On the Road Again

I had not ridden Amtrak via Philadelphia-Harrisburg since '69 when I rode home from college for my brother's funeral.
But suddenly I'm a frequent traveler between Penn Station (NY) and Harrisburg (PA). I've even signed up for Amtrak Rewards!
If not for a chance meeting in Costa Rica in June, I might never have experienced the South Branch of the Potomac River, meandering from DC to PA to MD and WV.
When Kelly-Springfield Tyres relocated, they left behind a tiny ghost town in Springfield. My mate Kathleen picked up a well-loved A-Frame cabin on the river when a K-S executive moved on.
Leaving the cell phones and laptops behind in Cumberland, MD, we ventured across the border where gas and beer is cheaper,and the intertubes were waiting.

Kathy chilled out from her stressful ER job and me from the hectic pace of Times Square.

Next day, we drove to the opposite border into rural PA where Dr. Jerry and Aussie Wez greeted us with paintbrushes and garden-picked fruit so I could make my award-winning Sangria recipe. After applying the base coat to the wrap-around veranda, we took a break in Jerry's watering hole on his extensive farm property.

It was refreshing to sit in gentle rapids, with wine and therapeutic cigarette in hands. Happy as clams.

BTW, I've painted a lot of walls in my life, but touching up a spot on the side of a Victorian barn was a first at Valley Farm. Jerry's place takes your breath away when you first drive up, and the large barn can't be missed with its white letters saying "Valley Farm." For 9 years the "dot" at the end bugged him.
Since I had the touch up color and brush in my hand, he asked if I would be willing to be hoisted 50 feet on the blade of his 4WD tractor to remove the offensive spot. Aftewards, I thought about adding a "com" after the "dot" and starting a ValleyFarm.com web page for his enterprise.

PS Back in the city, I'm already plotting my next rail trip and visit with my mates to plan our next tryst to Costa Rica! Pura Vida!

Yellow-bellied birds, butterflys, and the beach

Samara. It's on the Pacific Coast of northern Costa Rica. Another postcard from the edge.

After having a reunion in the oasis of Las Vegas, James invited me down here to his property, Colours Oasis, a resort in San Jose in the mountains. We're currently creating a new marketing strategy while hiding at his rugged beach club on the waterfront in a tiny village called Samara.

The roar of the morning waves entices me to the beach at sunrise. At night, the ocean's song is drowned by the tropical rains and the frogs which guard our perimeter just 50 paces from high tide. But sometimes we catch a stunning sunset.

This morning our local gecko woke me early, and when I was dressed in my bathers and crocs, I walked the path to the sea and saw a yellow-bellied bird, seagulls, and the first monarch butterflies of the season. Made up for the lack of sea shells.

More tales from the city when I'm back in San Jose - if ever!