"GOING UP THE COUNTRY"

"I'm goin' up the country, baby don't you want to go?"

Actually we have been moving south. Here's a quick-ish recap as we have been active and I have been crashing early at night from just being happy tired. Happy tired is good. It means that you had a full good day.

 

Thursday we arrived in Hollidaysburg, PA, a short stone throw from Altoona. We had the privilege of staying as complimentary couchsurfing guests at the Allegheny Street Bed and Breakfast in a historical section of town. Richard and Jyoti were gracious hosts. We were met with tea in the parlor.

The family was busy but both hosts carved out chat time with us. We learned where to walk to discover more of the town by foot. What a lovely break from driving and what a beautiful treat. We were originally to stay two nights at the B&B with the possibility of the second being moved to the workshops and using sleeping bags. College football did fill the house up and instead of moving to the workshop I called the next host we were to visit and got the go ahead to arrive a day early.

Onward to Wheeling, WV and Mike and Betsy. I can't say enough about the welcome we received here. We pulled in around 4:30, unloaded the car and we all enjoyed a nice cold much needed beer on the front porch and then a barbeque in the back. The following day Betsy headed off to a week long kayak trip with the gals and Mike toured us all over the place.

(Below are paper gems found in the back garage.)

 

We checked out historic markers, hiked up the hill to the first Jewish Cemetery in the area, all around downtown to see the antique buildings, the suspension bridge and then if that wasn't enough he brought us to a green filled haven, Oglebay Park.





This place is immense and immensely beautiful. Mike's father was the naturalist there in the 50's.) Google photos. Mine do not do it justice. If I lived in the area I would be there everyday.

Later I thought, "Let's make dinner easy." We headed over to a nearby watering hole for a few brews and bar sandwiches. The sky opened up as we left. Rain was coming down in buckets. Some people arriving at the bar as we were leaving heard that we were travelers and just handed us their collapsable umbrella. They insisted that we take it. As for me I took off my sneakers, nestled them and my purse under my shirt and walked the three blocks back to the house getting soaked. It was the course of least resistance. Herding three under one small umbrella wasn't worth the frustration. I needed to get back, get dry and go to bed. The days are getting shorter even though we are a bit more south than where we began. The temperatures are dropping at night and the season is changing. And so am I.

That's it for now. the sun is emerging. But I did have to add this one more photo just because I like it. An image from downtown wheeling, WV.

Oink!