Sunday - September 8

We left the campground around 7:45 and drove into North East, PA (that's actually the name of the town) for 9:00 Mass at St. Gregory Thaumaturgus................or simply, St. Gregory.    The visiting priest today, Father Ross Chamberland was from Bonaventure University in Allegheny, NY (70 miles south of Buffalo).    Father Chamberland is a Franciscan Friar and travels around with a group who minister to professional travelers...........circus performers, carnival workers, people who travel full time for a living.    So, priests, nuns, lay people are there for Mass, education for the children, perform Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings, Funerals, etc.    It was quite interesting and something we and most of the congregation had never heard of.

Father was wearing a stole over his vestments that had been given to him by a recent circus group.    It was quite something with circus tents (the big top) paced strategically down the sides and then a silver glittery cross on each side - as he said, the circus is a glitzy, flashy event!    We told him we were the Chamberlains and also travelers (nomads)!    He would love to live on a boat....nice guy!

We then went to The Bean Coffeehouse just a few blocks away for coffee/latte/cinnamon roll (me), sandwich (Mark) to go.    Cute shop.

We traveled 216 miles today and arrived in rural Butler, Ohio around 2:30 and staying at the River Trail Crossing Campground.  We were all set up before a light rain shower came at 3.    Mark had these campgrounds all figured out and reservations made so we could just pull thru with Flo and not have to unhook.   Trying to make it as easy as possible on his back.....doing great, though!

We passed many vineyards and are parked across the road from a cornfield - corn looks very healthy up here but no sign of turning yet - a late harvest for this area, too.

After supper we went for a walk.    This is a small park and most campers are full summer residents.   Our neighbors next door are from Cape Coral, FL (formerly Palatine, IL).    We found a bike path and what a delightful, scenic area that covers 18 miles from Butler to Mansfield, OH.    It was the former B and O Railroad track in Richland County.

Pretty scenic bridge on our "short" little route

Did not realize that today is National Grandparents Day......Drew sent us a nice note!  💗

Have a good week!