Travel Log, Day one

Quilt shop at Penn Alps

 I've been back for a couple of days now after Ward and I spent a five days travelling around West Virginia and Maryland. The laundry was done and the suitcases were put away just in time to return to work. As I was trying to catch up on the outside work, a thunderstorm drove me inside.  So there's time to give you an update of our travels.

The overall goal of the trip was to visit with family--mostly cousins. While not everyone felt up to a visit, we had a great time with the cousins we were able to see. I don't remember the last time, if ever, I got to spend extended time with them. Ward enjoyed himself and was finally able to remember who was who. I have 23 first cousins on this side and when you add in spouses and kids, it is a pretty big group. Of course, he has met them over the years, but usually in a big chaotic group. He especially enjoyed getting to know them better.

The first day, we drove 5 hours to our destination in West Virginia. We stopped midway in Maryland to have lunch at the Penn Alps Restaurant and associated Spruce Forest. The area has artisans and craftsmen demonstrating their crafts in log cabins, many which were moved there from other sites. After a delicious lunch (actually in an uncrowded restaurant!), we wondered about the Spruce Forest. However, we didn't see many spruce trees. A linear tornado came through April 5 of this year and took down many of the trees and damaged buildings. They are trying to regroup, but still have a lot of uncertainties of how they are going to proceed. However, we didn't see how things were before, so we enjoyed wandering around the buildings and talking with crafts people. 

Here are a few pictures from our stop.

One of the damaged buildings. Some buildings were totally destroyed, and the old church across the street was condemned because it had been knocked off its foundation.

Also, in the village was the Yoder History House.
This was a replica of the Yoder family house from the mid 1700s.

The house is set up for a self-guided tour, but we were the only ones visiting,
so we got a personal tour from the guide there that day.

The village is along the Castleman River where George Washington with British General Braddock crossed on their way to Fort Duquesne in Pittsburgh. That is where Braddock's Defeat happened when fighting the French and Indian War.

Later, in 1813 this bridge was built at Washington's crossing. They built a high arch so boats could go under in anticipation of expanding the C and O Canal to this area. The Canal never made it this far, but the tall-arched bridge is still standing and ready. 

After we arrived, we saw family, but I am saving those pictures for just family. However, let's just say that it was good to see people after not being able to travel for over a year. 

Day Two coming soon.