We are off on another road trip to St. Louis. With us this time is our daughter Michelle, here with Edie at dinner tonight at the Union Grill in Washington PA

And our granddaughter Joan, on spring break this week.

Michelle and Joan are aunt and niece. Joan will turn 11 next month. Michelle is …. older.

We didn’t leave Washington DC until after 1, and stopped for lunch at the Urbana MD Waffle House, which I rate an A. It is sleek and clean and very friendly. And where else can you get three egg orders, a waffle, several orders of hash browns, toasts and grits, plus a coffee, for $35?

We then headed west on I-70 to Breezewood PA and then west on US 30 to Bedford, PA, a regular stop. We went into the Peppercorn Market and bought fig infused balsamic vinigar, which they import and which we had bought there before. Our talk with the always friendly proprietor was the highlight of the day.

This is the Peppercorn, filled with gourmet foods. It is a very well stocked place, but what is most interesting is the building constructed in 1758. The sign on the exterior of the building says that this is the only remaining building in the entire country with a connection to the French and Indian War.

I had been in this store twice before, but had never noticed the stairs going down to a basement covered by a sheet strong enough to walk on, and clear enough to see through. What is this?

It turns out that, during the French and Indian War, Ft. Bedford played a prominent role for the British. The building now housing the Peppercorn was used as a storage facility for armaments. The steps leading down led to a tunnel that went about 100 feet to the fort. The fort is no longer there, and the tunnel is blocked near the bottom of the steps. But this spring, archeologists from Temple U. are supposed to come and work on opening the tunnel to see what, if anything, is there.

Bit that is not all. He took us through a door in back of the into what looks like a living room. It is beautiful. Exposed old brick walls and a handsome old brick fireplace, original flooring, samples of wallpaper dating from the 18th century, and a ceiling with old joists.

This room, and perhaps more, date from the early 19th century. They believe the ceiling joists were taken from a building in the old fort. The room, perfectly furnished, is beautiful.

The interesting thing is that, when they bought the building, the proprietor knew none of this. All was discovered during its renovation. Even the beauty and history of this room was unknown, as the floors and ceiling had been plastered over and painted, and the floor covered by layers of linoleum. Everything they found was totally unexpected.  I didn’t get any photos, but go to fortifiedbedfordhouse.com, and you will learn more.

For some reason, GPS didn’t take us to I-70, but put us on PA Rte 31, a beautiful country road that goes through Somerset and Mt. Pleasant. We saw more cows everywhere than you normally see anywhere along with horses and sheep. A beautiful ride.

We had a fine dinner at the always crowded Union Grill in Washington PA, and retired to local Hampton Inn.

Tomorrow, to Indiana.