It feels like the season is a bit late this year. However, the early bulbs and the forsythia are finally making an effort.
Below are some early Spring scenes from around Valley Forge.
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Spring is Trying to “Spring”
Snowdrops, The Willows in Radnor Daffodils and forsythia, Berwyn A lovely horse boarding farm on Yellow Springs Road. The Pawling Farm, part of Valley Forge National Historical Park -
A Leisurely September Day
A qucik trip into Lancaster County proved to a source a frustration. A higher level of traffic and lighting challenges did not yield the photographs I had hoped for. However, I took the opportunity to check out the rebuilt Smorgasbord and Restaurant at the Hershey Farm Resort. I had a very nice meal, and I am glad to see the business back in operation after a fire.
Here are some views of eastern Lancaster County in September.
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In and Around Bedford
The town of Bedford contains some interesting sights for the traveler. The Bedford Village Archeological Site is an archaeological site was once occupied by a Monongahela culture village. Today, the site is the location of Old Bedford Village, an open-air museum, containing a variety of historic structures transported to the site from the surrounding towns of Bedford, Everett, and Rainsburg.
Some of the structures at Old Bedford Village. 
It was a nice surprise to see this lovely horse and pony. 
Adjacent to Old Bedford Village is the Claycomb Covered Bridge. It was was built in 1880 in Reynoldsdale and was moved to its present location in 1975. It is a burr truss design, 126 feet long, which has been reinforced with steel to support bus traffic that frequents Old Bedford Village. The structure is unpainted and the roof is constructed of Cedar shakes. The deck consists of crossboard planks and the sides are totally enclosed. It sits on poured concrete abutments.
Near the entrance to Old Bedford Village, I couldn’t resist a stop at the Penguin, which has a large menu of hard and soft ice cream and other treats.
Finally, one of Bedford’s iconic sites is the Coffee Pot. -
More Westward Ho
Just west of Altoona, the Horseshoe Curve is a three-track railroad curve on Norfolk Southern Railway’s Pittsburgh Line in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The curve is roughly 2,375 feet (700 m) long and 1,300 feet (400 m) in diameter. Completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad as a way to reduce the westbound grade to the summit of the Allegheny Mountains, it replaced the time-consuming Allegheny Portage Railroad, which was the only other route across the mountains for large vehicles. The curve was later owned and used by three Pennsylvania Railroad successors: Penn Central, Conrail, and Norfolk Southern.
Horseshoe Curve has long been a tourist attraction. A trackside observation park was completed in 1879. The park was renovated and a visitor center built in the early 1990s. The Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona manages the center, which has exhibits pertaining to the curve. The Horseshoe Curve was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. It became a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2004.
When I visited the curve, I was lucky to have a train passing. The building at the top of the funicular can be seen in front of the train. 
The Visitor Center complex. 
Heading north from the Altoona area, Prince Gallitzin State Park sits in the forested hills of the Allegheny Plateau surrounding sprawling Glendale Lake. Vistas offer scenic views of the 1,635-acre lake with its 26 miles of shoreline, which is a favorite of anglers and boaters. Campers flock to the large campground and also enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities. The varied habitats of the park make it a home for many types of wildlife, and a rest stop in the spring and fall migrations. One of the more developed parks, it boasts a marina along with its other facilities. A state game lands is adjacent. Here I saw two clueless ring necked pheasants just standing there and enjoying the view of the traffic on Beaver Valley Road.
Some of the camping cottages. 
The 2,981-acre Yellow Creek State Park is in Indiana County along one of the first “highways” in the state, the Kittanning Path. This trail was used by the Delaware and Shawnee nations and by early settlers. Today, visitors enjoy the sand beach, picnicking, and educational and recreational programs. The 720-acre Yellow Creek Lake is a destination for boaters and anglers. The lake and park are an important rest stop for migrating birds. The park is named for Yellow and Little Yellow creeks, which flow into the lake. Both creeks contain yellow clay in their banks and bottoms.
A great group of horses chilling after a ride. 
One of the state park yurts. 
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Some Different Animals at Middle Creek
A trip to Middle Creek in late summer led to some unexpected viewing. I went in search of a Hudsonian Godwit, but found something else entirely. First up was this group of horses, hitched to a fence with no riders in sight:
I then spied this wedding party (perhaps Mennonite?) near the visitors center.
An finally, that Hudsonian Godwit and some Canada Geese with an interloper Great Egret.
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Celebrating the Lancaster County Buggy
A day out in the rural areas of Lancaster County will provide many encounters with horse drawn buggies, whether in motion or stationery. Sundays tend to be particularly busy, with people going to church or visiting neighbors.
A small child looks on … 
Traffic Gap with a miniature of the Clock Tower (full size below). 
People who drive buggies need to shop too. Stores in the area often have hitches, or even simple open sheds, for horse parking.
