and downs was much like the valley parts of the BRP but much more enjoyable since we didn't have to play frogger with any hoards of anemic looking cyclists. I swear we saw more people on bicycles on the BRP than in cars! Early in the day we even got the opportunity to witness a huge bald eagle swoop down no more than 20ft in front of us to pick up a large carcass of roadkill. You just don't see that on the interstate. We're all always so hellbent on the destination that we have forgotten the joy of the journey. We even discovered the answer to a question I've wondered about all my life...What does Santa do for 11 months of the year when he's not busy with Christmas? We found him working as a flagger on a road work crew in Maryland. And he still looked extremely jolly.
In a little over 3 hours we arrived at our first destination, Flight 93 Memorial. The first thing you see as you enter the park is awe inspiring. It's called The Tower of Voices and it contains 40 chimes to represent the 40 souls lost on Flight 93. It's a marvel of a mesh of science and music theory encased in a concrete tower created by a virtuoso. If you'd like to read more about its creation click here Tower-of-Voices . Since this is a National Park, the next stop is the Welcome Center which was designed to represent the flight path of Flight 93 in it's final seconds with massive concrete walls. The visitor center features a permanent exhibition that focuses on the Flight 93 story within the context of the larger terrorist attack. It's a self guided experience around artifacts, multi-media, and inter-active exhibits, that begin early on the morning of September 11, 2001. The exhibit recounts the story of the passengers and crew members and describes the response and investigation following the crash. The debris field and a wall of names are also on site to view. This is a definite must see, folks. It's near Shanksville PA.
If, as a child, you've ever traveled on a family vacation with a sibling you may be familiar with a game called Punch Buggy. It was a game whereby who ever spotted a Volkswagen Bug first would punch their seat mate in the arm and yell Punch Buggy. It was usually a good distraction for at least 50 miles, until someone started crying or a real fight broke out, whichever came first. Well MTC and I have devised a variation of this game for adults of a red persuasion. No, we leave the punching part out because we're like old fruit and easily bruised. Our version doesn't involve Volkswagens either since they're no longer easily recognizable. Our version uses Trump campaign signs, some of which are handmade. If we were trading punches we'd have been black and blue in a short amount of time. Of course, there were no signs on the BRP or Skyline Drive as they are Federal Land. But every time we detoured and ever since we completely departed those roads we rarely travel over 30 minutes before one of us yells "Trump!" In addition to all the pre-printed lawn signs and flags we've seen hand painted banners on buildings, cars, tractor trailers parked at the edge of fields and farm equipment. I should rename this blog a tour of Trump Country. Some have even changed the year to read 2024. One can only hope.
Of course the biggest highlight for me was reaching Pittsburgh. I haven't seen my younger sister, brother and sister in law since the wedding in Myrtle Beach SC on Memorial Day Weekend 2019. Although we'll only be here 2 nights, which means we'll only have tomorrow to visit, I am extremely grateful for this opportunity. My sister couldn't wait until tomorrow. She swung by the hotel to visit me this evening for a couple hours. Tomorrow we'll all get together at my brother's for a cookout in the town where I was raised, Aliquippa PA.
And with that my friends I'll bid you adieu because even if it's not a travel day I still have to get up and make coffee and MTC is an early riser.
4 comments:
I lol’ed at the “bruised fruit” statement. Hubby & Michael were playing with the remote control trucks & I had to read aloud to them because they wanted to know what turned my tickle box over.
I lol’ed at the “bruised fruit” statement. Hubby & Michael were playing with the remote control trucks & I had to read aloud to them because they wanted to know what turned my tickle box over.
I lol’ed at the “bruised fruit” statement. Hubby & Michael were playing with the remote control trucks & I had to read aloud to them because they wanted to know what turned my tickle box over.
We, my husband and I and later our son, traveled a lot off the interstate. You do get to see so many things you’d miss on the interstate. Glad you got to see your family in Pittsburgh which I grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.
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