08/11 to 08/18 Mill Bridge Village Campground, Ronks PA

  08/11 to 08/18

Mill Bridge Village Campground

Ronks, Pennsylvania

Welcome back. It's time to get together with other RVers...8 of my fellow Hudson Islanders and their 5 RVs. It'll be a nice change from my past month of traveling solo. Since my last blog from Gering, NE, I've spent another overnight in Nebraska and then on to Iowa, Illinois and two nights in Ohio, the second of which was noteworthy.

 

It was at Chestnut Ridge Campground in Hubbard, Ohio, where I was able to schedule a windshield replacement through my insurance company with SafeLite for damage occurring on the road in Wyoming. With the threat of rain, the SafeLite tech, Conrad, chose to chance it rather than reschedule. That worked out fine but after completing the job along with Casey, the rains came that night. Elsewhere in the area, the storm that came through knocked out power about 5:30 pm Tuesday night. The next day, I checked the website of the local utility company in Hubbard, OH, and for my location, power was estimated to be restored 2-3 days later. I decided to pack up and by 3 in the afternoon and 183 miles later drove to my next destination, Bald Eagle State Park. All the campgrounds since my last blog (6) have been excellent. Granted my stays were short and sweet but everything went smoothly. I was able to reschedule, get a refund for unused days and put it toward my extra days at the State Park. 

While at Bald Eagle State Park, tropical storm Debbie skirted the area and we just had a day of rain. Much better than back home in the Hudson Valley. The week in Ronks, PA, looks to be nice.

On my way to Ronks, I made three stops in nearby Lancaster. My long overdue haircut at a Super Cuts, a sushi lunch next door at Sushi One and lots of shopping at a Super Walmart.

 

Fruitville Pike Roll: Shrimp tempura, cucumber inside, wrapped w. crabstick, topped w. mango sauce, spicy mayo, eel sauce, flying fish roe.

The Mill Bridge Village and Camp Resort is in the heart of the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The 1738 Herr's Grist Mill, a registered historic landmark is at its entrance. The Park's footbridge is often used by the locals as well. There's a working Amish Farm next door and others will frequently stop by in their buggies to sell homemade goods in the campground.  The link above is full of information and photos of the campground and worth your time to check it out.

Hudson Islanders in attendance this week:

Sue & Ray - Site 21

Tony & Linda - Site 50

Roberta - Site 51

Tony & Doreen - Site 52

Johnny - Site 53

Charlie - Site 64

Welcome Home

You Did It

When Tony and Doreen arrived, their "Welcome Home," "You did It" balloon was tied to the mirror on Winnie. That evening, we enjoyed a toast to that event with a bottle of Schramsberg Blac de Noirs. The winery gained international fame when President Nixon served the wine at the historic "Toast to Peace" in Beijing, China in 1972. Thank you, Carlo.

On Tuesday, Roberta made arrangements for those who wished to attend Sight & Sound Theatre's presentation of Daniel. View some of the scenes HERE. The story of Daniel is taken from their website:  "Taken from his people, Daniel is exiled far from home in the perilous kingdom of Babylon. Now this faithful servant must navigate his new life inside a palace filled with golden statues and shifting empires. As royal pressures mount, Daniel is faced with a dangerous choice. Will his trust in God remain steadfast through every test of faith? From the fiery furnace to the infamous den of lions, DANIEL is a spectacular theatrical experience for the whole family. Witness one of the Bible’s most powerful stories as it comes to life in this brand-new original stage production."

This presentation and biblical story of Hope, was powerful. Everything about it was awesome: The 65 member cast, the sounds, special effects, and costumes (13,000 yards of fabric, nearly 300 wigs and over 100 beards crafted). The rebuilt theatre with its 2,000 seat and a 300' panoramic stage was truly a spectacle. With visual projections and two computerized set pieces, the audience was kept in awe as Daniel's story unfolded.

Afterward, our group went a short distance to Agape Cafe and Grille for a late lunch. 

I enjoyed the turkey BLT with a side of onion rings.

With so many activities squeezed into a week, I prepared links to pages with nothing but photos of the places and locations we enjoyed. A Thank You to Roberta who provided some for me. The highlighted links in RED will take to you to awesome, well done websites where you can pick and choose how to share the adventure. 

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania 

We visited the museum just as the model railroaders of four clubs began setting up for Model Railroading Days 2024. Follow this link for the details. The huge building housing more than 100 locomotives is worth the time and visit.

46 other photos including the model railroaders setting up for their Model Railroading Days 2024 exhibit can be viewed by visiting my extra page of photos HERE.

Central Market in Lancaster

After some tricky navigating through the streets of Lancaster we found the Central Market.

The Market is the oldest continuously operated Farmer’s Market in America! Entirely indoors the crafts, fresh produce, meats, baked goods and treats were available row after row, aisle after aisle. I picked up 3 ears of corn to enjoy. There are about 60 stand holders the directory of which can be seen HERE.

A striking feature noticed while driving to and from Lancaster from the campground was the great number of brick buildings. Lancaster is one of the oldest inland towns in the United States, founded in the 1700s. During this period, brick was a common building material for long-lasting structures like homes, businesses, and public buildings.

The region naturally has clay deposits that were historically used to make bricks locally. This made brick a cost-effective and accessible building material for the area including sidewalks and courtyards.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord 

For over 50 years, Shady Maple has been the largest buffet in the USA and has over 200 feet of delicious hand-prepared dishes. There is a 44,000 square foot gift shop and a high-quality Farm Market. This is my second time visiting this one-of-a-kind dining experience. You can read the old blog (from 2020) HERE. It's Part 2 of a 3-part blog that other Hudson Islanders may enjoy.

Shady Maple offers a unique birthday perk—if it’s your birthday, you eat for free (with a paying guest) on the day of your birthday.

At the Campground

The Grist Mill

Herr’s Mill, located in Ronks, Pennsylvania, is a historic grist mill with a rich history that dates back to the 19th century.

The mill was powered by Pequea Creek, utilizing a traditional waterwheel system. This type of water-powered technology was typical for mills in the 19th century.

The historical literature indicates the Mill was built in 1844. The sign at Herr’s Mill shows the Mill was built in 1738, not 1844. My research showed this earlier date highlights the mill's long-standing history in Lancaster County, making it one of the older structures in the area. The 1738 date reflects its origins as an important part of the local agricultural community, serving generations of farmers. The mention of 1844 may be linked to later renovations or ownership changes, but the original construction dates back to 1738.

Found the stone used fascinating.

Belt driven buzz saw

Belt driven peanut roaster

Foot powered shave horse used for shaping shingles, pegs and wheel spokes. See how it was used HERE

Corn sheller

Stone wheels for grinding corn and/or wheat.

In Pennsylvania Dutch country, the grass traditionally used to make brooms is broomcorn, a type of sorghum. Broomcorn is not actually a true corn but a species of grass that grows tall and produces long, stiff fibers ideal for making brooms.

The Pennsylvania Dutch community, known for their resourcefulness and craftsmanship, would harvest the broomcorn, dry it, and use it to craft durable, hand-tied brooms.

 These brooms became a staple in households throughout the region and were often sold at local markets.

The Resident Moose, Bruno.

Fortunate to have a watercolor sunset one evening.

On another evening, three hot air balloons drifted nearby from the north. Johnny captured the next two shots.

Another big thank you to Ray. His 25' 30-amp extension cord was needed as my "buddy site" was situated a distance away.

On the site next to me was a young couple with their family of three girls and two boys.  They provided us with a glance on how to herd cats. Grandma Suzie offered to give the youngest, 9-month old brother his bottle. When finished, he went out like a light.

My home made apple pie was delivered by pony express. I ordered it the day before when she came by with other baked goods. The oldest lad's aunt from a nearby farm made them as well as cookies. (Asked permission to take photos)

Justin tolerated it all and well trained in deliveries.

Here, the young dad and his youngest daughter bought a basket of flowers for mommy. The young Amish lad pulled his cart through the campground accompanied by his brother on his "scooter" or "kick scooter." The Amish community often prefers these pedal-less scooters over traditional bicycles because they align more closely with their values of simplicity and self-reliance.

I hope you've enjoyed my week stay in Pennsylvania Dutch country. We've all parted ways for awhile. The Hudson Islanders will meet again for another rally at Croton Point in September. Up to 22 are expected to attend. Meanwhile I'm on my way to campgrounds in Quakertown, PA, Dingmans Ferry, PA and Cuddebackville, NY and will wind up in Croton.

"True riches are the love we give, the memories we make, and the values we live by.” "The Amish know that happiness doesn’t come from what we own, but from how we live.” "We do not need to go far to find peace; it is within our own hearts and homes." ~~ Amish quotes