Decompression mission completed, we left Lou & Larry’s courtesy parking this morning. After a lengthy round of goodbyes with everyone, we rolled off to I-90 from Cleveland to western PA and eventually to western NY near Jamestown.
Our new mission was to find the fabled “Forbidden” Amish Donuts that I mentioned in a previous blog. It wasn’t hard. Garminita found the house far out in the countryside of Conewango Valley, a rural town along New York’s “Amish Trail“. A hand-lettered sign saying “Baked Goods” was the only advertisement, but we knew instantly that this was the place.
The driveway was a major challenge. I wasn’t about to pass this one by just because our 53 feet of towing rig couldn’t possibly fit. There was no shoulder on the road either, but when you’ve driven many miles out of your way and have been anticipating creamy maple donuts the size of a softball, it’s amazing what can be done with an Airstream trailer. We pulled in, turned around (badly scaring an Amish sheep in the process) in my patented 5-point turnaround maneuver, and aimed the Airstream toward the road, partially blocking the driveway and completing obscuring the three little parking spaces the Miller family had provided for their customers.
No matter. Mr Miller came out and helped with the final back-in, and there were no other customers. We stepped into the little shack that serves as their shop, and gazed adoringly at simple wood shelves laden with all types of pies, cookies, loaves of bread, cinnamon buns, and other treats. Although a sign says “No photos,” the amiable Mr Miller allowed me to shoot a couple of the shelves (“as long as you don’t have me in it,”) for our records.
The real problem here is choosing what not to buy, since everything looks good—and the prices are a bargain. We chose a half-dozen molasses cookies at $1.50, a jar of hot pepper relish, and a dozen donuts. Our total was $14.50. The maple donuts were not stocked, but on request he whistled to a family member and they labored in the kitchen unseen for a few minutes to custom-glaze and fill the dozen donuts for us, while we chatted about our travels and the spectacular spring weather to our Amish host.
Now, each of these donuts are absolutely enormous, kind of like a Cinnabon size but much better for being entirely homemade and local. One of them is a meal. We hauled the Airstream out of the driveway, waving to two members of the Miller family as we went, and sought out a roadside stop so that we could properly devour one each.
We found a NY State Fishing Access point on tiny Lake Flavia where nobody was fishing, pulled the Airstream in, and got into the donuts. I really thought I would eat two of them, but one was definitely as much as I could eat—and I love maple cream donuts. They’re that huge.
Getting out of that part of western NY state required a fair amount of 90-degree turns from one country lane to another, and much bouncing of the Airstream. There was some re-packing needed at the next rest stop but it was all worth it. We still have nine huge donuts left.
Tonight we are overnighting at Darien Lakes State Park, just east of Buffalo. Being Thursday, there was no problem getting a site without a reservation. While in the campground office we picked a spot that we’ve used before, but when we got down to the site it was flanked by two families who were nursing smoking “campfires” [Minor Rant: I wish campers would learn how to make fires rather than just smoke signals] and screaming children, and so decided to choose a site further away. We’ll only be here one night and the weather is so fine that we want the windows open this evening.
This is a beautiful open site next to a grassy lawn that is just begging for a game of frisbee or whiffleball. Too bad we don’t have a team. We’ll just have to admire the view and walk around a little to get over four hours of towing.
Tomorrow our plan is to take I-90 east to the Adirondacks. The only stop planned is Tim Horton’s to get some coffee, which means we have plenty of time for side trips if we think of anything we want to do. Or we can just pause by the roadside and eat three more mammoth donuts …
That’s probably not going to be the case, however. We both have miles to go and much to do. He’ll get on the road today most likely, and we will be heading out shortly as well. Last night Eleanor and I worked out our routing for next few days, which is pretty straightforward (I-90 thru OH, PA, NY, then Adirondacks and on to VT).
The Backup Derby came off as planned, on asphalt near the Service Center. This was the event where teams of two are challenged to back up a single-axle U-Haul trailer through a course of orange cones. “The Stig” showed up to run the course first, and set a time of 1:34, which wasn’t really great. He later explained that he’d practiced in a different tow vehicle, but I think he was just making excuses.
Hymn for Her, our Friday night musical act, was apparently a big hit. I missed much of it but the reviews were great. Their style of music is unusual, hard to categorize, and great fun.
Eleanor’s “Aluminum Chef” demo came off well in the afternoon. She made 
After that, Charon and Alex came on stage to swallow swords, breathe fire, and were as brilliant as always. We last enjoyed their show at the Vintage Trailer Jam in 2008.
This time they finished with a very unusual act in which Alex was vacuum-packed in a plastic bag. Charon kept the vacuum running until we all donated enough money to the hat, then she let him free. The money, which amounted to $420, will be used to buy seven annual passes to the community pool, for children of Airstream employees.
The day started with an early “pranayama” seminar by sKY and slaDE, our resident yoga instructors, while JJ and Sandi did their SkyMed pitch in the Main Tent, then regular yoga class, then the two Product Feedback sessions that Airstream’s top design and sales people run (which were very well attended). The kids did a scavenger hunt at 10 a.m., while Joe led a bike ride for the adults.
I missed all of that, because a production crew working for HGTV was on site, shooting video for a show to be released sometime this fall. They wanted to do a short interview with me (in addition to several members of the Airstream staff). I’m pretty sure my moment of fame will end up on the cutting room floor. I was also leading three Airstream Life staff through the factory for a future article about the factory tour, so all of this kept me away from the fun that everyone else was having.
Throughout the past three days we have seen almost nothing of Emma. She linked up with a new friend, Katherine, and the two have been completely inseparable. But that’s OK with all the parents involved. This is a great environment to let a pair of 11 & 12 year old girls run free. We’re in a small quiet town, inside a fence with security guards at each entrance, and surrounded by hundreds of wonderful Airstreamers. For some reason the girls have a pact to prevent us from getting pictures of them, but I’ve managed to sneak one or two.