Gettysburg Battlefields & Shawnee State Park, PA

We decided to join the Liberty Bell Tearjerkers (Pennsylvania chapter) for our first outing of 2016.  Prior to meeting up with them at Shawnee State Park we went to Gettysburg and visited the battlefields.  We discovered it really takes more than a couple of days to see it all! 

Mark & President Lincoln outside the Visitor Center

I don't know where you go to get into this little car tour, but next time
we go to Gettysburg I am going to find out!

Not sure why, but I was fascinated with the cannons. They are pretty
much in the same position as during the battle.

The view from Little Round Top

Moon over camp fire - Shawnee State Park

The moon was really beautiful that night. 

From Shawnee State Park we ventured out to do a tour of the covered bridges of Bedford.  The following are just a few that we visited.

Outing #8

Adventure Dates: July 14-18, 2016
Trip Miles: 1134
Trip Nights: 4

Total Miles: 13,715
Total Nights: 28

Upstate New York

Our last outing of the 2015 teardropping season was to upstate New York where we got to spend some time with family.  First was a visit to my brother and his wife in Canastota. We stayed in the teardrop as their guest room was not set up for visitors, which was fine with us as we try to add up those nights in the teardrop.  

David & Maryclare's chickens. A friendly bunch. 

We visited an apple farm/winery. Very picturesque!

David & Maryclare and a whole lotta pumpkins!

Our next stop was camping with our nephew and his wife near Ithaca
at Robert Treman state park. Mark at the gate. 

It was our coldest camp out of the season and probably the coldest to date,
as of October 2017. There is a teardrop among all the canopies.

The colors in upstate New York in autumn are phenomenal!

Some of the colors along our trail as we hiked

This tree appeared to be lit from within when the sun hit it!

Our hike up and back down the river. 

The trail was beautiful and well maintained,

with long stretches of stairs...

which proved to be too much for our old Bailey,
so Mark carried her. 

The pools and falls all along the river were spectacular!

The very young and the very old, cuddled up for warmth!

Near the trail's end, where it loops back down
the other side of the river.

Falls at the swimming area.

Through a box canyon, just breathtaking!

The women and dogs waiting for the men to come to the top end of the trail
with the car. We just couldn't ask Bailey to go any further.

Beer stops were mandatory with the nephew & wife.

We went to Cooperstown and drank beer but didn't see the
baseball hall of fame?

Beer flights.  Probably pretty tasty for those that like beer.

Jasmine & Wander-Inn

We followed Dan & Athena to their home after camping.
The moon was awesome that night.

Athena & Dan, (and Princess WinterSpringSummerFall)
home sweet home. Our last night out
before heading home ourselves. 

Outing #7

Adventure Dates: October 22-26, 2015
Trip Miles: 1638
Trip Nights: 4

Total Miles:12581
Total Nights: 24

Amana Colonies & LeClair, Iowa

I wanted to share our new Wander-Inn adventuring with my daughter, Alyssa.  We decided on a trip north/east to the Amana Colonies.  My brief visit earlier in the summer was calling me back.  The down side of this trip was it was a long road trip with too much to see for the short time we had available. 

Still on the road at sunset, accented by bug schmear

Our campsite. The canopy blew over (and away) at night and we couldn't fold the
side tent back up. We were pretty lame campers!

We must be elegant!  Wander-Inn's theme colors and the amazing
Princess WinterSpringSummerFall aka "Winnie"

The very entertaining owner of this quaint little coffee shop in Le Clair, IA.
Sad that I don't have more photos of Le Clair from this trip.

Flowers in the Amana Colonies

Interestingly there are a lot of wineries or tasting rooms
in the Amana Colonies. Nice!

Some of our favorites for around the campfire.

We built the fire, but I pooped out before wine time.  

Wander-Inn Stats:

Adventure Dates: August 21-23, 2015
Trip Miles: 1059
Trip Nights 2

Total Miles: 9650
Total Nights: 18

Wandering Around Oregon (Oregon or Bust: Part 2)

After a kick-back day of no road travel, Krissy & I headed to Portland, Oregon to grab Mark from the airport and then head to Madras, Oregon. The wedding was to take place in a couple of days, but guests were encouraged to arrive early and play.

Not too rough of a river, but it did have its moments.

About 1/4 of the wedding guests who went rafting.

"Playing" included river rafting on the Deschutes.

Desert nights are a cool contrast to the days.

Bonfires & Singing.

Was it the Yucca Yucca game?

Drinking Games.

Of course the next day was all about the wedding.  And of course the celebration!

My brother, sister-in-law & niece.

The bride & groom

I have to include a photo of the man who married them.

Day three of the wedding festivities we were fed an awesome breakfast prepared by the Reverend and his wife. Before I say goodbye to Madras, I have to share the view.

There's a lot of foreground in this photo, but look at those mountains!

Mt. Hood from the bride & groom's home.

We then hit the road for Medford.

Spelunkers, Mark & Krissy

Along the way we stopped to explore a lava tube cave near the Lava Butte.

While Krissy had to go back to work, Mark & I explored a little of southern Oregon.

I just can't imagine this was once a mountain!

We drove to Crater Lake, another fond childhood memory. Then Mark took Wander-Inn and went fishing for two days. 

Is that a Trout Slayer beer?

The Mightly Umpqua

The Bounty!

 Then off to see the Redwoods and the Pacific Ocean.

Krissy in the Redwoods

Battery Point Lighthouse in Crescent City, California

Enjoying the beach in Brookings, Oregon

The time came when we had to say goodbye to Krissy and Oregon and head north.  We took our time and incorporated a side trip to Mount St. Helens.  As a Washington native I had never visited the site of our active volcano. Shame on me! 

We camped at the Silver Lake Resort.

Mount St. Helen 35 years later.

We ended finally in Seattle where Mark & I parted ways.  He took Wander-Inn and headed east for Kentucky and I hung out with my niece and her husband and Krissy joined us for the 4th of July.

Our new group, aka "The Betsys"

That's it for my part of this cross country trip with Wander-Inn.  As soon as I can steal some photos from Mark, I'll try to blog his leg of the journey home to Kentucky.

Next: Part 3, Mark's trip home