On the Road 9: I Meet an Old Friend

Hershey Pennsylvania - home of the chocolate that's, well, not quite Cadbury's and also of the Antique Auto Club of America museum.  Of course, because it's Hershey, they have to have a Kissmobile outside. (Hershey's kisses are to Americans what chocolate buttons used to be for us.)

Do you want to adopt this vinatge snowplough? I thought not. But if you wanted to, you could. They'd be delighted if you paid for its upkeep. It might be useful for scaring off burglars.

In an otherwise anonymous building, the car weathervane is a nice touch.

Wonder of wonders, they had a British Lotus exhibit! (Well actually that's why we stopped by). Some of the cars were not quite what British people would describe as "antique" - another one of those words that means something different across the pond.

This was in the foyer. We thought that would be it but there was more inside.

Like this fabulous 1959 Elite

I didn't realise Colin Chapman also designed a sort of ultralight aircraft engine..

Here's a Europa, as once owned by Georgie Best of blessed memory, though I think his was white.

Another of my favourites...

As was this sweet Elan

Nicely displayed in an old garage setting. Someone must have had fun putting this together.

As for the red one - I could have taken it home with me if I wasn't being disloyal..

Because there was my baby! (His counterpart, which I've owned for 20 years, currently resides in London and is much missed.) I'm ashamed to say I felt the odd tear looking at him.)

They really did have fun.. these cars were displayed against a background which I'think was meant to be the rolling  English countryside. Someone should have told them that Norfolk is flat. There was also a fascinating video playing, narrated by a nice, plummy English voice.

And here was a genuine Lotus chassis. Apparently it was one of the most popular exhibits for the Lotus enthusiasts. Their only complaint was that it wasn't placed prominently enough, it being the Essence of Lotus.

"That's my car!" I'd said to the guide about the Norfolk Mustard Elan. Perhaps he was touched because he was kind enough to take me behind the scenes to look at the Pierce-Arrows, temporarily stored to make room, so I could take some snaps for hubby.

Pierce-Arrows were made in Buffalo, western New York's metropolis. . They were the Presidential and celebrity cars of their day. Exquisite in every detail.

This one even had a child seat in front.

And the white one belonged to Marlene

They brought in special silver for the fabled archer.

There were all sorts of other goodies like this 1912 Stearns-Knight.

A 1910 Otto

And an 1895 Benton Harbor Motor Carriage. Too bad we don't call them that any more.

Some more whimsical setting like a cinema

And Miami, with a 1941 Packard on the right.

That one's available for adoption too.

This is a barn door, owned by the Tucker family.

Which made magnificent beasts like this.

Well back we went to the bland box on wheels that's a modern car.

On the Road 8: A Special Shrine

   Towards the end of our journey north, as we cruised through Maryland, we spied a sign that said,   “National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes” . We turned off to check it out and found we had just half an hour before the shrine closed. We followed the sign to a car park and then took a short walk and there in front of us was a tall tower, a golden statue of Our Lady of Lourdes atop.  

There were spectacular views over the surrounding countryside and hardly anyone around, save a small group of girls busy taking selfies. 

The old building is part of Mount St Mary's University.

We explored our way along neat paths through shrubs and flowers still dormant and bare in early spring, the Mysteries of the Rosary depicted in mosaic,  notices in English and Spanish urging silence. American Catholic churches could use a few more of those.

There was another statue of Mary, in the centre of a quiet pool. This must be wonderful in summer.

There was a tiny chapel 

with a statue of St Elizabeth Ann Seton, a pioneer of Catholic education in America.

And "Mother Seton's Rock" where she once sat to teach the local kids.

And finally the grotto itself

With St Bernadette looking up at her miraculous vision of the Virgin Mary.

  The replica of the Lourdes Grotto,  one of the earliest in America, was built in the 1870s  just 20 years after the 1858 apparitions. in the grounds of Mount St Mary’s  University and seminary. Apparently it currently has 150 seminarians, which is pretty good going these days.

   Here's St Francis.

   

And a memorial to an animal-loving  mother from her children.

     This statue is of Our Lady of La Vang

In oriental dress, especially venerated by the Vietnamese community, many of whom had made donations.

  That seemed to be repeated in a lot of places at the Shrine.  The American way, I suppose. You could even  sponsor a rhododendron,  “Come see the blooming rhododendrons and Awaken your spirit! Just like the blooming rhododendrons need care and nurturing, so does our spiritual life!”

  But never mind, a bit of spirit Awakening doesn’t come amiss.

There were some lovely mosaics

But this statue of Mother Teresa was my favourite.

She was one of many celebrated people who've visited the shrine over the years. Glad we could join them. 

On the Road 7: Amazing Azaleas

Driving north from Florida in April we always have an azalea feast, the spring in the Carolinas being of course much earlier than western New York's.

These were all colours from white, through pale and shocking pink to bright red.

And I'm ashamed to say I can't remember the name of the little town.

Though it was a feast for the eyes. Anyone recognise it?

This was actually a railway embankment.

 And with a blossoming tree too.

There were so many scenes like this.

No, it wasn't this place but the name was worth a photo.