The quaint hills and valleys of Pennsylvania made for nice views but ridiculous RV driving. Every bend in the road seemed to warn of another hazard: detour, road closed, one-lane bridge, and the dreaded 11′ 5″ max (we are 11′ 5″). We made it through okay but there were some scary moments since we can’t back up with the toad attached.

Other signs were just confusing. What does “Fresh Oil and Chips” mean?! We saw at least 4 big orange construction signs promising this strange combo but we were too anxious to get off those adorably treacherous roads to investigate further. Finally, with the help of a friendly trucker, we weaved our way out to Butler, PA, which offered a big straight road and all of the strip restaurants an 11-year old boy could ask for: The Hot Dog House, Steak & Shake, Pancake Palace, two DQs, and a Looney Toons theater (which we’re not sure was a theater). Elian wants to move here when BigTrip is over.

We zoomed along for a few hours, enjoying the smooth wide highway. We barely winked at Erie, stopping to say we did and to get gas. Made it to Buffalo by 6:30pm, pulling into a neighborhood to park in a friend’s driveway for the night. It took us an hour or more to unhook the toad and try to level the Woodebago so we could run the frig (chemicals that power the frig won’t work otherwise). No luck so we decided to just leave her be and take the toad in search of the requisite Buffalonian dinner. 

Ted’s was delicious (dogs, fries, onion rings, and shakes), but not enough to stop us from also visiting Antoinette’s to try the sponge candy. What a place! And the woman who runs the place was filled with interesting facts about how and when they make all of their candy. Mailing season isn’t until October (after “Sweetest Day”), or we would definitely have sent some to a few of you chocolate-loving friends and family.

Now we are snug in our driveway spot (thank you, Debbie!). On to Niagara tomorrow…