Vacation

We had high hopes for an outdoorsy week but were thwarted by a lot of wet weather. At least it was warmer than the week we had in May.

We made the best of it, though.  You know how it is - great weather makes you want to be outside biking, hiking or canoeing, but we had  a list of places we wanted to visit too. So we set off to accomplish that list.

Just glad to be out of the car.

First up, Erie Zoo. We had rave reviews from John's friend Tim Moriarty, who lived near the zoo for about nine years. We left Oil City to sunny skies but it got pretty dark about Union City. A brief debate about turning around ended with us continuing north. Ten minutes later we were engulfed in sheets of water. John is the Best. Driver. Ever. but I was terrified. He found a place to pull over and we waited it out for about 25 minutes. Finally, it slacked enough to continue. We were a little baffled by how long it took us to get to Erie, only to discover we missed the proper turn off of Rt.8 to come onto Peach Street. Two hours later, we found the zoo.

Orangutan - pretty awesome

But the zoo was fun. We got to see a Red Panda with her cub - so cute but too far away to get pictures. John loved the gibbons, they looked like chimpanzees and were quite acrobatic. And noisy. While we were in the Orangutan house, I kept hearing this shrieking chatter, and thought the staff should turn down the fake jungle CD. It was actually the gibbons. They inflate their throats to make this shrieking communication. Now I understand when people say the jungle is never quite.

OCD Black Bears.

I was pretty intrigued by the black bears, which were actually brown. They kept pacing on their rock shelf, and one always turned to the outside, while the other turned to inside and gave a little hop. We checked back on these guys and they paced all afternoon.

The rhinos were huge, the warthogs were funny, the kangaroos looked like you could pet them (no, you couldn't) and I wished the giraffe had come out of its enclosure. The zoo is large enough to get your fill of wildlife, but not overwhelming in the walking department. They have a great kids' section with a train ride. The zoo has partnered with the Erie botanical group and the grounds are lovely.

Warthogs. They're about the size of shetland pony.

One of two rhinos. I was pretty amazed to watch them lurch around in the mud.

Aren't these cute? you totally want to pet them. I think they  would kick me.

Shout out to Hoss' Restaurant where we enjoyed a couple lunches. Your parking lot has admirable drainage.

1936 Packard auctioned off in Franklin. John would not let me bid on this. But I look so awesome next to it.

Franklin had their Fourth of July Festival and we caught the annual Outhouse Races. I love this! Groups decorated their outhouses and set them on wheels so four racers could push the outhouse with one occupant along a course, do a Chinese fire drill, then race to the finish. Kudos for the level of creativity.

One of the contestants

We caught up with the Wheelhouse Pottery guys who are ready to open their wine bar. If you're in Venango County, they're doing a wine and potter event July 20 at Wanango Country Club, and will be displaying at Kennerdell. I love these guys. They always make me feel like their favorite customer.

Skeletor. In Franklin shop window. Really. Who is the target shopper for this? Zombies?

Did you know PA has four lighthouses? Did you know one is on the Allegheny? Yes, you never know when errant kayakers will go aground. This beauty is in Tionesta and is a private endeavor in honor of their family. Like so much of this area, the grounds are beautiful.

Kayakers saved from running aground due to Lighthouse.

Tionesta businesses also converted a parking lot into a cute mini-mall with tiny shops and a playground. Across the street is a coffee shop - developed because the owner said he couldn't get a decent cup of coffee in town. The coffee was better than decent and has a limited menu. They were really hopping that afternoon.

Drove home and had to pull over AGAIN because of sheeting rain. Now, this is amazing, in Oil City, people drive like snails. On the snaking road down the hill beside the river, there were driving like maniacs. In the freaking storm. Unbelievable. John pried my hands off the door rest when we got home. I'm a nervous traveler and this is why I don't fly, despite invites from every Israeli I've worked with, to visit them in Israel.

Gratuitous shot of John.

Of course I was watching the weather to get out and bike, and we did get a great opportunity. We drove the bikes over to Franklin and biked down past the Belmar Bridge, to the God Rock. The day started overcast, which worked out well since we didn't get to hot. It brightened up by the time we got back to Franklin and we had lunch at Luna's - where we've celebrated our Anniversary the last couple years.

Our last adventure was fishing. We returned to Tionesta to fish off the pier by the lighthouse, but it was not our lucky day. We tried two other spots, but no fish. Still, it was wonderful to be outside by the river. Venango County is really beautiful this summer - lush and green.

Tionesta Spillway

We're hoping to get a little more outside time, and I'd like to get to Lily Dale, NY. We'll see.

Emlenton June 2013



Ready to bike.

We revisited Emlenton this weekend. First visit was winter 2012 and I noted there was an ice cream shop in the Emlenton Mill - not open during the sub zero weather.








Totally loves the Suburu.

We took the bikes down to the Allegheny River Trail that runs out of Emlenton. As you know from previous entries, we're big on the outdoors, but the weather has frankly sucked this year, so we're behind in the exercise department.










Viaduct that used to support the rail line.

The Allegheny Trail is wonderful. Just like the other trails, it is manicured and easy to ride on. Beautiful scenery and the river was running fast and high.
So much of the recreational trails are converted from the old rail lines from the hey-day of the oil boom. Every time we're out, we come across people from all over the country who bike and hike the area. It's a family-friendly area, and summer is full of small-town festivals and bandstand events.





Tree with weird growth.

We rode about 15 miles, going through a tunnel that forced us to walk the bikes because it was too dark to ride safely. John suggested we go back, paint our faces white and jump out at other bike riders. Considering the median age of the riders we saw was about 60, I'd say we'd cause a good number of heart attacks.

 

 And this is the Emlenton Mill. There's a clothing shop and deli housed here, too. This was the Best. Ice Cream. Ever. It's Perry's - out of New York. I had the Queen of Hearts - dark chocolate with raspberry swirls. John had Bittersweet Sinfony - coffee ice cream with dark chocolate pieces. Perry's Ice Cream is not available around NE Ohio - total bummer.

John walked up the hill to take a full shot of the Mill. I get enough hill walking, so I stayed below.

The Allegheny runs behind the Mill. You really need to be there to appreciate the level of slant.

Me at street level.

So, we're back on the trails, and will be back to Oil City for a week of vacation at the end of the month. We've explored Corry and a bit of Erie, but forgot the camera. Look for an update on those areas, plus Lily Dale and Cooks Forest.







Steam Train in Titusville

Switcher

Leaving Perry St. Station

So, John's a huge train enthusiast. We have an elaborate "O" gauge layout in the basement and saw the "Berkshire" Nickelplate Steam Train when it came to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Naturally, we headed to Titusville to catch this unique visit.

Steam trains stopped running in the oil region in 1953, and the two engines that were in Titusville were privately owned Switchers. They were beautiful and perfectly restored. Four runs were made on Saturday and on Sunday, and crowds came out to just take pictures. Like we did.

The elusive Ida Tarbell home.

After we saw the trains off, we took the walking tour of Titusville. This was our second shot at trying to find Ida Tarbell's (Muckraker! Hereo!) house. The first time, I thought I had the map upside down and we were in sort of a hurry. This time, we were on foot with plenty of time, and we discovered the map had no relation to time, space or reality.

This is really a surprise because most pamphlets by the Oil Region Alliance are quite superior. This make had houses on opposite sides of the grid, in no relation to other sites. Still, we saw some beautiful architecture.

Not a ride.

We made a return trip to the Drake Museum for John's birthday, and got some commemorative bottles of oil, and an oil can mug. Happy Birthday John!

Left mug is wood fired and mine.

We finished off the weekend at the Wheelhouse Pottery with Frank, and went fishing at Two Mile Run. A successful weekend.

 

Lunker.

Coming up - Oil Heritage Weekend, you know it, Pierogies!!!

Vacation! Awesomeness!




 

Jenny and Oz Naor

We spent the past week in Oil City and some friends of ours joined us Saturday. We broke down and bought a window AC since temps hit the mid-90's. Thank you GE!

Naturally, it was gorgeous in Venango County - so green! We took Jenny and Oz out to Oil Creek State Park and walked part of it till it got too steamy. They loved it.

Monday we started some serious vacation juju.




Unloading at Kennerdell. Or maybe reloading

  Kennerdell Trail has eluded us, so we took the bikes out there - but no. Kennerdell Thwarted Us Again. The trail was not a bike trail - by that I mean, I couldn't see myself navigating back UP the trail on a bike. So, we hustled over to the Sugarcreek Trail. By now it was 10:30 am and I'd call it "sweltering." We struck out toward the Allegheny and it was smooth sailing till we tried to get to the Allegheny River Trail.








Sandycreek Trail



Hello. Narrow steps under the expansion bridge? John took the bikes down - and his chain came off. I had no idea there was that much grease on a bike chain. Luckily, he's good-natured as well as clever, and we got underway in about 15 minutes.

The Allegheny was beautiful! And shady. We did about 3 miles or so and came on the Indian God Rock - a large sandstone rock with petroglyphs from Native American shamans. It's on the historic register. I tried to find a way down to the river for better pictures, but it was mighty steep. Anyway - very cool.

We rounded out the evening at "Spill the Beans" with ice cream and a walk through the southside.

Tuesday was the Jolly July 3 Celebration in Oil City, but not till the evening. The bikes were still on the Suburu, so we back to Oil Creek State Park - with the goal of going all the way to Titusville to the Drake Museum. This is an 8.5 mile trail, one way, and it follows the Oil Creek. We stopped at most of the historical markers. It's amazing what those oil field workers accomplished. Of course, the area looked devastated. We ran into a cool couple from Slippery Rock - Nature lovers! They spend some time in Ohio parks so we had a good time talking to them.

Drake Museum artifacts

As you approach the end of the trail, you hear the "pop" of the Drake Museum's engine running the drill. Can't imagine what the noise level was a hundred years ago with tons of these steam engines running day and night. Oh wait, yes I can. I just have to get around the fracking wells.

Coming out of the trailhead, we could really feel the humidity. It was pretty overcast, so we saved the museum for another trip, and turned back. Good thing, too. We got drenched as we were approaching the final half mile to the parking lot. Still, it felt good compared to the humidity.

We headed down the hill to Justus Park about 6 pm and caught the end of the Front Porch Folk concert. They were great! I want to make a Can-Jo.  The evening promised a military band and fireworks shot from the bridge over the Allegheny. We were eyeing the sky because it was getting seriously overcast and we were 1) next to the river and 2) had a serious uphill walk to get home.

The decision was made for us when the band started with their woodwind quartet, playing music designed for brass. Am I a music snob? No - but the theme from the Simpsons is not what I expect at a Fourth of July Concert. Neither was the opening piece - a march written for the Canadian Air Force.

Where's the Sousa?

So, we bailed and good thing. Lightening was striking like a dagger over the hills. And people kept walking to the park! We got home seconds before the deluge hit.

Our Fourth was quiet - we'd biked about 30 miles in two days. So we were ready for a new adventure on Thursday - Canoeing on the Allegheny.

How I roll.



How I steer.

First - Shout out to my NOLA friend Rebecca who is encouraging me to kayak. We went to O.A.R.S  in Franklin and what a great, great experience. The nicest people, too. We rented a canoe and they said it was about a 4 hour leisurely row down the river - then they pick you up and bring you back. I was leery of committing to 4 hours - you know - how often do I use my arms like that? John shamed me into it because I've been religious about my yoga practice - Thank you Dorsey for making us do forearm planks all summer.




The power behind the throne.



So this was a beautiful trip - Gorgeous scenery, dipping feet in cool water, lovely riverfront homes (want one.) And I got to see the Indian God Rock from the river. We  made it to the pick up spot in 3 hours, thanks to my Type A personality. Give me a deadline, and I'll work my tail off.

After that trip, we decided to eat out in Franklin and had past at Leonardo's - a local fav. The pasta and wine were excellent. We had our camp chairs with us, and headed over to the Franklin Band Stand for the Peter Pepke Concert. These guys (and girl) were fantastic. The concert featured Americana (Oil City I love you, but this was better), American songbook standards and some good humor. Very talented musicians and we enjoyed them immensly.

Friday, we flipped a coin. Conquer Kennerdell or ride the Oil City and Titusville Railroad. Railroad won, until we got to Titusville and discovered they didn't run on Fridays. No Problem! We headed to the Drake Musuem for the afternoon. The museum offers videos and educational information on the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania, and how that industry flourished. This is where the loud 'popping' came from. It's a great attraction and well-maintained.

Justus Lake

No trip to Venango is complete without some fishing, and that's how we wrapped up the week - at Justus Lake, Two Mile Run Park, one of my favorite spots. We fed lots of bait to the fish.

Next weekend, there's a steam engine coming to Titusville, so we'll be back up there. John hopes to get one of the fattened fish up at Two Mile, and I'm still seeking the mythical Kennerdell.

Tionesta Lake and Pithole

 We headed to Tionesta Lake on Friday. We were up for some fishing and normally hit the spillway, but veered off to check out the lake. Beautiful! We'll be back to rent a boat. It was so quiet - so peaceful. Very much worth a return visit.






John's very first foray to Venango County included a stop at Pithole. If you live in Oil City, you are laughing - because there's nothing to see there. This of course, fascinated him, and long before I ever saw Oil City, I heard about Pithole.

For the rest of you, Pithole is the classic boom town story, at warp speed. Within months of striking oil, the town's population rose to 15,000. By the following year, it was down to 2,000 and eventually what remained, burned. There were something like 50 hotels here.

Now there's open space, with mowed rows showing the street layout.

Even the PA Conservancy closed their tourist station. Pithole! I think your name cursed you. However, it's a beautiful and tranquil spot. A deer crossed our path as we were leaving - we were about 5 feet away. Even the wildlife bail.

On the closed observation deck.

Looking over the observation railing.

   

Biking! Pianos in the Park!

It was a hot weekend ("It was a hot and stormy night..." had to do it.) but it was beautiful in Venango County. The skies were clear and there was a breeze Friday and Saturday.

Even so, we got the bikes down to the Justus Trail by 10 am Saturday. They were finishing up a marathon and I got to cheer on some runners. Yay Runners! You raised $6,000. Outstanding!

We rode this trail earlier in the spring - brisk! so this time we took advantage of the mid-80's to relax on the ride over to Franklin. Yes - we made it over and back and checked out a strawberry stand for canning purposes ($4 each if you purchase 8 quarts.)

Going back we stopped at the entry to River Ridge Farm, where Woodrow Wilson wrote the "Fourteen Points" that helped end World War I. The mansion was built by Joseph Sibley, a prominent businessman and politician. You bet I'm taking the next tour they offer.

Saturday night, we went over to Franklin for "Pianos in the Park." This was exactly the reason we bought a home over here - beautiful summer night, lawn chairs in the park by the bandstand, entertainment and open art galleries. Yes, forgot the camera again.

Shout out to Mark Anderton at the pottery studio - and my bad for not double checking the name of your store. Your work is amazing and I'm coming back for mugs and possibly a teapot.