The (Not so) Rural Pennsylvanian

  • Pine Grove Furnace

    The 696-acre Pine Grove Furnace State Park is at the northern tip of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in an area known as South Mountain. Visitors enjoy many recreational opportunities, including two mountain lakes (Laurel Lake and Fuller Lake), hiking the Appalachian Trail, biking the rail trail, visiting the Appalachian Trail Museum, and viewing sites from when the park was a charcoal-fired iron furnace community

    The park is surrounded by Michaux State Forest, which provides opportunities for exploring extensive public lands around South Mountain. The area is know for being close to the mid way point of the Appalachian Trail.

    An old iron furnace.
    The group tent camping area.
    The Pine Grove Furnace General Store, home of the half gallon ice cream challenge.

  • A Foxy Day at Marsh Creek

    The Spring birding season led to another trip to Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County. The park was active with boaters getting ready for the season in relatively nice weather for May.

    At the west boat launch.
    This fox was out enjoying the sun.
    More horses than unusual out in the pasture.
    The new access point off Chalfont Road.

  • Too Many Photos of Somewhere Not in Pennsylvania, Pt. III

    The Bermuda trip ends with a look around the ship, Virgin Voyage’s Valiant Lady. We return to Pennsylvania next week.

    A bridge tour.
    A window through the floor to aid in docking.

    The cruise departed from the Brooklyn cruise terminal, in Red Hook, New York City.

    Great views of Goverrnor’s Island and the Statue of Liberty.

  • Too Many Photos of Somewhere Not in Pennsylvania, Pt. II

    Continuing our series from Bermuda in April, the following photos provide a look around the Royal Naval Dockyard, which now functions as a cruise port and location for dining, shopping and museums.

    The Commissioner’s House at the National Museum of Bermuda.
    Calico Jack’s, now a restaurant and bar.
    Heritage Wharf and the Commissioner’s House.
    The ferry has arrived.
    The Clocktower Mall.
    The 2017 America’s Cup hull of Oracle Team USA.
    Some jet skiers braving the cold waters.
    Fort St. Catherine near St. George.
    The reef is very close to the channel in some spots.

  • Too Many Photos of Somewhere Not in Pennsylvania, Pt. I

    The following post (and two more to follow) are from a recent cruise to Bermuda which I took in mid April. The first entry is from a trolley tour around the West End of Bermuda near the Royal Naval Dockyard and Somerset Parish. Even though the weather was overcast, there were still some lovely coastal views.

    One of the famous Bermuda Moon Gates.
    Old bus shelter of Bermuda limestone.
    I love the colorful buildings here.
    The world’s smallest drawbridge – from a photo of a fellow traveller.

  • A Pair of Parks

    A trip into Bucks County led me to several covered bridges. Near the Cabin Run Covered Bridge is Tohickon Valley Park, a pleasnt spot with parking, picnic tables and fishing access to the Tohickon Creek. It is close to several other county parks. The 612-acre Tohickon park also has playgrounds,hiking, ball fields, and a swimming pool in season. Overnight stays include group and family camping and cabins on 22 campsites. It is deceptively large, which is why I missed a portion of it when I was there.

    Views of Tohickon Creek.

    Nockamixon State Park has been featured on this blog before.so I will not go into detail here. It is a large park in Bucks County with a lake, full service marina, hiking, picnicking, hunting and fishing. It is actually a decent location for astronomy close to the city of Philadelphia. The Tohickon boat launch area is used for astronomy and provides fairly open horizons and a 20.10 mag/arssec^2 sky.

    Almost sunset, but not quite.

  • State Parks Redux

    Tuscarora State Park sits in a valley north of Blue Mountain near coal mining regions of Pennsylvania. It is a lovely park, but one which has serious problems in terms of ADA access, especially to the lake and beach.

    I passed this farm on my way to my next location.

    It was then on to Beltzville State Park to view a covered bridge I only recently realized was there.

    The Harrity Covered Bridge.
    The dam is run by the Army Corps of Engineers.

  • Eagles Mere

    Eagles Mere is a borough in Sullivan County with a population of 151 at the 2020 census (full time residents). Eagles Mere was laid out in 1877 and incorporated in 1899. The Eagles Mere Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. Eagles Mere’s name literally means “the eagle’s lake”, the word “mere” being a poetic synonym of “lake”. The town has an extensive history of tourism, having been developed as a resort town and was once served by a narrow gauge railway. My family has visited the area since I was a child.

    Some of the summer sailboat fleet.
    The clubhouse at the lake with a swimming beach.
    St. John of the Wilderness Episcopal Church.
    The Eagles Mere Inn.

    One of the large Victorian style homes.

  • Back to Lake Naomi

    The annual weekend trip to Lake Naomi in the Poconos was blessed with lovely weather – and I got to extend it by a day. Here are some views of the lake.

    A panorama of the same area.
    This woman with three small dogs was quite the character.
    St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in nearby Pocono Summit. I’ve always been fascinated by this Church and decided to take a closer look.

  • Lake Somerset has a Nature Park

    Located in Somerset County, Lake Somerset is a 253-acre impoundment owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and managed by the Fish and Boat Commission for public fishing and boating. The lake historically has stocked the lake with Channel Catfish, Muskellunge and Walleye fingerling. Fish habitat structures have been placed in the lake over the years a fish habitat improvement program. Boating is limited to boats powered by electric motors and un-powered boats. Two launch ramps are available along with associated parking facilities. Un-powered boats may be moored at the lake in accordance with Commission property regulations. The lake was extensively renovated beginning in 2017. The county has created a nature park around the lake. It seems like a lovely amenity for the region for birding and walking as well a boating and fishing.

    There was a small boat concession operating at the lake.
    This fishing pier seemed quite popular.
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