Testing Gravity

One of my favorite Yogi Berra maxims is, "if you come to a fork in the road, take it." I'm a firm believer in taking every fork in the road I can find - especially on vacation. And when there's a law of physics to be tested ... by golly, I'm up for the challenge.

On a trip home from Virginia a few years ago, E and I decided we needed to check out Gravity Hill - one of those tourist attractions you see advertised in the service plazas along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and on road signs. We thought it might possibly rank up there with the Giant Ball of Twine and Man-Eating Clam, but were intrigued nonetheless. Anything to delay our return to the real world.

At one of our stops, we picked up the funky retro brochure, which was one of the most complete - and entertaining - guides to an attraction I've ever seen. Cleverly written and chock-full of helpful hints (including etiquette and safety hints for the Hill and activities to do once you arrive), this was a darned effective bit of literature. The best part is, the experience was even better than the hype.

True to the detailed directions, New Paris (another part of the appeal) is waaaayyy off the beaten path. But what gorgeous, verdant rolling hills - God's country.

When we arrived, we took turns lying down in the road, following all safety precautions, natch. We poured water on the pavement and watched it flow uphill. The car did, too. Really! We followed the directions and went on to find the unmarked gravity hill up the road. Amazing. You have to experience this place to believe it. Or maybe you have to believe it first to experience it. Either way, it's sort of like faith.

This was so much better than the overpriced, disappointing detour to Hershey a few years earlier. With that excursion, we were promised - and fully expected - the aroma of chocolate would greet us as soon as we drove into town. Ha. We hung our heads out the windows in anticipation - only to be smacked in the nostrils by a fragrance we named Eau de petrol et manure. And there's no Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-like tour with chocolate waterfalls. (Too many concerns about terrorists - who knew our chocolate supply was at risk?) We'll never forget being herded (in our unsatisfying and ultimately sobering tour) past the "where cacao comes from" displays. As I recall, the best part of that trip was seeing what I thought looked like marshmallow fields - giant tarp-covered mounds of hay along the highway - all ready to be harvested.

Oooh, that reminds me: We should try rolling marshmallows on our next visit to Gravity Hill.