Marilla Reservoir

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Friday Afternoon Drive: Marilla Reservoir

Bob and I went for a drive Friday afternoon. We drove to Allegany State Park via Bradford, PA. Our first stop was at Willow Dale Duck Pond.

From Willow Dale Duck Pond we continued driving on PA Route 346 towards Bradford, PA. In only a few short miles we reached Marilla Reservoir.

Marilla Reservoir

We walked the one-mile trail surrounding the reservoir. The trail, which features three wooden bridges, is wide and constructed of a tightly compacted crushed gravel surface. One of the wooden bridges is seen in the photograph displayed above, way off in the distance. From this bridge you can look across the reservoir and see another wooden bridge.

the Erik Benjamin covered bridge

I used a telescopic lens to photograph the covered bridge
from the bridge seen across the reservoir in the previous photograph.

The majority of the trail winds through woods alongside the edge of the reservoir.

Marilla Bridges Trail

I liked how this tree was framed and how the light was hitting it.

Our final destination was Allegany State Park, the subject of my next blog post.

An All-Day Motorcycle Ride

In the late afternoon on Friday, July 24th, a friend posted a status in the 2 Scoop CycleTherapy Facebook group, asking if anyone wanted to go to Springville, NY to the vintage motorcycle museum at Northeast Vintage Cycle. Bob and I said that we would go. We left home at 8:30 Saturday morning and departed from Herb’s house in Scandia at 9:00 am.

We rode to Springville, making one brief stop (a stretching break) along Route 219 in Ellicottville, NY.

There was a pretty flower bed near where we stopped in Ellicottville.

We located Northeast Vintage Cycle without any difficulty. Unfortunately the store/museum was closed and will be closed for the next two Saturdays, while the owners attend vintage motorcycle shows in the area.

We turned around and rode back to Ellicottville. Prior to reaching Ellicottville, we stopped at Griffis Sculpture Park (Rohr Hill Road Site) in Ashford Hollow.

Griffis Sculpture Park – Rohr Hill Entrance

We walked among the towering sculptures set in fields and woods just off the road.

Rohr Hill Sculpture

Griffis Sculpture Park – Rohr Hill Entrance

It was Herb’s first visit to Griffis Sculpture Park, and he enjoyed the visit. A question that kept coming to mind, while he walked in the park was “why?”. This Wikipedia article provides the following explanation for “why”.

“The idea for an outdoor sculpture museum came to artist Larry Griffis while he was touring Italy with his family. While watching his children play on the ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s villa, Griffis realized the value of interactive art. As Simon Griffis recalls, his father said, “This is absolutely remarkable. Look at my kids. I’ve taken them to the finest museums and galleries but they’ve come alive in this environment where they can interact and they can smell the flowers and they can touch things.”

Upon returning to the United States, Larry Griffis looked at many possible sites for the park, but had a vision that included site-specific terrain. He required a combination of valleys, woods, lake and open space. Kissing Bridge Ski Resort and Lewiston’s Art Park were possible candidates for the vision, but were passed over by the artist.

In 1966, Griffis purchased 100 acres…of Ashford Hollow in the Southern Tier of Western New York and placed 15 of his own 25 feet…welded steel works on a hillside along a country road. The Ashford Hollow Foundation acquired another 325 acres…and drummed up commissions for additional sculptures.”

We made a fuel stop in Ellicottville, and then continued on Route 219 to Bradford, PA. In Bradford we turned onto Route 346 and headed toward the Allegheny Reservoir.

We stopped briefly at Marilla Reservoir.

Marilla Bridges Trail

It was Herb’s first visit to Marilla Reservoir.

From Marilla Reservoir we stopped for lunch at the Giordano’s Corydon Hotel. We planned to stop at The Willows, but the place was packed FULL of motorcycles and motorcyclists participating in the annual Kids & Cancer Benefit Run. Lunch at the Corydon Hotel was a good choice. Herb and I enjoyed our burgers. Bob enjoyed his Cajun Chicken Salad.

Our last stop before parting ways was at Kinzua Dam.

Kinzua Dam

Herb headed home via Dorcan Road. Bob and I decided to take a ride to the other side of Kinzua Dam.

We got up close and personal to Kinzua Dam, the closest I have ever been!

We returned home at 4:00 pm. We rode 196 miles. It was a beautiful day for a ride. The ride was most enjoyable, even though its original purpose was not realized.

Cabin Fever Relief

We have had a very mild Winter so far. I can recall only one major snowstorm in early December. We had no snow for either the Christmas or New Year holiday. Winter, though, is set to blow in this evening and stay with us for a while. With temperatures hovering around 50 for most of the daylight hours today, I felt the need to get out of the house.

We left home at 8:30 am. Our first stop was at Sheetz, where we filled the gas tank. There was plenty of gas in the fuel tank, as it took only 6.352 gallons of gas to fill up. Gas was $2.399/gallon, with a $0.10/gallon discount from using the Sheetz card. Bob added air to my tires, while at Sheetz. The tires are losing air. Bob thinks that the valve stem caps are leaking and need to be replaced.

Our second stop was in Busti, NY for breakfast at the Boomerang Cafe in Busti, NY. We chose to eat breakfast at the Boomerang Cafe, after hearing lots of positive reviews from friends who have eaten there. Another incentive for choosing the Boomerang Cafe as our breakfast destination is our friend Tina works there. Our arrival time was perfect. Within minutes of sitting down, Tina’s daughter Chiana walks in with her daughter Kelsi.

Chiana and Kelsi

Breakfast was hearty and tasted very good. Bob ordered a meat lovers omelet with hash browns and homemade thick rye toast. I ordered a western omelet with home fries and thick multigrain toast. The jam selections, strawberry and blackberry, were homemade and delicious. I mentioned that breakfast was hearty. I left behind about a quarter of my omelet, as well as most of the home fries.

From the Boomerang Cafe we went to the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca, NY. We had $20 each to play in the slot machines. I lost my $20. Bob increased his $20 by $27.

From the casino we made our way to Route 59 and the Kinzua Dam. We stopped for an ice cream lunch at Dairy Queen in Bradford, PA. We also made a brief stop at Marilla Reservoir, where I photographed the covered bridge and the spillway.

Marilla Reservoir

We would have taken a walk around the reservoir, if it had not been raining.

This is Route 59 in Warren County, PA.

We made a few stops along Route 59.

We stopped at the Big Bend Visitor Center overlook.
I was so happy to see some blue sky and sunshine!

We stopped at the Bent Run waterfall.
The waterfall was flowing nicely!

Bent Run waterfall

Self-portrait at Bent Run Falls

Bob and I at Bent Run waterfall

Our last stop was at Kinzua Dam.
This photograph is of the Allegheny Reservoir, which the Kinzua Dam impounds.
Look at that blue sky!
This is the calm before the storm!

We returned home around 2:00 pm. What an enjoyable day! It sure felt good to be outside, away from the four walls of our house!

Happy Birthday to Me

Yesterday was my birthday, and I spent the day with my best friend — my husband, Bob.

We awakened early and watched a couple episodes of “House of Cards” before 9:00 am. “House of Cards” is an American political drama television series. The entire first season, 13 episodes, premiered on February 1, 2013, on Netflix. A second season of 13 episodes premiered on February 14, 2014. Netflix announced on February 4, 2014 that the show had been renewed for a third season. Both Bob and I enjoyed watching “House of Cards”. We watched the last episode of Season 2 last night, after returning home from my birthday drive. We look forward to Season 3. It will be a long wait.

After watching a couple episodes of “House of Cards” yesterday morning, we went for a drive. Our final destination was the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca, NY; however, we made a few stops along the way.

Our first stop was at Kinzua Dam.

While at Kinzua Dam, we spotted a couple eagles standing way out on the ice. I barely had time to get my camera from the back seat and exchange a 12-50mm lens for a 75-300mm lens, before the eagles flew off. I need to learn how to capture good pictures of birds in flight. My pictures are grainy and blurry. Part of the problem is that I don’t have enough reach with my camera lens, even though my 75-300mm lens provides an equivalent focal length of 600mm. The other problem I have is focusing on a moving object, especially when I have only one opportunity to lock in that focus.

This is the best picture of an eagle in flight that I captured yesterday.

From Kinzua Dam we continued on Route 59 to McKean County, where we turned left onto Route 321. This route was most picturesque, with the trees frosted with snow and the overcast sky giving way to blue skies.

Frosty Trees Along Route 321 in McKean County, PA

Upon reaching the intersection of Routes 321 and 346, we turned right onto Route 346 (towards Bradford, PA).

Marilla Reservoir

After a quick photo stop at Marilla Reservoir, we continued on Route 346 to Bradford. We turned left onto Route 4009, which we followed to Allegany State Park.

Our first stop was at Science Lake.

Quaker Lake

Bob, with Red House Administration Building in background

Bob took this photograph of me, with Red House Administration Building in background

Red House Administration Building

We started our drive outside the park from the Red House area. We drove along ASP Route 1 to the park’s Salamanca, NY entrance.

We saw young deer grazing alongside ASP Route 1.

There is a scenic overlook just past the Salamanca entrance to Allegany State Park. The overlook provides a spectacular view over the valley and to the hills in the distance.

The road seen in this photograph is Interstate 86.
In the distance there is a farm.
If you see yellow farm buildings, you have located the farm.

I have always wanted to photograph this farm. I admire it each time we pass it Interstate 86. I never stopped to take a picture because of the fast-moving traffic. When I recognized the farm from the scenic overlook, I was so happy that I had my long lens with me.

Valent Dairy Farm, as seen from ASP 1 overlook

From the scenic overlook, it was only a few minutes’ drive to the Seneca Allegany Casino. We arrived at the casino in the early afternoon. We ate lunch at Thunder Mountain Buffet. The casino has a special promotion on every Sunday through Thursday through February 27–buy a buffet and get $15 free slot play. Bob and I received $15 each. I received an extra $5 credit because it was my birthday (another promotion). Bob received an extra $10 credit on his card. We don’t know why, although I think it was because he had enough points on his card to qualify for $10 free slot play. According to the “Free Slot Day Every Day You Play” promotion, Bob should have received an email informing him of the $10 free slot play. As far as I know, he didn’t receive that email (or he overlooked it). We had a good luck at the casino! I left the casino with $46 and change; Bob left with $19 and change. I didn’t spend a penny of my money. Bob did spend $33 for our lunches, which was my birthday present. It was nice that he got back $19 of that expenditure.

It was a great day overall, one of my favorite birthday celebrations.

Yesterday Bob and I went for a drive to Marilla Reservoir. The reservoir is located along Route 346 in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

We walked the one-mile trail surrounding the reservoir. The trail features three wooden bridges, one of which is a covered bridge.

The covered bridge

This was the view across the reservoir from the covered bridge.

After passing through the bridge, I turned around for one last photograph of the covered bridge.

The majority of the trail winds through woods alongside the edge of the reservoir.

A Bit of Color

The trail winds through woods.

Soon after we entered the wooded area, Bob followed a trail onto the ice.
You might be wondering what Bob is doing out on the ice.
He walked out to a hole in the ice and took this picture.

Bob said that the ice was 3-4 inches thick.

Do you see the ice fisherman across the reservoir from Bob in the first photograph of Bob on the ice? You will see him again in this blog post.

I found this sign humorous, given the amount of snow on the ground.

The sharp curve, noted in the sign shown in the photograph above, led to the second wooden bridge.

Two views from the second wooden bridge.

Approaching the third wooden bridge

The third wooden bridge, after we had crossed it

Bob, on Marilla Bridges Trail,
soon after crossing the third wooden bridge

Remember the ice fisherman in an earlier photograph?

When we reached the other side of the reservoir, I was close enough to the ice fisherman to ask how many fish he had caught. The fisherman said he had caught two trout and several perch. I said it sounded like he had a good day’s work. I asked the fisherman if I could take a couple photographs of him. He said okay.

the Ice Fisherman

We arrived back at our car soon after talking with the ice fisherman.

This was our second visit to Marilla Reservoir. Our first visit to Marilla Reservoir was in July 2012. As we did last year, we enjoyed walking this trail. We hope to return again later this year.

Sunday Drive: Marilla Reservoir

Bob and I went for a drive this past Sunday (July 22). We made four stops, while on our drive. Yesterday’s blog post shared photographs from our first stop, which was at Sugar Bay on the Allegheny Reservoir. A short ways from Sugar Bay we stopped for lunch at The Willows. From The Willows we continued driving on Rt. 346 towards Bradford, Pennsylvania. In only a few short miles we reached Marilla Reservoir.

We walked the one-mile trail surrounding the reservoir. The trail features three wooden bridges, one of which is a covered bridge.

The covered bridge

The trail is wide and constructed of a tightly compacted crushed gravel surface.

This was the view across the reservoir from the covered bridge.

The majority of the trail winds through woods alongside the edge of the reservoir.

There is a gazebo, Madeline’s Birders’ Rest, located about half way around the trail.

This water bowl was located near the gazebo and right before the second wooden bridge.

Sorry, I don’t have a picture of the second wooden bridge; however, I did take a picture FROM the bridge.

View of covered bridge from second wooden bridge

I captured photographs of two butterflies and a dog on the other side of the second wooden bridge.

Butterfly

Happy Dog

I did take pictures of the third wooden bridge.

Approaching the third wooden bridge

The third wooden bridge, after we had crossed it

We arrived back at our car soon after crossing this bridge. We enjoyed walking this trail. I am certain that we would walk the trail often, if Marilla Reservoir were located closer to home. It is a little over an hour’s drive from our house to Marilla Reservoir.