Visiting simplicity and tradition
The trip is divided into three sections. Days 1 -9 are focused on visiting Holmes County, Ohio. Days 10-16 are all about Michigan and Tillers International. Days 11-19 are about visiting Lancaster County, PA, and Days 20-21 are about getting home.
Day 1: Depart Maine and travel to Danbury, CT, for an overnight stop.
Day 2: Depart Connecticut and travel to State College, PA for an overnight stop
Day 3: Depart Pennsylvania and travel to Sugar Creek, OH
Day 4 – 9: Stay in a VRBO among the “Ohio Amish” as visitors and occasionally as tourists. One definite visit will be to the Behalt, also known as the Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center. Behalt is a 10-foot by 265-foot circular mural. The painted oil-on-canvas cyclorama uses unique artistic techniques of line and color to illustrate multiple stories within a vast timeline. The name Behalt means “to keep, hold, remember.”
Day 10: Depart Ohio and travel to Scott, MI.
Day 11 – 14: This represents the ultimate objective of the trip. We’ll stay on the campus (a working farm) of Tillers International, where I’ll attend a four day workshop learning to train and drive oxen! We’re also invited to attend a family ice cream party with our friend Anina!
Day 15: Depart Michigan and travel to Akron, OH, for an overnight stop.
Day 16: Depart Ohio and travel to Johnstown, PA, for an overnight stop.
Day 17: Depart Johnstown and travel to East Earl PA
Day 18-20: This may be our shortest visit to the “Pennsylvania Amish” in the Lancaster area. We hope to reconnect and visit with Amish friends, including Hanna Rose, Rachel, and Barbara—just a few of the Amish folks I have learned much from! We’ll also probably overdose on ice cream at Down on the Farm and Lapp’s—preferably at the farm, but the new store is awesome, too!
Day 20: Depart Pennsylvania and travel to Sturbridge, MA, for an overnight stop.
Day 21: Depart Massachusetts and travel home to Maine. It will be bittersweet!