All good things must come to end, we suppose. And so it is that we are concluding our series — Road Trip 2020 — with this last post. And what a trip it has been: Knoxville, TN; Staunton, VA; Gettysburg, PA; and on to the Eastern Shore of Maryland before looping back home. We took side roads and lesser highways just so we could roll down the windows, smell the fresh air, and see what there is to see in America’s small towns and byways. A rich experience for us, and by no means hurried or filled with a preset itinerary.
And since there was time for old-fashioned lollygagging, we offer up four places we found mostly by accident. Places we explored for a short while and then moved on to our spend-the-night destinations.
Now, be prepared. Often these photos are less than stellar. After all, I used the hang-the-camera-out-the-window-and-click trick as Bert kept driving. But we have memories just the same. And we’re sharing them with you.
Loys Station Covered Bridge, near Thurston Maryland
Traveling north on Highway 15, we saw signs near Thurston, Maryland, touting the covered bridges of Maryland. So we veered off the main road to see one: Loys Station. Called a “multiple king post wooden covered bridge,” Loys Station was originally built in 1848, reinforced between 1929-30, but partially destroyed by an arsonist fraudulently trying to collect insurance money. The bridge has been tastefully (and strongly) rebuilt, making it a site worth seeing — and driving through. The park next to it is a lovely place for sitting and watching the cars go by!
Amish Country, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
After leaving Gettysburg, we followed Highway 30 to Lancaster County, PA, home of the Amish. Fortunately for us, it was Sunday, and families were walking home dressed in their Sunday best along the highway running through Intercourse, PA. Or traveling in horse-drawn carriages. We respected their wishes for privacy by never leaving our car, but we couldn’t help taking a few photos as we drove past, photos that are shaky at best, but still capturing the simple life in Lancaster County.
Assateague National Seashore
Although we only had time for a quick drive-through here as well, we captured a bit of the natural landscape at Assateague on the way to the Eastern Shore. Of course, we wanted to see the ponies! The first goal was easy to attain — even by staying in the car. We gazed longingly at marshlands, bird sanctuaries, and landscapes that went on as far as the eye could see. But we don’t have much to show for our efforts. The ponies we’d heard so much about were quite a distance away. And I’m hardly skilled at taking shots of birds in still positions, let alone in flight. Just know that we came, we saw, and we fell in love with this part of the world, even if pictures don’t reveal the true beauty.
Longwoods School — Talbot County, Maryland
We initially drove past this quaint little red schoolhouse, then looked at each other and said, “What was that?” A quick turn around put us squarely on the property, so we could take a closer look. Beautifully maintained, this 1900 schoolhouse reminds me of what I’ve read and heard about one-room schoolhouses, but what I’ve never seen except in the movies. Thanks, Talbot County, for preserving Longwoods School and reminding us of simpler times.
Thank you, dear readers, for following along on our Road Trip 2020. Even though we can’t travel abroad right now, we’ve found beauty in the U. S. , a beauty that is sometimes best appreciated from the back roads, byways, and waterways.
If you missed any of our posts, they’re all gathered here. Hope you’ve enjoyed traveling with us.
Here’s to more travel in the future . . . fingers crossed!
Travel U.S.A.,
Rusha & Bert
bernhard1965
Thank you for sharing photos from an other country.
Bernhard
Oh, the Places We See
You’re quite welcome! I like to think it’s the best benefit of blogging — getting to know what happens in various parts of the world. Happy New Year!
gallivance.net
Rusha, I think you did great with your hang-out-the-window photography. The Amish shots are particularly good – I love the little boy in the wagon.
I’m happy that you and Bert were able to get in a road trip and return home healthy. I’m afraid these types of trips are all we can hope for in the immediate future, and honestly, once we adjust our expectations, we may get to appreciate them more and more. There’s a lot to see right here in the US, and it’s time to take advantage.
Take good care of yourselves, and have a happy and healthy holiday. ~James
Oh, the Places We See
I loved driving through Amish country, so thanks for taking a look at the photos even if they were on the sky and only fair condition.
Our hope is that we can travel again in 2021, and, as you noted, the good ol’ USA is looking quite good!
Stay healthy and keep blogging.
Pat Bean
Thanks for bringing back good memories of all the places I visited. I especially remember the Assateague Horses. I took a guided boat trip to the island (wrote about it in Travels with Maggie). I gave up RVing in 2013, Now I’m wishing I still had that 21-foot class C so I could travel more during Covid. Happy Journeys.
Oh, the Places We See
Oh, you are so right. To have an RV now would be heavenly. But we’re not sure we can negotiate something that big on the highway. Good memories, though, for you.
nesfelicio
Wow! What a road trip. Thanks for sharing. The Amish area is fascinating. So are the buildings in Maryland.
Oh, the Places We See
Thank you! I appreciate your comments, and I know you’d love this trip. We’re thinking if where to go next . . . In America!
Green Global Trek
What a wonderful combination of attractions! The red covered bridge is so attractive and somehow romantic. The Amish I find quite fascinating.. they are able to maintain a simple non materialistic way of life in todays modern times, it is impressive actually. Beautiful nature scenes too. Love the ponies and the birds.
Peta
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks so much. None of these scenes warranted a separate post, although I guess I could have crafted them. But as unpredicted pleasures, they were all delightful. Thx fir looking!
Amy
Beautiful photos of your road trip, Rusha. Love the covered bridge. These bird captures are so wonderful. The Longwoods Schoo is so well preserved. Thanks for taking us along. 🙂
Oh, the Places We See
Thanks for taking a look, Amy. It’s sometimes the little things on a trip that make the experience so rich.
Cowboy Bill
I love your “less than stellar” pictures. These candid shots made our story come to life for me. For those in East TN who love covered bridges, check out the Harrisburg Covered Bridge near Sevierville. There is a recently built one near Gatlinburg called Emerts Cove Covered Bridge.
Oh, the Places We See
Thank you soooo much for telling me about these bridges. We may have a day of nearby exploration in the making!!!
Babri
I have never seen a covered bridge. That looks amazing!!
Hope you had a safe and adventurous journey.
Oh, the Places We See
I’ve seen some older ones that I like a bit better for their history and evidence of use, but I’m so proud of this community fir the rebuilding of this one. Thx for taking a look!!
WanderingCanadians
Looks like this was a successful road trip! While travel options are limited these days, I’m sure it was still fun to explore all the towns and cities close-ish to home. By the way, I’m such a sucker for a covered bridge!!
Oh, the Places We See
We now love covered bridges as well. This was only the third or so that we have seen. All are interesting. Thanks so much for following us on our travels. If it weren’t so cold, I’d be piling in the car again!
Toonsarah
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed road-tripping with you 😀 I think you do yourself an injustice regarding these photos – many are very good, especially as you took them from the car – I love the Amish ones and the egret 🙂 I call taking photos as we drive ‘drive-by shooting’! But ‘lollygagging’ is a new word to me?
Oh, the Places We See
I love your term “drive-by shooting” and may have to use it in the future. I’ve been saying “lollygagging” since I was a kid, and my mom would tell me to hurry up and quite lollygagging around!!! It’s funny what you remember, right?
Toonsarah
Absolutely! I still use some of my late mother’s odd sayings (she always said she would ‘insult’ the map, for instance :lol:)
Oh, the Places We See
So fun!!! I may use that one!