Here’s a look at some of my Spring travels through Montgomery County.
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Nestled between the mountain ridges in Perry County is Sherman’s Valley. The valley is traversed by Route 274, with its heart in Blain, PA. I came here in search of a couple of covered bridges on Sherman Creek. The narrow valley feels remote due to its situation between two ridge lines. However, it is not to far from Carlisle and Harrisburg.
It was, unfortunately, quite a gloomy morning when I was there. Here is a sampling of what I saw (and, or course, those covered bridges):
Farm house across the road – like my grandparent’s former farm. 
The Mount Pleasant Covered Bridge. 
Sherman Creek 
The New Germantown Covered Bridge 
I see these stars all over the place on homes and barns. This one has a twist with the flag motif. 
Great red color on this barn. 
Nestled against the backdrop of mountains. 
I love how this house has been built around a log structure. 
Another great red barn. 
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Western Adams County, along the slopes of South Mountain, hosts a large number of orchards. I was on my way to Gettysburg from Pine Grove Furnace and happened on this area by chance. It was a nice surprise.
A look down a row of new trees. 
A mature orchard, 
I loved this farm peeking out from behind the pond. I had to visit the Historic Round Barn and Farm Market in Biglerville, PA. The family-owned market has fresh fruits and vegetables, jams, jellies, honey, canned fruits and vegetables, snacks, candy, and gift items. It is well worth a visit if you are near Gettysburg.
A very interesting building and well-maintained. 
A signature painted horse out front. 
Some adorable residents. -
It is one of my goals to try to visit every state park in Pennsylvania. I’ve made pretty good progress so far, but I think some the parks in the western part of the state will be a challenge due to distance. This May I was able to stop by Colonel Denning State Park and Fowlers Hollow State Park.
Colonel Denning State Park in Newville, PA is named after a William Denning, a sergeant in the Continental Army, who made wrought iron cannon for the Army. He was never actually a Colonel. His namesake park hosts hiking, camping, boating, skating, cross country skiing and a swim beach and all the usual picnicking, fishing, hunting and wildlife watching.
The lake at Colonel Denning State Park. 
A lovely pavilion next to the dam spillway. I also made it to Fowlers Hollow State Park, a small state park in Blain, PA in the valley of Fowler Hollow Run. One can hike, fish, picnic, hunt, horseback ride, mountain bike, cross country ski and snowmobile at the park. There is also a small campground. Its trail system connects with the trails in the Tuscarora State Forest.
A nice, shady picnic area. 
A group of equestrians was on the move. 
A view of Fowler Hollow Run. 
And finally, a view from Hemlocks Road in the Tuscarora State Forest. -
Nestled between South Mountain and the Blue Mountain ridge line lies the Cumberland Valley, an area known for fertile farms, world famous fly fishing, and an annual classic car show. I explored the farm country in the northern part of the valley.
The farms are nestled into the backdrop of South Mountain. 
Love the goats in the small pasture. 
Best cow shot of the day. The Valley is not all about farms, however …
The Williams Grove Speedway. 
I don’t know what this house used to be, but it looked like a great renovation job. 
The ducks and geese at LeTort Spring Run Park in downtown Carlisle. 
A Mallard couple out for a walk. -
The town of Boiling Springs in Cumberland County is one of Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Trail towns. It is known for its beautiful scenery and world-famous fly fishing. Founded in 1845, but settled prior to 1737, Boiling Springs is a village that surrounds the Children’s Lake. The town hosts the regional office of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. The Memorial Clock Tower, erected in 1956 and the Boiling Springs (Grist) Mill, on record as early as 1785, are two landmarks in the village. Boiling Springs was also a site for the underground railroad before the civil war and a tourist destination in the early 1900’s. It is now a location for small shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants, recreation and relaxation and is the home of the Allenberry Resort.
Boiling Springs gets its name from natural artesian well springs located around the town. The well known trout streams in the area are the Yellow Breeches Creek, Mountain Creek, Big Spring Creek, and LeTort Spring Run. The waters are kept cool by the limestone springs which feed them. Part of the Yellow Breeches Creek is maintained for catch and release, artificial lures only, fishing.
Let’s take a look around town.
A view of Children’s Lake and the Grist Mill. 
The Memorial Clock Tower. 
An old artillery piece near the Clock Tower. 
The park is a great place for some family time. 
One of the beautiful homes overlooking the lake. 
This Mallard duck family have some prime real estate. 
The Grist Mill, close up. 
Let’s go fishin’ 
A view down Front Street. -
Memorial Day brought me to Gettysburg National Military Park on my way home from the Cumberland Valley. I had been here a few times when I was young, but it’s been a while since I was there. In additional to being educational and preserving this country’s history, the park is a lovely place for a walk or bike ride. As I am not an expert on military history, I will share some of the views and monuments that I particularly liked, with particular emphasis on farms.
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A cannon on Confederate Avenue. 
The State of Louisiana Monument – one of the most imposing. 
Part of the Snyder Farm. 
Irish Brigade Monument, 63rd, 69th and 88th New York Infantry 14th New York Independent Battery. 
A view of the Slyder farm. 
The Codori farm. 
The Abraham Trostle Farm. 
More of the Trostle farm. 
A distant view. 
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Memorial. 
The Jacob Hummelbaugh farm. 
… with some adjacent cannon … -
This Memorial Day weekend, I traveled to the Cumberland Valley and Michaux State Forest. The Carlisle area is home the U.S. Army War College and the Army Heritage and Educational Center. I was not able to visit the exhibits at the Heritage Center due to it being closed because of “the situation,” but was able to visit some of the outside exhibits. More about the Heritage Center can be found here.
I liked this mural on the side of the building. 
An old artillery piece on display. 
A great statue memorializing out veterans. 
One of the tanks near the main entrance. The Heritage Center also hosts the Army Heritage Trail, which serves as an outdoor museum. It covers about one mile and highlights nearly every era of Army history with different exhibits and large artifacts. The Trail also serves as a stage for living history presentations by historians serving as interpreters.
Fourteen individual exhibits include full scale reconstructions of a French and Indian War way station, Redoubt Number 10 from the Revolutionary War siege of Yorktown, a section of the Antietam battlefield, a Civil War winter encampment with cabins, a WWI trench system, a WWII company area, a replicated Normandy Bocage scene from World War II, a Current Operations HESCO Bastion barrier checkpoint, and an interpretation of the Vietnam helicopter air assault at Ia Drang that includes a period Fire Support Base. Additionally, there are numerous smaller exhibits featuring armor, aircraft, and artillery from several different eras of U.S. Army history.
A view of the Heritage Trail. -
Sometimes you just encounter some fun or interesting stuff while out with your camera.
I believe this is a horse-drawn plow. 
The White Rock Forge Covered Bridge 
Right next door is … 
You can’t make this stuff up. I wonder what the origin of the name is. Does the groundhog sleep in on February 2? 
Amish schoolhouse 
a really cool looking small shed 
I loved the shrub in front of this home. -
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