Thunder and Rain again so I am not going to the Shower House so I might as well catch up. Also I have good news, This morning Don was trying to clean out the bag he uses for showers and while it was empty, he realized it was top heavy. Inside a semi hidden compartment he found my missing camera. The night of The maybe tornado I had dumped out his bag and filled it with all the emergncy supplies. I forgot to take out the camera the next morning. And in case you all are wondering why I used his bag, the answer is simple. If I had taken the time to empty mine with the putty (make up) and the trowels I use to put it on and all the other necessities a Mature woman needs, we could have been blown away. Nuff said!
Today was a serious day for us. We left our beauttiful camp with the lake and trails that only we were there to appreciate and drove to Somerset County and The National Park that now honors Flight 93.
It was a gray dizzly day which somehow seemed appropriate. The memorial itself is very stark. It begins with a glass visitors shelter where there is a ranger to answer any questions. Then a long walk along a low black wall. This walk gives you time to look at the field and hemlock trees where the plane crashed. There are niches in the wall where people can leave thoughts or prayers or momentos. At the end is a 40 section white marble wall with a name on each piece. At one end is a wooden gate through which you can see the gap where trees were broken and the huge boulder placed where the plane actually crashed. It was incredibly silent there with no one talking and parents hushing their children. I felt as if I were in Church.
Don was wearing his 49er shirt and on the way back 3 people stopped to comment on it. Don noticed the man was wearing a Roundhill jacket. They live in Alamo in Bryan Ranch. That makes twice we have met people from home.
Then because we were so close, we decided to go to Johnstown. Years ago we read the story of the horrible flood and fire. In case some of you don't know it, I'll give you a short version of the story. In May of 1889 Johnstown was a town in a deep valley 14 miles below The South Fork Dam. This Dam was owned by a group of 61 vey wealthy men. It held back a large lake and was the prroperty of The South Fork fishing and hunting club.
It was not maintained and because of extremely heavy rain, it collapsed and raced though the deep valley picking up houses, bridges whole trains and everything else in its path. It caused huge jams and fire erupted in all the debris. We went to Johnstown and walked around the city center. A few of the buildings remain but most were destroyed. We wentt to the museum and again saw a movie. The city hall has 3 plaques on the corner of the building, marking the flood levels of the 1889, 1937 and 2007 floods. After seeing this we decided to drive up the mountain to the dam site. The National Park Visitor Center is built on the foundation of the Club Presidents home on one side of the dam and the club house is on the other side of the dam site. Another movie and then a tour in a shuttle to the club house and to see the huge "cottages" that the members used for vacations from Pittsburgh. Most of them are still there becausee they were above the Dam. We were able to go into the Clubhouse with the Ranger. It is in vey bad shape and they are trying to get it repaired for the 150 anniversary of the Flood. So as you can see, we have had a very somber day. I am caught up now and am ready for bed so good night my friends. Hopefully tommorrow will be brighter and happier. Ed stay well. Hugs to all from Donna in Bedford.
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