August 2, Toronto Ontario to Wellsburough PA

Early in the morning off, because another long days’ driving.  This time we need to cross back into the U.S.  We were able to do this in Niagara Falls with only a ten-minute wait when crossing the Rainbow Bridge, just downstream from the falls.  This gave us the chance to run around on the American Falls side.  Beautiful again?  You guessed it.  Pretty much any angle you can see and experience this falls, it is wonderful. 

From the American side, there are a couple of islands that are accessible, so you can get right to the lip of the falls form that side.  Powerful, strong, beautiful.  More photos!  Getting wet again.  Really a nice way to round out our Niagara experience.

Then we moved into a cross-country drive (literally, we were really driving through the COUNTY) through New York and Pennsylvania off to spend the night with dear old friends Gere, Betty, and Rowan.  They live in the lovely country of Northern Pennsylvania. 

While we waited in town for Gere to come guide us the last couple of miles in, we got to walk around the town square and see some great statutes, including one of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod (from the Eugene Field poem).  There was also a monument to Civil War soldiers from this area.  In the end, it is all about the Civil War wherever we go.  Okay, maybe not quite, but close.

The home they live in in is really interesting.  It was once a quilt shop and an ice cream and soda fountain.  They changed it into a home, but the fountain is still the centerpiece of their kitchen.  It took some creative furniture arranging, but it is a really amazing home.

Gere is Secretary of the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, a very important and influential position.  His work takes him around the world.  We got to catch up on all he was doing, as well as the rest of the family and tell them tales of our travels.  One of the new interests that daughter Rowan has is being a beekeeper.  She has a hive and is quickly learning the ins and outs of bees.  She was a wealth of information.

We got to go on a little trip to The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.  A really pretty and very green tree-filled canyon area.  Gorgeous!  We soaked in the green, knowing that much of the rest of the country is in a drought.

On the way home, we stopped and all pitched in the to pick blueberries which were so ripe for the picking.  Of course, you have to eat a few as you are picking!

A lovely dinner was served, by kerosene lantern, and we talked late into the night.