Back in Pennsylvania

It started as a joke when we passed a billboard - a museum dedicated to cigarette lighters?? Let's stop! hahaha - but when we stopped for the night in Bradford, PA, and the Zippo-Case Museum was just down the street, we decided what the heck.

Great decision! The Zippo museum was really interesting, and hubby enjoyed the Case knives section. Zippos are proudly made in Bradford, USA - which I love - and have had a strong connection to the military since World War II.

They've also had starring roles in movies from Green Beret with John Wayne to one of hubby's favorite TV "classics" - Stargate.

I learned a lot and had fun too - which makes this my favorite kind of museum. Actually wish we could have stayed longer. But we did pick up a couple of souvenirs on our way out . . .

His and hers lighters. What every couple needs!

Then it was southward, towards Hershey, with a couple of stops for covered bridges. (Sorry, Rach!)

Truth in advertising. (See the sign??)

I'm searching for truss types we haven't already seen. It's hard to find bridges that aren't Burr or, less frequently, king/kingpost.

Logan Mill Bridge, built in 1874, has a Queenpost truss

and a different ceiling design than I remember seeing before.

A copy of the bridge's story was tacked to the wall, a sign that someone cares about this baby's upkeep.

It was in great shape, standing up well to the flooded river that's currently passing beneath its deck.

The same can't be said for our second bridge, unfortunately.

This poor thing - the Mertz-Northwood Bridge, built in 1976 -

looks to be on its last leg.

It's a multiple Kingpost design that's missing several "kings".

I didn't dare walk onto it, it was in such bad shape. Don't think this one will be standing much longer.
Tomorrow's plan is to head for Hershey and a tour of the chocolate factory (provided I'm not sick from the almost raw chicken I was served for dinner tonight - yuck!), then time permitting, check out a couple more bridges (double sorry, Rachel!). It's just such a great way to see the countryside.

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Movin' On

This morning we reluctantly said hasta la vista, baby! to Niagara Falls and headed northward to Whirlpool National Park. Gorgeous!

Beautiful flowers too;

love these fancy tulips.

And see the air trolley?

I soooooooo wanted to ride that! But it's on the Canadian side, darn it. Next visit we're bringing our passports.

Tap picture to enlarge.

Further up the coast, at the juncture of lakes Erie and Ontario, is old Fort Niagara, built by the French starting around 1726.

The Castle

Hubby and I like visiting old forts,

so when I saw this listed on a sign at Niagara Falls,

we didn't pay much attention except to say we wanted to go see it.

Can I just say "wow"? Interesting to see, great history,

beautifully preserved and a fantastic view - this place has it all.

Freezing!! Temps in the 40's and a strong wind blowing off the water.

Including a lighthouse in the parking lot -

and a great textile artifact.

This is a garrison flag from 1813, captured by the British as a war trophy, then preserved in a Scottish ancestral home until 1994 when the fort's historical/restoration association purchased it, restored it and put it on exhibit.



So wonderful to see something that old, with that much history, being so well cared for.

We've headed south again, into Pennsylvania, with the goal of spending a couple of days near Hershey (chocolate factory!!) before heading back to Philly on Monday. Almost time to head home . . . .

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Niagara Falls

Last night we made it to within an hour and a half of Niagara Falls, but a pounding thunderstorm - with rain so heavy we could barely see the road - convinced us to stop and spend the night in the small town of Dunkirk.

Heavy rain was predicted again for today, but all we got was a fairly steady drizzle. And when you're at Niagara Falls, where the air is already saturated with mist from the falls, what's a little extra moisture?

Nikolas Tesla Monument. He built a power plant at the falls (below) harnessing water to generate electricity, a major achievement at the time.

We had some difficulty finding our way to the visitor's center; there was a distinct lack of signs and GPS kept pointing us to an empty field. You'd think a park that's been in existence since 1885 (the first ever state park) would be used to telling people where to go. They've only been open since Saturday for the 2014 season, so that may have something to do with it. Benefit of the doubt, eh?

Niagara River, above American Falls

Once we got parked and found the tram, we were good to go. Cave of the Winds is still closed due to snow and ice, so we missed out on that.

The 45-minute Legends of Adventure movie was good;
View straight down from the observation deck, which is the same height as the falls. Teeny, tiny little people down there.
the Observation Tower, the best place to see all the falls, was great;

and the Maid of the Mist boat was fantastic - definitely a must-see.

See how tiny the boat looks down by the falls?


It holds 600 people, so it's not that small. The falls are just that big!

The view from the boat was amazing, even when most of it was obscured by mist.

By the time the ride was over, our hands were frozen,


we - and our cameras - were drenched,

and we couldn't stop grinning from how great it was.

Tonight we're staying in Niagara Falls. Tomorrow we head out again, although we aren't sure where to. We've hit our trip goals - Philly, DC, and Niagara - so anything else is just gravy.

For those who, like me, don't already know, there are 3 main falls at Niagara. American Falls is smaller, rockier at the bottom (no one has ever survived going over this one), and all on the US side of the border.

Bridal Veil Falls is next, and is the smallest of the 3. Horseshoe Falls is biggest - it's the curved one you see in most pictures - and 9 out of 16 people who've made the trip over the edge have survived.

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