Welcome to VT

We are home! The train was only an hour late, and our van was waiting in the parking lot for us- thanks laura! It felt really small after being in such a giant vehicle for a month! I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. 

Thanks for following our summer adventure, and thank you much to all who prayed for us! 

Last day...

Wow! What a great end to our trip...I will update tomorrow while we spend 12 hours on the train...
I'm sitting at the train station now at only 7:17am. We've been up since 5:30am-uggghhh!
Yesterday was our final day with the riders. We began the day watching them leave from the retreat center. Our stay there was a mixed bag with fancy dinner (lentils, tomato basil salad with fresh tomatos and basil, chicken with balsamic glaze and caramelized onions, and homemade Salted Carmel ice cream), dorm rooms, and bagels for breakfast.  Dinner was really the best part!

Our last stop with the truck was the Americana Hotel! Todd did another stellar job backing it up into the tight parking lot and unhitched the trailer. We took the excursion and went to Arby's for lunch! The boys have been watching commercials for Arby's so we splurged on fast food!!
After lunch we met up with our friend Kyle, and spent some time relaxing. Then we went to dinner with the group...

Dinner was the most amazing end to the trip.  We ate at a restaurant called the Sky Dome! It was on the 15th floor of an upscale hotel and gently rotated around to give a panoramic view of the city of DC.  It was most impressive.  The food was also fantastic! During dinner Nancy gave us a card with many thanks from the riders, and Hope expressed gratitude with a round of applause.  We are feeling well loved! This was truly an amazing experience...

Today we go home...

Almost done...

This morning we visited the animals at the place we stayed last night.

 We laughed at a grumpy goat who was trying to eat the chickens,  and we were thankful the alpacas did not spit at us! We also saw a few wild bunnies. After leaving the retreat center we went to the Antietam Battlefield national park,  and did the driving tour. Tenrick really liked seeing the many cannons on display.

We were saddened by the history of the war in that thousands of soldiers died in a very short time. It was a powerful reconstruction of the sight in which the battle took place.

While at the Mumma farm tour stop, Greyson and I did a rubbing of a tombstone.  The farm had been burned by the Confederates, but the owners and their 10 children fled to safety. 

Elliot sketching a monument

We also visited Harper's Ferry, and Todd was happy to walk a short bit on the Appalachian Trail. We met up with some riders as they were about to trek to the retreat center.

Our trip is soon coming to an end :( We cleaned out the truck today after the riders came in today, and we are heading to Arlington, VA to a hotel tomorrow.  We will meet the riders on the National Mall to do a group photo after they've finished their last ride (well almost, they still have to ride to the hotel after the photo)!
We are feeling bitter sweet about the end of our time with the group.  We've really loved getting to know the riders, we've had lots of fun with them, and we'll have fond memories of this time together as a family! Tomorrow is our last day before going back to VT...

Slept well at the morgue

Last night was the most interesting place we've stayed at by far! Our group was split up between two places.  One was a bed and breakfast called Yoder's Guest House, no relation to Todd's mothers family.

The other place was a place called Morguentoole Co., which is where we stayed.  It was a big brick building with a restaurant and pub on the second floor.

It was quite confusing to enter because the main entrance was in an alleyway.  On our way to our room,  one of our riders was exclaiming he had just seen a bat! Those who know me well know I was a bit freaked already!! Our room had a beautiful brick wall,  and was stylish.

We went to dinner at the restaurant,  and our waiter was informative.  I asked him the history,  and he replied...."half of the building was a hardware store,  and the other half was a furniture store that made caskets!" Interesting.  He then added,  "there was a morgue on the third floor!" We quickly realized our room was on the third floor!!! Nancy had no idea that the name of the place was a play on words, "morgue n toole." It was a great combination of creepy, cool, and comfy!

Yesterday we headed out first thing in the morning to a place called the GI Day room, which Margaret recommended for breakfast.

 It was very good,  but the staff were quite overwhelmed with how many we were.  I had french toast with "real Pennsylvania maple syrup," not as good as Vermont!

After breakfast we went to the Town Hill B and B, unhitched and headed to Rocky Gap State Park and Casino. We enjoyed some down time and swimming in the shallow lake. 

The B and B was quite nice,  very fancy,  comfortable beds with down comforters and the softest sheets I've ever slept on! Dinner and breakfast was amazing! 

Today is a rainy day, and we have no access to Internet again :( I'm updating in "town" near Battlefield Antietam. More later....