From The Road: The New England Tour

New London, New Hampshire

Early June is a lush time of year in Maryland. The day before Peachy and I left Frederick, the late Spring air felt as soft as a silk scarf around my shoulders and the scent of honeysuckle wafted in and out of my consciousness. On our way we passed a field so brilliantly green as to look unreal, patches of forest with a mosaic of different shades of green, and a meadow entirely burnished with shiny golden buttercups.

We began our actual journey on a Sunday, after an emotional service at Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ and the annual church picnic. Peachy and I arrived late at the picnic, but were greeted with good food, practical gifts for the road, assurances of prayers to help us along the way, and a good year's supply of hugs. The Spring had been dry, but that day we enjoyed a gentle rain - a good beginning for our "Water for Life" adventure. We had a prayer circle under the picnic shelter, and then dashed out between the raindrops to pat Peachy with a blessing. The photo of the three of us in front of Peachy may look strained, but we are standing in that formation so the license plate (H2O 4LIF) is visible.

First stop was Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, to practice van living, rest up, and unwind with mineral baths and massages, both wonderful and affordable at the Berkeley Springs State Park.

After a few days we headed East, and were wowed by a glowing swath of red poppies, backlit by the morning sun, a gift from the Maryland Department of Transportation. Thank you! I have appreciated the flowers growing in median strips in several states for several years, but have never taken the time to let someone know how much they mean. Guess we all need to say "thanks" more often!

In Pennsylvania we noticed neat rows of young corn plants (not a single weed evident!), undulating fields of silvery-green oats shimmering in the breeze, and patches of pale winter wheat in the process of being harvested by a farmer with a team of horses. Farther on there was another "plain" farmer with a team of seven mules. The towns were neatly kept and seemed to need only a bit of bunting and a few more American flags to look poised for a patriotic parade.

There are huge old barns along there, made of tawny Pennsylvania fieldstone, signs for livestock auctions, Amish-made outdoor furniture and gazebos, crafts, quilts, and one tattoo parlor, the latter probably not much frequented by the "plain people". Altogether a beautiful and productive part of our amazing country.

Shalom until next time, when Peachy and civilization will be the subjects on tap.