Days One and Two

Williamsport at Dusk

We are amazed at the kindness of people again and again. We don’t need three vehicles and a friend of Ann’s agreed to take the Toyota off our hands, at least short term.
Day One was as smooth as could be. Perhaps because Monday was the first work day after March Break the traffic was very light through the greater Toronto area. The customs officer going to Buffalo could not have been nicer. He was a little sceptical about walking back from Pennsylvania but when he saw the newspaper article he softened totally. He never did ask about the food we were bringing over, just about whether we had
more than $1,000 with us. (We didn’t!) Then he wished us well and sent us on our way.
We had been concerned about a safe trip through Buffalo - too many family trips as kids for both of us when car windows had to be wound up tight. We have been through Buffalo as grown-ups but we were pleased by the selection of road we made to follow later. Sidewalks are wide and smooth and the route will be quite direct.

Now the weather is another issue. We chose the end of March to start because as a heart recoveree it is better not to walk in the frigid temperatures of winter or the heat of summer. We have sufficient layers of clothing with us to keep us warm but really! It is sooo cold that I had to wear socks to bed last night. There has not been a lot of snow even on the hillsides as we have driven south but we have been happy to have the heater on in the car.

This morning, Day Two, I was delighted to see a Tim’s and collect my favourite extra large French Vanilla coffee. We learn things every day. First, my Tim’s enthusiasm caused us to miss a turn and, second, French Vanilla here is coffee sort of with a hint of vanilla. Next time my choice will be a cappuccino. The coffee was warm anyway. We are trying to be more observant as we move along the route. We have this habit of focussing more on our conversation than on our route and have frequently gone out of our way. Something we have been doing ever since we began dating. Now I am driving and Ron is navigating so we should be fine.

We made good time and reached Pennsylvania by noon. The object here was to check a route to see whether to go over a mountain or around it. We chose to go around. The grades are much easier and the shoulders are wide. Most of the route is less desolate than we thought. Much is farmland. There are two long hills to be considered on the way back. Ron will try them and if they are too much he will walk down the hills rather than up them. The distance is the same. (Thanks for the idea to Charles Wilkins in ‘Walk to New York’.)

Tonight we are in Williamsport in an old once grand hotel.