Travelogue

Rather than try to make a 13-hour push for home, we decided to stop in western Pennsylvania and enjoy one last night of vacation together. We chose a campground a few miles off Route 80 in Emlenton, PA, in what I believe is Pennsylvania Dutch or Mennonite country. The campground was immaculate. I have never seen cleaner bathrooms, and the owner was mowing an already perfectly manicured lawn. It was so meticulous that I almost felt uncomfortable. I guess the work ethic is pretty high around here.

After a swim in the immaculately maintained pool, the kids quickly gravitated to the fishing pond, which was stocked with bass. They had become quite avid fishermen this trip, learning to catch, clean, and even cook their own trout. After getting tired of catching nothing but sunfish, they started stalking the foot-long goldfish that resided in the pond. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but they both were pretty repulsed when they had to remove it from their hook.

That night we settled in for one last cozy night in the RV. The last stop of a trip always has a special feel to it, kind of hard to describe--a mix of contentment and, for me anyway, a tiny hint of sadness. I know that as soon as we hit our driveway, the phone will start ringing and the kids will be running in eight different directions, and we'll be lucky if we even see them for dinner. Although I know this is a good thing and the way things should be, I certainly will miss the closeness and camaraderie that goes along with 3 weeks of being on the road together.

Description

Immaculately maintained campground right off I80, with a fishing pond and large swimming pool.