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.