We started with a short ride to Rick's Toledo aunt, Carol, for a delightful overnight and then headed to Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania, a bit east of Uniontown. We had no reservations but found a lovely "lodge" with a room overlooking a pond and with a small patio. Rick got in a short walk and I think I read about six pages of my book before the rain forced me inside.
No, I can't say the weather was divine. The next morning it was pouring. Let me tell you where you do not want to be -- in a hotel room with Rick in an area that is filled with country roads and big hills -- and with a bicycle in the trunk. Can you spell c-r-a-n-k-y? But once we got out of the hotel and on the road, things lightened up a lot!
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| Claes Oldenberg's Apple at Kentuck Knob. Note forsythia -- spring is coming! |
We weren't far from Fallingwater but the admission price was high. (If he'd been on the bike, I would have gone, but $25 each was a tad much for us on this trip). But we did go to Kentuck Knob, another Frank Lloyd Wright-built house. Well, we didn't go into that house either. But by then the rain had stopped and we enjoyed a nice walk through the sculpture garden.
(There was a reason for this, besides not really wanting to kick in for the admission that day. Many years ago, I was invited to a Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian home (similar to Kentuck Knob) here in Lansing. We didn't just get a tour of the house -- we saw the insides of closets and drawers, all the details explained by the people who lived there -- and then had ice cream. There's a bit about this story HERE when I wrote about the book "Loving Frank." I really didn't want that experience distilled by a visit to a place similar.)
Nonetheless, the walk was fun and fascinating, until it got a little too muddy to continue!
This is a piece from the Berlin Wall.
I need to do some research to see if the graffiti on one side was done in the East, the West or after!
This is Ray Smith's "Red Army." It was enormous. It was also probably two tenths of a mile away. I love my zoom!
From there we hit Ohiopyle on the Youghiogheny River (aka the Yough). The Cucumber Falls were moving fast on this rainy day (yes, it was raining again) but it was beautiful.
The whole area was gorgeous. And yes, we'll be back!
From then it was on to Frederick, Maryland, new country to me. We kicked off the visit with a crab dinner with Rick's aunt and two of his cousins. Oh, seafood to die for!
The rest of the weekend was family and I found myself both wrapped in warmth and love and frustrated as all get-out that there wasn't time to explore the Civil War-related sites and Washington DC (and their cherry blossoms) -- all within easy driving distance. That, and wishing I could discover the antique and art shops in the charming Frederick downtown. Another visit.
Road trip home -- all one day this time, due to commitments. But we know one thing. We will be back -- and we won't wait too long. Life is too short not to explore more!
And besides, there are a few crabs in Maryland that we haven't sampled yet!
21 comments:
It's wonderful to 'discover' a new place. I'm sure you'll get back there.
Thanks for sharing! Glad that overall it was a really nice trip for you. :)
So sorry for your loss of Uncle Jim. I must say you discovered a wonderful place to reflect and say your good-byes. That apple core is cool.
I love the misty, moody photos that rain made possible, Jeanie. However, I also know Bob would have been as unhappy as Rick if the bike was with us! We grew up and raised our kids in PA and lived for awhile in Havre de Grace, MD on the Bay. That area is very scenic. Still snowing here... We may take the bikes and head farther west tomorrow, trying to get out of the snow.
Now I want a sculpture garden! What a delight. I really do love that part of the country in the spring (went to college in Maryland).
Wow! What a beautiful area! And the crab looks amazing. I'm sorry that a sad event brought you to that area, though. It will be great to go back and explore in the future!!
Hi Jeanie and I'm sorry to hear of your loss. But in spite of that, looks like you had a great time. Love the snaps. Thank you so much for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia;)
The crabs look good. I always wanted to see Fallingwater when we lived in MD. You know how it is. We often don't see the things closest to us. We did do a lot of site seeing in DC and Baltimore when we lived there. There's a lot to see. My sister visited every year and we always scheduled something for their visit. It really made us open our eyes to the wonderful places and history around us.
VERY fun to see, Jeanie! I'm so glad you went to PA... although sad about Rick's uncle passing... ((HUGS))... I've not been to that part of PA, though. My Mom's father was from Washington PA, but haven't been a lot in /around western PA. Maryland has some o f the BEST seafood on the East coast! So hope you get to go back and do more... And you gotta have a Maryland crabcake next time! ;o) Fun to catch up with you... ((HUGS))
I love this part of the country...so traditional and vibrant with history!
sounds like an interesting and fun trip. that photo of the water rushing under the bridge looks a bit like a painting, very dreamy.
Sorry for your loss.
Your post is lovely celebrating life and enjoying each moment.
Next time you're out in our neck of the woods and have some extra time way you'll have to let me know.
It would be fun to "meet" in person.
Take Care and Happy Spring ♥
oxo
O just lovely, a foretaste of my fall foliage road trip to the U.S. East. I'll devour not just the scenery but the lobsters! Your post reminds me indeed, I'd been to (or was it near to) Chesapeake Bay and had crabs there. These public art installations are quite something. Thanks for sharing with us your road trip.
I'm sorry for your loss. Though the road trip's primary purpose was for a family's loss, it was a great time to be with other members and a great opportunity to visit such places. Sculpture garden is interesting and the whole area is beautiful. Surely worth re-visiting.
Maybe I'm just not clear about the piece of Berlin wall and the Red army.
Oh by the way, seeing the crabs, I think I know what else I'm craving for now.
Oh this countryside and the sculptures are definitely to visit again. I love it, now I want to go too. And seafood too!!! Sorry it was for a sad occasion. Love Frank Lloyd Wright too. There is a house here in Oregon I need to visit.
I'm sorry for your loss, though glad you were able to enjoy your visit to spend time with and near the family (despite the circumstances, and the rain).
I hope the weather is better when you go back!
This part of the country is so beautiful. I loved every single one of your photos. I want to explore that part of the country too. I hope you make it back soon.
I'm sorry for the reason for your trip, but I'm so glad Rick was able to be with family as he honored the life of his uncle.
I'm sorry about Rick's uncle. It seems that the only time I see some family members is when someone passes away. It looks like you and Rick fit a lot of exploring into your trip--you're right, life is too short not to explore!
Love that apple core. :-)
Wonderful photos. What's not to like about a trip that starts with a Tardis? And you know I loved "Ohiopyle on the Youghiogheny River." Good grief!
It seems Allegheny isn't the only "funny" word out there.
The real forsythia is beautiful, and the apple core sculpture made me laugh. What a wonderful start to the day this post was!
Sometimes those unexpected road trips are the best, even if the reason for going was a sad one. How nice that you found some new places to re-visit. And isn’t retirement grand, that you could just up and go like that?? The best :)
It's awfully tantalizing when you have only a short time in a complex and layered place. I'm glad you got to see waterfalls and flowers and art. So interesting that they had a chunk of the Berlin wall......
Thanks for taking us along!
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