What fun! I was pulled back to my childhood with the Lionel trains and the real human-size cabooses, A long ago memory of living near the "chicken ladder" and the woods above the train tracks at Riverside Station. It also brought me back to riding the zorras with my friend Hernan in Argentina and camping in rainy weather inside the garage where the cars were stored. I ended up sleeping in an old bus reminiscent of "INTO THE WILD" but that's another story.
It was great to have Stan as a volunteer guide at the museum. His passion for the railroad truly shines through in his stories and his collections. What a treat!
Later when we returned to the house we were happily informed that we were in full flush mode and with ample hot water. JOY JOY. Living in antique buildings in Buenos Aires all this water stuff was not much of a inconvenience for me. I couldn't flush toilet paper in my last apartment and often pour water in pan fulls into the bowl to make waste go down. And let us not forget the first chapter of my book "Squatting Over a Bucket UNDER THE ARGENTINA MOON"(web page) - "Little Miss Sunshine Pees in a Bucket" (MP3). The necessity here was only temporary and added to the adventure tales of the road.
Monday was sunny, dry and in the low 70's which means for me PERFECT WEATHER. The night before I had coded my GPS with routes to the Kinzua Dam and to the RR Bridge (once named the 8th wonder of the world before 11 supports were toppled by a tornado). Sheila decided to play local tourist guide and we took her car instead. We had a gem of an afternoon learning more than from any tour book would cover. And it was super fun! I picked apples over the fence at the dam, we hiked around Rim Rock and we spat over the 8th Wonder of the World. It's ritual you know. How can you beat that?
We have been so fortunate to have such great hosts here in Bradford and I thank Drew (the CSer homeowner) for calling his house sitters to have them host us. It has been an wonderful experience. and it wasn't that easy to sit online today and map out routes and alternatives for Thursday morning. Alas, the journey must continue... Where to next? I am not exactly sure. We are taking it step by step and letting the angels guide us to more magical adventures...
"We are riding on a railroad, singing some else's song.
Forever standing by that crossroad, take a side and step along.
We are sailing away on a river to the sea. Maybe you and me can meet again."
On your way out west, there are lots of old trains you can ride...I lived in Rapid City , South Dakota for 5 years and took the old steam engine through the Black Hills. In California, Jamestown is a quaint little western town in the mountains had a steam engine that was used in many westerns...I hope you drive, or you'll miss so much, like the ruts from the wagon trains that went out west, still so deep, and Independence Rock where so many of the wagon train pioneers carved their names and dates they went out west into this huge boulder that stands in solitude against the vast plains....some of my favorite sights...the people connection to the past...As a military child and wife, I have been fortunate to live and travel all over the United States..I've been to every state but Alaska...The west has such a majestic beauty and wild untamed feel...I will look forward to following your adventures.
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