August 29, 2009 . . .Funny how quickly you can pass through the states when you are on a mission. And we had a couple of them. We wanted to stop by in Pennsylvania to visit with the neighbor’s newlywed daughter and new husband (Melissa & Toby), wanted to meet up with Les’ boyhood friend, Mitch, in New York, and wanted to get home in time to get in the pre line up for the Walnut Valley Blue Grass Festival.
Didn’t stay long in Maine this time…. Hit Massachusetts about the time that Teddy Kennedy was being buried, then through Rhode Island, Connecticut, and into New York – all in one day. Now, I know we should have gone slower and seen some of the sights here, but for crying out loud, we were way into sensory overload!
We arrived in Mahopac, NY, and found our way to Mitch’s house – he wasn’t home, but we stuck around on the urging of their landlord. I was able to take some awesome pictures of this wonderful old place. What a surprise for Mitch, to come home after a day of golfing to find an old, old friend on his doorstep. Les and Mitch both got to introduce “new” wives and the four of us hit it off right away. (Les, Mitch and Connie call come from the same hometown, Russell, KS)
Wishing that we had made better plans and more time to stay, we made the best of the time we had, got a lot of visiting in the short time we had and we left the next day – didn’t get a real early start, had to get a little more visiting in, now didn’t we?
Scooting on down the road, we headed to Pennsylvania, lunched in New Jersey, and landed in Huntingdon, PA., where we stopped for the night at the park where Melissa and Toby are Rangers. We spent the afternoon touring the Lincoln Caverns. The afternoon was a beautiful sparkling day so the difference between the cool caverns and the sunlit wooded area around it was a welcome contrast. We met up with the newlyweds, visited with them in their home and then had dinner at one of their favorite hangouts. Melissa and Toby then took us out to see the sunset over the lake. We had a great time!
The next morning . . . we were on the road again. We drove through West Virginia and most of Ohio. Went through the Allegheny Tunnel – what a long hummer! We finally stopped for the night in Englewood, Ohio. 
Ah-h-h – September 3rd! It’s an important day to some of us. It took Les until the afternoon, after my sister, Sheila, called me to wish me Happy Birthday that he realized what day it was. We drove through Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, stopping at New Franklin, Missouri for the night. It seems that Boonesville, a little town just down the road from New Franklin, was having a little celebration with a parade and street vendors. I like to think they were having a birthday party for ME! So we went there, had a really nice dinner, walked around and enjoyed the celebration, Les bought me a music festival dress for my birthday) then went back to the campground and got ready for the pull into Wichita the next day.
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- Took the ferry from Yarmoth, Nova Scotia to Portland Maine. Maine to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York State, Tip of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and home in Kansas.
- Stoped in Mahopac N.Y. Had a good visit with Mitch and Connie. Mitch lived about a block away from me growing up in Russell Ks. Hadn't seen each other in about 40 years. Lots to catch up on.
- Stopped in Huntingdon Pa. Visited with Melissa and Toby. Went to a local Pub, a good time. She grew up as the neighbor in the next house North of us in Wichita.
- Got home, just in time to head to the Winfield Festival for pre line up.
- Next 2009 Winfield Festival, McPherson Highland Games, Guthrie Bluegrass Festival, and Wintering in Texas.
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