Kinzua Skywalk

Just getting to the Kinzua Skywalk was an adventure. The road was very narrow and winding road ending in an open gravel parking lot next to a construction site. I think Bob was wondering if we were in the right place. It was cold and misting making it quite cold. Karen and Bob started off down a gravel path. I stayed in the nice warm car. Karen tells the rest of the story.

After a short walk walked down the gravel pathway we saw the skywalk. There was more construction vehicles here working on pathways. There is a switchback-like path you walk to get to the skywalk. Bob waited while I headed down the path. I tried to cut across vs following the path. Bad idea. It was like quick sand. My shoes got stuck and I had to pull them out.

I put my shoes back on and continued to the skywalk. I found a patch of grass and could clean up a little. Still pretty gross.

It was very erie walking out on the viaduct. It is close to 300 feet above the ground. They preserved the rails so that makes for an interesting visual. Looking over the edge you can see the supporting structure.

At the end, you can see the pieces of structure that fell. The twisted iron gave me a ghostly feeling.

This view shows how misty it was. I felt like I was in the clouds.

They are building a visitor center. This picture is from the skywalk. It will have a great view when it is finished.

Bob and I walked back to the car. We were freezing. I bagged my shoes (I washed them later at the hotel). Then I used a bottle of water and paper towels, Bob handed them to me, to clean off my feet the best I could. We can't pick any place fancy for lunch since I'm a messy wreck and wearing slippers.

We returned to Route 6 heading back the way we came. Thank goodness for heated seats.

Meadville PA - Day 7

Jay, from the Inn, told us about Lynn Hall at breakfast so that was our first stop. It is right on Route 6 just outside Port Allegany. The house and a cottage were designed and built by Walter Hall who later built Fallingwater which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Lynn Hall is being privately restored by the DeVore family. No one was there so we looked around the outside. Very cool place and such a great warm up since we have tickets to tour Fallingwater on Sunday.

Next stop was the Kinzua Skywalk. The skywalk, located off Route 6 by Mount Jewett, is the remnant of a railroad viaduct originally built in 1882. It was brought down by a tornado in 2003. There is more info and pictures at this link. Boy was it an adventure, especially for Karen. I will tell that story in it's own post. I saw two small oil pumper stations on the way out to the skyway. I expect we might see more as we continue west.

Most of the tanker trucks I have been seeing are related to natural gas drilling. I saw lots of logging trucks as we went through the Allegheny National Forest. Karen said that some of the towns aren't even on the iPhone map. We just went through a very small town called Mead according to the sign on the road but nothing on the iPhone. Guess a town can be too small for Apple.

We stopped in Warren and Karen and Bob had lunch at the Cornerstone. Karen had a chicken lip salad. I didn't think chicken's had lips.  

Jay from the inn told us to drive around town to see the lovely homes. We saw several just from Route 6 - very interesting architecture and so well maintained. There's a river that runs through Warren. It is a very pretty town. I could see spending a little time there just hanging out, sniffing around town, meeting local dogs, etc.

Starting in Cambridge Springs I started to see all kinds of old metal bridges. This is the best picture Karen took. It was hard getting a good picture through the windshield in the rain.  

We arrived at our Meadville hotel safe and sound. Thank goodness, I need a walk.

The Inn on Maple Street

We stayed at The Inn on Maple Street, a Bed and Breakfast in Port Allegany. They have a website with pictures. The house is very quaint and lovely. Owners Jay and Sharen made us all feel right at home, especially me. They LOVED me.

Other Route 6 travelers have stayed there including people riding bikes and walking. We stayed in the Oak Room. It was large and comfortable. The original radiator was still in the room and worked great. Best of all there was a night light so I could find my water dish after bedtime. Bob liked the electric fireplace best.

In the morning, Jay insisted I join everyone for breakfast. Sharen made Eggs Benedict which she served with sautéed apples and pumpkin muffins. My goodness! I could stay here the rest of the month.

Port Allegany - Day 6

It was very chilly this morning. Karen wore her slippers all day. It was 44° and damp when we left the hotel.
We made a quick stop in Wellsboro to look inside the Penn Wells Hotel. It's supposed to be haunted. The Main Street looks like all the other towns we have driven through. I love the old buildings.

We continued on Route 6 until we saw a sign for the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.  It is in the Tioga State Forest. The real name for the canyon is Pine Creek Gorge. There's a picture of it in the Penn Wells Hotel. The elevation at the rim is over 1800 feet and the gorge is 800 feet deep.

You can hear the water rushing over the rocks. It almost sounds like the ocean. What a drive to get there but worth it for this view. Thankfully the Park Ranger gave us a quicker way back out to 6.  

I saw lots more farming. I also saw evidence of logging including trucks filled with logs. Karen has been whining about needing a picture of a sign with the original name of Route 6. The name is the Grand Army of the Republic Highway. She saw a great example and Bob turned around and stopped so she could get a picture. This sign was in Galeton. Galeton is a very pretty town. There is a river running through it and lovely buildings lining the far bank.

We stopped for lunch in Coudersport. The town is next to the Allegheny River. Bob and Karen ate at the Hotel Crittenden. It is an old circa 1840 hotel building that still has rooms for rent along with a restaurant and a tavern. Bob posed for a picture with this old stove inside the restaurant. I saw a goat farm outside of town - well they told me they were goats. I never met a goat before.

We arrived at the Inn on Maple Street in Port Allegany early so just chilled for a few minutes until the owner of the B & B returned from errands.

Tickville

Last night Karen found ticks on me. It was late and she couldn't get them off so I had to sleep with them on me all night. When I got up, one fell off by itself. Karen checked me over real good after my walk and refound the two she found last night and no new ones. Then Karen found one crawling on her arm. Boy she wasn't happy.

Karen and Bob went to the CVS to get tweezers and alcohol. When they got back, they took the other two off, swiped me with alcohol and applied antibiotic.

Great way to start the day. NOT.

Mansfield Part 2

Next stop was French Azilum located near Wysox. We saw a sign and followed them down a long very winding and narrow path. You can see why it made Bob tense driving.

French Azilum provided refuge for a group of French exiles in the autumn of 1793.   There aren't any structures from the original town. We did see a reconstructed and relocated log cabin, circa 1790, that is a small museum but it was closed.  We walked around the grounds a little before moving on. If you are interested, this site has more info.

Be sure and read the first part of this day's travels in the previous post.

In Towanda Karen saw a Ben Franklin store. She said she hasn't been in one since she was little. Even Route 6, a US highway, is hilly and winding. I have to wedge myself in to avoid slipping of my place. When Karen and Bob mentioned this to a man in the hotel bar, he said the local saying is the roads were laid out by tying a paint brush to a cow's tail. I believe it. Another car from FL must also agree since they drove just like Bob - breaking at the top of all the hills. Not like the locals, they just whizz right along.

When we got to the hotel, it was so cool, the receptionist had a present for me and I got to open it.

Karen and Bob left to get lunch. After they saw this quilt shop and thought of Liz so had to go in. Karen asked about the 5 point metal stars we had seen on so many houses. The woman in quilt shop said they were just a house fashion statement that started about 5 years a ago, nothing special.

After lunch, Karen and I went for a walk around the hotel grounds. We have the perfect dog room, right by the exit to an excellent walking area. As a bonus, we have this wonderful view from the hotel.

hew, about time I could relax.

Mansfield PA - Day 5

Not long after leaving Scranton, starting in Meshoppen, Route 6 follows the Susquehanna River. I saw farms, especially milk cows and hay fields, more often as we neared Laceyville. In Wyalusing, we saw this antique story appropriately named Sanford and Sons. Boy was it chock full of stuff, at least on the outside.

Wyalusing is where I first noticed the quilt like markings on barns. Karen looked them up for me. They are barn quilts. The first one was displayed in Ohio in 2001 and others followed suit. You can find more information here. They are sometimes set up as a trail like those I saw. This link has more information on the Wyalusing barn quilt trail. Note, Karen found it hard to get a picture until we could pull over for this one (not on a barn though) we saw later in the day.

We stopped at the scenic overlook just west of Wyalusing. Karen is the only one who got out to look - it was chilly! She stepped out onto this rock ledge to take pictures. This satellite view map shows the location.

She said the view was breathtaking as you can see.

See the next post for the end of the trail to Mansfield. 

Scranton Revisited

We stayed another night in Scranton. I was glad not to get back into the car right away again. We stayed so Bob and Karen could see the Steamtown National Historic Site and the Houdini Museum. When Bob and Karen came back they said Steamtown was really cool. It's built in a renovated roundhouse. Roundhouses are circular structures used to maintain locomotives. 

They said the displays were really well done and it was very interesting. Bob stood in the engineer's spot and saw what it was like to drive a train. Karen and Bob went inside a caboose, a mail car and Pullman; all very neat to see. 

This train was outside - take a ride on the Reading.

From Steamtown, they went to a little Italian place and had a Philly cheesesteak sandwich for lunch. They said it was delicious. All I ever get is kibble. Then they headed for the Houdini Museum but it was closed. Since it was raining, Karen took this picture from the car window. Tomorrow we get back on Route 6. 

Scranton PA - Day 4

Before leaving this morning, Karen and Bob decided to ditch the cooler. They said they weren't using it and it took up too much room in the trunk. Certainly they wouldn't leave me behind. Nah.

Karen made us stop so she could take a picture of the Bullet Hill Schoolhouse. It is the oldest brick schoolhouse still in use. They say the weather vane has bullet holes in it from the Revolutionary War.

As we went by Lake Gleneida in Carmel New York I saw over 50 rowboats (yes I can count) all laying by the side of the lake out of the water. Guess their owners just hauled them out last fall and are waiting for spring. There were some very unique churches in Mahopac New York. One was the Lake Mahopac United Methodist Church. You can see a picture at this link. The other one was white with blue trim. It had a cylindrical section with crosses on it. It is the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Mother of God, an Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. You can see it here. We stopped in Mahopac for gas at the Route 6 Fuel gas station. Where else?

The road is very hilly and curvy through Bear Mountain State Park. It was hard to stay on my "seat". I moved to Karen's lap so I could relax. The tense driving nixed our side trip to the Roebling Suspension Bridge near Lackawaxen PA. It crosses the Delaware River and has been restored. Find info and pictures here. As we got close to the New York Pennsylvania border I saw real farm country with farmhouses, barns, silos, and fields. Karen and Bob had lunch at The Grill in Matamoras, PA. All I got to do was stare at the Do 6 sign showing 400 miles to go to cross Pennsylvania.

The towns in Pennsylvania are very interesting with lots of unique buildings. Milford is a fine example with so many older buildings of all different architectures. We had a very scenic drive, especially through the Poconos. I just enjoyed the ride.

Woodbury CT - Day 3

Today we drive out of Bob's memories but not before taking a short detour to drive down Blueberry Lane in Scituate RI. Bob's uncle used to own the properties on this street.

Bob recognized the rock wall right away. His aunt Dot and aunt Alice lived on this street. He thinks this is the house Dot lived in. So much has changed. He didn't see a house like he remembers aunt Alice living in nor did we see the blueberry patch.

This is a very pretty drive, just like I expected, with sections of curvy wood lined road interspersed with small town main streets. There a many low stone fences like Blueberry Lane. It has gotten quite hilly. All this makes it a challenge to keep my balance. I think Bob is having too much fun driving this car. There is even some farming. Karen thinks it is hay. We spotted another Corvette but he turned off before we could race. Silly humans with the top down, burr.

We stopped at the Carousel and Fire Museum. Bob and Karen said they saw lots of interesting things like pigs, rabbits, lions and even a Hippocampus (seahorse). The fire museum is filled with all kinds of fire fighting gear. Karen took this picture for Gregg.

The guide at the museum told us of an original US 6 mile marker. We found it and I posed to add some pizzazz to the picture. We finally made it to our hotel, the Milestone Inn, a big day.

Providence RI - Day 2

We left Hyannis continuing to traipse through Bob's childhood. Route 6 goes through Wareham, right past Bob's elementary school. Bob remembered the path he saw as a kid looking out the school bus windows. On to New Bedford where Bob used to get pastries and where his dad would buy the dreaded Sunday dinner lobster. We found our way to the Seaman's Bethel. It is the place of worship immortalized in Moby-Dick. When Bob and Karen got there, it was closed for renovations so they couldn't go in and see the bow shaped pulpit.

We are seeing larger houses than on the Cape, different architectures too. Most cabins on the outer Cape are very small as are many of the homes. Almost all of them are classic Cape Cod. Starting at mid Cape, some of the homes were larger but there were still lots of very tiny cabins.

We also stopped at Battleship Cove in Fall River. It has lots of WW II ships. All 3 of us walked around the grounds. It was great to stretch my legs. I couldn't go on any of the boats. There were lots of families with sleeping bags - turns out they let humans "camp" on board. How cool, wish I could. We spent the night in Seekonk MA on the east side of Providence RI.