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Tuesday, September 19, 2000

After breakfast and a leisurely start to the day, we headed off on a hike to check out the rest of the park, as well as the rental cabins. They were all very nice, and of course by now I've forgotten which actual numbers we liked best. We pulled out of Hills Creek State Park at 1:10pm and headed to the town of Wellsboro, PA, for a bite at the cute WELLSBORO DINER, in operation since the 1930's I believe. Mary had cream of cauliflower soup, followed by chocolate cream pie and coffee. Caryn had a roast beef sandwich, and mashed potatoes, both smothered in gravy, followed up with Mounds pie, which she said was lacking in the chocolate area, but when mixed with Mary's chocolate cream pie, was “pretty good”. By this time it was drizzling, so we had a quick walk around town, and decided to drive the 12 miles to the “Grand Canyon of PA”. Well, we failed to see the attraction, as it was more of a valley with trees than any type of canyon. By now it was late in the day, and we're filled with disappointment, over the overly hyped Grand Canyon of PA. We hop on the highway, and head toward Ohio. We decide to camp at ***** State Park, but as we pull in, the air is filled with flying white particles, which I'm sure have to be traveling spores from some type of plant. Upon closer inspection, we discover that they're bugs, flying white bugs, about the size of a piece of rice. We decide this isn't for us, and head back to the highway.
(***** no, the name wasn't omitted to protect the buggy, but my map is in the car, and I‘m to lazy to go down and look it up.)

Around 9 pm we pulled into the Colonial Motel in Mercer PA. Another great hotel for $30, thanks to the green coupie book, and it has “Magic Fingers”. After traveling the 7 miles from the highway, and finding a great old, well kept motel, Caryn admitted that she was feeling a bit skeptical on the dark drive there. We happily schlepped our bags inside, and made a peanut butter sandwich for dinner. After that, we drop a quarter in the machine, and enjoy 15 minutes of shiatsu magic.

Wednesday morning, up and at ‘em, a few quick photos of the great bathroom fixtures at the Colonial, and we're on the road. We didn't get far before we had to pull over for a quick pic of some pumpkins. A few blocks father, it was a giant plastic chicken that hailed us, and we're out, snapping again. Back in the Eurovan, pointed toward Jackson Center Ohio, home of the american classic, the AIRSTREAM. We need to be there by 2 pm Thursday, for a factory tour.

Hours of cornfields, then we make a stop at what we think is the grocery store. Well, Mejier isn't your average grocery store, it's like a Target Store, and grocery store all in one. A not so quick browse, and we head off toward Indian Lake State Park, even though the weather isn't cooperating. We've driven thru some pretty bad rain during the afternoon, but the sun has reappeared. We arrive at the park, and its's WINDY!!! We drive around checking things out, and decide this is the home of white trash camping. Lots of RV's and pavement, very little nature. We go to the office, to get some info, and to enquire about the weather. Severe thunderstorm warnings are posted, although not for this specific county. When the national weather service guy mentions hail, we decide we have nothing to prove, and head for a hotel in Botkins, OH, which is advertised at $29, and owned by a Vietnan vet. Caryn goes into the office, but is told the $29 queen rooms are sold out. They have a King room for us, that costs $32 w/ our AAA discount, and includes hot breakfast at the restaurant. We take it.

Just as we finish unloading the car, the rain comes, along w/ thunder and lightning. We don our raincoats, and dash across the street to the A&W, where Caryn has a chicken sandwich, and Mary has a burger. We shared a Root Beer float, w/ diet root beer of course. After dinner, a quick perusal of the attached Foodzi Mart, the most well stocked convenience store we've seen, with fresh fruit and meat. Then it's back to the room to dry off, and watch TV. We see reports of tornadoes that have wiped out the town of Xina, OH. We're glad we passed on the camping for tonight. Mary makes Jiffy Pop in the van, to snack on while waching TV.

It's time to get some sleep before the big day at Airstream. Thursday we're up early, anxious to get to that free hot breakfast that only gets served until 8:30 am. Botkins, OH is just a stopover spot on highway I-75, not a destination in itself, so most of the folks at the hotel are on the road early. We both enjoy pancakes and bacon, as well as coffee and juice. Back in the room packing up, we decide that after the 2 pm Airstream tour, it's too late to travel very far, then find a campground, so we opt for another day at the Budget Host, and another free breakfast on Friday. We leave the hotel at 12 noon, anxious for the Airstream tour. We arrive in Jackson Center by 12:20, and finish cruising the town by 12:24. We found a nice town park, and decided to whip up a quick lunch of macaroni and cheese, accompanied by broccoli. It was a delicious lunch, and a beautiful day. We head over to Airstream, thinking they'll laugh at us for being so early. We enter the building, and discover the lounge, that looks like an oversized living room, complete w/ sofas and comfy chairs, and many folks apparently as anxious for the tour as we are. Half an hour later, we don our safety glasses, and the tour begins!!!!

We see the furniture shop, the sewing shop, we even see an 800 lb tile floor which will be installed in one of those monstrous motor homes. But the best is yet to come. We see the silver beauties, in each stage of production. We see the Alcoa aluminum being bent, the white roofs being riveted, windows installed, carpeting and wall coverings going on. By the end of 2 hours, we can pick out a 25' trailer from a 27'. Everyone loves the BAMBI, at 19 feet and $26,000 the baby of the fleet. Many of the other tourists are anxious to see the 39' trailer with a pullout. Obviously these people have either more money, or loftier dreams than we.

At the end of the tour, our guide invites us to have some coffee or hot chocolate and cookies. We're on an Airstream High! We worship Wally Byam (the inventor). We flock to the Airsteam store, and purchase not one, but two books on Airstreams. We decide we'll name our first Airstream Stella, for Wally Byams wife. We leave the factory, jonesin' for silver. We hop in the Eurovan, and head down the highway 30 miles to the nearest dealer, who has a 1972 airstream for sale, that was listed on ebay, and didn't sell. We take a look, acting like interested buyers, checking cabinets, floor rot, and lighting fixtures. The salesman soon tires of us, and leaves us alone. Like kids in a candy store, we proceed to trapse thru each used campers on the lot, and finish off with a few new airstreams, including the Bambi.

A beautiful afternoon well spent.

We head back to the hotel, and share a grilled chicken dinner at the attached restaurant, then over to A&W for a hot fudge sundae.

On to Chapter Three!