My blog is back 2

Reading back I reclaimed my blog but then put it away again as the earlier reasins I stopped continued to sting. I have realized that I need to start again and this time I will not let it down . My blog has missed alot including some great trips and most importantly the addition of a family member- Beth  a perfect 3 year old chihuahua who thinks the sun rises and sets with Paul. Yes , a daddy's girl . So come join me and follow our adventures in life!

The Night Before

Well we decided over dinner we will leave on vacation two days early! Bear and Beth know something is up, they are very excited. I am as ready as I will ever be. Notebook is full, piles of printouts and plans too. Reservations all made, clothes ready, so why not! Lets go! I am so excited to get to New Orleans and of course Cocoa Beach. We will also be visiting Homosassa which we love . Its going to be hard to sleep!!!!!

MY blog is back

My blog was fun for me but for a few reasons it became unfun. I let someone take the joy out of my blog. Its been a long time now and you know what? I want my blog back. I miss my blog. I am taking ownership of my blog and I am not going to let anyone make it unfun. There. I said it, I am doing it. I feel better already! Blog on!!! Many things have happened, changes made. Ready?

Geocaching at Split Rock

We had to go out to Split Rock Resort in Lake Harmony area early this morning so I thought we could also grab two caches we have not looked for yet. After stopping at Wawa for our morning coffee and to chat with the girls there, we entered the resort, paying our one dollar toll, (yes they charge a dollar to enter the 'resort') and heading off to park at the tennis courts. We saw a beautiful tiny fawn with its mommy about a block in from the toll booth.

After fawn gazing we parked, fired up the Garmin and walked along the courts. We found the cache easily, although Paul ws the one who had to stick his arm elbow deep into a stump. Next up, Welcome To Split Rock.

We drove to where there was to be a dirt parking area, but on arriving there was a rough older pickup truck parked there with the windows half down and alot of wetness inside the windows. It was obvious someone was sleeping in it, which is kind of odd in this resort area. Maybe I watch to much tv but it creeped me out. Paul on the other hand was fine with it so we decided to stick with the plan and find us a cache! It is really pretty here, there is even an observation deck with a great view of distant mouontains. There is also "Split Rock". The actual Split Rock is  a large outcrop of red sandstone and  was the result of the last ice sheet, known as the Wisconsin Glaciation . It is a beautiful reminder of how incredible nature is. Well having enjoyed the sights, we headed off down a small trail into the woods and up across the rocks. At first I carried Bear out of fear of ticks, but it was hard to hold him and climb rocks so he did get to play mountain goat. Paul led the way, far ahead while Bear scampered along and I eventually brought up the rear. As we searched, lady luck struck for me and I happened to turn around and glance at a spot we had already looked in but noticed a glint. There it was! Signed log, recorded find and back down the rocks we went, happy for another smiley in our list!

Visiting a Natural Gas Drilling Operation

Yesterday morning dispatch called and asked if we could help out and make a quick run out to Trout Run PA to deliver some freight to a natural gas drilling site. We have been under the weather all week but wanted to help so we said yes. I am glad we did- it was interesting! We drove to Pocono, picked up the truck, got it loaded and started out on our two and a half hour drive to Trout Run PA. Trout Run is a bit north of Williamsport PA, in Lycoming County. It was an easy drive out there, although we were hurrying as there was a snowstorm coming that evening. Once we turned off the highway, the drive became very scenic. Down through wooded valleys, then climbing into the mountains. We found our drill site located off of a dirt road- not really what we had expected. When we pulled off the dirt road next to a trailer (RV type) a young man came out with a clipboard. He was very nice, took our names, had us sign in and took the trucks number and license plate info. He told us to follow the dirt road up the hill, so we did - coming upon a large clearing lined with RV campers on two sides, woods on one side, and a large drilling platform against a huge agricultural type field on the last side. We parked and went into the first trailer (it seemed the most likely candidate to be an office) and gave our paperwork. A large forklift was sent out to unload us, a process that took about an hour. I asked the man inside if they lived nearby and he told me they live on site. They are there 24/7 in their RVs. Most have family far away- his was in Louisiana. It reminded me of the old traveling circuses. They finished the offload, we closed up the doors and headed back home- leaving this camp of gas drillers on the cold snowy mountain.

Jim Thorpe Lehigh Gorge Train Excursion

Our friends Cari and Eric are in the Poconos this weekend with their kids and we all wanted to do something fun and outdoorsey on this beautiful fall day. Cari suggested the train ride through Lehigh Gorge that leaves (and returns to) Jim Thorpe. We decided to meet for the one o'clock departure. I went online to see what was in store for us and quickly noticed that pets were welcome on the train! Wonderful news as we try and take Bear everywhere we go!!

We arrived about noon, parked in the large community parking area , bought our tickets, shared a hot dog, and wandered the small park in front of the train station while we waited for the boarding whistle. I love Jim Thorpe- it is an absolutely adorable town. The town has been called the "Switzerland of America" due it's the beautiful scenery, mountainous location,and vast range of architectural styles: Federalist, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque. OK, back to the train...

By the time our friends arrived our coach was full so they had to sit in the next coach back. By the time the train pulled out the tickets had nearly sold out and all four coaches were full. The man across the aisle from us worked as our excursion tour guide and as we rode along he explained what we saw and gave us a bit of history about the area. He also made friends with Bear during his breaks. Bear seemed to enjoy the trip also, alternating between watching the scenery out the window and people watching on our coach. We passed many familiar spots in Lehigh Gorge- places we have spent happy hours geocaching. The mountains still had some leaf color, the sun shone, we spotted rafters, yakkers, hikers and bikers all enjoying this beautiful Saturday. The trip lasted about an hour and afterward we went to Antonio's for a slice of pizza. Antonio's is a favorite but we also noticed Pepper Jacks- a mexican restaurant that we will plan on coming back to for dinner. We walked up to the old prison, back down Broadway and along Race Street enjoying the myriad of interesting shops windows before heading for the car and journeying home. It was a great way to spend a beautiful fall day!

Pawtucket Rhode Island

This morning, (Columbus Day) we left home early and started the five and a half hour trip to Warwick RI. We are delivering to Pawtucket on Tuesday morning and wanted to enjoy a leisurely holiday ride through the foliage. The weather channel promised leaves were peaking on our route however they were a bit mistaken as the leaves at home in PA were the prettiest we saw! Alot of the trip was still green. Traffice was very light and the ride was fun- to change it up a bit we took I84 to 9 to I95. We briefly considered hitting Mohegan Sun but decided against it. We arrived at LaQuinta Warwick, where we stay in this state, settled in and played with Bear until suppertime. We even found a life sized moose for a Bear photo op!

Soon it was dinner time and dinner in Warwick can only mean Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse, a short walk from the motel. We knew in advance what we thought we would have, however when we arrived the special appetizer was bbq chicken nachos (good bye crab cake). We had also planned on trout for supper, until we caught wind of the mixed seafood special (bye bye trout). The special was called Seafood Trio: Crab stuffed haddock, cedar plank stuffed shrimp and a seared crab cake all served over a bed of wild rice! Plus a Bugaboo Wedge Salad. Oh my! I am embarrassed to admit we also ordered (to go) one slice of cheesecake covered in wild Maine blueberries. The portions were huge so I took most of my stuffed haddock back to the motel for Bears's supper. Back to the motel where we are now. All in all a very nice Columbus Day holiday for us!