Having got our first park under our belt, we headed towards Elysburg, upstate Pennsylvania, with renewed optimism. After a couple of hours driving we arrived in the one-horse town of Mount Carmel where the local hostelry, Visintainers, was open for business. However, one glance at the grill on the reception window, the stains everywhere and the distinct lack of guests saw us move on at pace.
The world famous Visintainer's Motel
It soon became clear that Visintainers really was the best that the district offered until we stopped in a gas station in the quaintly named town of Shamokin. A rotund local told us about a haven called Penelope's Bed and Breakfast just by the hospital.
Our eponymous hostess welcomed us effusively and introduced us to her friends - Bob who owned the local gun store and his wife - and her husband, Andy. After a hearty tea of corn on the cob and mince in a roll, the conversation turned to politics. We discussed all manner of topics: dislike of the French, gun-laws, crime in Detroit - perpetrators and causes, the Korean War, Mexican immigration and hunting all washed down with a couple of Bud Lights. We fitted in well with our new friends especially as they evinced no surprise whatsoever when they heard the purpose of our trip - we found this lack of cyncism refreshing.
George relaxes in the spa within the gazebo at Penelope's B&B
This took us to approximately 7pm and faced with few options we decided against twidling our thumbs and played Trivial Pursuit with a set from the late 1970s. George won a classic victory by answering every question, without exception, 'Richard M. Nixon' but James gained revenge by winning a quick game of Scrabble. At 10pm we retired to our separate rooms - George to the 'Laurel' suite complete with heart-shaped jacuzzi; James to the less glamorous 'Maple' room where the song of racoons, the roar of bears and the sound of some local rednecks beating each other up lulled us to sleep.....
