Kennerdell Overlook

We ventured off today to pay a visit to the Rockland Cemetery where Linda’s brother & parents are buried. We wanted to put some flowers out and clean up around their stones. Cousin Bonnie went along with us as her father is also buried here. After our tasks were done we wandered a little wonderin’ how many of the people with the same last name might be related to them. Linda said some day she would like to do some research on her ancestry.
After the cemetery we drove to the Kennerdell Overlook. Linda & I had come here before but it was rainin’ so hard we didn’t get out to see it, honestly I don’t remember it. The overlook is situated on a bend in the Allegheny River south of Franklin and Cranberry, were we are stayin’. The river runs through a deep mountain valley in this region and the overlook is quite spectacular.

This is the view to the north

Cousin Bonnie & I  and the southerly view

After the overlook we continued on to Kennerdell to check out a campground in the Clear Creek State Forest. Turns out the access road to the campground is gated off and you must have to walk in. So Bonnie suggested we go down the road further cause she thought there was a campground further down. Turns out it wasn’t couple a hundred yards down the road, a cute commercial camp between two creeks.
We continued on down the road and what do I spot over in a field? An operating oil well. These wells worked on a push rod system, back & forth, running several wells from one central motor.


There are still some of these operating around here if you can find them. Linda says these where everywhere when she was growing up here and they used to ride the push rods going back & forth, as well as make torches out of cat tails soaked in the oil that collected in barrels from the wells. You’d never know today that this was the home of Quaker State, Pennzoil & Kendall Oil Companies. There’s not a clue left, no offices, the refineries are all gone. The only evidence of the once strong oil industry is the clean up efforts that have been ongoing for many years.
Well that’s all for today. Until the next time. Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

The Pickle Packin’ Trial

Linda has been chompin’ at the bit to make pickles with her cousin Sandy for months. On the way up north after hearin’ that Sandy wasn’t able to find the seeds she likes for makin’ those pickles we were on a seed huntin’ expedition along with the clock huntin’ & sandal huntin’. We were able to find some seeds that we sent to Sandy to plant in her garden. Ya’ll know how the clock huntin’ came out and we never found the sandals so I figure two outa’ three wasn’t bad.

Anyway the time had come for Linda’s first ‘pickling’ lesson and we left for Sandy’s house in Tionesta, PA. We’ve only been by her place once when we were out with Diane & Denny last year. I say ‘by’ her place cause we drove by, on some country road and Diane said “That’s were Sandy & Craig live”. So we had a little idea where we were goin’ but our GPS had only a rough idea, so we winged it. We drove by and Linda said I think that’s it but I had to keep goin’. After reachin’ the end of the road we backtracked to that place and sure enough that’s it.

Sandy came out and met us then took us on a tour of the property & garden, followed by a tour of her house, nice place. Then the girls went out to the garden to pick any cucumbers that Craig had missed the night before.

Then they got to makin’ the brine, warmin’ lids and preparin’ the cukes fer picklin’.

      Here’s Linda washin’ the cukes gettin’ em ready.

Then it was cuttin’ some ‘o’ that dill for each jar, garlic clove, stuff them cukes in there, toss in a grape leaf or two, fill up the jar with little cukes and throw in a piece of hot pepper before they were ready for the brine.

Here’s a jar ready for brine

When I say ‘stuff’ I mean stuff as many cukes in that jar as ya’ can, then fill any voids with smaller ones. They did up a dozen quart jars. The cukes that were to big to fit in the jar were reduced to chips or spears then packed, brined & sealed.

The finished product for today’s efforts.

Monday they are gonna’ do some more. Of coarse during all this workin’ we had to sample some of Sandy’s other pickles, beets & jams, Umm…mm Good. After we went fer’ a ride so Sandy could show us some more of their property. When we returned Craig was home from work so we visited a while then left fer’ Cousin Bonnie’s.

That’s all fer this episode, we’ll see what tomorrow brings. Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

Linda’s Surgery & Wakely RV

We went to Franklin to Linda’s eye doctor on Tuesday cause she was having her laser surgery on her eye today . We arrived before the appointed 3PM time slot and waited. They called her back around 4 and I stayed out in the waiting room and waited, and waited, and waited. I did have some excitement around 5:30 when a lady came in carrying an umbrella. I asked nonchalantly, “Is it raining”? “Yes she replied, it’s pouring”. Up I shot and out the door into the deluge cause someone just had to “Open these up so it’s not so hot in here”. What for?, nobody's in there, nobody’s going to be in there. Oh little did I know that I would be in the camper sometime during the afternoon while it sat in the parkin’ lot outside the Dr’s office. Truth is I wouldn’t have been in there, drying up everything inside, if we didn’t have to have all the windows and more importantly, the roof hatches open to cool the empty interior. Well the bed got a little wet but it was all on the top blanket and I just stripped it off the bed and draped it over the table to dry. The rest entered through the windows, all the windows. It must have been blowing quite a bit to accomplish that. So I spent about 30 minutes drying up everything else. Then I went back in to wait some more. Linda finally came out around 7:30 and we were out the door by 7:40. Her surgery went well we think. It may take some time for her vision to return. She has a check-up in three weeks and maybe hopefully we’ll know better at that time. Then we went out to the camper and guess what? The blanket that had gotten wet from the open roof hatch over our bed had dried in that warm camper.

We left and made some phone calls to let folks know she was alright, then grabbed a sub at Subway for dinner. Then it was home to Titusville cause we had a 9AM appointment at Wakley RV in North East, PA to get our A/C repaired and we don’t do mornings much anymore.

Wednesday we were up at 6:30, made coffee, unhooked, stopped at Micky D’s, then we were off to North East, which is actually in extreme NW Pennsylvania. Go figure!

We arrived a little early and was seen by the service department immediately. They had a serviceman out to us in about ten minutes. I explained to Dave, the service guy, what I found when I removed the cover and opened the electric make-up box on the A/C. There was a toasted motor start relay that was mounted on a start capacitor up there. I wasn’t sure if the capacitor was still good and that’s why I brought it to them. He told me what I described was a ‘Hard Start’ kit that is installed on the unit, and said he would start with that. In a few minutes he was at the back door asking me to try the A/C. I told him I didn’t have any electricity, and he said he already had the camper plugged in. Boy this guy is fast! So I turn the control and ‘Voila’, we have air conditioning. Yippee!!! Yeah!!!

We accompanied Dave to the cashier and were surprised that they only charged us for 1/2 hour labor plus the $29.90 for the ‘Hard Start’ kit. I thought that was great, so I ordered a kit to keep on hand as Dave told me that these ‘Hard Start’ kits usually last about 3 years. Ours was 3 years old in April.

We left feelin’ great ,to explore a little of the area. North East is located on the shores of Lake Erie and known for it’s Concord grapes and cherries. As it happens cherry season is over and grapes don’t come in till September. There are grape arbors everywhere and Welch’s has a big manufacturing plant here as well.

We headed towards Lake Erie which couldn’t be too far. soon we came to a small park on the lake.

The day was early and life on the lake shore was just getting underway. The Lifeguard was just moving to her station to guard the throngs of swimmers, LOL.

 

I kept tellin’ Linda, “We aint’ in Daytona Beach anymore”!

I wouldn’t want to have to rely on this for a swim.

This is some Nas…ty Water.

We left the shoreside park and headed south to the city of Erie. We had an ulterior motive cause there’s a CiCi’s Pizza in Erie and we were lookin’ to graze there for lunch. It was still early so we drove around the downtown waterfront lookin’ things over. Linda lived here for a short period one winter. Said it was the windiest place she’d ever been. They had ropes strung along the sidewalks so you could hold on as you tried to make progress against ‘Mother Nature’. Didn’t stop anyplace in particular till we found a small park on the inlet that goes out into the lake. The park is across from Presque Isle Park, where we visited several years ago. The public park lies in front of Lampe Marina & Campground and has a pier to fish from. We walked the pier talking to the fisherman waitin’ for lunchtime to draw nearer.

 

This is the Admiral Perry monument at Presque Isle State Park. I really zoomed in to get this cause it it’s a way’s across the bay.

When the hour finally got late enough to eat lunch we headed to CiCi’s Pizza. This CiCI’s is only about a year old but has instituted some changes that weren’t too popular with us. You can’t make your own salad anymore, they have it premade for you and it aint’ our cup o’ tea. The salad thing kinda’ turned us soured us on the whole dining experience. It wasn’t our usual fine dining at CICI’s.

Well that’s all the news that’s fit to print for now. Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

A Campin’ Weekend & Lots ‘O’ Catch Up!

This one’s fer ‘Bonnie, Amy, Linda & others that been wonderin’ what happened to us. We’ll we’re still alive & kickin’, back in PA at the ‘Big Red Barn’. We had a great time with Coleen and Wayne in Ontario, I guess I was too busy to write huh’. We spent 17 days with them and “Boy Was It HOT”!!!

We went to dinners, the Theater, Stock car races, Cloggin’ shows, lunches, more dinners, Port Dover for our annual Perch Feast. Thanks again Wayne & Coleen for a great time.

While we we’re in Ontario I think I figured out what was makin’ me sick. That special trip to the Springville Auction for XXXX sharp local cheese has been the culprit. When we were at our Nieces in NY, after I became ill, I wrote down everything I had eaten that day, thinkin‘ that maybe it was somethin’ along that line. That day Linda had made Fred & I a plate of cheese & crackers in the late afternoon, he ate one cracker, I ate the rest. After several days I was feelin’ better and Linda was makin’ lunch for us asked, “Do you want cheese on your sandwich”? I said just give me a piece on the side to eat. Bingo that evening I came down with the same symptoms, not quite as severe, and was able to walk off most of the painful effects but I still didn’t feel good the following day. Then it dawned on me that the cheese might the culprit. I looked back to the blog after my emergency room visit last year with this ailment and there it was “after a light lunch of cheese & crackers”. We had bought some cheese last year and I’d bet this was that same cheese. So “No More Cheese from the Springville auction” for this fella. I’ve been fine since I been staying away from it.

During the last of our stay in Ontario, Linda started noticing her vision in one eye was shadowed. We debated going to a doctor in Ontario but probably would have had to be referred to an Ophthalmologist by a general MD. Rather than pay for two doctors we decided to wait till we returned to the US and go to the specialist directly. Turns out she has a ‘bleed’ behind her left eye that they are going to try to stop with laser. Pray that everything comes out alright.

Since returning to PA it has been hot, hot, hot and our A/C decided to give up. I was able to make an appointment with an RV dealer above Erie on Wednesday to look at it. When it rains it pours.

This weekend we went camping with cousin Diane & Denny at the Tionesta Lake Outflow campground, where we usually get together with them. It was hot but we survived. We ate and talked and played cards and didn’t do much but enjoyed each others company.

Saturday afternoon cousin Bonnie came up and we all went to Grants store in East Hickory for ice cream. They make their own waffle cones and are they goo..od. Returning to camp we played some cards, then had a delicious dinner of steak sandwiches. Seems there’s no shortage of eatin’ when we go campin’ with the cousin’s.

Sunday was eatin’, visitin’, and eatin’ some more. We pulled out of camp at around 5PM Sunday, a little past checkout time, but they weren’t knockin’ the door down to get campin’ spots.

Now we’re parked back at the ‘Red Barn’ for a few days, till we get the next Dr. visit in and then go to North East, to see about our A/C.

Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

Canada Day

Hi! Finally I’m feelin’ better and the only ailment I have, just some strained muscles in my back, my brain still thinks we can do things that my body knows we can't. Course the body don't speak up till days after all the minds deeds are done and well over. One day I'll learn.

Anyhoo.., yesterday was ‘Canada Day’, the Canadian equivalent to ‘Independence Day’ and we took a ride to Sauble Beach. Sauble Beach is on the shores of Lake Huron on the ‘Bruce Peninsula’. They claim the to have prettiest beach in all Ontario, I like Erie beach better. The ride from Brantford was 3 hours, a long time to spend sittin’ lookin’ at all the beautiful farm land, lots of corn & oats & hay.

When we finally arrived at Sauble Beach we parked the car and started our walk to the beach. Only a couple of blocks and I think everyone enjoyed the walk after bein’ cooped up in the car for so long. We finally made the beach.

  We walked down the street adjacent to the beach then crossed over and walked down the beach. You can park on the beach, although I saw three different rates ($$$).

Parkin’ on the Beach.

We walked fer a spell, then down to the water to feel how COLD Lake Huron’s waters were, then crossed back to the other side of the street. The water didn’t feel to bad, but I’m sure when you got deeper than the 1/2” depth we were feelin’ you’d freeze. There were people in the water, but this ‘Florida Boy’ aint’ gettin’ in till it hits somewheres’ around 85 degrees. Back on the ‘Mainland’ side o’ the street we headed fer’ a stand fer’ some ‘Fries’. Fries are real big here and you see stands as you drive along the road sellin’ ‘FRIES’. These Canadian’s really like their potato’s. After devourin’ a large fry we all shared, we headed back to the car.

Here’s our Group picture.

As you can see by our ‘Beach Togs’ it was a little cold for a beach weather, but it was a ‘Holiday Weekend’, so what the heck!

We browsed around some of the tourist shops then reluctantly got back in the car for the ride home. Along the way we stopped at Coleen’s parents house, of course we called first. “Your not coming for dinner, are you”? NA…. “We’re wantin’ to know if ya’ll want to come with us fer dinner”. So we visited, saw Coleen’s dad, Wayne’s, now aint’ this gettin’ confusin’, new pond and waterfall with water wheel. He, Wayne, #2, was workin’ on their ‘race car’ when we arrived. He and his son race a stock car every chance they get, we’re goin’ Saturday to watch them. Coleen’s mom showed us around the house, then we left for some vittles. We wound up at a local, family restaurant, Winfield's. Food was good, Mennonite I guess, then it was off fer’ home so we could load up again  to go see the ‘Fireworks’.

The fireworks at Lions Park were crowded but we found a spot and sat  up our chairs. The show commenced shortly after and was OOOh & Ahhhh inspiring. No one was more tired than me from a busy day and I think I might have been checkin’ my eyelids fer’ leaks when the finale came around. After we got home I bid our friends ‘Good Night’ and tucked myself in.

That’s all fer’ today. Saturday we’re goin’ to a show after lunch and then the races I mentioned in the evening.

Hope to see ya’ down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

And the River keeps Risin’

I haven’t been doin’ much. Tryin’ to get my back, back on track. So I’ve had time to watch the river risin’, even though we haven’t had that much rain. They have had plenty of rain to the north of here and we see the accumulation here everyday.

This is what the river looked like Monday afternoon, a little above normal.

This was Tuesday afternoon, up around seven feet.

Seen this go zippin’ by that day. Hope no one got hurt.

 

Here she is Tuesday evening, still risin’.

 

Good thing we’re way up there.

Wednesday mornin’ it was still up but stopped risin’. So I’m sure it will start to recede soon.

Well that’s all just a bunch of pic’s today. Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.