But that was not the only driving factor in my rising early Sunday. Truthfully I was excited to get out and explore where we stayed in Pottsville and the surrounding geographic area. We weren’t planning to even get home until 10:30 or later which left us with about six hours of solid zig zagging all over we could do. We began the journey in town.
Um, is this steep of a grade even legal? Emergency brakes are working triple overtime in this town.
Since most of PotHead (as we affectionately dubbed this laid back little mountain town) was boarded up or closed on Sunday morning we were on the road early. We started seeing signs for Bushkill Falls (the ‘Niagara of Pennsylvania’ as they call it) about twenty miles before the Delaware Water Gap. We both decided it would be fun and prepared to go after checking out the Gap. Sorry but, um, really? This is the hype?
I guess being in the river is probably much more impressive as there were tons of rafters and whatnot; this was the only and best view of the Gap we came across.
So we headed back up Rt. 209 for the Falls.
Now we have been seeing signs for this attraction for a while now so when we discovered the road was closed within sight of the blinking light we were supposed to turn at to get there, it probably should have been our first clue to skip it. But we don’t listen to first clues. When we got lost on random back road for twenty minutes after the detour it should have been the only other clue we needed. Sometimes with us it takes the harsh lesson of reality to smack us around however. We finally get on track and make it to the location.
We are promptly greeted with tour busses, concessions, outdoor sporting activity areas and a ticket booth. I’m sorry, a ticket booth? You mean I have to pay to see a waterfall? Um, eff that! We chowed down leftover pizza in the parking lot for lunch before promptly turning to leave without seeing the much hyped Bushkill Falls. Neither of us were disappointed because I simply said to Matt “This just isn’t us” and he fully agreed.
Then the grand old Universe said ‘Good for you for sticking to your road trip guns but did you say you wanted to see a waterfall?’; about fifteen minutes up the road we saw a sign for Raymondskill Falls. No one was going up the road. There was only one tiny little brown state park sign for it, no billboards, no glitz. We knew it was perfect and headed up the hill.
Despite the fact that I was not intending to workout there was a good two mile hike up, down, then back up again to see it all. Totally worth it.
When we got to the base to see this view with only 3 other people even in the vicinity, Matt just said “Now this is totally us”.
To complete our day of exploring before the sun went down, we headed off to the Pennsylvania / New York state line to check out the oldest suspension bridge in the country, Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct. A landmark Matt had wanted to check out for years because it was built by John Augustus Roebling, builder of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Since most of PotHead (as we affectionately dubbed this laid back little mountain town) was boarded up or closed on Sunday morning we were on the road early. We started seeing signs for Bushkill Falls (the ‘Niagara of Pennsylvania’ as they call it) about twenty miles before the Delaware Water Gap. We both decided it would be fun and prepared to go after checking out the Gap. Sorry but, um, really? This is the hype?
I guess being in the river is probably much more impressive as there were tons of rafters and whatnot; this was the only and best view of the Gap we came across.
So we headed back up Rt. 209 for the Falls.
Now we have been seeing signs for this attraction for a while now so when we discovered the road was closed within sight of the blinking light we were supposed to turn at to get there, it probably should have been our first clue to skip it. But we don’t listen to first clues. When we got lost on random back road for twenty minutes after the detour it should have been the only other clue we needed. Sometimes with us it takes the harsh lesson of reality to smack us around however. We finally get on track and make it to the location.
We are promptly greeted with tour busses, concessions, outdoor sporting activity areas and a ticket booth. I’m sorry, a ticket booth? You mean I have to pay to see a waterfall? Um, eff that! We chowed down leftover pizza in the parking lot for lunch before promptly turning to leave without seeing the much hyped Bushkill Falls. Neither of us were disappointed because I simply said to Matt “This just isn’t us” and he fully agreed.
Then the grand old Universe said ‘Good for you for sticking to your road trip guns but did you say you wanted to see a waterfall?’; about fifteen minutes up the road we saw a sign for Raymondskill Falls. No one was going up the road. There was only one tiny little brown state park sign for it, no billboards, no glitz. We knew it was perfect and headed up the hill.
Despite the fact that I was not intending to workout there was a good two mile hike up, down, then back up again to see it all. Totally worth it.
When we got to the base to see this view with only 3 other people even in the vicinity, Matt just said “Now this is totally us”.
To complete our day of exploring before the sun went down, we headed off to the Pennsylvania / New York state line to check out the oldest suspension bridge in the country, Roebling’s Delaware Aqueduct. A landmark Matt had wanted to check out for years because it was built by John Augustus Roebling, builder of the Brooklyn Bridge.
This thing was insane. Back when it was first built, where you see concrete ground there was water. It was built as a canal that ships could pass through in order to alleviate traffic at the Delaware and Hudson canal. The bridge is suspended about 30-40 feet above the river and is reported to be 535 feet long.
We got in a lot earlier than we usually do on a road trip, mostly because we both had lots to get caught up on today; namely work. But overall it was a weekend full of car fun that will stick with us for a long time to come.
We got in a lot earlier than we usually do on a road trip, mostly because we both had lots to get caught up on today; namely work. But overall it was a weekend full of car fun that will stick with us for a long time to come.
12 comments:
Just realized I never pointed out that Roebling's is a one lane bridge, you have to wait at oppossing ends and yield to whoever made it there first.
Thanks for the tour, your waterfall was lovely.
My mother got the bright idea to leave Portland Oregon to move my sister and me up to a one horse town in British Columbia the summer I turned 16. The town was divided by a might river and to get back and forth you had to travel on a one way bridge. I'd like to have back all the minutes I sat in cars waiting for our turn. There was also a rickety wooden foot bridge attached to the side of the mammoth one way bridge, you could see the churning river through the cracks under your feet as you made your way across. They built a new two way bridge after I left town. As soon as I turned 18 I was SO GONE.
Well, that was a fun trip and thank you for sharing. Glad you are both home safe and sound.
Love the waterfall! Now I want to go on a road trip! Wonder if hubby can get off work for the rest of the summer? Probably not.
Love that waterfall pic.
Welcome home, see you soon, to hear the stories in person.
Love ya, Mum
Wow! Beautiful place. I feel like I'm on holiday with you. Your blog is a nice way to start my day.:)
Hahaha. Go to San Francisco, you'll see some REALLY steep hills there.
What a fun, random day. =)
Happy you had such a fun trip!
tickets to see a waterfall? you definitely ended up at a better place! Sounds like a nice trip. and, like that bridge.
There was a one lane bridge in Fiji on one of the main roads around the island. One time 2 cars going opposite directions, ended up on the bridge. One was driven by an Indian, the other by a Fijian. I think the Indian fellow thought he was in the right and waved at the other car to back up. The Fijian opened the car door and got out. (Rugby is a favorite sport in Fiji. Fijians play rugby, Indians play soccer.)
The Fijian then walked around to the back of his car, opened the trunk, pulled out a fishing rod, went to the side of the bridge and started fishing.
lol.
The waterfall is lovely, and the woods are so green.....
one lane bridges are a bit scary; there are about 50 or so on the road to Hana on Maui.
i wouldn't get on that bridge if you paid me. nope, nuh-uh, not gonna do it, wouldn't be prudent.
that waterfall is loverly :)
Really enjoyed this post, such a strange town and such an odd thing to have happened to it.
Viewed your video, it was awesome. And I like your voice, I thought you would make a fantastic news reporter or commentator...but then what do I know, I sound like one of the Chipmunks on recordings.
Question regarding a faux finish: I tried a crackle glaze (on the UFO) used the smaller crackling glaze called "porcelain crackle". I put a base coat of latex paint down, let it dry and then lightly sanded to remove the texture of the wood grain that had popped up. Then I applied another coat of latex paint. After 24 hours I did the crackle glaze as per directions, it didn't do much. Over 24 hours later and you really have to use your imagination to see the crackle as it is very fine and very faint. Emailed Valspar for recommendations but so far nothing, probably will take them several days before they can address my dilemma. Have you any suggestions ?
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