Friday Adventures 09-02-11

It started at Pymatuning State Park.  We dropped a travel bug in honor of our anniversary attached to a giant diamond ring.  We also picked up the geocoin that we earned on the AGT-Crawford County. 

 

Then we motored off to Clarion.  There was some monkey business as you see here.  Keith makes like a monkey and climbs all over the big rocks.  This is my favorite picture… I didn’t mean to step on him.  I just wanted to get a good picture of his efforts.  Too funny!

And he climbed the fire tower.  Now, I climbed the one in Gettysburg and didn’t think anything of it.  I may have been convinced to climb this one had I not fell down the stairs at home bruising my butt and pulling something in my leg.  I was (conveniently) convinced that I could not climb that many steps up and down.  I sent Keith up and kept yelling “Stop! Look out!” (so I could take a picture.)  He was NOT impressed.  He thought he needed to stop and look out because something was wrong.  Tee Hee. 

 

More rock climbing.  Looking for signs of the Seneca Indians that once inhabited these parts. 

 

What an AWESOME view at Seneca Point overlooking the Clarion river. 

 

And of course, a stop at Helen Furnace.  It’s really cool inside and SO BIG!!!

We finished half of the required geocaches on the Allegheny Geo Trail – Clarion.  We’ll have to return another time to finish it and get our prize. 

 

The more I hike the greater appreciation I have for the outdoors. 

Thanksgiving Trip

Catching up here.

For the Thanksgiving holiday we traveled to North Carolina to visit with Keith's Dad and Step-mother, Rachel. It was a grand trip. Lucky for us it was warm the first two days, in the 80's. The last couple of days it was windy and about 55, brrrr.

Highlights of our trip are as follows:

• Traveling Sights... beautiful mountains. Cops drive Dodge Chargers in WV. (and no we didn't get a ticket. we are just observant.) Crazy drivers. One guy had a boat in the back of his truck. A little closer and we see he had a deer in the boat. Tried to get a picture but it didn't turn out. Sorry.
• Trip to "South Of The Border." Anyone who has traveled that route in the south knows about this place. It's the biggest tacky tourist trap I've ever seen. We bought a hat for my sister there. I should have bought her a sombraro, but I had a hard time justifying a hat over $40 that I know she will not wear. It might have made a cute center piece for a party though. We shopped around and we decided that salt water taffy might be a good thing to bring home. WAIT - it was made in Pennsylavia! That's a rip-off! Ha!
• Thanksgiving dinner. Rachel cooked up a fine feast. I had my first piece of coconut pie. It was yummy. She makes the best sweet potatoes. Yummy!!! We ate until we could just about burst! Then we napped all afternoon. I love Thanksgiving!!! It's my favorite holiday.
• Jazz Festival at Cypress Bend Vineyards. This was a Christmas gift for us. Dad wasn't able to go with us because of work, but the three of us went and it was delightful. Good food, good music, and good wine. Rachel bought us a couple bottles for Christmas too. Wahoo!
• Tour of the USS North Carolina Battleship. Keith's Dad was in the Navy so this really took him back. He was explaining how everything worked and all about the different areas of the ship. It was multi-level and quite interesting. The steps were steep and all I can say is... I would never make it as a sailor!
• Sunset at the beach... oh how lovely. It was chilly, but we got there just in time to see the sun begin its decent. There were boats on the water and the wind was blowing fierce. It was not a day to swim, but it was refreshing to say that we were there the week of Thanksgiving.

It was a grand trip. We needed to get away. It was great to be in such lovely company. We can't wait to go back again.

These were taken on the Battleship. Keith's Dad was showing us all sorts of things that we would not have otherwise even noticed. Can you imagine sleeping in bunks like that? Ok - they call them "racks." I at least know that.

Ever look a battleship head-on? Here you go! Massive isn't it? There was a plane on the deck. Again... WOW. This thing is HUGE. And the flag flaps proudly from the stern.

Keith makes a new friend... Prince.

Look familiar anyone?

Sun setting over the beach... how lovely.

Oh What Fun!!!!

Dad and I took off on another excursion. I like having his company to and fro. I learn lots about times gone by and we laugh at funny stories... sometimes told over and over, but still always a hoot.

Goldie Locks (that's me) and Papa Bear drive six hours across the state, up into New York a smidgen and back down into Pennsylvania... we arrive amidst the mountainous region along the Susquehanna River. Six tiny feet shuffle out the door to greet us with shrieks and shrills of childish excitement. Mama Bear holding Baby Bear in the kitchen come quickly to greet us too. Papa Bear snags Baby Bear and hogs him all to himself... for most of our stay. (Those who know Papa Bear know this is not exaggerating!)

Yummy good food was devoured by all. Mama Bear made cinnamon rolls, jello pretzel salad, creamy chicken bake, homemade beef vegetable soup, and a buffalo chicken dip that was superb!!!

Yesterday morning there was snow on the ground. Nothing a little sunshine wouldn't dissolve. We had fun shopping and playing and cuddling too. We watched Narnia together yesterday afternoon. The kiddos recited the books of the New Testament and their memory verse and sang Psalms for us. Papa Bear took us to Cracker Barrel for dinner last night. It was really packed! Yumm-O. Baby Bear was a gem. The other three bickered amongst themselves most of the evening. Mama Bear was about ready to huff and puff and scold their socks off... but alas she remembered the families memory verse:

James 1:19-20
My dear brothers, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick
to listen, slow to speak and slow to
become angry, for man's anger does
not bring about the righteous life
that God desires.

Well... Much to Papa Bear's dismay, Mama Bear said that there would be NO ice cream for the naughty kiddos. I can only imagine what a sugar rush might have caused! HA! On the contrary, the kiddos were mostly very well behaved and maybe just a little over-excited to have visitors.

This morning the sun shined thru the bare limbs of trees covered with frost. We kissed the kiddos and bid them farewell. No snow there today... but we saw a little as we drove thru Clearfield, PA on the way home. Back home safe and sound now.

UGH - not looking forward to working tomorrow. I so love time off and never take enough of it. Next time I want to stay longer. I am delighted to be home with my Hubby. I missed him.

Enjoy the pictures...

Benezette, PA

Is there something wrong with a person who will drive 3 hours away just to jump out, snap a few shots, shop around a tiny store and then drive home? If you think that I was heading that way in search of Bigfoot - sorry. Not so. Although the recent news suggests that such a creature has recently been in that area.


It used to be that there were two places to stop in Benezette, PA... the Inn for a drink and the Store where you can get gas, have dinner, pick up supplies, souveniers, and get a shower... one stop shopping. I noticed that there are a couple additional spots to stop these days. There is an information station, a diner, and some sort of new campgrounds. We stopped at the lookout to take in the sights and at the store to pick up a little something for my pal Lizzie. I hope you like it! Sorry - no hints on what it is. :)


One can't miss the multitudes of sight-seers like ourselves who have congregated along the sides of the road gawking at the herd of elk. I can't help but wonder if they were all Bigfoot seekers??? Regardless, the bulls are so majestic and the cows are almost cute. Our pictures didn't turn out so great this time. Not sure what happened there.


If you want to read a little bit about this tiny town that could be missed if you blink as you drive by, check out this site. Turn up the volume so you can hear the "bugle" of the elk. I've been making an annual trek there since before I met my husband. It's always a joy to experience nature is such a way that is different than the norm.

Road Trip