Pigsylvania Turnpike

Picture taken by Donna and used with permission of
The Western Pennsylvania  Conservancy



We had a blast in Pennsylvania despite the weird turnpike thing that charges you the equivalent of a car payment just for using it. But if some of that money goes towards maintenance of those beautiful state parks, it was worth it.

After months of planning and weeks of gestating, we finally took out 2 and 1/2 year old sow Sophie out to her new home in Pennsylvania. Back in November we had been contacted by the University of Pennsylvania who was looking for a Red Wattle Hog for  their research project on Heritage Hogs. They needed a pregnant sow and offered to pay us for her and our travel expenses if we chose to bring her out East ourselves.

A paid vacation? Hell yes ! Oops, I meant "Of course we'd love to be part of your well thought out research program, is it too much to ask to book us in 5 star hotels?"

So in December we arranged a date for Sophie and Mad Max (but not telling her about the fact that she had to get pregnant, as we didn't want to pile on the pressure)  In January we trucked her 10 miles down the road for an ultrasound and some lab tests. All looked great. In February we repeated the labs. On March 7 we left for the land of Blue Mountain.

Sophie tolerated the trip very well in the lovely condo Keith built for her that fit perfectly in the back of the truck bed. She basically slept the whole way. Oh every once in awhile the truck would suddenly swerve one way or the other as she turned her husky 500 pound self side to side but other than that...We checked on her at every stop, talking to a big plywood box at the gas station, and the restaurant and the turnpike ticket station.

The first night we stayed at Holiday Inn Express in St Clairsville, Ohio and wrestled with the centuries old question, "do we tell the motel maid we are traveling with a big fat pig or not?" We chose to keep Sophie in the truck incognito, even though the tub was plenty big enough for a trough and kept eye on her by parking the truck alongside the other semi's.

I can only imagine what the other truckers thought as they walked past our truck and heard those bear like grunts only a pig (or bear) can make. But then again, I'll bet they've heard worse in a hotel parking lot.

We arrived March 8 and took Sophie to a nice  little farm where  she was greeted by one of the research assistants who would care for her until the university decided it was time to deliver her babies. Saying  goodbye was weird. All the way home I had this feeling I left one of my kids at the sitters and forgot to pick them up.

The highlight of the trip was our stop at Fallingwater House in Mill Run, Pa. One of the homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright we were blown away by it's one of a kind construction.



Picture taken by Donna and used with permission of The
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Erected in the midst of thick woods, OVER a waterfall with multiple balconies and levels, and supported by  a huge boulder in the middle of the home, it was an unbelievable creation. Sadly we were not allowed to take any indoor pics but for a home that was designed in 1936 it was fairly modern with tiny, narrow, dark hallways opening up into rooms filled with light from multiple windows and skylights. We did have their permission to post pics on my blog.



Picture taken by Donna and used with permission of
The Western Pennsylvania
Conservancy

The tour lasted two hours but we could have easily stayed all day . Gave us many ideas for our next home. Have you been to this awesome house? What was your favorite room?