Pennsylvania is a big state (Day 2)

We left my parents bright and early. When we got on Route 80 first thing this morning, the mile marker was at 289 - and it was counting down. And we were staying on Route 80 all day. Wow.

First fill-up = 17 mpg. Second fill-up = 14 mpg. Not horrible, given we’ve been cruising at 65 mph with the trailer. Driving the speed limit alternates between being relaxing and maddening. But it keeps the van’s engine relaxed, which goes back to keeping me relaxed.

Going the speed limit means that it takes a while to get through PA. Route 80 is pretty, but far from exciting. Kind of desolate in spots too.

We stopped for lunch at a diner in New Middlesex PA recommended on Chowhound. It wasn't anything special, but it did have a big parking lot. Funny how priorities shift when towing.

We're camping in a KOA in Streetsboro, OH. KOAs are sort of like the McDonalds of camping; they're franchises and work similarly. They're usually right off the highway, have hook-ups (electric and water), and are generally nonscenic but easy to deal with. That's what we wanted, and that's what we got.

But, for someone used to camping in the woods, it's a bit odd to be sitting here in the trailer, typing these words using my laptop, over the campground's free wifi. We're two miles down the road from a Target, Lowes, and any other big box store you'd desire in suburbia. Not sure I'm complaining - but just a bit odd.


At least we got a nice corner site with shade. The 35+ foot long Mandalay motorhome in the site across from us is towing an Odyssey as their "around town" car. We're at the other end of the spectrum, towing a tiny trailer with our van. Oh well.

But there's a cool old Airstream Bambi parked 3 spots down, from folks with an 80s Dodge Ram (tan and primer color) who appear to have bought it before Airstreams became hip.

Tom