Westward Ho! Day one Wednesday 9-9-15

Just before 9AM the wheels on Twogether started to turn heading for the "Great Out West".

 

The first stop was in Carlisle, PA where Linda attended a meeting for the Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry.  She has been a part of the group for five months now.  

 

The Ministry was founded in 1985 when the Pennsylvania Council of Churches, along with local churches and individuals recognized the need for such a ministry. On November 18, 2009, it became an independent non-profit organization and in 2010 celebrated their 25th Anniversary of serving the Lord Jesus, the community and those that are just ‘passing through.’

 

The ministry needs your prayers; especially "Chaplin Dan", as he faces some serious health issues.  Chaplin Dan rotates through the three truck stops working from a trailer located at the Petro. He has served for eleven years as a source of comfort and inspiration for the 700 employees at the truck stops and the countless number of truckers that pass through every day.  A few months ago we spent part of a day with him and it was uplifting to see the many folks who would give him a shout, "Hi, Chaplin Dan. How are you doing today?"

 

Westbound entering Blue Mountain

Then it was time to head west on the PA Turnpike.  If you ever want to see the diversity of terrain in PA just follow the Turnpike from end to end.  You will see cities like Phila. and Pittsburgh,  the farms of Lancaster County, the Appalachian Mountains, The Cumberland Valley and the Laurel Highlands.  One neat part is the five tunnels on the Pike.   

 

The evening found us at the Madison-Pittsburgh KOA. Then a trip to Blairsville to visit with Corinne.  Before retiring Corinne served as the Volunteer Manager at Cross Keys Village (our home). Linda volunteered her data entry skills in the Volunteer Office.  They developed quite a friendship. The two were like teenagers again laughing and giggling the evening away.  Dummy me forgot to get to take pictures but, Linda caught the five deer in their front yard as we were leaving. 

 

We joined Corinne and her husband Vince at Poppa Sal's for dinner and we stuffed ourselves on their Italian cuisine.  So, while the girls giggled Vince and I spent our moments between bites discussing more important topics like, "wow this is really good Stromboli". 

 

After a great evening of visiting we headed back to the campsite and it started to rain.  What is it about rain on the roof that will put you to sleep so quickly?