June 28, 2017 Drive Back to Lockport from PA

I retrieved a call from the Kinzua  Bridge Visitors Center last night telling me that my missing GPS had been turned in.  So, first thing this morning, after packing up, Mary Ann and I headed back there so I could pick it up.   I stopped to take this picture just outside of Smethport.

Then we headed to Portville so we could have breakfast at Sprague's.  I had the biscuits with sausage gravy with home fries.  It was a HUGE portion, so I took the rest of it and put it in my cooler bag. 

On the way north towards Cuba, we stopped and found a geocache, an easy one in a guardrail.  In Cuba, we stopped at THE CUBA CHEESE SHOPPE, and both Mary Ann and I purchased a few items. 

I noticed this building across the road from the cheese shop. 

It really does not look like it was a grocery store, but it must have been. 

We stopped again in Rushville to look for a geocache in a cemetery, but were unsuccessful.   We also stopped in Belfast to look at the map and we each had a cup of lemonade that we ought from this young man.

We decided to stop at the BEAVER MEADOW AUDUBON CENTER near North Java and we had our picnic lunch and looked at the exhibits

in the Visitors Center and we walked the Jenny            Trail which is a boardwalk around a beautiful area. 

 Our last stop was at O'LEARs for some Perry's Frozen Custard, which was delicious. 

I dropped Mary Ann off early enough so she could go pick up her dog at the kennel and arrived home a little aftere four thirty p.m.

DAY TWO (June 27, 2017) TRIP TO PENNSYLVANIA

We had breakfast in our room, out of my cooler bag and then drove to Kinzua Bridge State Park. They have a very nice Visitors Center.

We walked out on

the skywalk.  The views were spectacular: 

and I also walked the lower trail beneath the skywalk. 

We were getting ready to leave when I realized I did not know where my GPS was.  I thought it was someplace in my car so I searched there without success.  I left information at the front desk about it and asked them to call me if it was turned in.

We headed south to go to the ELK COUNTRY VISITORS CENTER, where we had been told we would have a good chance of seeing some elk.  We enjoyed the visitors center and walked around outside a bit, but did not see any elk.  HOWEVER, as we were leaving the area, we saw one very close to the road.

We took a different route back to Smethport, which was much different than the route we drove to get to Benezetti. 

We picked up supper at the SMETHPORT DRIVE IN, which is right next door to the SMETHPORT MOTEL where we had lodging.  I had a Texas Hot. 

We were both so worn out that we were in bed for the night before nine p.m.  I slept great!!!!!

Drive to Pennsylvania: 6/26/17

I picked Mary Ann up a couple of minutes after nine a.m. and we headed south towards Pennsylvania.  We found two geocaches along the way.  We stopped in Rushford and had a picnic lunch at a convenience store.

I purchased some Amish made fried cakes.  We also located the old restored blacksmith shop in Rushford

We arrived in Smethport a little after two thirty and located the OLD JAIL MUSEUM. 

We were given a guided tour.  It was VERY interesting.  The most interesting part was going into the DUNGEON, in the basement where the worst prisoners were kept.

After leaving the museum, we located our lodging and checked in.  And then we went out for supper at Raught's Country Kitchen.  It was a very good meal. 

Pan American Trolley Tour 6/24/17

To celebrate my birthday earlier this month, Peggy and David and I went to Buffalo for a PAN- AMERICAN EXPOSITION TROLLEY TOUR.   We met up with our guide and our group at the Visitors Center for Forest Lawn Cemetery and set out on a trolley. 

The trolley took us through Forest Lawn Cemetery and graves of people who were prominent in the history of the Pan-American Exhibition were pointed out.  This was a highlight: 

From there we went to the Hotel Lafayette.  This hotel was built FOR the exhibition, however it was not completed in time.  I think it was completed in 1903 (two years after the exhibition which was in 1901).  As we pulled up to the hotel, Peg and I realized that we had eaten here before, maybe a year ago when we participated in an EXPLORE BUFFALO walking tour (I think the focus was on architecture).  Before lunch we were shown two ballrooms.  The Crystal Ballroom was exceptionally pretty. 

 We were served a very good lunch.  Peg and I shared Korean BBQ Sliders and a Roasted Beet Salad. 

Then it was back to the trolley and on to the Resource Center of the Buffalo History Museum.  The focus of this center is THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY, which celebrates the many events, exhibits and curiosities of the Pan-Am Exhibition.   Here are a few pics: 

 this small restored building was used in the Exhibition.

 Our tour guide shows us the pistol which was used to assassinate President McKinley while he was visiting the fair. 

an original poster from the fair. 

Then we went to the Buffalo History Museum. 

This is the only remaining building from the Exhibition.  It was the NEW YORK PAVILION.  I was here a couple of weeks ago, but I missed seeing the APOSTOLIC CLOCK in action, but I had a chance to see it today. 

I think the last important site was the spot where McKinley was standing when he was shot.

Unfortunately, we drove by the backside of this memorial.  And then we returned to the Visitors Center.   

On the way back to Lockport, we stopped at Paula's Donuts.
It was a wonderful dlay!!!!! 

Niagara Falls, New York Day Trip 6/22/17

Leslie and I decided to take a day trip to Niagara Falls, NY today.  Our first stop was at THE SECOND COMING HOUSE of Prophet Isaiah.  He happened to be outside the house standing by his truck when we arrived and we spoke to him a bit. 

Then we headed to the falls.  The parking area for Niagara Falls State Park was full, wo we parked at the MADE IN AMERICA STORE.  Then we walked to the Visitors Center in the park and purchased tickets for the trolley. 

The trolley took us down to the area of the elevator that goes down into the gorge.  While we were down in the gorge, it stated to rain, so we decided to go to the Aquarium of Niagara which was across the road.  We enjoyed it.  Before we left, I purchased a raincoat to protect me from the rain.

it DID stop raining shortly after I put it on. We got back on the trolley and went to two viewing spots.   I had not been to LUNA ISLAnD in many years, so I was glad to visit it again.  The island is between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls,

You can get very close to the top edge of both of those falls. 

Back at our car, I realized that I would have to drive own over a curb to get out of my parking spot.  But the sidewalk was wide and Leslie was able to move some cones so that we could drive out of the parking lot itself. 

We looked for three geocaches, but only found one, at the site of the first house in Niagara Falls, NY.

Leslie picked up BEEF ON WECKs from Wagners for supper and I added a couple of sides.  Then we went to Lake Effect Ice Cream for desert. 

SWALLOW HOLLOW TRAIL at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

After breakfast of baked blueberry pancake and fried potatoes, Leslie and I set out for the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge.  We drove separately because I had an afternoon commitment and Leslie wanted more time to bird watch. We started at the Visitors Center. 

We noticed a small group of people checking the Martin houses and joined them for a couple of minutes. 

With our map of the refuge in hand, we headed to the SWALLOW HOLLOW TRAIL.  It is a mile and a third long, circular, very well maintained trail.  I took a lot of pictures. 

We saw quite a few birds. 

Across the road from the trail, we noticed a large pavilion with picnic tables, so we had our picnic lunch there. 

I headed back to Lockport and Leslie stayed at the refuge to continue birdwatching. 

Geneva picked me up at three thirty and we headed to Camp Kenan for FAMILY NIGHT.  We met Karra there.  Everyone was served a chicken dinner (I think it was Chiavetta's), with cupcakes and cookies for desert.  After she ate a HUGE meal, I got Carrie settled into her cabin and we returned to Lockport.

DAY TRIP TO NIAGARA FALLS 6/20/17

Leslie and I left my house a few minutes after nine a.m. this morning and drove directly to Niagara Falls.  In Niagara Falls, NY we found two geocaches.  I really liked ART ALLEY: 

Then we crossed the RAINBOW BRIDGE into Ontario.  We found parking at the SKYLON TOWER.  I had packed a lunch and we saw tables and chairs outside, so we each made up a plate and we had our lunch there.

We had a bit of trouble finding our way to the falls from the Skylon Tower, and had to askfor directions.  We walked down to the fall area and viewed both the Horseshoe Falls and the merican Falls.  We looked for a virtual geocache but could not find it.  We did, however, find a cche in the beautiful gardens at the foot of Clifton Hill.

Then we headed towards the Floral Clock.  We stopped at Souvenir City, which is a very colorful spot. 

We also found a cache at  Buddihist temple.

Our last stop was at the Floral Clock.  We crossed back into the USA via the Lewiston- Queenston bridge and returned to Lockport where bbq ribs waited in the crockpot. 

COMPANY!!!!!

Leslie arrived around four p.m.  As she got out of her car she told me that she had brought me some "weed".  ROFL.  (wild flowers from her yard) about an hour later, we went geocaching.  We found one  called UPSON PARK, but had no luck with VIEW OF THE LOCKS.

LYTLE NATURE PRESERVE

The other day when Marlene and I walked the towpath (I think its the canal towpath), I noticed a sign for the LYTLE NATURE PRESERVE, just across from the access road to the parking area for the towpath, on the north side of the canal.

Pam and I had agreed to take a walk together but her daughter stopped by (with her one year old granddaughter) so she cancelled.  I called Marlene and we decided to meet up and check out the LYTLE NATURE PRESERVE.

Here are some pictures I took: 

sign at the entrance. 

the first section of the trail, after the boardwalk, is paved.

 this map has a lot of mistakes on it, but it also has a lot of good information.

 and then it enters the woods.

When we finished our walk, we decided to go to REID'S for some frozen custard.  We oth had small twist cones, which were very good.