​As I stated in the previous post, my son returned from his deployment  to Greece and arrived home on Christmas Eve.  Santa did me right!  Mostly just enjoying time together. One excursion we did was go to the VIRGINIA MILITARY AVIATION MUSEUM.  I have been here several times photographing the airshows.  They do a fabulous job and should your travel plans see you in the area the have a five collection of aircraft and indeed one of the best in World War One aircraft.  Check  their website for the air show callandar.

I filmed many of the airshows at the "museum"   Here is the World War I  film I did
several years ago, and  the one that's follows is WARBIRDS, many of which where filmed at 
VIRGINIA BEACH MILITARY AIR MUSEUM.  Enjoy.

it has been a wonderful trip.  The PW has been a joy to drive and live in for a month.   I shall depart for home on the first and will "coddiwomple".  I do have a final destination; however no idea of the route.

So with a full and happy belly, I continued Eastward.  Passing through West Virginia and into Pennsylvania; destination Lancaster.  Lived here for sixteen years.  I know the area well and below are photos of my favorite sites Do love the Amish farms.  Lots  of respect for the Amish folk.  America could learn a lot about their work ethic!

Lancaster County offers quite a bit of things to see and do -and great eats.  A drive through the farm lands is scenic  and peaceful.  For a more exciting adventure take a ride on the Strassburg Railroad.  Located only twenty minutes from downtown Lancaster you can take a trip back in time.  A time when the live - living - steam trains of yesteryear huffed and puffed through our land.  I love steam engines.  Great beasts that seem alive.  In the film below listen to the roar, the clanging, the whistle shattering the peace of the farm land; but oh so wonderful.

​Time to eat?   An icon of Amish buffets is  SHADY MAPLE.  Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Truly a cornucopia of foods.   Located a short (traffic permitting) drive from Lancaster in New Holland.

Video shot out my front window at TRINITY RANCH, Montana
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Good timing,  left Lancaster with a major storm coming up the Eastern Seaboard.   The rain hit around 6PM and was heavy.  Over 3 inches at Cape Charles where I was at Arlington Farms, a very pleasant HARVEST HOST.    Early morning around 0530 I crossed the Chesapeake Bay bridge in heavy rain and wind.   Just glad it was open.  Crossing was not an issue.  Amazed for some people will not cross it anytime.   Sure  saves time not having to drive through DC and deal with all that traffic too.


What an engineering  marvel .  Construction began in the early 1960's and was open to traffic in 1964.
Seventeen and a half  miles across the inlet sea.  The longest bridge of its type in the world.  Look up the history on the internet, a fascinating read.

The day prior to the crossing and before storm; spent a couple of hours looking for the wild horses
on Assateague  Island.   They were there but to far to photograph.  Had to leave because of the storm coming in.  Did see quite a bit of water fowl.  The light level was. so low had to use a high ISO, please forgive the grainy image plan on spending several days.
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Writing this post I am at my son's home in Virginia Beach.  And the joke of the Season is,  I have driven over 3,500 miles to spend Christmas with him and the evening I arrived, he was deployed to Greece the early morning  of the next day.   Hopefully will return Christmas Eve - perfect gift!  

Again wishing you all a very Merry Christmas
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Left Montana in early December for a trip to spend Christmas with my son in Virginia Beach and pick up a Honda CT125 in New Bern, NC.   Ct125's are had to find and was lucky to get one relatively close, only three hours south of Virginia Beach.   Looking forward to using this little bike for off road and well as putting the streets - beats walking!   

First thing first, forty minutes from the ranch stopped for lunch with Father Bart at Saint Anthony's Catholic Church  and to have the rig blessed.

I will not go into the Battle for we all know it.  I will say the "good" guys won; sadly to lose the war later.

​First night I overnighted on the Crow Reservation.

Day two the trek continued through the southern part of Montana and into Wyoming.  Winds were very strong with gust to 55.  The rig did notice the force; but held a reasonable path. 

My day started at ODark Thirty and drove into the early night.   Needed to get some miles under the tires.   The video below will make sense to you fellow pilots out there:

Not much to report on the dash across Country other then stayed at a couple of fine HARVEST HOSTS properties:   First on up was PALS located in North Platte, NE  Great selection of craft beer and a pretty good pizza too.   Be careful of directions by your GPS  turned me in the wrong direction; but the manager did i fine job getting me there.

Next stop was at the TUSC locationAN HILLS WINERY, Effingham, il.   Wonderfull and very convenient location.  Staff was also wonderful and very good wines

  Stopped at the AIR FORCE MUSEUM in Dayton, Ohio.  Been there many times.  Obviously an outstanding collection of t aircraft from the early days of flight right up to today.  if interested in aviation this is a must see.

Time for dinner; so off to a place I have visited many times.  Long history and great food!  SCHMIDTS SAUSAGE HAUS  in Columbus,Ohio.  Established in 1886 in what was the German  section of Columbus still owned by the family.

Dinner time and off to a wonderful establishment I have been to many times, SCHMIDT'S SAUSAGE HAUS.  Owned by the family since 1886 in what was then the German Town Columbus.  This historic restaurant offers  some of the finest german food and of course delightful sausage.... oh don't forget the Cream puffs and the Struddel!

This evening I had Sauerbraten accompanied by a great German beer  Weihenstehaner.  Prost!