I arrived promptly at noon on Friday, after fighting my way for 30 minutes down Rt 30. A normal 5 minute drive between I-83 and the hotel generally takes 5 minutes. Upon entering…there was no one in site save for a multitude of college age females, the bar was not even open, so I had to settle for sitting in the Sunshine…yes sunshine… Around 1300…I decided to see if they had decided to reopen the watering hole…they hadn’t but upon venturing out into the sunlight again, i was blessed with the august presence of our own Fr Fred, with Ralph in tow. He claimed to have been there previously and had ventured off ins search of a Lockmaster to see if he hada daughter, alas his quest was in vain. A frontal assault was made on the desk, and our room allocations sorted out to everyones satitsfaction. It was also determined that the Generous donation from the High Falls Brewery had arrived the day before and was safely ensconced in the Manager’s office, and would be prepared for the primer later that evening. Thusly reassured we retired to our chambers and proceeded to give thanks with a beaker or three of Highland PArk. Thus strengthened we opted fora brief appeareane at the Show Venue where we met Ric Golding, his lovely wife Jan, and Millie the Brake Dawg. After a brief reconoiter of the premesis, andplotting of the plan of attack, we retired back to the HI, where the bar was now open and we were able to begin the socializing. Our own Bob McCowan and lovely wife Martha, and Young Bruce of Burke and his lovely wife Jean joined us. Dinner was decided to occur at a local abbatoir at which Bruce’s land navigation skills were crrected only by his ability to perform high G manuvers in two dimensions, taking the ‘scenic’ route. Also of note was the “blooming Onion” of the repast that decidedly dropped a gut bomb on Fr Fred’s innards. After dinner the Branch Railroadian Felloship Hospitality room was opened and too Fred’s amazement the JW Dundee was contained in an Aluminum Bottle of a full pint’s capacity. Topic of the evening tended to be the modeling uses that these beakers could be put to. The next day dawn a bit damp, but the sun did make an appearance. After a brief visit to the Venue, Ralph, Bob, Martha and I opted to abandonethe urban sprawl of greater York and visit the lovely Straussburg area. We were able to enjoy the nicest weather ever, and discovered that not only was the bookstore moved, it was really well stocked! After riding the train in the parlor car no less, we visited the railroad museum of Pennsylvania and all it entailed. Then it was back to the show for a bit. The Rodent Party was underway with all the usual suspects,plus a distinguish visitor from Joisy, the one, yet many Vogel made his Offical appearance, along with his SousaFusaTrombaphone and the official Fr Fred PRocessional occured. Dinner was selected for a local Irish pub, the “Horn and Whistle” or some such, and another one of Bruce’s land navigation exercises ensued. Upon successful completion of the exercise, it was determined that reservations would have been preferred thus it was decided that we would return to the HI for dinner. Afterward esued the official drag and brag session, complete with presentations from Gary Buchanan, Bob McCowan , and myself…the crowd was welmed. More aluminum containers were emptied of their contents, and a great time was had by all. The following day was begun by our official Farewell brekfast at the Starlight Diner and a return by many of us to The Venue. It was quiet enjoyable actually, as the Venue had relaxed its restrictions on MacMcCalla allowinghim to actually paint,and he did a nice number on my Rolling Outhouses…
He also convinced me that it was time to make good on my new years resolution and purchase an airbrush, which I did. Also the Bachmann was impressed with my scratcbuilt On30ness, as well as holding a conversation with Stretch of C&OC Ry fame (he sold me all my rail) which resulted in many bad ideas that I just have to try, and Flem of Warrior Run which also was quiet enjoyable. Shortly afte Noon I was pressed to retire to my trusty steed and return to the Big Sandy Valley… Photos of the Expedition found here… http://www.lscdata.com/users/eclsts2006/index.cgi