EASTER WEEKEND ROADTRIP – Part III

HAPPY EASTER! Today we headed back home. We had breakfast in Towanda and then followed 220, 405, 147 and 61 into Reading where we picked up 10 and 322 home. We did not get to see the Nova game – it was an early one – but as soon as we could tune in KYW we got the score and of course were very happy!

Most of today was spent driving through many towns; some very small; some bigger than we thought they'd be and one that really doesn't exist anymore. Route 61 took us through Centralia, PA. Actually Route 61 used to go through Centralia but now it is diverted around what's left of it. We did not plan this but when we realized where we were we decided to check it out. For those not familiar with the story of Centralia, PA here is a summary. This is coal mining region. A trash fire in the early 1960's spread into a coal vein nearby. Efforts to put it out failed and by the mid-1980's many homes had to be evacuated. When we were there on March 23, 2008 we saw one home, a fire house and the cemetary. You could see the abandoned road grid of what was once the town. Conspiracy theories are plentiful. Regardless, the sight is something out of the Twilight Zone. Smoke comes out of the ground and despite a 40 degree day the ground was warm nearby.

The things you can see when you take scenic route!