West Virginia Rivers, August 24-25

Summerville Lake on the

Gauley River

Now in West Virginia, I visited the New River Gorge National River, with Gauley River National Recreation Area to the north and Bluestone National Scenic River to the south.  Truly "almost heaven" ... I loved this place.  The New River, despite its name, is an extremely old river.  One of the oldest in the world.  And it felt old as I let myself be surrounded by its water, woods and wildlife.

The New River

I spent the days driving back roads, learning of both its natural and human history.  It's an area rich in coal, and until the coal just got too deep to mine, this land was stripped of its resources ... lumber, game, soil.  Now, it's recovering amazingly well.



Grist Mill at Babcock State Park



The campgrounds at New River Gorge are primitive and free ... which I love! 

On one of my drives, I stopped at Babcock State Park, adjacent to The New River Gorge NP, to visit their grist mill.

New River Gorge Bridge
longest arch in the US, 1700'
(too wide for my camera to capture)
highest vehicle bridge in Americas, 867'



dense woods, old rock














originally posted 9/20/10

road to campground

stone steps up to overlook



Sandstone Falls, New River





Where coal is found in
the rock layers,
Visitor Center Display



A Pennsylvania Friend and Friendship, August 21-23

Pat's home in the Allegheny NF

Pat has a wonderful home in the Allegheny National Forest in northwest Pennsylvania.  She is a fellow traveler who invited me to her home while I was on my national park tour.  I jumped at the chance. 

Pat and her Aussies

While there, we sat and talked for hours about everything -- traveling and staying home, things natural and things spiritual, living and dying, love of the out-of-doors and enjoyment of things domestic, our beloved pets and a love for the wild ones, and on and on.   Her two Australian Sheppards were fun to be around and made me miss our two dogs.

Pat's My Wee RV

I got a tour of her mini van and how she has it set up for travel.  I love the license plate that says "My Wee RV."  She's done some creative installations with her cot and curtains.

Driving onto the grounds of Friendship Hill

After such a good visit with a friend, I went to the Friendship Hill National Historic Site in southwest Pennsylvania.



Gallatin as surveyor

Friendship Hill was the home of Albert Gallatin.  He named the place "Friendship Hill" for his friendships with local businessmen.  Born in Switzerland in 1761, he immigrated to the US in 1780.  Gallatin came to western Pennsylvania as a surveyor.  He was a land speculator and owned several types of manufacturing firms.  He served in both the House and Senate, 13 years as Secretary of Treasury, and as Minister to both France and England.  Gallatin's contributions, however, have been overshadowed by his contemporaries, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.


Friendship Hill Home



While I was at Friendship Hill it was raining.  Inside the home, I took a self-guided tour.  The home had been added onto many times over the years.  The grounds and the home were both beautiful, even in the rain. 

A bedroom at Friendship Hill

Doe and Fawn at
Friendship Hill

originally posted 9/19/10

More Sights in Upstate NY, August 19-21

Giant Chair in front of the
Adirondack Museum

My next stops were all in Upstate New York. After a quick visit to the Adirondack Museum, I explored Fort Stanwix and the Women's Rights Museum, two National Park Service sites; then I checked out Niagara Falls.

Fort Stanwix National Monument is in Rome, NY. The saying that “all roads lead to Rome” aptly applies here. This fort was strategically situated on both north-south and east-west routes. In addition, it was on a major portage between the Mohawk River and Wood Creek for travel from the Atlantic Ocean to Lake Ontario. 

Well fortified entrance into
Fort Stanwix

This year, Fort Stanwix is celebrating 75 years with the National Park Service. The following weekend, they were to have lots of activities, reenactments, and general hoopla. When I was there, it was actually pretty quiet.

Star shape fort design

Although it is now surrounded by a modern city, it's easy to see why the fort was placed where it is. It's on high ground and protected on one side by a natural creek. This fort is not shaped like other forts I'd seen. That is, it's not square or rectangle. It's kind of a star shape. By utilizing this shape, which is French in origin, the soldiers defending the fort from atop its walls had no blind spots. I was impressed (pic from http://www.nps.gov/fost/images/FOST_green_trim.jpg).  Fort Stanwix is one of a handful of US forts that never surrendered.

Cooper who makes wooden barrels

I got a chance to speak with a "cooper" who, dressed in period clothing and using period tools, makes wooden barrels for storing food and supplies. I made the mistake of saying that it kind of reminded of basket making. Oh my, was he ever insulted; open mouth, insert foot. All in all tho', it was very interesting and definitely requires a lot of knowledge and skill.

After spending the night at a nice private campsite in Cayuga Lake State Park, I visited the Women's Rights National Historical Park which is in Seneca Falls, NY, the birthplace of the movement. In 1848 Elizabeth Cady Stanton and four other women called the First Women's Rights Convention and wrote the Declaration of Sentiments which was modeled after the Declaration of Independence.

Life size sculpture of key participants
in the first Women's Rights Convention

It reads, in part: 

"... We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights governments are instituted, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of those who suffer from it to refuse allegiance to it, and to insist upon the institution of a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness..."

Restored Cady Home

After exploring the museum, I went to the restored home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) where a ranger gave some history and insight into her life in Seneca Falls. She was very involved in her community at many levels, had a successful marriage and raised a family of 5 boys and 2 girls. Strangely enough, the thing that I came away with, more than anything, was that she was a great mother. And, all of her work and leadership in the women's rights movement is very much part and parcel of what made her a good parent. It somehow makes me proud of the choices I've made as a woman and mother.

Lock on Cayuga-Seneca Canal

On the way from Fort Stanwix through Seneca Falls to Niagara Falls I followed the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.  Here is a picture of a lock on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, which raises/lowers boats 50 feet.  The employees there were very proud that they had recently upgraded to a hydraulic system.

Rapids just before Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls was one of those places I just wanted to see while I was on this journey, even though it's not a national park. It is a NY State Park and a natural wonder. It certainly lived up to my expectations in its grandeur. It's huge, humongous, and very loud. I was surprised, though, that there were such big rapids before the falls. I was expecting a calm river before it went over the crest, like Snoqualmie Falls near my home.



Niagara Falls from the US side



I had also hoped to visit the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site in Buffalo the following Saturday morning.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find parking because the it was the day of the annual Delaware Avenue Tour of Homes event.  I did, however, enjoy the drive around the area myself.  It felt old and was well kept, and the architecture was amazing.

Lake Ontario

Before heading south, I took a little excursion north to see Lake Ontario.  And, then the next day, on my way to visit a friend in northwest Pennsylvania, I took the scenic route and stayed as close to Lake Erie as possible.

originally posted 9/18/10