Some Canadians Drive to Disney for an Adventure: Pennsylvania Cabela's and Cracker Barrel

First of all, we arrived early early morning to the Petersheim and made ourselves at home in their motor home. How wonderful it was to sleep and not think about checking out and traveling more the next day. The wind and the rain had taken it's toll and we were tired. It was wonderful to wake up to the sound of their chickens pecking around in the grass near the camper! Just like the ranch in BC!

Due to the obvious fact that we were having fun, we didn't keep as good of records as I would have hoped, but even though I may get some of the days mixed up...these things did it fact HAPPEN!
So.... no further delays...

Secondly, we learned that Reading is pronounced RED ing, not READ ing.
Reading PA was first home to early polish steel factories, etc. It is now more Hispanic and the area we saw had these brick style row houses everywhere. Lots of beautiful architecture that is "common" to them and very unusual in Manitoba Canada.

One building was a high school but looked like it could have been one of our parliament buildings!

Our general impression was how funny the city roads and city planning was. Guess it had been mainly horse and buggy trails, so roads will literately go right up to someone's door and weave around the house.

Speed limits are also not reduced very much in residential areas like in Canada.

We were told that Reading has the best welfare program, low income assistance, so that is why it is so populated in the area we were in.

We also noticed a lack of "old beater" vehicles but were told they have rust and emission inspections.
When we went into the little Bible book store, I felt right at home. Lots of Rod & Staff books and books by Mennonites with hand drawn pictures, etc.

Weds, april 30th
Renita pulled kids from school, which we hadn't realized how big of a deal that was for them. They rarely miss a day and this one they missed birthday cake for one of their teachers. Talk about feeling special!

Row houses in Reading, PA

Fairview Christian school was an old sewing factory at one time. The school had done a good job at renovating it to meet some new standards, but we couldn't help but think how it would have probably been condemned in Manitoba. There was still plenty of life left in this building and they had a cafeteria, gym area, classrooms, etc. We found ourselves a bit envious.

The ACE school that our friends children go to

A very similar set up to how I was schooled from grade 2-4

Mei found an almost identical purse for Chrissy ~ twins!

2nd hand store had lots of dresses, all sewn in the same pattern but with different material $13.

Stickers! Just like the little craft in town when Kate was little. Some were identical to those she used to buy with her shiny little quarter I gave her each time we went.

The next day we decided to go to Cabela's and then off to Hershey, PA to the chocolate, chocolate, chocolate factory! We could be thankful for the rain, as that meant that Daryl could move some things around at work and join us at Cabela's...a nice manly place to visit with someone you just met. The store we went to was in Hamburg and the website is HERE if you want to click on it.

Oh the penny squishers!

How can it be that you can meet someone and within half an hour you can feel like you've known each other all your lives? The Petersheim family has been blessed with the gift of hospitality, compassion and humor. We instantly felt at home.

Huge fish tanks on either side of the tunnel ~ made for some fun fish viewing. Some kinds that we had never seen before either. Some were more interesting than others too!

They have displays of the "Dangerous Five" animals, as well as many others. All in "natural" type poses that were very well done. Shopping at this store was a main event in itself!

Steve & Bertha meet a long lost relative

Old friends who are really not that old!

Our girls, approximately the same age we were when we last saw each other.
Hopefully these two will see each other more often than that!

These two had fun telling some hunting stories. The favorite was the kicking turkey one ...hee hee

Thiessen and Petersheim Families

Waiting ... giggling... waiting...

Lazy campers

Had some fun playing the shooting games, Duck Dynasty style

The trophy wall

I was pretty excited to buy a Thermarest mattress for camping.

Gone are the days of lying on blankets in a tent!

Some were more lazy than others.

A great marks woman

Playing games on the ride home

Cracker Barrel is an awesome little franchise in the US. I remember going here with my volunteer group to Kentucky in 1992 and also with our Grad Trip. They have the same little peg triangle toys to amuse yourself while you wait. The covered veranda in the front displays rocking chairs that you can purchase, etc. The gift store area is also a feast for the eyes and stomach. We purchased a Willow Tree ornament here for Renita and her girls as well as some hard candy sticks and souvenirs. Check out their website HERE to see what we were raving about.

They bring your fresh biscuits and corn bread while you wait.

We asked how they met...that explains the smiles

Cracker Barrel Sampler Plate

A very filling and home cooked meal here costs approximately $9 US. Gregg tried the fried okra and orange pecan catfish with a baked sweet potato. I went with the sampler. We decided we had to go again at least once before we got home to Canada. Jo had the sampler ~chicken and dumplings, meat loaf, ham , broccoli/carrots, green beans, fried apple $9.