Leaving New England

New England has been captivating. The weather has been perfect the last few days. This morning was dreamy! We are at the edge of the Allegheny National Forest just across the border from New York in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The Marilla Bridges Trail is hands-down the most magical trail I have hiked. It isn’t challenging; it’s an easy one-mile loop. The magic is the three wood bridges, one of them covered, and the reservoir in the middle. As the plaque says, Marilla is Celtic for Shining Sea and that reservoir is truly a mirror. On this clear, sunny mid-morning, everything reflected and, with fall foliage, THAT was magical. 

It is hard saying good-bye to the quaint beauty of New England but this hike was like a promise that there is much left to discover that will delight and entertain. 

We ARE in Pennsylvania after all. And, yes, truth-be-told our situation sometimes feels a bit like Groundhog’s Day so, yes, it is fitting that we go to Punxsutawney. And, what you ask, is there In Punxsutawney? Why, Phil, of course. The hilly, curvy, mountainside streets are spotted with various decorated groundhogs. I bet there are more than 20 of these critters around town. 

And live ones are along the country roads. As we drove to our final stop of the day, I swear one was by the road as I turned a corner. He lifted his head so slightly as if to acknowledge the car passing with a “what’s up” nod. 

We drove a lot of miles today, by our standards anyway. I was afraid we would miss the big stop of the day, the Flight 93 Memorial. Fortunately only the visitor center closed at 5pm. The Memorial was open until sunset, which actually worked out well. We saw the Tower of Voices both looking to the east and also with the setting sun behind it, looking west. Inside the tower are wind chimes that, when windy enough, give “voice” the the Flight 93 lives lost. 

We drove another three miles to see the Memorial Plaza and the wall of names. Between the Plaza and the wall is a walkway, maybe a quarter mile long. Beyond the meadow between the walkway and the line of trees off to the west, has been placed a huge boulder, indicating the crash site. In the evening glow, several deer were grazing, adding to a very tranquil, somber moment. 

The upper right photo is a spot a couple miles from the official memorial. It is a rose garden established by the family members of the passengers. In the height of the season, the large ring of various rose bushes around the fountain, with a engraved-stone for each person, must be beautiful. It was now with the cool fall air obviously starting to lure the roses into dormancy. What a day in Pennsylvania. We continue to drive two-lane roads with signs to watch for farm equipment and Amish buggies. One more day in the country tomorrow.