Sunday

Sunday morning things are pretty quiet - but we found the hudson museum was open. It was on the list of possible sights to see - but neither of us had been really interested... luckily we stumbled across it as we headed out and found it was open and decided to visit.



There were a lot of hudsons. All well displayed, chronologically, in a bright imaculate room - each car had a placard describing the model, the specs, its cost, what made it unique as well contextual information about the history of the time. Occasionally details about the history of the car that was on display and its own history.



that funky windshield was on a speedster - i forget the top speed but it seemed really fast for the time!

These spots were in addition to the headlights - the chrome work and details were impressive.







the simplicity of some of these cars was striking - and since so much of the functional components were exposed it was fascinating to see how they were both functional and designed to be visually appealing.


Check out the details in this supercharger on a really early hudson

And the engine its supplying.
dual carbs...


Martha took a ton of great photos - i'll probobly edit this post later and add more of them

First day in Indiana

Our plans near elkheart were to see the quilt gardens and murals as well as see some fairs....

the largest fair was in Nappannee and so we headed down... discovered we were on the parade route with most of those 25,000 amish folks staring at us as we drove by (we took the smart car - lots of double takes). ... and we decided to head out to the airport where part of the fair was to be held, but we were to ealry. By this time the parade route was closing so we decided to cruise to another fair. Along the way we saw a sign for a russion orthodox church fair....several large country blocks and twists a turns we were at a tiny church with a great little fair.

The kids put on a traditional dances - the church itself was bright and colorful, full of icons and images... no photos of it though...seemed disrespectful to photograph inside

Stopped in at the RV "hall of fame"... a museum of RVs. There were some interesting RVs but the presentation and selection was a cross between marketing and ...

The creation above is a one off homebuilt RV - not really representative of anything although it was unique. I waited for a salesman to show up to make the sale, didn't happen though.

In the afternoon we looked for Garden Quilts...and found one of the in a garden being built in a public water supply "well head" field.

And further up the road we found one in a commercial nursery - which also had some really interesting models of houses and water towers - not sure what the scale was - but the were big!

Travel to Indiana

Arrived at what is undoubtedly the most rural of B and B's we've ever stayed in, a farm surrounded by farms. The cattle above graze alongside the drive way, up behind the barn and over behind the pond. Its working farm - with corn, cattle and the B&B. Oh - and Phil (not me..the patriarch of the farm) cuts hair as well. Its big B and B - two houses, neither of them old, both built to be used as B and Bs- but very pleasant. Great people. Good food. Great location.
Did i mention this is amish country? Some 25,000 live in the area and Martha has decided she's found her new mode of transportation....

Lots of the supermarkets/businesses have a fence to one side of the parkingn lot for hitching the horses. Images like the one above not uncommon at all.

We stay

Grand Rapids 1876

Before leaving Grand Rapids we crossed the river to visit a park which, along with hiking and biking trails ,has a portion of the Miami and Erie Canal that connected Toledo to Cinncinati in the 1800sIt includes one of the origonal locks which have been restored and are functioning using the origonal "wicket gates" installed in the rebuilt wooden gates. For a few bucks you can ride a canal boat pulled by mules down the canal - through the locks and back. Next to the lock is an old mill which was used to saw wood on the first floor and mill grain on the second....and generate electricity. The restored mill is still functional using the water from the canal for power, sawing wood and creating flour. The metal structure you may have noticed above the canal is a railroad trestle completed in 1876.

Canal traffic was in decline by then although it still existed and thats why 1876 is chosen as the year that is recreated - the structures all existed then - ignoring the semi's on the state highway that runs immediatly next to portions of the canal!

Grand Rapids - Ohio

Stayed the evening in the mill house B&B that had oriogonally been a mill and sits, as a mill would, directly next to the river. In the seventies it had been restored - essentially gutted to the brick walls and timber frame and rebuilt as a residence and B&B.

Interestingly the woman who led its restoration then sold it and rebuilt the building across the street as a B&B as well. Apparrently she then was involved in the restoration of the entire main st in this little village. Its really a pretty place.

Behind the establishments is a canal and river walk ....

With views of the river like this....

Did i mention that the b&b's other sideline is fresh scones? the lightest tastiest scones i think i've ever eaten.

Day 2 - Travel Day

A very pleasant stay at a B & B adjacent to Bloomburg University. And adjacent to the volunteer fire dept's siren which was really really loud - but only once! A great breakfast, and then a travel day. I've never seen so many triples - FedEx and UPS rigs in particular.

Day 1.5

We ran across town to take in the anthrocite museum and coal mine tour - missed the last tour by a couple of minutes but took in the museum. Anthrocite is "hard coal" - almost %100 fuel, little of no material to create soot when burning - unlike dirty soft coal.

Initally roads were so bad the sleds were used in the winter to move cargo since the snow was a better surface...

To transport the coal they initially hauled it down to the river(s) built wooden barges and drifted down stream ...but it was a one way trip - no way to return the barge which would be sold for lumber once emptied of coal. Overtime gravity railways were built to get the coal to off the mountains down to the valley and then railroad companies sprung up to replace the barges. The two industries grew together - the railroads enabling the coal market to grow and the anthracite coal allowing the local Lacawanna line to market its passenger line with a model wearign a white - the coal being so clean the ladies would be able to travel in their white dress

You EEs will appreciate this - the first electric "mule" used to pull out coal.

and the motor...

So far i haven't ended up in any emergency rooms this trip - if so hopefullythey've advanced beyond this.

Phil & Martha's Infinite Road Trip - Day One

First stop - Steam town National Park - Scranton PA. The photo above is of a "Big B0y" the largest and most powerful steam locomotive built....both the leading and trailing sets of four wheels are articulated to accomadate its length.

I love old mechanisms and big and old are even better... Check out the scale of the gears for the crane above

There is plenty of rolling stock in various states of repair - including abut a half dozen being displayed as they are restored in the roundhouse including this one from NH.
A great shot of the roundhouse turntable. (Did i mention Martha took all these?)

I guess a fitting image to finish this post with is with the technolgy that spelled the end of steam power....