Apples and Cider and Cool Temps...Oh my!!

What a marvelous time of year to be in such a lovely area.  We thoroughly enjoyed our Open Range Owners Forum Rally in Lancaster, Pa.

Lots to do in the area. New friends made and old friends to catch up with. Found a new love.....Apple Peach Cider.  Refreshing!!

On Saturday morning while at the OROF Rally at Old Mill Stream Resort in Lancaster, Pa, we witnessed a creative marketing technique.

The wagon arrived loaded with fresh baked pies, cookies, etc.  The Amish driver grabbed a hand bell and began ringing the announcement that he had arrived and the campers flocked to the wagon.  I was on my way to the pavilion for our morning gathering.  On my way back to my rig, the wagon was looking pretty empty.  Guess it was a good day for sales.  His shelves emptied quickly.


When we departed Pennsylvania,  we traveled south to Winchester, Va with my sister and brother-in-law to soak up some Civil War History, visit some apple orchards and play a few games of Pegs and Jokers.  This house known as Abram's Delight survived 5 generations.  It was interesting that the house contents were sold at auction.  When the house became a museum in later years, they used the excellent records from the auction to contact the owners of the items from the house.  Many items were donated back to the museum.

We parted ways with my sister this morning as they are heading on a two day travel trip heading for Florida.  Roger and I are enjoying the Shenandoah Valley. 

Today we toured Luray Cavern.

The cavern was awesome but the tour guide left much room for improvement.  She was young and very scripted....boring....and she didn't have the maturity or enough experience to deal with some of our fellow tourists.  Now I'm all for taking pictures but.....at the first awesome site it was photo time....first the kids with the neat background, then the parents, then mom with the kids, then Dad with the kids, then the oldest girl by herself.  At the second delightful site, the whole picture taking process was repeated, and at the third, and the fourth..........and needless to say, they weren't keeping up with the group so we all kept waiting for them to catch up.  And waiting for them, and waiting for them.   Now seeing as they were collecting photo memories, the couple with the selfie stick had to take their time capturing their numerous shots as well, waiting until everyone was out of the way so they could be the only people in the shots.  Our guide finally radioed for backup and another young, inexperienced gal arrived to 'bring up the rear.  Our pace didn't improve.  Finally, a gentleman wearing a security shirt arrived but by then we were finally near the end of our long, drawn out experience.  Of course we were thanked for our patience but REALLY!!!!  Some people are so inconsiderate.  They just ignored the repeated requests to stay together and comments from fellow tourists and 'did their own thing'.  Needless to say, our group threw off the timing for the following groups. 

Now the question is, will we remember Luray Caverns for the spectacular views of nature's work or the inconsiderate people who caused us to experience the caverns at a torturous pace?

Our ticket to the caverns also included entrance to a car museum and collection of historic items used by our fore fathers in an olden days village format....blacksmith shop, farmhouse, etc

The cars were early 1900's mostly from the teens and twenties and all restored to shining glory.  Quite an interesting collection....and we saw them at a very comfortable pace...as it was a self tour.  No waiting for inconsiderate, self centered people.  (sorry...couldn't resist)

 

Yesterday, we visited the Virginia Museum of the Civil War.  Personally, it is not as well done as others we have visited.  The movie of the reenactment was okay and shared the battles in the area.  The other displays consisted of plaques that shared the same battle info.  The highlight for us...and we just happen to be there on the right day, as it is considered a special event....was the musicians who were at the farmhouse on the property.  There were all in period dress and willing to entertain with old time tunes on a fretless banjo, guitar and fiddle.  

The trip to Luray Caverns from our campground in New Market took us over some roads with gorgeous views.  I kept trying to picture the green mountainside as it will appear in a few weeks...loaded down with color as the leaves begin to change from summer green to colorful autumn tones.  The second week in October has been slated for peak color viewing.  We are just a tad early.  Oh well, maybe we'll find some color in Tennessee in October???

Sharon