Aug 26, 2014

– Today was a driving trip from Cooperstown, NY, to Hershey, PA.  We stopped in Oneonta, NY. 

 
 

 

 
Once again, the buildings were beautiful and I found a few shops that had cute items.  I asked how they pronounced the town – it is One-on-ta.  Little different than in the south.  As we passed the Pennsylvania state sign we pulled into the welcome center and saw a beautiful wall carving (not a painting.) 

 

 
Later we talked to Brooks.  He was one his way to Birmingham for therapy and volunteered that he was “on yellow” at school.  He explained he was “on yellow” for jumping in the bathroom!  I told Stacey that was "a boy" and she said that "was Brooks."  I asked Stacey about Ally (who was picking her up from school and getting her to dance lessons.)  She told me that Melissa Glaze is taking care of Ally – Kevin is on travel.  Stacey sure is lucky to have good, caring, Christian friends. 

August 25, 2014

Cooperstown, NY – home of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.  This was a full day of TOUR.  We started with looking at the Baseball field where the Hall of Fame baseball game was played several years ago. 

The town was celebrating 75 years of the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

 

 

The museum was wonderful. 

 

 I believe you could stay in there for two or three days and still not see everything.  Some of the highlights for us were the emphasis on Jackie Robinson and the fact that his number (42) has been permanently retired for ALL of Major League baseball. 

Of course we were interested in the players that we knew something about such as Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Ted Williams. 

 

 

 

James looked for the plaque recognizing Harmon Killabrew since he was able to get his autograph a few years ago. 

We were surprised to see Pete Rose's jersey displayed in one of the cases.  We quickly learned that the displays were not just Hall of Fame members and were rotated throughout the year. 

 

We also saw a baseball signed by Cal Ripkin, Jr. which was for sale.  The price tag was $329.  WOW!  Stacey obtained one of these for each of DeLyn’s boys several years ago.  DeLyn assured me they are in the SAFE! 

 Leaving Cooperstown we drove to Cooperstown Dream Park (often called the field of dreams). 

 

This complex was built by a man who loved baseball and loved children.  This Complex allows children to spend a week in dorms and play baseball tournaments.  All teams dress in red, white and blue.  Riley played there when he was 12 year old and each player on the team received a ring at the end of the tournament.  Riley thinks it is one of the best experiences he ever had.  The complex is wonderful. 

 

Even the seating for fans is unusual – it appears to be an extension of the dug-outs. 

 

 

Great place.  As we were leaving, heading toward Pennsylvania, we noticed the color on the mountain side. 

 This has been a great trip.  James talked to our neighbor, Joe Brooks.  Joe said it had rained all around us but no rain for us.  Looks like everything will be “burned up” when we get home.  

Aug 24, 2014

– We got up early and actually made the 9:30 church service.  The pastor preached a very good sermon and we left shortly thereafter to make a quick tour of Bennington.  There was a tall memorial that we could see in the distance and we drove there to find it was a memorial to a battle there during the revolutionary war. 

 We found The Old Church which was designated as the first church in Vermont dedicated to separation of church and state. 

 

There were many gravesites in their cemetery which were pre-Revolutionary War.  Probably the most famous gravesite was that of Robert Frost, a wonderful poet.   

 

 

 

 

 

Our next stop in Bennington was the “service station” recommended by Bobby Austin.  This was great!  The station itself is wonderful with 50’s booths and signs of 100s of gasoline and cars. 

 

Then we found the really great part of this “service station.”  This is the home of Hemmings News and they have a collection of vintage vehicles.  This collection is open for free admission.  We thoroughly enjoyed the tour. 

 
 

 
 

 

Leaving Bennington we decided to go to Albany, the capital of New York.  Again the city had beautiful, old buildings. 

 
 

We found the building we thought would be the capital - it wasn't.  It was the University of New York - but sure was beautiful. 

 

 

Then we found the capital which did not look like a “capital” building. 

  Leaving there we headed toward Cooperstown, NY, where Riley Camp (DeLyn’s youngest) had played baseball a few years ago.  Along the way we saw some sites that reminded us of the type you see around North Alabama – HA! 

 Before we got to Cooperstown, Riley called.  He was on his way back to school.  He is going to Southern Union Community College in Wadley, AL (near Auburn.)  He has a baseball scholarship and seems to really like being there.  I know his mom is beginning to realize how empty the house can be. 

August 23, 2014

Got up early this morning with intentions to “ride by” the Vermont state capital in Montpelier, VT.  We made a couple of quick pictures outside our hotel with the “bears” of the area.

 

 

It is a beautiful capital and the flowers are beautiful also. 

As we were on the front steps we noticed a statue of Ethan Allen.  The only thing I knew about Ethan Allen was that there is a furniture store chain with that name.  We learned that he is much respected in Vermont for having led one of the main battles in the Revolutionary War.

 Although we did not plan a tour, the doors opened and a very nice, knowledgeable gentleman invited us in for a tour.  We wound up being there over an hour but it was well worth it. 

First we learned how to pronounce Montpelier – it is pronounced Mont-peal- le-er.  We learned that legislature representatives and senators in Vermont are paid only $600 a year because they want a “citizens” legislature.  They still have manual voting for/against laws and there is no automation of any kind in the senate or representative meeting rooms.  There were portraits of prior governors (which have to be paid for by the governor – not by the state) and there was a portrait of one woman in the governor’s office.  She was an artist who had moved her gallery from NY to Montpelier and had the “Red Stone” building built for the state. 

 We left there heading to Bennington, VT.  Along the way we stopped in a small town, Middlebury, VT, which appeared interesting.  It really was.  I did a little shopping in some neat shops and we again found a pretty waterfall.  This one had a walking bridge where you could really get a good view of the waterfall.  There was also a beautiful church but we could not get too close because they were having a wedding and the lawn was full of guests.  This town provided a neat “rest period.” 

 
 

 

As we continued to drive, we saw some really unusual items and beautiful roadside. 

 

 

Arriving in Bennington we found a small hotel with vacancies which was reasonably priced and very clean.  I called Bobby Austin, a member of our church, to get information regarding the Bennington church that our church had supported.  Several years ago, Bobby and his wife, Stella, moved to Bennington for three years to spearhead the total restoration of an old, stone church in Bennington.  Our church supported this effort with funds, prayers and several mission group trips.  Bobby gave me the information regarding the church (Capstone Baptist) and the pastor (Phil Steadman).  Bobby gave me general directions and we wanted to go by the church before it got dark.  I called the pastor to confirm worship times and we headed to the church.  Shortly after we arrived, the pastor and his wife drove up.  They took us on a tour of the church, expressing how much Bobby and Stella meant to the church and its restoration.  The pastor also expressed the support he received from Pastor Edwin (from our church.)  James and I were really impressed with the restoration and were glad that our church could provide help in that process. 

 

 Bobby also recommended we go to a service station across from our hotel and view the old cars.  We plan that for tomorrow.   It has been a full day.