Mansfield and Bridgeton

Wednesday we arrived at Mansfield a little after nine.  Mansfield is separated into two sections:  one with vendors below the hill and the more vendors on  top of the hill.  Last year there weren't many vendors on the hill and our friend Shane told us it was the same this year; therefore, we decided that we would stay below the hill.  We walked each row of vendors and the Big Tent,  crossed the bridge, and checked out the rest of the vendors.  We ate on this other side of the bridge.  Mansfield has turned into nearly 95 percent flea market stuff or as our friend Shane would say, "Stuff from China and Temu."  We agree but it was a good way to spend a morning.  We will probably go to Bridgeton at least three times but Mansfield only once.

Traditionally, I must take a picture of the Historic Marshall Arch.

We saw this horse and carriage with an Amish man waiting to turn into the road.  We have not seen many Amish on the road or fields but have seen plenty of them running shops and stores in Bridgeton.

Our car is second from the right on the front row of the parking lot.  We have never parked that close to the festival.  Our feet appreciated the closeness of the parking spot.

I saw this sign in Mansfield and got a good laugh.

After lunch we drove some rural roads back to our campsite.  The next few pictures were taken along that drive.  The leaves have finally began to turn.

This camper moved across the way from our campsite.  It looks like a vintage camper.  Notice the old wagon wheel they have put in front of the camper wheel to add to the charm.

Today (Thursday) we returned to Bridgeton.  This farmer was stirring up quite a dust storm.  It is very dry here just like Central Illinois.  We have been here eleven days with no rain.  That has never happened in the 16 years we have been coming here.  Usually, we would have a day or two that it rained.

Today was a big day in spending for us  Every year we see telescoping flag poles for sale and pass them by but today we decided we would buy one for our front yard.  We can hardly wait to get it home and installed in our front yard.  We purchased a light for the top so the flag can fly 24-hours a day.  We have enlisted Jason to help us install it.  We walked the main street in Bridgeton all the way to the end where the old school house is.  We ate lunch and then returned to pick up the flagpole.  The guy guaranteed that it would fit in our car if we put the back seat down...it did.  As Carol was walking with the flagpole, a man sitting on the edge of the bridge asked us about the flagpole and the cost of it.  In the conversation, we told him that Carol was  80.  He said that he is 62....wow, we would have guessed him to be closer to our age!!  Anyway, we walked on a bit and he caught up with us and asked if he could carry the flagpole for us to our car.  Carol gladly handed it to him to carry.  He carried it to the car and helped Carol put it into the car.  There are still some nice people in this world and this man is proof of that.

We drove more rural roads back to Rockville.  The next pictures were taken on these roads.  It seems like the leaves have changed overnight.

Our final stop of the day was the car wash in Rockville.  All the rock and dusty roads we have driven the last few days have left their mark on the car and Carol could take it no longer.  

We arrived back at camp around 2:30 and relaxed the rest of the afternoon.  After supper we took a walk around this side of the campground.  My walking app was very happy with me today because I walked 11,156 steps or 4.4 miles.  I am sure we will both sleep well tonight.  It has been a nice day.  We saw so much beauty in God's natural world and He blessed us with beautiful weather to match the natural beauty.