50 States, Day 121

Day 121, Jefferson, Ohio to Lebanon, Pennsylvania.  384 Miles
"The same days that I don't make people laugh, are the same days I don't sell
anything either."
~John Yates



Today brought a couple of firsts. We folded up our tent in a rain squall. Never done that before, and it wasn't much fun, folding the top down and a stream of water flows into the window. Off we went into the wet. Fortunately, we dressed appropriately, QG in rain gear and me in leather jacket and (PP!) Gerbing pants. What do you know, we stayed dry and warm.
Just like the Doppler radar showed (what is a 'Doppler' anyway?), we rode out of the rain, albeit slowly. Mr. Sun struggled to make an appearance and after all day, finally broke through.



You read the miles correctly today. We set a record! Because QG is jonesing to get going in Pennsylvania, we needed to get to Hersheyville and tour from there.  Pennsylvania means 'Penn's woods' and it shows. To these desert rats, the green woods stretch and roll over hill and dale for seemingly endless miles. The only thing breaking up the fabulous green is the Sumac trees, the first leaves showing their red fall colors.



Late afternoon we rolled into Hersey, Pennsylvania. Disappointment! People say the town smells like chocolate, but nothing. In fact, QG pointed out it smelled like what makes the milk in milk chocolate. Yep. Dairy cows.
The town was pretty as a postcard. They must have a (shudder) citywide homeowners association or something. Poor people. But for us tourists, a feast for the eyes. And the kisses-topped street lights were a nice touch.



Using a high tech iPad and GoogleMaps, we got lost finding the Thousand Trails. Rechecking the address and locating a road that disappeared, we rolled into the campground after dark, and performed the other first of the trip, we set up in the dark. The tent dripped water everywhere, the floor soaked. Counterintuitively, we put the heater on and dried it out, even though it's in the low eighties.
I get a feeling it won't be the last time we break camp in the rain or set up in the dark.
Tomorrow, with a bit of sun and dry, we should be dried out. We'll tour
Hershey, PA and hopefully find out where the smell (the good one) originates.





7 comments:

Anonymous said...

TAke many chocolate laden deep breaths for me-after the chocolate has taken over from the raw product source.

Unknown said...

They moved the factory, so no chocolate smell! I was desperate, so I Had to EAT chocolate all day. It worked pretty good. Sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes.

Unknown said...

They moved the factory, so no chocolate smell! I was desperate, so I Had to EAT chocolate all day. It worked pretty good. Sometimes you just have to do whatever it takes.

Mel Nason said...

Your last two comments sound rather redundant, Kevin. Your last two comments sound rather redundant, Kevin.

Unknown said...

I'm claiming Parkinson's and a touch screen I'm claiming Parkinson's and a touch screen.

Tim Rockstar said...

Doppler is short for Doppleganger. It is the paranormal double of a living person, with opposite characteristics. In this case the doppler radar is the opposite of the weatherman. The weatherman is wrong, the doppler is right.

Unknown said...

If the weatherman is wrong and the Doppler is right, then who is left? I guess we're left to guess what the weather will be... right?