Tionesta Recreation Area Campground

 

We are well nestled in Tionesta Lake Campground. We have Joyce & Ron, camp-hosts, for next-door neighbors.

Friday night Joyce, Ron ,Linda & myself sat around the campfire getting’ to know each other a bit. Cousin Sandy also came to visit from up on German Hill. We talked & talked & talked till bedtime.

Saturday we were up a had some bagels fer’ breakfast then it was off to find Hearts Content Recreation Area here in Allegheny National Forest. Hearts Content also has a campground that we wanted to look over. By the time we were rollin’ thru Tionesta it was getting’ nigh on 11:15 and my lovely bride, always thinkin’ of her man, suggested we should stop at Subway for a sub to take with us. This month of July they’ve had our favorite on sale fer’ $5, the BMT, Its like a spicy Italian. So armed with lunch we headed down the road fer’ the rec area. Passing through the town of Tidioute we turned off US62 at the Forest Service sign fer’ Hearts Content. We made it to the top of the hill and turned in at the Tidioute Overlook. The sub only made it this far! We devoured it in short order. Traveling on full & happy, I wanted to nap for we went to much farther, but no….. , we continued on.

When we reached the Rec Area we turned into the day use area and took a hike down through a Virgin Timber forest. This area of PA was extensively logged prior to the discovery of oil and a Timber company had set aside this area for preservation. The trees were old and they were tall, but look to be in their declining years. Lots of them have fallen & lots of standin’ dead timber.

The walk was beautiful, except fer’ the gnats that were swarmin’ & bitin’ us. Linda picked a fern to use as a fan in front of her face.

I tried the same, but they seem to love the stuff that I used in my hair for my flat top, so fannin’ didn’t work. I did conquer them though. I might o’ looked silly but I made a hat from the ferns and they left me alone. I don’t know if the ferns had a natural repellent, or they just thought I was a bush.

 

I know ya’ want to see how Silly I looked?

Here it comes!

 

Are ya’ ready fer’ this?

 

Don’t split a gut or nothin’ laughin’

 

 

 

After our hike we drove across the road and took a spin thru the campground. No hookups, water available to fill your tank & a dump station. At first the sites looked too small fer’ our 36’ to squeeze into, but after travelin’ further into the loop there are many sites that would accommodate us. Just have to steer Linda to those sites where we can get enough sun to recharge the batteries.

We left there and rode back by a different route going along Tionesta Creek. We passed several spots along the creek where one could disperse camp with a smaller rig, it would be fine fer’ the truck camper. While in that area we drove through Kellettville Campground, a USACE park on Tionesta Creek, we were as impressed as we were the last time, not very. From there it was homeward bound back to the trailer.

Linda made hot sausage dip and we invited Joyce & Ron over for appetizer's. We sat around the picnic table eatin’ & talkin’ & havin’ a good ole’ time.

Later we all walked to the other side of the park to a ranger presentation on the Bald Eagle, quite informative. 

Afterward we stood around and told some stories then walked back to their rig to sit and chew the fat till it was time fer’ us to go home. Ron & Joyce we had a great time with you two and you made us welcome in the campground from the moment we backed in the site and we will miss not havin’ you for neighbors.

Well that’s all fer’ now. We hope to see ya’ down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

Pennsylvania Breakdown, Not the Dance!

Let’s see. Last time we were headed back to PA. Then our friends Bud & Linda called to see what we were up to and next thing we’re meetin’ at the Springville Auction so we delayed leavin’ Gloria’s for a day.

We did meet Bud, Linda, their daughter Tammy and her son Nolan in Springville, but at a Chinese restaurant for lunch then we went to the Auction. It was so nice to see them both as we have really missed them since leaving home. It was also a treat to see Tammy & Nolan again. By the time we arrived at the auction most of the flea market vendors had left and the remainder were packin’ it up fer’ the day. I didn’t see anything I couldn’t live without and didn’t know what I would throw away if I had made a purchase. “If you buy something new, you have to throw something away”. After all we only have so much space and we have yet to make pickles or jam so we need some extra weight capacity. Well after that stop we said our goodbyes, we’ll see them the end of August, hopefully before the grange picnic. We headed home and had our last dinner with Gloria’s family then did some preparation for departure the next day.

Thursday we were up and after uninstalling our 30 amp circuit we were off for a early 11:30 am start. Yikes!! We’re getting’ worse.

We traveled down the road back towards Springville, NY then south to Salamanca, NY. As we approached Ellicotville, NY we tried to reach our friend Char, who we had been unsuccessful at reaching a few days earlier, and were surprised to find her at the Springville ‘Wally World’. We just passed there, and could have stopped to at least see her, Oh well. We promised we’d be back in September and stay a few days with her.

We rolled through Warren, PA and as we did for some reason I thought of a blogger friend, Diana Tolerico of Life on the Open Road. Who recently had a mechanical breakdown, when a wheel bearing on her trailer froze up and had to be towed to a shop. I thought she was lucky, even though her trailer needs a new axle, that she had no devastating fire like the Happy Wanderers, Ed & Marillyn, fulltimers who lost there entire trailer with all the contents in a recent similar fire. I thought that it was good I had brought a set of wheel bearings with me, just in case. We had thought of staying at USFS Camp Buckaloons again but decided to venture further south to Tionesta Lake, a USACE park on Tionesta creek, to be closer to our home base.

Well don’t ya know that there Murphy fella was not only lookin’ over my shoulder, but was listenin’ to my thoughts as well. Just south of Buckaloons Campground, as were runnin’ along through a light misty rain I look back on the drivers side o’ the trailer and I think I see smoke. Na, I look at the other side of the trailer, it must be mist. I look back at my side, it sure looks funny fer’ mist comin’ off the tires. Now we’re on a two lane mountain road, that all the locals want to drive 60 or better even though the speed limit is less and there’s hardly any place to pull off except a spot here and there. Well I’m figurin’, if this is smoke I need to pull off RIGHT NOW!

I pulled off to the side of the road part in someone’s driveway but mostly in his grass  and went back to feel the wheels. Gingerly I touched each wheel trying not to get burned and couldn’t determine if one was hot, one felt warm but I was fearful of getting’ burned. So I went down to the house we were in front of to ask if there was a place down the road we could turn around. The husband said yes, a couple hundred yards, but the wife said we were awful big. After an inconclusive decision I asked if we could turn around in their drive. He said yes but “If you get off in the grass your sunk”. Well after backin’ down the grade in the driveway, without getting; in his grass we were off north again. My Idea was if we could get to Buckaloons I could have a level spot to look things over & make repairs. It would have been the perfect spot seein’ the city of Warren is a couple o’ miles further & I could get parts or supplies.

Well we went back about 500 yds and I saw smoke again, it had stopped rainin’ by now. I pulled over at a loggin’ yard but it was too steep and rutted fer’ any mechanican’ work. I had some water in a jug I had brought in the truck fer’ whatever and I figured’ this was as good a reason as ever to use it. Since I couldn’t tell which wheel was affected, fer’ fear of getting’  a good burn, I doused the front wheel. Nuthin’. I doused the back wheel, Ssssss… the steam rose from that one. I guess it was pretty hot. I waited fer a spell and doused her again. Buckaloons was only 1.5 miles back, could we make it? I tried again headin’ south and another 500 yds. or so seen the smoke again. We found another pullout and squeezed in. I didn’t want to damage the axle spindle if it wasn’t damaged already, so Buckaloons was out. Whatever repairs were taken place they would have to happen here.

After jackin’ and removin’ the tire, I couldn’t feel any play in the wheel bearin’, but I wasn’t takin’ any chances so off we went to Warren for some wheel bearing grease. We had some dinner while we were out, then back to do the fixin’.

I pulled the drum and hub and broke down the bearings cleaned them and the hub, the grease looked fine. Couldn’t find any wear spots on the races or the bearings, but just in case Ole Murphy was watchin’ I installed new bearings. Put everything back together and the wheel turned just fine with no play. 

Well if it wasn’t bearings it must be the brake dragin’ and since I don’t know if cuttin’ only the hot wire will disable the brake, I cut both wires goin’ to that brake. Not the greatest idea but it will get me home, with three wheel brakes left.

I finished around 9:30 and I know Linda didn’t want to stay by the road that night, but we stayed. I told her if somethin’ goes wrong, I can’t see the smoke in the dark so we have to wait for daylight. The traffic had us swayin’ at times as they zipped by but actually we both slept well all night. I think we were tired from all the stress of the day.

When morning came we were up early and down the road turned around and headed back south for Tionesta Lake. Arrived there around 7:30 and found a spot as no one was on duty. First order of business was was to cook & eat some breakfast. We met both camphosts here, nice folks.

Well I been long winded enough so I’ll say goodnight. Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

Tractor Pull or Demolition Derby

While we were playin’ at partyin’ for nephew Jeramy’s Graduation the other day, Nephew Josh was pullin’ at a tractor pull. While it was a good day for Jeramy it was not so good for josh.

His first run of the day, 150 down the track, ‘KAPOW’, his engine come unglued! Yep, blew the top of the cylinder & the piston, plumb off. Thank god the hood kept any o’ the flying shrapnel from goin’ anywhere and Josh is fine. Can’t say the same fer’ the poor tractor.

Here’s the damages;

This is the top of the cylinder head, complete with spark plug.

Here’s what remains of the cylinder & piston.

This is the top of the piston he recovered from the track.

All o’ the pictures were taken with the motor on the bench, he had already pulled it from the tractor. Like any good racer he had a spare engine waiting in the garage and spent most of his Sunday swappin’ them out and getting’ the new engine runnin’ & tweaked for pullin’. All seems to be good with the new motor now and it’s ready for the pullin’ competition next weekend.

Here’s a little video of the boy’s tryin’ out the new tractor motor.

While Josh was sweatin’ away in the garage gettin’ that new motor installed and runnin’, we were hard at it too.

We were terrorizin’ the fish at Fred’s favorite fishin’ hole. As a matter o’ fact those fish were so scared of us we only managed to wrangle about a dozen to the dock, between us. I don’t want to rile any animal lovers so I give this disclosure, “No fish were injured in the makin’ o’ this relaxin’ afternoon”. I don’t know what might upset those PETA folks regardin’ the treatment o’ these fish, cause I would think anyone who belongs to a an organization known as ‘People Eatin’ Tasty Animals’ would welcome an invite, to the Fish Fry.

After we came home Gloria was pickin’ some o’ those little cucumbers to make those tasty, tiny, little, sweet gerkins.

Only problem was these outgrowed the jar!

Yep that’s a genuine US Quarter there fer’ comparison. Looks more like its tryin’ to become a watermelon.

Well tomorrow we’re headin’ out movin’ back towards PA. That’s right Bonner we’re comin’ back home. Don’t know where we’ll land tomorrow evening, I’ll have to tell ya’ after we get there. So that’s all fer’ now so I will say ‘Adios’. We hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

We’re in Holland, Where’s all the Tulips?

We made it to our niece Gloria’s on Thursday after leavin’ out from Buckaloons UFS Campground near Warren, PA. The trip was 90 miles and took us about three hours with a stop for lunch and a quick trip to Lowes for a circuit breaker.

Gloria had asked that we park the 5ver between the garden and the old horse barn. After lookin’ things over I called her and said there was ‘No Way’ we could get in there, so we parked in the driveway as we did when we were here before. Everyone exclaimed they didn’t remember the 5ver being so big. Well, it aint’ shrunk after all these years! I really wanted to leave the driveway free for the party Saturday but it was either there or a local campground and Gloria wouldn’t have that. We settled in and got setup before anyone got home then had dinner with Gloria & the family once everyone's workday was done.

I purchased a 30 amp circuit breaker so we could put it in their garage panel so we’d have some power. It’s been getting’ progressively hotter and we can’t live without A/C.

Friday, Gloria had the day off and the girls went shoppin’ in the mornin’ then started fixin’ vittles fer’ Jeramy’s Graduation party Saturday. Temps were hoverin’ around 100 and while they were gone I relaxed, somethin’ I’m good at. We had all the tables & chairs setup and tried to prepare everything for Saturday.

Saturday the party started at 2 and folks started showin’ up shortly after and continued throughout the day. There were hot dogs, hamburgers and roast turkey as well as salads and all kind of munchies. Everything was delicious & a good time was had by all.

Jeramy attended Alfred State University and made the Deans List with a 3.5 grade point average.
Oh yeah, I couldn’t find the tulips here in Holland but I did find some o’ those windmills.

Well gotta run as we’re ‘goin fishin’. Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

Goodbye Seneca

We left Cousin Bonnie’s for some ‘Boondock’ campin’ in the Allegheny National Forest to give our solar system a workout. We headed to a spot Cousin Denny had showed us a few weeks ago that the Forest Service clued him in on, sorry we beat ya’ here.
The store remodel is comin’ along and the exterior is nearin’ completion, just a little sidin’ left to install.

Here’ the store in the beginning stages.

This is the front with the new siding.

The sides are gettin’  lap siding.

We had to leave for Nephew Jeremy’s graduation in NY and thought we’d camp a mite on our way there. We pondered between Buckaloons, a Forest Service Camp with services and this spot out in the forest. The weather is supposed to be ‘iffy’ fer’ solar but we’re givin’ it a try anyway.

Arrived here last night around 5:30PM and setup camp somewhat. Grilled our dinner outside and then just enjoyed the evening. It’s a little on the hot side fer’ us but we’re stickin’ it out so far. We used the fan in the evening to try to keep us cool, runnin’ on the inverter. I noticed that we were usin’ way to much power for what little we had turned on and it finally hit me that I forgot to switch the fridge to ‘gas’ from ‘auto’ and we were powerin’ the fridge from the batteries. Way too much juice goin’ out. Around 10PM both of us showered usin’ the water pump. We continued to run the fan all night and this mornin’ our battery bank was at 76% or 100 amps low. I believe that if we hadn’t forgot to switch the fridge we probably would have been at 80% or more. Today is not a real great solar day as it started cloudy, then the sun has played peek-a-boo all day long with those clouds. At noon we were up to only 80% and at this writin’ bein’ 2PM were at 86%
It’s 3PM, temperature is 88.7, too hot, I think we’re cavin’! Gonna go to Buckaloons with electric to power the A/C.
The cavin’s over we’re at Buckaloons US Forest Service campground only $12 with the ‘Pass’. This pass stuff is really great, don’t know why we didn’t get to ‘Old Age’ earlier?
Got setup, had a wonderful steak dinner in the air- conditioned comfort, love that A/C.
Well not much more to tell. Gonna go fer’ now. Hope to see ya down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

Boom & Ghost Town

I worked three days this past week and Friday & Saturday I was recupin’ from pulled muscles in my back. I guess I did it strechin’ way out on an extension ladder trying to get the building wrap on the gable ends of the store. Funny, things like that never seemed to bother me before, Must a been a mite younger then, ya think?
Well, Sunday I felt considerable better, so we decided to go see somethin’. Linda is tired o’ sittin’ everyday I’m workin’ and if I’m tryin’ to recoup on my days off then we’re not goin’ anywhere. Makes me wonder if it’s worth it.
Anyway we left after packin’ some snacks and pop and water. We were headed fer’ Pithole Historic Area. But first I wanted to make a stop at The ‘Big K’ cause they had some hikin’ type shoes that I’m in need of. After tryin’ on several I decided I’d take a pair, fer’ $14.99 with no tax on clothes here in PA it was a good deal.

New Coleman Hikers

I have hikin’ boots but I prefer these for just kickin’ around camp or the house. We left after our big purchase grabbed a bag o’ ice for the cooler along with some lunch and headed fer’ Pithole, PA.

Now Pithole City, was one of those Oil Boom towns that sprung up during the oil heyday here. When oil was discovered here on the Holmden farm in January of 1865, there was just a path to get up here from the ‘Oil Valley’. Well Pithole City, as it was so aptly named, developed into a town of 15,000 by September of 1865. The largest Boom Town in the history of the nation. The city grew on the spirit of those strivin’ to make a fast buck with over 50 Hotels, both elegant & cheap, Opera houses, Theaters, saloons, houses of ill repute, a daily newspaper, the third largest Post Office in PA, drugstores, restaurants, churches, and shops of all types to support both the people & the industry that sprung from the ground.

As with all the ‘Boom Towns’ the surrounding hillsides were stripped of timber for the hasty building of these structures for these several thousand people as the town sprung from nowhere.

The City evolved with the first successful oil pipeline to transfer the oil. Soon there were so many people comin’ and supplies needed from other areas, the Oil City & Pithole Railroad was built. Soon the passenger trains were crowded on both the up & down trips, while the freight trains had more that they could possibly handle.

But as boom towns go Pithole City’s greed ended it’s life as more and more wells were drilled to close to other wells all drawin’ from the same reservoir.

Fires from carelessness took their toll on the city, as whole blocks of hastily constructed buildings were consumed, as well as the people departin’ to new oil fields. By December of 1866, a mere 23 months since it’s birth, Pithole City had a population of less than 2000 people.
In 1879 the city once offered for sale for 2 million dollars was purchased by the Venango County Commission for the sum of $4.37.
And so goes the history of Pithole City, PA. Here today gone tomorrow!
There’s lots and lots to learn about the birth of the oil industry in this country right here in Venango & Crawford Counties. Well that all fer’ todays post.
Oh one more thing. This is for you Diane with your love of RUSTY STUFF. I don’t know if your readin’ other blogs while your on that ‘trip of a lifetime’, but here’s it is.

We hope to see ya’ down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

Independence Day & the Rockets Red Glare

Fireworks, fireworks & more fireworks. With the celebration of our country’s 235th year of independence from British rule, this weekend is to be loaded with 4 days of celebrations. We here in western PA have a selection of fireworks displays to view. Each evening in one of the surrounding communities there will be a ‘Fireworks Extravaganza’. We have been invited to a celebration at Uncle Don’s neighbor who puts on a show each year as well.

Saturday we hung around home, Bonnie burned some steaks to perfection and we all ate quite well.

That evening we took Jordan & Megan, (cousins) to the fireworks in Cranberry. The show was supposed to start at dusk, but we waited till 9:50 before the show started. We were getting’ ready to leave when they started.

Guess where we sat for the entire show?

At least the folks around us kept the noise down durin’ the show. The fireworks was pretty good but not anything to write home about!

Sunday Linda & I hung out at home during the day then went to Titusville in the early afternoon. After makin’ several stops fer’ groceries, we arrived at Uncle Don’s. We were to go with them to a neighbors for eats and a fireworks show.

The fiesta at his neighbor’s place had quite a spread with meatballs, fried chicken, ring baloney with sauerkraut, salads of all kinds, meats of all kinds, breads of all kinds, desserts of all kinds, drinks ice cream and dozens of other things I forgot to mention.

The kids were all havin’ a great time swimmin’, divin’ floatin’ and paddlin’ the boats around the pond. After a while it was time fer’ the show! And a goodn’ it would be with all this stuff.

Soon it was dark and the show was on. Honestly one of the best fireworks displays we’ve ever seen and we’ve seen many at Disney, and many, many theme parks in FL and elsewhere. Here’s just a sample.

We would like to thank Bill & his gracious family for a wonderful picnic & a fabulous forth of July display. We hope to see ya’ again next year.

Sunday we had another busy day as we were off to Franklin for a cookout at Ben & Kathy’s  house. Great food, good company. Then we were off to another fireworks display in that town. We’ve had a busy, busy weekend and I have to go to work tomorrow.

Well that’s all fer’ this episode. Hope to see ya’ down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.

On the Roof & Under the Weather

There’s been not much interestin’ goin’s on here for me to write about in this blog. We are setup at Cousin Bonnie’s house. been here fer a week now. It is much more convenient fer’ workin’ on Denny’s store remodel, only 5 minutes drive.

We’ve been  puttin’ on a new roof in between all the rain showers we been gettin’.

Just beginning the roof in the rear.

Yesterday we finished the main part of the roof with the ridge vent bein’ the crownin’ glory. All that remained to do today was a small 10x12 section of a smaller side roof. They finished that today.

 

Now on to the siding after installing a window on the left side of the front, where the banner hangs.

I didn’t work today cause I’ve come down with a bug and woke up this mornin’ with my sinuses blocked and my head poundin’. I felt bad havin’ to call Denny early this mornin’, but there was no way I could work on the roof bendin’ over all day. I was hopin’ the other day when I felt this comin’ on that it would pass quickly & with not much fanfare. But that doesn’t seem to be the plan fer’ me this time as it’s seems to be settlin’ in fer a good stay. My eyes are waterin’, nose is stuffed up & my ears feel all tickly like. I got some over the counter meds this mornin’ to try to make it more bearable till it finally moves on.
This weekend we’ll be headin’ back up to Titusville fer’ a fireworks display that Uncle Don’s neighbor does each year. He’s talked off this fer’ years and we always seem to be elsewhere, so this year we’ll get to see it first hand.
The other day after work, Denny, Linda & I took a ride to Marienville to check on his car wash up there. After doin’ some cleanin’, renewin’ some change in some of the machines we were done. Then Denny wanted to show us a campground down the road called Loleta in the
Allegheny National Forest. Cute little place, looked like it would accommodate any size RV in the lower loop & has electric hookups. We then visited the upper loop which has more dispersed sites, but no electric, a little to close to maneuver an RV of any size. We then headed back towards Marienville but stopped to check out a spot Denny had been told about at the Marienville Ranger Station for dispersed campin’. Nice roads goin’ in, and a big area to turn around and pretty adequate area to park several campers. We’re gonna go back and try that spot one of these days.
On another note I ‘d like to welcome new followers to the blog, Hank Hustus & Longdog2. Thanks fer tunin’ in to the ramblin’s of a old RV codger. 
As always, Hope to see ya’ down the road as we’re;

Dancin’ on the Wind.