Tag Archives: Travels

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Pittsburgh: Rivers and Bridges

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Venice is known as the City of Bridges, but Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania actually has more.  Three more in fact, for a total of 446!

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Ruth and I planned our trip to Pittsburgh with a primary goal of watching a football game, but we had plenty of other fun things planned as well (see the posts about Fallingwater and the drive through southwestern Maryland and western Pennslvania).  We spent most of Friday exploring the city, walking over bridges, and soaking up the history, architecture, and culture of Pittsburgh.  Over 6 miles, and too many photos to count later, we felt we’d gotten a real taste of the city.

Many of you have posted photos of locks of love on bridges from around the world, and it appears that Pittsburgh is getting into the act, too.

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Some of the bridges in this river city have pedestrian walkways which join a riverwalk. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail evolved from five separate trails and today comprises several unique sections over 37 miles.

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The confluence of the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River is at Pittsburgh’s 36 acre Point State Park.  It is there that they form the Ohio River.  As we walked along the riverwalk, we passed a vibrant collection of runners, walkers, cyclists, and dogwalkers.

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Expansive views of the city can be found from many vantage points, including the Monongahela and Dequesne Inclines (more on these in the next post).

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Three of the 446 bridges are known as The Three Sisters.  Similarly built self-anchored suspension bridges that span the Allegheny River, the bridges have been given formal names to honor important Pittsburgh residents:  Roberto Clemente, Andy Warhol, and Rachel Carson.

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We walked over 2 of the 3.

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We were never at the right vantage point to catch a photo of the 3 Sisters in one view, so I downloaded this one so you could see how beautiful they are.

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The melding of the historic and the modern are everywhere.

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What a fabulous city!

Next post:  Pittsburgh – Buildings and Architecture

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Fallingwater

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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.

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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).

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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”_MG_9080

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.

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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”.

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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.

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

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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.

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

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Next Stop:  Pittsburgh!

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Kentucky and the “Niagara Falls of the South”

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As I wiped the mud and water from my bike, I thought about how grateful I was for the warm welcome that I’d received when I checked into the hotel the night before.  Hotels typically treat bikers well, and this time was no exception.  I was allowed to park the bike under the covered entrance, was given rags to clean the bike, given recommendations for local eateries, and received a gift of water and trail mix.  Betty surely made me feel welcome and a note was sent to her manager to praise her efforts.

The continued calls for rain had me considering heading home a day early, but as I cleaned up the bike I made the decision to take my chances.  Kentucky still had alot to show me after all!

After packing up the bike and filling the tank, I set out for Cumberland Falls State Park.  25 E was a beautiful ride, and I passed by wooded lands and farms situated on nicely curving roads.  Once inside the Daniel Boone National Forest, where the park is located, I had to keep myself from pulling over every few miles to take photos.  The woods were lush and green and I was captivated.

One of the first things I saw upon entering the park was the Dupont Lodge.

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The Civilian Conservation Corps, under Roosevelt’s New Deal, put jobless men and boys throughout the United States to work.  Built by the CCC in 1933, the historic lodge was destroyed by fire in 1940. It was re-built soon after the fire, and all rooms were completely renovated again in 2006.

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The staff offered much information including directions to a half mile trail, with a 200 ft descent, that led to the falls.  Since my boots were still a bit wet, I was glad I’d only be hiking a short way, but I was definitely ready to get off the bike and into the woods.  I grabbed my water bottle and headed off on foot.

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I have to admit to being a bit skeptical about the whole “Niagara of the South” label, but oh, I was pleasantly surprised!

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Since the early 1900s, Cumberland Falls has been known as the “Niagara of the South”.  “Falling 7 stories, it is one of the largest waterfalls in the southeastern U.S.”.

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Even though I was just one of many people there to enjoy the falls, I never felt that it was crowded.

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I spent over an hour wandering about, taking pictures from a variety of angles and places, and learning about the history of the river and the falls.

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The hike back up aggravated the new blister on my heel (thanks to the darn damp boots).  But what fun it was to sit outside the lodge, applying first aide to my heel and talking with all the folks who stopped by to admire my bike.  I’d been missing the human connection this trip as the rain kept me from alot of stopping and chatting.

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While I’d been lucky this day, I knew that as I turned for home the weather would change, and I’d eventually run into rain again, so I made the decision to head on back towards Virginia.  I rode through more beautiful country on curvy roads and found myself singing out loud with the joy of the wind in my face and even the occasional glimpse of sun.

As the day waned, I turned onto Rt 58 and my happiness continued.

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My friend Tim helped me to find a hotel in Johnson City, Tennessee and one of the first things I did was ask the hotel clerk where I might find a cold beer 🙂

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Once back at the hotel, the clerk told me to be sure to park right in front.  It’s good to be a biker!

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Next Post:  The Ride Home

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Breaks Interstate Park – Virginia and Kentucky

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Despite the fact that every weather report called for extensive rain, I was ready to ride!  My goal for this ride, my first trip on the bike since the wreck 10 months ago, was to take my time, enjoy the adventure, and have a completely different outcome from the last one.  To say the least, I was excited!

The destination for this, the first day, was Breaks Interstate Park, a park shared by the states of Virginia and Kentucky.

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I took a chance and kept my rain gear packed in the saddle bags and hit the road.  The day was overcast and just a little cool … in essence, a perfect day to ride.   As I got closer to the park the roads became curvier and the traffic became more sparse.  About four hours later and just a few miles before entering the park, I stopped at Mill Rock Point Overlook.  A short 65 yard hike, and I was taking my first photos of the trip!

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Shortly after that, I entered what is known as the “Grand Canyon of the South”.  200 million years ago the area was covered by a vast inland sea.  Once the sea receded, the river that is now known as Russell Fork began the work of carving out an immense gorge, renowned as the largest east of the Mississippi.

I rode straight to the Visitors Center, and was immediately distracted by this historic log cabin.

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It was while chatting with the woman at the Visitors Center, and hoping to quench my thirst, that I realized my first error in planning.  There would be no traditional end of the day beer as there areNO ALCOHOL sales in the park!  Ah well, at least I was able to enjoy a cold ice cream cone!

The park has several trails and I set off to hike a few of them.  Most were less than a mile and all of them led to various views of the 5 mile gorge.

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These images look similar but the clouds kept changing and I could not stop shooting!

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It was 6 oclock in the evening and I met no one else on the trails and saw no one at the overlooks.  Perfect!

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From this vantage point, I was standing in Virginia and looking at both Kentucky and Virginia.

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All I could hear was the sound of the river, the train, and hawks flying around overhead.

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I had to chuckle as I came upon this sign and of course, ventured beyond.

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After several hours of riding and a few hours of hiking, it was time to head to the lodge for supper.  While I had to settle for unsweet iced tea, I thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant’s specialty of brown beans and cornbread.  Time on the deck was the only dessert that I needed.

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With the bike parked right outside my room, I settled in for the night.  I managed to escape the rain this day, but I knew that there was a good chance I’d be riding in the rain soon.

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Next Post: Onward into Kentucky

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Virginia’s Eastern Shore

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The day dawned and brought with it a hint of sun, a welcome change from the previous 3 days.

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My plan was to travel over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel to the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  Tucked between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, the Eastern shore is “defined by two elements: the fertile land and the water”.

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I looked forward to going over the 17.6 mile Bay Bridge Tunnel and was happy to find that it had a visitors center and pier midway across the bay.  Well you know me … I just had to stop and walk all the way out to the end of the pier before heading on my way.

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It fascinates me that cars travelthrough a tunnel under the water in the break between the two rock edges.

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Once back on the road, and knowing that I’d have much more time to explore the Eastern Shore the next day, I pushed on up to Bethany Beach, Delaware.  After a short but wonderful visit with dear friends, I set out to explore a bit.  On a borrowed bike, I hit a pretty bikeway which ultimately led me to the Indian River Inlet Bridge.

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The view of the ocean and the Delaware Seashore State Park was beautiful.

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Every bike ride should end with a cold beer, at least in my opinion, and I found that, and fish tacos, at Hammerheads Dockside. It was just the fuel I needed for the ride back over the bridge.  After that, it was a quick visit to the beach and time to settle in for the evening.

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The next morning, I was up early for the drive back down the Eastern Shore.  I stopped in Cape Charles, a town founded in 1884 as the southern terminus of the New York, Philidelphia, and Norfolk Railroad.  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this train town also boasts a water tower that looks like a lighthouse.

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I found my way down to the bay and within minutes, I was out of my shoes, had rolled up my pants, and was enjoying the feel of the sand and the water.

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The next stop was the Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge.  “Located at the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, this area is one of the most important avian migration funnels in North America. Each fall, like colorful clockwork, the refuge is the scene of a spectacular drama as millions of songbirds and monarch butterflies and thousands of raptors converge on their voyage south”.

In addition to photography, the refuge offers the visitor opportunities for fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, and education.

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I wish I’d had a kayak with me this day!

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All to0 soon, it was time to start the trip back home to the mountains.  While disappointed to leave the water and marine life, it was time to get home to prepare for my first post-wreck bike trip.

Next Up:  Kentucky

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Gwynn’s Island

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Gwynn’s Island is an island located in the Chesapeake Bay on Virginia’s Middle Peninsula.  Just drive over this drawbridge and you are there.

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Hopefully, you’ve seen my post Fresh From the Bay.  This small community lives and loves the marine life.  I’ve included this photo (credit the Gwynn’s Island Museum) because it offers such a great view of the island.

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The Chesapeake Bay is a fragile economy and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the largest conservation organization dedicated solely to saving the Chesapeake Bay, has a mission to reduce pollution, improve fisheries, and to protect and restore natural resources such as wetlands, forests, and underwater grasses.

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Before heading off to the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and to Delaware, I wanted to share a few more images from 3 lovely days on this Island.

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I hope you’ll find time to visit the Middle Peninsula someday … it really is worth the trip!

(You may be wondering why some of these images are watermarked and others are not … just a little Lightroom trouble today)

Next Up:  The Eastern Shore and Delaware

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Home!

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Hello from the very rainy Commonwealth of Virginia!

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I’m back from vacation, during which I saw very little sun, but had a wonderful time!  Luckily, I only rode in about 6 hours of rain, 2 of which were the final hours before arriving home.  If you were to visit me right now, you would see drying bike gear everywhere!

I’m anxious to catch up with your blogs and plan to visit within the next 24 hours!  And of course, soon I’ll be sharing photos and notes from my travels.  I’ll hope that some of our rain pushes west in order to provide relief to the draught stricken!

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Purple Rain

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Despite the rain on the Middle Peninsula last week, each morning I woke to the sounds of the Chesapeake Bay and the beauty of nature.  As you read this post, which I wrote and scheduled before I hit the road, I’ll be riding through southeastern Kentucky.

Cross your fingers and hope that it’s not raining where I am, and I’ll hope the same for you (unless you are in draught conditions, of course!)

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Blog Tour: Partial Failure

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What a whirlwind week it has been, one filled with many big and small things!

The biggest and most important thing was undergoing my 15th procedure since the wreck and to finally have my smile restored!  I’ve not devoted much blog space to the events of the past 9 months, and the only reason I’m doing so today is because this important event kept me from fulfilling an obligation that I committed myself to.

I’d been asked by 3 different bloggers to participate in a Blog Tour. I appreciated the invitations but knowing that I was a bit over extended and had a big case pending, I initially declined. Eventually I did agree to participate because it seemed fun, and a nice way to meet other bloggers.

The rules are simple.  The invited participant composes a one-time post. 4 questions are answered and then 4 other bloggers are invited to create a post, answering those same questions.

I dutifully made a calendar note to create a post, but then … I forgot to invite others to participate!

I must apologize to Emilio for only partially fulfilling my role as participant.  Please check out his post about the Virtual Blog Tour.

 And since we’re talking Tours, why don’t you visit a Displaced Beachbum.  She’s traveled the world and is currently touring Scotland.

Jo the Tart Queen is another blogger whose posts share delicious sounding recipes and beautiful photos from her travels.

So … the Answers to the 4 Questions in brief:

What am I currently working on?  I’m continuing my growth as an amateur photographer and am so happy to have been included as one of the photographers in a new B&W Photography Blog called Monochromia.  Please visit the blog and check out the great work of the participating photographers.

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How does my work differ from others of its genre? I have no specific goal other than to improve and no specific subject other than what draws and attracts my eye.  I do like to travel as much as I can and many of my posts are about the things I see from the road … short, local trips and longer, more adventurous ones.

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Why do I write/create what I do?  Simply put: It’s all about the joy, the fun, and the opportunity to be creative in a life filled with work and structure.

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How does your writing/creating process work?  Oh gosh … let’s see.  Something draws my attention. I pull over, crawl around on the ground, climb a ladder, fence, or bed of the truck, or slide down a riverbank, and shoot and shoot and shoot.  Once I get home, I just pray that something worked!  I do edit but not extensively.

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Thanks Emilio for inviting me to be a part of this tour!

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Pitcher Plant

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The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, is an estate garden whose mission is to “provide an oasis of inspiration and tranquility, while furthering the understanding and appreciation of plants, especially epiphytes”.  An epiphyte is a plant that derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and usually grows on another plant.

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It’s been an all too short, but wonderful visit to Sarasota, and I’ll have more photos and stories to post later.  For now, know that I’ve missed many of your posts while I’ve traveled, but I’ll catch up soon!!