Pennsylvania

So.... the RV is not fast!  The four hour trip for the first day ended up taking about 5 and half hours.  And in two days we've gone to Walmart twice!  Did anyone see the amount of stuff that we packed?!  And we need to shop, again?  :)

So we arrived in the Poconos at our first RV site after dark.  Brian did a great job of backing in the 33 foot RV, plus an additional 3 feet of bicycles, and learning how to hook this big rig up!  RV'ers are a great group of people-- two of the neighbors came to help and he made it through.  The kids were excited to all sleep together in the big bed over the driver's seat....meaning that no one went to sleep until midnight!

Day 2 involved one of the more bizarre places I have ever been, called Roadside America.

This place has not changed one bit since 1963- it's a miniature village, sit with trains, rivers, waterfalls, a coal mine, a 1880 village, and a 1950's town.  So that was cool...

I mean I like minurature stuff as much as the next person.  But then, it quickly got weird.  The demonstrate nighttime, by shutting off all the lights, and the whole thing is all lit up.  Then they begin to plan nationalist music, including an incredibly loud God Bless America.  They light up a full size flag, and they project a huge Jesus Christ on the wall.  Huh?

Simon points out there are lots of churches in this mini-world.  He's right.  And is it a wee bit racist?Oh yeah, definitely.  All white people in this huge scene.  Except of course for the glaring Native American village in the corner, who are coming down to attack the white people.  Sigh.  I decided this was an opportunity for more learning experiences.  Long discussions followed... after we made it through the proselytizing gift shop to leave!

Odd side journey, a stop at a sheepskin seller~  the owner was the designer.  He gave the kids strips of brushed sheepskin and taught them how to make them "dance."  That was cool.

Tonight we land close to Pittsburgh and we hit Falling Water, the Frank Lloyd Wright house, tomorrow for Father's Day.  The kids keep remarking that this is the best vacation ever, so we are still very happy with our choices.