Day Six

Our first proper travel day. All the day held for us was a 6+ hour drive west. We didn't rush up, but were packed and ready to go by 10.15am. Said goodbye to the dog and hit the road. Made our way out of Valley Forge and joined I-76.

Then we just drove. Listened to Tony Blackburn's Sound of the Sixties. Went through some tunnels through the mountains.

Mountain 1

Mountain 2

There was a mountain 3, but Ann didn't take a photo of it.

Stopped at a service plaza to use the facilities and grab a drink. Then headed onward. Got stuck in one bit traffic where two lanes merged into one for roadworks but other than that it wasn't too bad.

Last night I had spent some time looking for a place for us to stop and have lunch. As I did so, I happened across a town called Somerset and found a place called the Summit Diner. My brain suddenly realised that I recognised it. We had stayed in Somerset back in 2013 when we drove up the east coast. We had dinner in the Summit Diner and we were given a piece of cake the size of a whole cake. The review I wrote in the blog said it was the best meal of the trip so far and the cheapest, so my mind was made up that we would stop there again today. Here is that day Last time.

Thus not long after 2.15pm we pulled off the interstate and into Somerset and found the diner. We recognised it instantly. Wandered in but couldn't sit in our previous seat, so had to sit on the other side of the diner. Sign said cash only. Checked we had enough cash. Ordered food. Whilst we waited I recreated a photo from last time we were there which I had on my phone.

2012

2025

Ate our food. I had a grilled cheese and fries. Ann had something. 

We paid the bill and took photos of the front for posterity. 

Diner

Got back in the car and carried on west. Still had a fair distance to go so we just drove. Not much to report until we hit some heavy rain. We were due a rest stop but didn't fancy walking about in the rain so just carried on. Then the rain stopped just as we were about to pass a rest stop. Pulled over, used the facilities. Saw this sign in the toilets. Don't see this in British motorway services.

Just in case you shoot up whilst driving

It started to rain as we walked back to the car.

Then all hell broke loose. A thunderstorm hit us whilst we were sat in the car. It hammered with rain, lightning all around and the wind buffeted the car so hard that we thought it was going to start moving it. We checked satellite images to see where the storm was heading and how big it was. The parking lot of the rest stop got full very quickly with cars and trucks seeking refuge as there was zero visibility. Then the hail started. Had a chat with Helen online back home who checked weather reports. We ended up sitting there for nearly half an hour but then the worst had gone and there appeared to be a window of calm. 

Hit the road again and things were better for a short time, before we encountered another part of the storm, this was short lived and soon we were driving on dry roads.

Arrived in Mansfield, Ohio and checked into the Best Western. Nipped out to Walmart to get some supplies but when we got back we realised the carpet in our room was soaking wet by the window. Ann went off and got us a room change. Luckily, we got the room opposite, so the move was fairly swift.

Ate dinner watching Crocodile Dundee 2.

We've just seen the news of the shootings in New York. I think we walked past that building on Thursday when we exited the 51st Street subway station and walked to MoMA. It's a strange and sad world.

States visited - 4