It finally happened; the leaves turned! Weeks of waiting in anxious anticipation, Mother Nature presented a beautiful gift. I noticed the leaves in their full fall glory as I was driving North in Pennsylvania to visit the Kinzua Bridge State Park. Ive excited to see a solo ash tree turn yellow or an occasional dogwood or sumac have red tips on the top of the luscious green bounty. The rustle of green, yellow, and brown leaves when the fall winds blew brought on the familiar back to school, fall, home feeling. I knew it any time now. Campsites filled up, more and more RVs were on the roads, and I met many people at touristy stops stating that they to were here for leaf peeping. I had first read this phrase on a brochure I gathered at a Visitors stop when entering Maine. I used it on a local once they laughed stating I could make that a thing. Well, it already is a thing and printed thousands and thousands of times for tourists like me.
involved. Timing and weather are the primary ones. As I was driving to Pennsylvanias Kinzua Bridge State Park to walk on the skywalk bridgeit happened. Just like that! I drove down a road lined by beautiful trees in every variance of fall colors, multiple shades on a single tree. The wind fallen leaves swirled around the road as each car passed through. Loose leaves cascaded down streams of water and gathered on the sides of tree bases, rocks or any other type of obstacle. I was beaming! I have seen pictures, heard stories, but the experience of seeing this in person really took my breath away. I am a peeper and proud of it!
Arriving at the Kinzua Bridge, I hiked up and down the canyon where the bridge had collapsed (please research the story on this bridge, very interesting). Seeing, touching the twisted metal was very surreal. I was cold, wearing shorts (I need to do laundry), the wind was blowing and recent temperatures varied from low of 20s and high of mid 40s. After the hike I purchased an elk burger with fries and ate it FAST. The cold wind was cooling my hot meal quickly. After
falling asleep twice not feeling my toes and waking up with ice on my car, I had to head south quickly. Maine and Pennsylvania have been two of my favorite places and there is so much to see and do, but this camper cant take it any longer. For the next two days I drove a constant 5 MPH over the speed limit south. I spent a little time in West Virginia, hiking at some falls in Virginia, camped and hiked in the Carolinas, but there wasnt much to say about them. I certainly didnt give them a chance and hope to visit again in the future. I finally slowed down in Appling Georgia where it is 80s in the day time at night. I sleep so well, I couldnt tell you the temperature. I am again wearing tank tops, shorts and sandals.
Along the way l was still checking off most of my itinerary list such as Punxsutawney PA (Groundhog day movie location), hiking popular falls along my route, I skipped any caverns due to the coldness. I have been dispersed camping for two a half months, living off of oatmeal, fruit, salads, soups, sandwiches and
occasional local treats. Finding camps, setting up camp, always keeping ice in the cooler, gas in the tank, I feel good overall. I will soon be meeting up with my husband Don in Florida and I think I am just anxious to get there and spend time with him. This has been a fun, incredible, learning journey that I am so thankful for. I thank you for following along with me. I have made this blog public now so anyone can view it. Feel free to share it with anyone you think would be interested.
