October Updates

By on November 5, 2023 in The Pearl
“Autumn teaches us the beauty of letting go. Growth requires release…it’s what the trees do.” -Ka’ala
We’ve had a busy October and I’ve done a lot of posts, but as usual there are memories I wanted to document. This blog has become less about cruising and boats and more of a journal of our lives. A way to remember where and what we’ve done each year.

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

Greenland

By on October 31, 2023 in M/V Dirona

Greenland has long been high on our list of places to visit. We love high latitudes and wild, untamed places. Our initial plan for eventually returning to North America from Europe on Dirona was to travel the “Viking Route” from the Faroe Islands to Newfoundland via Iceland and Greenland. We didn’t have a firm timeframe…

October Updates

By on October 31, 2023 in The Pearl

“Autumn teaches us the beauty of letting go. Growth requires release…it’s what the trees do.” -Ka’alaWe’ve had a busy October and I’ve done a lot of posts, but as usual there are memories I wanted to document. This blog has become less about cru…

Oct. 27 – Pine Creek Rail Trail

By on October 30, 2023 in The Pearl
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We spent the day riding along the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The trail is 62 miles long, extending from the Wellsboro, PA area to the Jersey Shore, PA area. Since we only had one day to explore the trail we did the northern 19 miles through the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. There are more than 2,000 miles of rail trails in Pennsylvania, but none are more beautiful than the Pine Creek Rail Trail. It’s one of Pennsylvania’s most scenic treasures.

We started our adventure at the Big Meadows access point just north of Ansonia. We made arrangements with the Pine Creek Outfitters to move our car from here to the Rattlesnake Rock access while we were on the trail. This way we would have our car waiting for us when we arrived. A mile past where we started is the Darling Run access from this point to Blackwell there are no intersecting roads. This 16 mile section is the most secluded and pristine part of the Pine Creek Gorge; this area is also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. The canyon stretches for over 45 miles with depths of nearly 1500 feet.  

The Pine Creek Rail Trail follows the path of the Jersey Shore, Pine Creek and Buffalo Railway that opened in 1883. It later became a part of the New York Central Railroad and operated until 1988. The first section of the rail trail was opened in 1996. USA Today cites the Pine Creek Rail Trail as one of the 10 great places to take a bike tour in the world.

About an hour into our ride we took a break from our bikes to hike up Turkey Path. The first half of the trail is a series of stairs and boardwalks that pass by three beautiful waterfalls. The trail continues its climbs to the rim of the canyon. A total of 800′ in 1.1 miles. The bike ride was a piece of cake compared to this trail, but the rewards were worth the effort…the views from the top were amazing.

The confluence of Marsh Creek and Pine Creek just past where we started the trail.

Darling Run Access to the Pine Creek Rail Trail.

Views along the trail.

We saw three eagles while we rode along the trail. There is an eagle in the tree to the left. Just as I was taking this picture he flew right past me. 

Cabins and swing bridge along Pine Creek.

The waterfalls along Turkey Path.

The Turkey Path Trail to the rim of the canyon.

The viewing platform at Leonard Harrison State Park.

Looking south along the PA Grand Canyon.

Looking west along the PA Grand Canyon.

Looking north along the PA Grand Canyon.

A close up of the trail we come on from Ansonia.

The house we could see from the rim overview.

The trail was a great place to spend a warm beautiful fall day. We truly enjoyed seeing all the fall colors even though they were past their peak.

Fly fishing in Pine Creek is very popular. Stan spent a day fishing on this creek the first summer we were in Ithaca.

The small village of Blackwell. It’s the first entry or exit point south of Darling Run.

Miller’s Store offers a nice place to rest and have a snack along the trail.

Rattlesnake Rock…the end of the trail for us. It was nice to see the car was waiting for us.  

This is a map of the trail. The green line shows the part of the rail trail we did today. I also marked where the Turkey Path trail begins.

Oct. 27 – Pine Creek Rail Trail

By on October 30, 2023 in The Pearl
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We spent the day riding along the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The trail is 62 miles long, extending from the Wellsboro, PA area to the Jersey Shore, PA area. Since we only had one day to explore the trail we did the northern 19 miles through the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. There are more than 2,000 miles of rail trails in Pennsylvania, but none are more beautiful than the Pine Creek Rail Trail. It’s one of Pennsylvania’s most scenic treasures.

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

PA Cover Bridges (Part III)

By on October 27, 2023 in The Pearl
“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.” —Dr. Seuss
We’ve been chasing covered bridges since Kyle and his family moved to Pennsylvania in 2016. Pennsylvania is one of the leading states with the remaining number of covered bridges. At one point in time, it’s estimated that Pennsylvania had more than 1,500 covered bridges. Today there are 209 that can be found throughout the state and a total of 900 in the US. The first covered bridge in the United States was built over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia in 1805.
A covered bridge is a timber-truss bridge with a roof and siding, which creates an almost complete enclosure. The purpose of the covering is to protect the wooden structure from the weather, extending the life of the bridge from roughly 20 years to 100 years. But there are other explanations for covering the bridges. The spans were built to resemble barns so farm animals would feel more at home and not stampede as they were driven across the streams and rivers. Other explanations were to keep snow and rain off the bridge to keep the oiled planks of the roadbed from becoming dangerously slippery, to cover up unsightly trusses, to provide shelter to travelers caught in a storm and to provide a place to court your lady and secretly give her a kiss (the “Kissing Bridges”). The roof also strengthened the entire structure.

The Hassenplug Covered Bridge is located in Mifflinburg built in 1825. It’s the oldest existing covered bridge in Pennsylvania and believed to be the second-oldest covered bridge in the United States. The bridge is 80′ long and 16′ wide. 

The Millmont Covered Bridge is the longest covered bridge in Union County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1855 and spans the Penns Creek. The bridge is also known as the Red Bridge or the Glen Iron Covered Bridge. It is 131′ long and 14′ wide.
The Hays Covered Bridge is located in Union County and was built in 1882. It spans Buffalo Creek and is 63′ long, 16′ wide.
The Rishel Covered Bridge is located in Northumberland County. It is a single span bridge built in 1830. It crosses the Chillisquaque Creek and  is 94′ long.
The Sam Wagner (Gottleib Brown) Covered Bridge was built in 1881. It spans the Chilisquaque Creek in Pottsgrove and is a single span bridge that is 85′ long.

See other Pennsylvania Covered Bridges that we’ve discovered at the following sites.

PA Covered Bridges (Part I)

PA Cover Bridges (Part III)

By on October 27, 2023 in The Pearl
“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.” —Dr. Seuss
We’ve been chasing covered bridges since Kyle and his family moved to Pennsylvania in 2016. Pennsylvania is one of the leading states with the remaining number of covered bridges. At one point in time, it’s estimated that Pennsylvania had more than 1,500 covered bridges. Today there are 209 that can be found throughout the state and a total of 900 in the US. The first covered bridge in the United States was built over the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia in 1805.

CONTINUE READING HERE…»

From Hot to Cold

By on October 27, 2023 in M/V Dirona

August brought more warm and sunny weather to Seattle, and the return of NFL season. We attended two Seattle Seahawks preseason NFL games, and a couple of Seattle Mariners baseball games, all in T-shirt weather. And we had fabulous weather for a hiking trip to Washington’s North Cascades National Park, known as the American Alps…

Oct. 24 – Buffalo Valley Rail Trail

By on October 26, 2023 in The Pearl
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ―Albert Einstein
The weather has finally cleared up and we’ve been able to get out and do a little exploring. This area of Pennsylvania is predominately farmland…beautiful farmland with picture perfect farms. Today we rode our bikes along the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail. The trail runs 9.5 miles between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg. The trail transects the heart of Union County’s Buffalo Valley, showcasing the rich agricultural heritage and working farms along with the quaint small towns. The trail follows the route of a railroad that once ran from Montandon to Bellefonte in Centre County, crossing through Union County. The rail line was a key part of the valley’s transportation network from 1853 until 1982. The rail trail opened in 2011.

Part of the trail.

Some of the farmland near the little town of Vicksburg, about halfway between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg.

The trail ends in Muffinburg right past the Rusty Rail Brewery. We had been to lunch here the day before and decided we deserved a beer before we headed back…9 miles. What a perfect place for this wonderful brewery.

The Vicksburg Buggy Shop.

Just a few of the beautiful trees we saw.

Oct. 24 – Buffalo Valley Rail Trail

By on October 26, 2023 in The Pearl
“Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ―Albert Einstein
The weather has finally cleared up and we’ve been able to get out and do a little exploring. This area of Pennsylvania is predominately farmland…beautiful farmland with picture perfect farms. Today we rode our bikes along the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail. The trail runs 9.5 miles between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg. The trail transects the heart of Union County’s Buffalo Valley, showcasing the rich agricultural heritage and working farms along with the quaint small towns. The trail follows the route of a railroad that once ran from Montandon to Bellefonte in Centre County, crossing through Union County. The rail line was a key part of the valley’s transportation network from 1853 until 1982. The rail trail opened in 2011.

CONTINUE READING HERE…»