Day 40 Sunday 10-17-15 Berea KY to Home.

We woke up to frost on the pumpkin!  We had to scrape the windshield. Burrrr! I guess it's getting to be that time of year. 

 

We are only about... 500 miles away from home. (sounds a bit like a country song).  We should be home late this afternoon or early evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The leaves are just starting to change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We encountered snow flurries as we came through the mountains near Cumberland MD.  This is to be expected.  We regularly watch Baltimore TV.  When the weatherman predicts the rest of Maryland to be sunny and mild there is usually the added disclaimer..."A possible 2 inches of snow in Allegany County". 

 

It's been a great trip.  Linda is a little (UNDERSTATEMENT)  upset with the driver since he committed himself to an obligation back home.  We really needed another two weeks to see the many things we missed.  Another lesson on why I need to learn to say NO! 

 

But we saw most of the major attractions, reunited with friends we haven't seen in years, saw lots of wildlife and enjoyed the diverse beauty that God has blessed this country with.  It is almost unbelievable that the only rain, during the daytime, was on the first day across PA.  The few night time showers did not affect our travels. 

 

Maybe some day we can take another road-trip and pick up where we left off.  (Linda says that trip will come out of my IRA; not hers.)

 

Just a quick review:

 

Length of trip: 40 Days.

Miles Driven: 8,496.

States: (18) PA, OH, IN, IL, WI, MN, SD, WY, CO, AZ, NM, TX, OK, AR, TN, KY, WV, MD.

Serious Arguments: None.

Days in jail: None.

Total fines: $0.00.

Fun Times: Innumerable!

Wildlife: Buffalo, Buffalo, more Buffalo, Elk, Prairie Dogs, Buffalo, Coyotes, Magpies, Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Wild Donkeys, Buffalo, Bear, Bald Eagles, Red Squirrels, Mountain Goats, Pronghorns, Kaibab Squirrels, oh,  and did I mention ... Buffalo.

 

Thanks for riding along. We enjoyed having you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 39 Saturday 10-16-15 Knoxville,TN to Berea, KY

We said our good byes to Bill and Pree just before noon.  We decided over lunch that we would drive through Somerset, KY just to see how much it has changed since 1981.

 

Our plan was to take US-27 north but GPS Jill insisted we take I-75.  We even put in an intersection that was no where near I-75 but she would not have any of it.  She took us on a circular scenic tour of Oak Ridge, TN that took about half an hour. Finally after much convincing she gave in and directed us to TN-61 where we caught US-27 in Wartburg. 

 

US-27 winds through the mountains and valleys of north central TN.  Linda said she really likes it here.  I told her it's like PA with a southern draw.  The terrain is very much like a few miles north of our home.  

 



Where we lived on Beechwood Drive

We found the house where we lived on Beechwood Drive and then stopped at the airport.  The airport has expanded some and there is now a terminal on the northeast corner.  But for the most part it looks the same.



Pat and Ray lived next door
(Day 2 & 3 of this trip)

 

 






The former Somerset Flying Service
hangar where I worked

While we were at the airport we saw a gyrocopter taxiing out.  It made two landings and then taxied by to the next hanger.  Linda and I walked over to take a look.

 

We joined I-75 at Mount Vernon and spent the night in Berea, KY.  Just across I-75 is a Cracker Barrel.  That sounded like a good way to end the day.