October 3-4 Michaux St Forest, Amish Farm

Thursday, October 3

It is 62 this morning, a bit foggy and misty.  We explore some of the back roads in Michaux State Forest .  The leaves are beginning to fall.

As the rain begins, we decide to visit  Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium.  A pretty unique place!  

Thousands of elephants - statues, stuffed toys, ornaments and anything made with elephants!

Lots of candies, old and new.  Sugar daddies, root beer barrels, Goetz caramels and many more.  Check out the PEZ dispenser collection!

  Outside is a bit wet, but interesting “décor”.

We try to go to the Appalachian Trail Museum, which is supposed to open at noon.  Housed in a stone grist mill built in 1760, it is about half way on the trail which runs from Maine to Georgia. The museum is staffed by volunteers, however, and today’s folks are a no-show.  Maybe because of the yucky weather.  A few other folks, including an rv'er from Florida and a through-hiker are disappointed as well.

Back to Hanover, we fix taco soup and apple dumplings for dinner,  then go by the rock shop.  Anita and Kevin purchased this property a year or so ago and have moved all their equipment, supplies and rocks here.  Kevin has bought out several rock folks who were retiring, so has quite a collection of equipment – saws, faceting machines, polishers, etc. – and lots of interesting specimens. 

Here Kevin is soaking some specimens in an acidic solution to clean them.

 He is thinking of starting a local club and using this place for classes, meetings, etc.   In the meantime he fixes equipment and has re-sold several pieces. They like the club they belong to now, but it is in Baltimore which is a good hour or so drive.

  

Friday, October 4

Anita and Kevin have a few things to do early, then knock off for the day.   We head to the White Horse Diner for breakfast where Greg and I have scrapple with our bacon and eggs.  It is a cornmeal mix with “scraps” of meat and some spices which is sliced and fried and served with syrup. 

 It has been a long time!

Beautiful day as we head back towards Lancaster.

Kevin knows of an Amish farmer who has found lots of amethyst in his fields and because of a mutual acquaintance, will allow us to go hunt for specimens. So  Kevin takes him jars of honey as payment.  He also buys a small bucket of amethyst crystals that the farmer’s sons have collected.

We search in a corn field that has been cut, and along the edges of a just-planted field.  No spectacular finds, but everyone finds at least a couple of crystals, so we all leave happy!  

  On the way home, Kevin takes us to his favorite bake shop Achenbach’s Pastries in Leola, PA.., where we meet peanut butter long johns.  YUM!  (2nd row, right)

They are kind of like skinny eclairs but have a peanut butter frosting rather than a filling.  I also get a couple of fostnaught donuts – not always reserved for Fostnaught Day which I believe is February 2.  (What a lunch!)

Good thing we don’t live here full time – I’d really have to develop some self-control!

Anita and Kevin have some work-related stuff to catch up on but later, we meet up at Mike’s Crabs in Hanover.  Being close to the Chesapeake Bay has it’s perks!