Fall 2023 Travels of John and Barb Freed
9.13.2023
Barb and I left Miami Beach, FL around 11:30 am, heading to St. Augustine, FL. We are celebrating our 17th Wedding Anniversary (September 10, 2006).
Our 2006 Wedding photo ST AUGUSTINE, FLORIDAHere are some of the photos we took before finally finding a place to eatthat had parking spaces available, Thanks for Cracker Barrel!!!  |
A Dolphin Mailbox and great house near the Lighthouse. |
The Lighthouse, close up
This house thinks its a Pirate Ship!!!
An Octagon House
on 9.14.2023 we traveled up the coast, mostly on I-95 to Florence, South Carolina. I did not take any photos here, but the La Quinta Inn & Suites was a great place to stay.
MECHANICSVILLE, MARYLAND
The next morning we headed out for Mechanicsville, Maryland to visit our pastor's Dad and Mom, Pat
and Christina Callahan. We also met their son Peter, his sister Elizabeth and her two boys.
Pat took Barb and I out to pick pears, tomatoes and would you believe Red Okra!
A blue-winged butterfly welcomed us!
The Guest House we stayed in.
Pat took a photo of us by one of his pear trees.
Pat points out the red okra to Barb.
A close up of the red okra.
Barb played on Christina's Baby Grand piano
Our Tour of Hershey's Chocolate World
WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA
We took a day of rest here, just to recover from a week of driving. Enjoyed our first day in an indoor heated pool, (Oh Yeah!!!).
Dinner with Chuck {Barb's Nephew}and Jamie Ellis.
We gave them our special RV pillows for the new 5th wheel unit.
We stopped in Canton, PA at Landans Fruit Stand, bought some apples and concord grapes.
One of the fellows that works there played the organ at Chuck and Jamie's wedding, 17 years ago. (they were married in October, 2006; Barb and John were married in September, 2006)
Neat, Huh?
This huge hotel/house was captured in a "drive by shooting" while sitting at a stop light.
John was just fascinated by the architecture.
Barb kept herself busy being sure that our gps system did not lead us astray.
John was up early the day we were leaving Williamsport, to do the laundry. This gave him time to work on his book: "from Bethlehem to Heaven's Gate".
On our way to Niagara Falls, NY, we were able to get a quick glimpse of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. We arrived in town 30 minutes after the park closed, so we settled for a drive through tour that was accessible.
A short video by Eric The Travel Guy
One of the Major Highlights of our journey:
Niagara Fall from the American Side
Barb took these four photos of the American Rapids, all from the American side of the falls.
Unlike the Canadian side, we were able to get front row seats right up to the river's edge.
Totally exhausted, I mean TOTALLY exhausted, we finally made it to our parking spot. Instead of the $20.00 spots closer to the falls, God gave us a $5.00 one in the parking lot of Twist of the Mist ice cream building about 2 blocks from from the entrance to the boardwalk. We walked well over 2 miles as the heat rose to over 75 degrees.
{Of course, we enjoyed a chocolate covered dipped vanilla cone}
This is a short video the the American rapids and the Falls from the American side. We were too exhausted to make the journey up the long ramp to the Observation Deck and we certainly could not have walked back down and then along the long bridge and walk way to the Horse Shoe Falls, {which can be seen in the background of some of the video scenes}.
Leaving Niagara Falls, our next adventure found us trying to find Brandywine Falls in the Cuyahoga National Park. The directions were not very clear, so after driving into the city of Cuyahoga Falls, looking for those falls, we were redirected back upstream to the parks visitor center. We acquired a park map and one of the lady rangers gave us directions to take this road, turn left, then turn right on that road, the left, then left and follow the signs. We finally found the parking lot for the falls, but had four different, not clearly marked trails. Soon a chap came walking up one of the trails, so we asked him and he said, "That one over there, I think. l have never been to the falls." We bravely headed toward our goal on what we hoped was a correct path. Finally we arrived to find the falls were not in full flow, but a strong trickle! With victory at our door step, we began our photography challenge, hence, the following photos.
The next day, we headed west to Robinson, IL to visit with my Cousin Charlie. Back in the mid 1980's John worked in the Robinson area in the oilfields as an Open Hole Logger for his uncle, Charlie's Dad.
This photo is of Charlie's tractor he has been repairing.
Our next goal was to get to the Oblong Oil Field Museum. We were not able to go inside because it closed at 5pm and we arrived at 5:30 pm, with just the right amount of sunlight to let me get some nice photos of the exterior items.
Shallow well pumpjack
Plus a short exterior video tour.
John's '86 FLOOD BOOK editor signing
HedgehogINK Bookstore, Ft. Scott, KS
COMING NEXT WEEK:
Our return to Branson, MO are where we live for 15 years.
Coming from the North into Branson you will see the 200 foot Cross.
This link will take you to the Easter video introducing the Cross.
At Friendly Baptist Church, in Branson, Barb played several specials:
Because He Lives
To God Be The Glory (My Tribute)
John and Barb on the Branson's Scenic Railway's Polar Express
a few years back
We have enjoyed many rides on the Scenic Railway:
Barb and her sister Susan worked on their first CD together.
This link will take you to all of their current CDs so you can listen to their instrumental music on your phone, tablet or desktop for FREE.
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