Our first night as FULLTIMERS

 Over three hours, mostly in driving rain, can affect anyone's state of mind.  But for a rather new RVer, with three State Farm Insurance Claims under his belt in 6 months on the same vehicle, who never had an accident in his life before... Shouldn't I have been in tears???

No. Like the sun breaking over Mona's pic of a PA Army National Guard (Go Kaream DeWalt- just enlisted last week!!) vehicle in front of us near Fort Littleton on the PA Turnpike, all went well.

Even though as we pulled out after the AMAZING Hope Church sendoff we had to be waved down by Brother-in-law Larry Crum since I left the TOAD in park instead of neutral!  Imagine a couple of miles down the road we'd have seen sparks trailing in the rear views since the immovable tires would have burned off and the wheels would be getting filed down to the hubs as they left huge gouges in the macadam of rte 422!

Mona took us out on our maiden voyage and Prudence Zorilla found us parked in Buddies Nursery Lot in Exeter as I repaired a loose connection on the Patriot Robo-Brake system in the TOAD. Pablito yelled out the window, 'Hey Pastor Ken! Need a lift?"  I thank God I was actually fixing the thing and not making it worse or I might have said "YES".

But otherwise, clear, really, sailing. Even and maybe especially in the rain.  For we were finally above the traffic, together, and at times as we climbed into the Appalachians above the clouds as well.

We are sleeping tonight in the parking lot of Kantner, PA, UMC.  We are about 10 miles from the Flight 93 National Memorial. We will visit there tomorrow before continuing west into Ohio.

Such warm people here!  And their pastor is away at Annual Conference too.

It was a joy to get off the turnpike and drive a couple of dozen miles on old rte 30, the Lincoln Highway.  It's not much changed in Western PA from its original appearance when built in the early 20th century. Even in cloud and rain it is some beautiful country, just 20 miles south of Johnstown and about 30 west of Bedford. Green, rolling, curving, a motorcyclists dream.  And a road to go extra carefully upon when you are almost 20 tons on wheels. And people say I've LOST weight!

So the dishes are waiting my deft touch with a washcloth.  Mona is PJ'ed and in bed writing in her new journal from Lois Anderson.  And I will soon, hopefully, locate a likely UMC in Eastern Ohio about four drive hours west of here and near some prime historic site or library (for Mona's unique shopping needs).

Where will we be tomorrow?  Where will we end up?  Its all in God's hands.  See, all this change around us and nothing TRULY important has really changed at all!


-Ken

PS: Ahhhh.  The soft sound of a gentle rain falling on our new home roof.