Trail Tales -Hiking stories, summer 2015, part 2

The goal of our Summer 2015 Road Trip was to hike.  Hike as much as possible, every day, in places we had not visited before.  After a google for Best Hikes in the US, I found several trails listed in the Allegheny National Forest, in northwestern PA/southwestern NY.  We have a plan!  The other hikes and adventures on this walk-about were gravy.

From State College, we headed north and west, on a rainy day.  Our friend, Donna, who grew up in the heart of the ANF gave us great tips about trails and campgrounds.  We also had a book of trail descriptions, written by the local Sierra Club.  It's only out of date by 20 years, but still highly valued by local hikers.  We were armed and dangerous!  After much reading and consideration, we decided to find a cg in Sheffield, PA, in the heart of the ANF.  My notes:  "We pulled into Whispering Pines CG, and set up on Deer Lick Run.  Nice sound of water running over the rocks."  After a late lunch of leftovers, we drove to Kane, and discovered Bell's Meat Market.  Wow!  We're going to eat well this week!  More than twenty different house-made sausages, cheese, beef jerky and local vegetables.  We bought hot leek sausage, sweet leek sausage and andouille.  And, a piece of smoked copper cheese.  We'll be back!

Locally famous Bell's Sausage, in Kane, PA; the Kinzua Bridge; and the Kinzua Bridge after the Big Storm.

Dew Drop Run trail was high on my List, but we couldn't find the trail head.  After searching the back roads, we figured the trail had been abandoned.  So, we crossed the reservoir and found the trail head for the Rim Rock trail.  After heavy rains for the past few days, part of that trail was washed out, making for mucky exploring.  We turned back, and spent a delightful hour exploring the giant conglomerate rock formations and the ice vents. We see lots of Indian pipe plants, many different mosses and lichens.  That night, tired and happy, we enjoy the creek and some mighty fine sausages and local corn cooked on the grill.  And, a couple of adult beverages!

Stuart, in the Heart's Content Old Growth Trail.

The result of a heavy deer population, on the Morrison Trail Loop.

The rest of the week was equally good.  The rain was persistent, but we managed to hike almost every day.  Morrison Trail Loop.  The once-mighty Kinzua Bridge Skywalk.  Timberdoodle Interpretive Trail.  Hector Falls, after one false start (see previous blog post to find this pretty, secret gem).  Heart's Content - the Old Growth Trail, then the Tom's Run Loop.  Time exploring the ANF, from north to south, and the small towns that survived the long-gone logging days.  It's a beautiful area, we'll go back.  Wayne and Ann, at Whispering Pines cg are terrific hosts!

We hook up, raining again, and head north and vaguely east.  Just south of Corning, NY we find State Line Camping Center, where we stopped for an electrical repair on the Cottage.  Annetta and her team were so friendly, and after some serious head-scratching, found the problem.  She sugggested we'd like the Corps of Engineers cg close by, and we hurried to Ives Run cg, on the dammed lake.  A bike ride, after setting up, and time for yet another delicious dinner cooked on the grill.  Sunshine, finally!  The nights have been cold enough to sleep under two quilts, and tonight, we can finally use our furnace.  Y'all, it's August, this is just not right.

Corning, NY is home of the Corning Glass Museum.  After passing through this area several times, we finally spent a day at the incredible museum.  Go.  Don't miss this!  We could have spent another day, but we were saturated with beautiful glass art and great technical demonstrations.  A beer at the unfriendly downtown brewery, a quick stop at the local Wegman's, and back to the pretty Ives Run cg.  We are staying on the Hickory Loop, but next time here, we'll stay on the Pine Loop (boondocking).

Works by three contemporary artists...I'm so sorry I didn't make note of their names; and the famous dragonfly lamp, designed by Clara Driscoll, for Mr. Tiffany.

The Grand Canyon of PA.  Yep, it's well worth the drive!  We hiked down to the river, after walking to the look-outs at the top.  We climbed 900' down (we had to return!), past several pretty waterfalls, and are wishing we had more days here.  The bike trail along the river is flat, wide and pretty.  Next trip...

On the trail, half-way down to Pine Creek;  view of the Grand Canyon of PA from the top.

The Susquehana River is not very healthy, in spite of hard work over the past few years.  A century of mining has created a horribly poisoned river.  There are big efforts underway, but the repair will take decades.  We drive south, stopping in Willamsport, home of the Little League Hall of Fame.  It's a depressing little town, and we keep moving.  We spend the night at the Ferryboat Campsites, in Liverpool, PA.  A century-old ferry still makes the river crossing, the last ferry working this river.   It's hot, the cg is full, we enjoyed dinner cooked on the grill.  Those Bell's sausages are treating us well! 

Car ferry, with a front porch, on the Susquehana River, Liverpool, PA.

We're going to visit Amy and Glenn in New Holland.  I found a cg in Intercourse that looks good.  A tire blow-out on the Cottage side-lined us for a couple of hot hours, soon after we left Liverpool, but thanks to AAA, we were soon back on the road.  Our campsite over looks a couple of cornfields, and we enjoy a quiet night, watching the fireflies. We enjoyed a few days here:  lunch at the Federal Taphouse in Lancaster, home of 100 beers; a gym visit (no hiking here); a great catch-up with our friends Amy and Glenn, in New Holland; the amazing Choo Choo museum (Really.  Go.  The miniatures are amazing.); Stolzfus meat; a new tire for the Cottage.  No *&^% buggy tours for us.

Barn raising miniature at the Choo Choo museum; quilt art, Amy Smith (patterns available!).

Michelle and Mamacita are in Philadelphia, visiting family.  So, we head for Clarksboro, NJ for a few days, to catch up with them.  It's a lovely, sort-of-rural area, and I enjoy a nice bike ride the first afternoon.  While riding, I found a farm market, where the nice man gave me a small sprig of basil for the tomato pie I wanted to cook for dinner.  The next morning, Michelle and Mamacita cooked a perfectly terrific breakfast of huevos rancheros, tocino,friholes,  melon y aquacate.  Oh, my, a feast!  We laughed and talked for several hours, before big hugs and a good-bye.  See you next winter in Oaxaca!  Afterward, with very full stomachs, Stuart and I drove into downtown Philly.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Ever try parking a Bigass Truck in downtown Philly?!?  Karma, to the rescue.  Just as we pulled into a full lot, one block from Chinatown, some people were leaving their parking space.  They gave us their $24 parking pass, and their space!  We stopped in the well-used, well-run National Park Visitor's Center for advice, and left with maps and a plan of attack.  Today:  the Liberty Bell, and the house where Mr. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.  We were both surprised at how emotional we were when we saw the Liberty Bell and exhibit.  We'd walked more than 25 blocks, and it's time to rest our feet, so with advice from a local, we head to the river, and the bar at Morgan's Pier.  What a great day!

Just one of the more than 300 murals in Philadelphia; mosaic art, close to Jim's Cheesesteaks.

I loved this window at a men's shop in downtown!  We met the window-dresser, who invited us into the shop.  Of course, I bought some wonderfully colorful socks.

The next morning, we steeled ourselves for the drive back into downtown, found a parking space we could get the Bigass Truck into, and got early tickets to see Independence Hall.  Elegant building, so much history, pompous ranger docent.  Afterwards, we spent the day wandering in downtown, enjoying the architecture and sights, including the wonderful Mural Project.  Following a map from the Visitor's Center, we saw about 2 dozen murals, listening to the phone for a little background for each one.  If I ever get back to downtown Philly, I'll see a few more of the more than 300 murals.  Really!  We loved the Gaylorhood.  Buildings with tiles and mirrors, oh my!

When in Philly, you must eat a cheesesteak sandwich, and several local people advised us to go to Jim's, at 4th and South.  Avoid the other, touristy places.  The line snaked around the corner, and the 45 minute wait was worth it.  Great sandwich!  But, J Michael's in Wilmington,NC is equally good!  Stuart was a great sport, and walked with me on Fabric Row.  It was a bit depressing.  Many of the fabulous, old fabric shops are no longer in business.  Those remaining are selling gorgeous men's suitings, and fancy laces, neither of which are on my List.  I bought a piece of nice linen, for dyeing.

We left home a month ago, and have hiked or biked many miles.  A wonderful summer trip, with a vague itinerary.  What fun, but it's time to drive south!  We often take the Eastern Shore route, spending a night in Pokamoke, at the Lake Somerset cg when heading north or south.  It's quiet, and convenient.  The temps have returned to summer-in-the-south normal, and I'm grateful for air-conditioning at night.  We drive across/through the Bay Bridge/Tunnel, and blow another Cottage tire outside Suffolk.  So, we spend the night at another favorite cg: Davis Lakes.  We will replace ALL the old tires while we're in Suffolk!  We get a swim in the lake, clean the Cottage, and a bike ride for me.  Home tomorrow.  I'm missing Gracie cat.  What a great summer trip!