History and Art on the GAP

May 25, 2026 by LB

The Great Allegheny Passage is a 150 mile Rail to Trail that runs between Cumberland, Maryland and Pittsburgh, Pennyslvania. Work contstraints had my friends and I doing half of the GAP in the Fall of 2025 (you can see the posts about that ride here and here) and the second half of the GAP just three weeks ago.

We arrived in Ohiopyle, PA the night before the ride, glad to be reunited with the beautiful Youghiogheny River.

Ohiopyle is a super fun “trail town” that caters to cyclists, walkers, backpackers, and river runners. We enjoyed dinner at Falls City Restaurant and Pub and slept well at the Falls Market Inn.

The next morning, after a delicious breakfast with our support crew at the Falls Market Restaurant, we set off!

It was an incredible day and we were so happy to be back on the GAP.

One of my favorite parts of riding a rail trail is learning the history of the people and communities along the way. The GAP runs through the Laurel Highlands region which is “shaped by Native American heritage, pivotal early American conflicts, and coal, coke, and steel booms”.

An unexpected pleasure is seeing public art along the way. “The Connellsville Gateway Arch, with it’s colorful stained glass fanning 16 feet into the air, welcomes eastbound travelers on the Great Allegheny Passage. Built from formed concrete, coal, and riveted steel, the arch features materials made in the town’s own Youghiogheny Opalescent Glass Factory”.

We loved the murals on three industrial silos owned by Youghhiogheny Glass. Artists Chris Galiyas and Meeghan Triggs originally painted the silos in 2008, and due to fading over the years, were restored in 2022 by Galiyas.

“To honor the steelworkers past and present, the Yellow Dog sculpture was developed through the collaborative efforts of sculptor Jim West, George Junior Republic’s Fine Arts program, and the welding program at the William H. Gladden Career and Technical Center on the campus of George Junior Republic”.

We also enjoyed the unofficial pieces of art that bring smiles.

And then we came across the Darr Mine Memorial Mosaic.

The Darr Mine disaster occurred on December 19,1907 and was the deadliest coal mining tragedy in Pennsylvania history, claiming the lives of 239 men and boys. Created by mosaic artist Rachel Sager, “the memorial includes 239 individual mosaic plaques mounted on an old stone retaining wall. Each unique mosaic is built into a vintage film canister—resembling the metal miner tags left behind in the earth”.

The explosion left 130 widows, 300 children without fathers, and 542 people without a source of income.

Rail Trails follow historic railroads, pass through small and large towns, and preserve the surrounding countryside and history. Next post will be about our fourth and final day on the GAP.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast and Unexpected Pleasures

May 18, 2026 by LB

To be honest, I wasn’t really sure how much I would like visiting Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but I came away a fan! Biloxi is known for it’s casinos and gambling, but we enjoyed so much more! The food, the history, the resilience of the people who have survived the devastation of Hurricanes Camille and Katrina, and of course the Gulf Islands and wildlife. You may not have seen my post about the Hurricane Katrina Sculptures, so please take a look if you have a moment.

Within minutes of landing at the airport, I asked my friend Tim to pull over so I could see and smell the Gulf of Mexico. I knew right away that a long weekend in this part of the country would allow me to just skim the surface of the richness of this place.

One of the best places that we visited was the Gulf Islands National Seashore where we learned so much about this National Park entity that runs 160 miles across two states and encompasses five barrier islands and one mainland. (I do hate that the website does not use the correct name of the Gulf, but in 979 days, it will get it’s name back).

We were all relieved that this turtle got away before the alligator ate him for lunch!

I wish I’d had a lens to capture the Osprey in flight, but I loved hearing them call. If I were a more tech savvy gal, I’d have figured out how to insert the audio here, but alas, no luck!

I got up early one morning and watched the pelicans diving for food behind this fishing boat (quite the name for that boat, eh?).

This Great Blue Heron was not at all bothered by me as he was much more interested in whatever was being pulled out of the water by the men, women, and children fishing.

The trees and flowers were vibrant with color.

We enjoyed the local flavors at many places including White Pillars,

were surprised by an Elvis sighting,

and enjoyed the Triple-A Baseball Team, the Biloxi Shuckers.

I already look forward to going back and plan to spend more time at the National Seashore, and hopefully get out on the Gulf of Mexico. What a delightful surprise the Gulf Coast was!

First Day Hike

January 11, 2026 by LB

Friends and I spent the morning of January 1st taking a First Day Hike at Claytor Lake State Park.

The First Day Hikes program originated in Massachusetts in 1992, and since 2012, First Day Hikes have been held in all 50 states, including in all 44 of Virginia’s State Parks. In January 2018, it became an international movement with many countries participating.

The temperatures were in the low 30s (Fahrenheit), the wind was gusty, and the sun came from behind the clouds at intervals. It was, in my opinion, a great day to be outside, and that afterall is the goal. Whether it’s a hike, snowshoe, or even a swim, First Day Hikes are an opportunity for folks to start the new year on the right foot in the outdoors.

Get out there! You won’t regret it!

Youghiogheny River

October 26, 2025 by LB

Two weeks ago, friends and I rode half of the 150 mile Great Allegheny Passage Trail, part of the Rails to Trails movement which creates multi-use public paths from abandoned railroad corridors. We started our ride in a small trail town called Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania where Ohiopyle State Park is located. “Passing through the heart of the park, the rushing waters of the Youghiogheny [yawki-gay-nee] River Gorge are the centerpiece for Ohiopyle. The “Yough” [yawk] provides some of the best whitewater boating in the eastern United States, as well as spectacular scenery”. To see this same image in B&W, visit Monochromia

I’ll share more about this amazing trip in the next few posts.

Just a Hint of Fall …

September 25, 2025 by LB

… and I could not be happier!

The first image with my Fuji XT3 and the second with my Samsung Galaxy s21

Taylor’s Island on Maryland’s Eastern Shore

August 12, 2021 by LB

Twenty-nine years ago, four women met while attending the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. Friendships were born during the challenges of graduate school and the process of becoming Nurse Practitioners, and a few times each year, we gather to celebrate our great good fortune in having met. We’ve been together through celebration and devastation, and have shared many a meal, a beverage, and lots and lots of laughter.

We call ourselves the Girls of August – the GOAs – (we WERE girls when we met) because during the first week of August we spend the week together. The only requirement to the location is that there must be water, whether it be ocean, bay, river, lake, or puddle. This year we stayed in a small rural location on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

A hurricane, a surgery, and Covid derailed the 2020 gathering, so this year’s vacation was a gift. A gift of time, friendship, the natural world, minimalism (no TV, no nearby stores), good food and drink, and wonderful friends.

Taylor’s Island proved to be the perfect place for those looking for a break from traffic, TV, and the fear of Covid. It was also the perfect place for the GOAs.

Cheers!

Gratitude: And Then I Met Anne

March 6, 2016 by LB

Lynn from Life After 50 offered us wise words this past week. Give yourself a gift: read this post, and take the 10 minutes to watch an incredible video.

For those who strive to be grateful, to express gratitude, and to remember the gifts in our lives, please watch.

For those who love photography and nature, please watch.

Thanks Lynn!!

Life After 50

There are people we meet who leave an impact on us.

After a particularly stressful week, I have been feeling overextended & quite honestly, a little sorry for myself.

And then I met Anne.

Anne lives in the same retirement residence as my Mom. She suffered a stroke 3 years ago, after being left unattended after surgery. One might think she would be full of anger & resentment, filled with rage at the unfairness of her situation.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps she has private moments of self-pity, but every time I run into this beautiful person, she is filled with a positive energy that would put most of us to shame.

Grateful for her life, grateful for the sun shining, expressing concern for others & all but brushing aside her limitations as a result of her stroke.

Without the use of her left side, she has…

View original post 181 more words

Fallingwater

October 24, 2014 by LB

Continuing our ride through western Maryland and into southwestern Pennsylvania (see On the Road), we reached Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA with a few minutes to spare before our 10am tour.

Fallingwater, “one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most widely acclaimed works, was designed in 1935 for the family of Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar Kaufmann Sr”. (comments taken from Fallingwater literature).

Wright designed and built the house to rise above the waterfall rather than face it. Fallingwater “exemplifies Wright’s concept of organic architecture: the harmonious union of art and nature”

Constructed between 1936 and 1939, the home was made of sandstone quarried on the property and was built by local artisans. The stone serves to separate reinforced concrete trays that were cantilevered over the stream.

Our guided tour (no indoor photography allowed) lasted about an hour and while a bit rushed, was fascinating. We enjoyed hearing about Wright’s architectural themes, the extensive process involved in making this masterpiece, and the occasional design disagreements he had with the Kaufmanns. New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger called Fallingwater Wright’s “most sublime integration of man and nature”.

Fallingwater was the weekend home of the Kaufmann family from 1937 until 1963 when Edgar Kauffmann, Jr entrusted the house, it’s contents and grounds to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. The home was opened to the pubic in 1964 and over 5 million people have toured the home since that time.

After our tour we walked the trail to the Visitors Center, Museum Store, and Cafe.

We enjoyed lunch in the environmentally friendly cafe with food that was healthy and locally sourced. Reusable dishes and utencils! Recycling! and a relaxing view.

If you are anywhere near this National Historic Landmark, I urge you to go. Definitely a highlight to our trip.

Next Stop: Pittsburgh!

The 4th

July 8, 2014 by LB

You were expecting Fireworks? The Stars and Stripes? Burgers and Potato Salad? While I did enjoy all of the traditions of the 4th of July, for some reason, I wasn’t moved to photograph them.