This trip has been one of fortuitous connections. Today's drive led us to a very special one.
As we are wont to do, we traveled off the main highway and found ourselves on the historic Lincoln Highway. Pennsylvania happens to be the home of the longest and best preserved stretch (200 miles) of America's first coast-to-coast automobile road.What brought us to Bedford, a town I'd love to return to, was this coffee pot photo opportunity. Officially known as the Koontz Coffee Pot, this roadside giant looks like something you’d expect to see along Route 66. Instead, it’s located in Bedford County in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania. This coffee pot really is giant. In fact, it’s 18 feet tall and 22 feet in diameter, making it big enough to hold over 800,000 cups of coffee.
Dunkle's Gulf Station was something that made Steve pull over. This famous, historic Art Deco-style service station was designed by Pittsburgh architect Edward Weber. Dick Dunkle opened the station in 1933 during the Great Depression. His son Jack ran the business for decades as both a repair shop and a landmark of roadside Americana. Sadly, the station closed permanently after Jack Dunkle passed away in March 2023, and the old gas pumps and signs have since been removed. It remains a beloved architectural landmark for travelers passing through Bedford County. Oh man, so beloved.
Our home for two nights is with the wonderful David and Kim in Zelienople, PA. On December 28, 2022, I got a comment on my blog post (here) about Hallmark Children's Editions pop-up books. Anonymous said... "My mother-in-law gave my husband a book titled, Famous Ships, that is a Pop-Up Hallmark book, at Christmas time. Turns out his grandma bought it for him when he was little. I had never heard of these books before, and when I did a search, your blog came up. These books are fantastic! I love rich books that teach kids and our full of color and art. I will definitely have my eye out for locating more of these books now." After a series of email communications, I sent her the book as I just knew it belonged in her library. Long story short, I am writing this post from our 'campsite' at her lovely home in the little town of Zelienople. What a small, wonderful world.And if just meeting Kim and her awesome husband David wasn't enough, she hosted a surprise family birthday party for Steve. The wonderful guests were her daughter and son-in-law. Some people are just meant to be in your life. Tomorrow, Kim has composed an incredible itinerary. We can't wait.
"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest
waiting for others to come to you.
You have to go to them sometimes.”
— A.A. Milne
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