MANHEIM, LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
Tuesday, May 6 - We moved from Clarksboro New Jersey to our Thousand Trails Preserve Hershey in Lebanon Pennsylvania. Ray decided to take the roads "less traveled" on Rt. 322, Rt. 1, Rt. 30, Rt. 72, and Rt. 322. Ninety miles took us three hours. We were fortunate to get here before noon so we could select our corner site up on a hill overlooking the lake. There are Canada Geese everywhere with plenty of new goslings. We are situated on a hill with log cabins between the lake and us. There is plenty of wildlife around. We have seen up to 15 Canada Geese and many Red Breasted Robins searching for worms and building nests like the one on our ladder behind the RV.
Killdeer is one of the most successful shorebirds because of its fondness for human modified habitats and its willingness to nest close to people. Because they live so close to people, however, they are vulnerable to pesticide poisoning and collisions with cars and buildings. The broken-wing act used to lead predators from the nest would not keep a cow or horse from stepping on the eggs. To guard against large hoofed animals, the Killdeer uses a quite different display, fluffing itself up, displaying its tail over its head, and running at the beast to attempt to make it change its path. I was fortunate to see her do just this when I was walking Mitzy one day.
Ray's Reflections: the trip was short from the eastern side of Philadelphia in New Jersey, only 95 miles to Lebanon Pa. However, due to traffic and road conditions it took us almost 3 hr. Realizing the weather conditions in this region can be brutal with the freezing weather, rain and large trucks, leaving some potholes that could do a lot of damage to any vehicle. As we approached Lancaster, PA, the terrain turned into foothills dotted with many farms lands laying a patchwork across the rolling hills. Each farm had a set of towering silos a large barn with cattle, horses, goats, and sheep or a combination, grazing throughout the pastures. We are in the Pa.
Amish and Mennonites. As we approached Lancaster, we saw several single horse drawn black enclosed carriages on the roadway hanging hard to the right side trotting along at a good pace. The occupants were sitting far back inside the carriage almost as if they did not want to be seen, but it was obvious they were male wearing mostly black clothing with broad brim black hats, or female in dresses with hair covering. Later we saw white and dark blue carriages as well.
Just north of Lancaster we drove the RV through the small town of Manheim. Older towns have 
some sort of historical society preserving certain structures, we did not see this happing here. The main road, Rt. 72 has taken the right away almost to the doorstep of the homes along the road. The distance between the structures was almost non-existent. However, everything added character to this farming community. I must say the thing which held my interest were the trees lining the road only inches from our mirror with semi-trucks coming from the other direction. White knuckles. After ten miles, we approached our RV Park sitting on a ridge surrounded by a forest, in the middle of the park was a large lake, occupied by geese, ducks and a few anglers. We found a vacant site close to the lake.
We decided to make Hersey Chocolate our first stop. We were surprised, thinking we could tour the factory and return early afternoon. For those who have not visited this area, it is a must-see. The town of Hersey is pristine. Looks like a town out of a travel magazine, including the Hersey Kisses street lamps. The Hersey Company occupies the northern section of town, which resembles Disney World, but on a smaller scale, with amusement parks. We had no idea the variety of Hersey products produced today, or that it took over 50,000 cows to produce enough milk for one day's production of Hersey chocolate. Hersey use to own all of the milking farms, until the business exploded beyond the founders wildest dreams. Hersey also founded a Beautiful University in the rolling hills of Hersey. We plan to revisit this area another time. It has been raining for several days but today we got a break so we visited an Amish Village and Mennonite museum. In addition, we took a short train ride thru Amish country. The outward appearance of this community seems familiar, but then you notice some residents do not have any vehicles. The few cars we did see were all black, very black and no chrome. Then we saw horse or mule drawn machinery on some farms.
BIKE - We have been in the Hersey area now for almost 3 wks, the rainy weather has allowed us about 5 days to get out and enjoy the sights. I have been able to ride the bike several days. The roads and terrain around this area are very desirable for bikers. The rolling hills & curvy roads keep you on your toes. Some of the hills come to a peak suddenly with the roadway ahead dropping out of site for what seems like minutes but in reality, it is just seconds. With the many active farms and entry roads everywhere, you never know what to expect as you clear the hilltop from slow moving farm machinery, to horse drawn carriages. Whoa, I was not expecting to see that, was my thought on many occasions. I learned in a hurry to cover the brakes at every hill. Fortunately, the speed limit is reduced. The farmland of course is cleared: therefore, one can see around most curves. We like to take many photos, therefore I mostly ride slower than most traffic and on many occasions, I motioned vehicles around me when the road is clear to do so. I am always looking for the next photo op, and making a u-turn to capture it. Springtime here is great with everything in bloom and crops growing like crazy. Most wheat fields are 2-3-feet high. After cresting one of many hills standing right next to the road behind a wire fence was a bull and very tall Lama with its mouth full of grass looking over the fence down at me. Wonder what it was thinking as I went by, (Hummmm, funny looking red bug with a white dot, looks tasty). 
Wednesday, May 07 - Hershey's offers visitors an interactive tour experience on board large passenger carts carrying you through the production stages of the Hershey's Chocolate. We took this tour and although geared towards children, it was fun to see.
The food court and Kit Kat Café' offered up some surprisingly good and tasty items. We dropped a significant amount of money purchasing family members some Hershey chocolate gifts to mail back to our family in Florida. We thoroughly enjoyed the 3-D Hershey's "Really BIG Show". The special effects were a lot of fun even for us old folk. Fortunately, we were here before the schools were out for the summer.
May 17- We woke up to sunny skies and left for Strasburg around 10:00 am. We were given tickets to board the Strasburg Railroad train that takes you through some of the most beautiful, peaceful and productive Pennsylvania Dutch countryside to Paradise, PA. We saw Amish farmers working in their fields, Amish children playing, and livestock grazing. Plenty of wheat fields coming up from the ground. It is only 45 minutes, which was just perfect. The train offers first-class seating with butler-served wine & cheese. We were in coach. Known as America's Oldest Short Line railroad company. "The Road to Paradise".
Monday, May 19 - High of 56 degrees at noon with 20 mph gusts. Got down to 48 at night. During our travels around the area, we had to drive through Manheim many times. It is full of historical homes down its main streets. This is an established Mennonite Church.
Founded in 1762, the town of Manheim rightfully belongs in that select list of Pennsylvania towns, which antedate the Revolutionary War. Of additional interest historically is the fact that the land on which the town was laid out has a close 
connection with the family of the colony's founder, William Penn. Explicitly, it was in 1734 that this tract of acres in Donegal Township (1741 in Rapho Township) was given as a gift to Penn's faithful secretary, James Logan. In 1762, this same tract was purchased from Logan's granddaughter, Mary Morris, by Henry William Stiegel and his two business associates, Charles and Alexander Stedman. Stiegel carried on the operation of the Manheim glassworks, which eventually was given the name of the American Flint Glass Manufacture. Actually, the glass factory that Stiegel 
established and which had augured so well for the future of Manheim was never operated with any success after the failure of the founder. After several feeble efforts, it finally shut down forever about 1780. This left Manheim a struggling village of barely more than 300 people. It is well to remember that, although Manheim was an industrial town, thereby fulfilling the dreams of the founder for many years, it was hardly more than a trading center for farmers. Truly, it may be said, that Manheim's continuing existence up to the present era was because it is in the heart of the rich farmland of northern Lancaster County.
We drove through such villages as Bird-in-Hand; Intercourse; Smoketown; and Hummelstown, to name a few. We were warned not to take pictures of the Amish so the pictures of the buggys are from a great distance and as quickly as possible. We saw a lot of women in the buggys going about their errands in the small towns we drove through.
Herr's Mill Covered Bridge is located on the Herr's Mill historical site, a restored Amish Village, which is open to the public. The bridge was moved a short distance when it was replaced with a new one. Herr's Mill Covered Bridge was built by builder's Joseph Elliot and Robert Russell. The bridge is a two span bridge, 178 feet in length by 14 feet 5 1/2 inches in width. The bridge is privately owned and used as a tourist attraction only. The bridge is also known as Soudersburg Covered Bridge. 
1738 - GRIST MILL @ same site 
We had a great lunch at The Cat's Meow restaurant in Manheim. It is housed in The American Railroad House, a building that was constructed in 1864, the year the railroad arrived in town
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