2009 Bedford Fall Foliage Festival

[Frank P. Martin]

Hi Folks:

As I traditionally do every year about this time, I'll post this thread for the purpose of communication among those attending this event.

I'll be on site #82 at Shawnee SP. Purrscilla will be staying home for this trip because the site is not a pet site (I made the reservation before she established permanent residency with us).

Hope everyone had a fine Labor Day weekend. Although we stayed home, Chris and I went biking Saturday on the Great Allegheny Passage and, afterwards, used the Cracker Barrel two free dinners gift card we won at the 2009 iRV2.com National Rally.

Looking forward to seeing everyone for (probably) the last time this camping season.

I'll bring the Cheetos.

[Joe-K]

Hi Frank,

We're looking forward to seeing you guys again at Bedford. Hopefully the weather will cooperate as nicely as last year. I'm planning on taking another ride up the Hawk Watch area as well as a stop at the Winery again

Over Labor day, we camped at Tionesta and biked a portion of Allegheny River & Samuel Justus Trails. If you and Chris are ever camping to the North, the trail from Emlenton north is a really neat ride on which you bike through a couple long (3600 and 2900 feet) railroad tunnels. Very neat!

We may try to put together an trip to Emlenton Gaslight Campground sometime later in September to ride the trail again.

As last year, we are camped on site 73.

[NLOVNIT]

Since we'll be in MI for a week starting when you all are at Shawnee, here's wishin' everyone safe travels & great weather for your Bedford Fall Folliage wknd. Let us know when it's time to make the 2010 reservations 'cuz I've already got a week's vacation route figured out to include Shawnee for next yr.

Here's hoping the winter is short while we wait for the spring camping season to come. See you on the Forums!

Lori-

P.S. Keep an eye out for Frank & Chris...they can sneak up on ya now.

[Joe-K]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT P.S. Keep an eye out for Frank & Chris...they can sneak up on ya now.

Wow!

I missed that signature and Avatar picture change

Congratulations on the new truck Frank

A 4WD Duramax ....... WooHoooo...

No more jokes about muddy sites

[ISLAPP]

Hey, congrats, Frank, on the truck. Looks good. See you next month.
Mike

[Frank P. Martin]

Heh... Heh... Heh... I was wondering how long it was going to take before someone noticed; although, a little "hint" was needed from Lori.

I was curious to see if there would be any interest in making a day trip to Cumberland, MD to ride the Western Maryland Scenic RR.

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad | Allegany County, Western Maryland

According to their schedule, there are two trains on Saturday, October 10th departing at 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM and one train on Sunday, October 11th departing at 11:30 AM. The trip takes 3-1/2 hours (1 hour to Frostburg, 1-1/2 hour layover and 1 hour to return to Cumberland) and costs $30.00 per person (coach). The train is pulled by a Baldwin Consolidation 2-8-0 steam locomotive #734.

From Shawnee, the trip to Cumberland takes about an hour via PA-96 south (which becomes MD-36 south), to MD-35 south, to US-40 east.

...Just an idea for something different to do. I've rode on the WMSR many times over the years. My first ride was in 1996.

[ISLAPP]

That is something to think about Frank. What would be cool is to take the bikes and get off at Frostburg and ride the bikes back to Cumberland instead of the train. You could also go alittle further west of Frostburg on the bikes and then turn around and ride back down to Cumberland. It is 16 miles between Cumberland and Frostburg.
Something to think about over the next couple of days.
I called the train company and they have vacancies on Sunday the 11th. I didnt ask about Sat.
Mike

[Frank P. Martin]

Hi Mike:

You might want to look at the Great Allegheny Passage web site (Great Allegheny Passage - Maps and text describing a trail system that will connect Pittsburgh PA with Washington DC) for more information on biking from Frostburg back to Cumberland (which is about 16 miles). This is the trail Chris and I were riding on last weekend in Westmoreland County. When completed, the Great Allegheny Passage will connect Pittsburgh with Cumberland

I inquired about the train's bike charge a couple of years ago. At that time the deal (which really isn't one) was that you paid the round trip fare plus $20.00 for the bike. What a rip, considering that you're not riding the train back to Cumberland.

It should be easy riding as I estimate about 13 of the 16 miles back to Cumberland is downhill. There is one tunnel (named Brush) and it is lighted. The trail and the train share the tunnel. Actually, the trail parallels the WMSR tracks from Frostburg to Cumberland and you will switch sides (by crossing the tracks) a number of times along the way.

[George Miklas]

So is there a bike ride planned?

I am looking for some place to camp because I don't want to put the camper away just yet. But, I have an in-service day on Monday, October 12 that kinda messes up the long weekend for me this time.

Bedford would be a nice trip even for two nights. Any ideas if the campground is full?

George

[Frank P. Martin]

Hi George:

I presume that you've already looked at the PA Parks reservation site for any availibilities at Shawnee.

Mike once camped here Shawnee Sleepy Hollow Campground in Bedford County PA a number of years ago when he couldn't get a site at Shawnee. It's located right on US-30 before you get to Schellsburg. The campground is only a few miles from Shawnee and I would estimate the travel time between the two campgrounds would not be more than about 10 minutes.

I'd suggest Friendship Village but being that it's probably the closest campground to Bedford I'm sure it filled eons ago.

As a last resort, you might try Blue Knob SP. It's about the same distance from the Exit 146 on the Turnpike as it is to Shawnee but it's north of Bedford off of I-99. It's a small campground (only about 50 sites). We camped there once last year. There's only one showerhouse but you can actually regulate the water temperature; not like those "button" things they have at Shawnee. I can tell you more about Blue Knob If need be.

Good Luck!

[Superslif]

Nice truck there Frank.....I few days back while reading down this thread I had thought your Avatar was another person. Not till I started reading a few posts, I realized "O that's Frank"....Were heading out to Findley State park for a 3 day weekend today. The only other reservation we have is for Oct 14-18 at west Branch for the Halloween Camp-Out.

[NLOVNIT]

Hey Frank,

I saw your reply on the earliest iRV2 sticker thread. Here's hoping you guys don't have the same type weather THIS Oct at Bedford. Who knew it would snow that early in that part of PA.

Lori-

[Superslif]

Lets not talk about snow yet We have lucked out the last few years with the Halloween campouts we have done. We'll be at West Branch's Halloween outing for 4 nights Oct. 14-18.

[Frank P. Martin]

Just for the record, that picture taken in October wasn't the first time that the TT saw snow. It snowed the day we took delivery (02/14/2000) and made for an interesting trip home from the dealer. The roads were white and here I am towing a 3+ ton trailer for the first time with electric brakes (that I had no experience with) using a 2WD truck that can be downright treacherous in slippery conditions without towing a trailer, much less with one.

However, we made it home safely with our prize possession although we were delayed by a vehicle accident (due to the icy roads) along the way.

I only wish I had brought my camera that day to record the momentous occasion.