P.V. Park
Linn Run, Friday, October 13th
Fall colors, reflections of the Autumn foliage in the water, brisk, windblown leaves. The band of crazy photographers inducted a new member on the Linn Run outing October 13th. Mary Paulone Carns joined us on our all-day adventure, which was rather tame by previous standards (no one went into the frigid water this year!). After an exhilarating day (did I mention BRISK??) we followed Cary Bohl’s directions and had a late lunch at the Green Gables Restaurant in Jennerstown. What a spot! Quite a memorable day!Pleasant Valley Park, Sunday, October 15th.
Next stop was here in our own Murrysville. We walked the new trails in Pleasant Valley Park with Douglas Granger in attendance! We thoroughly enjoy seeing new faces in our midst! The weather was a bit warmer, not so breezy and we had great views of the surrounding terrain. The trails meander around ravines and fields and through wooded areas, revealing lovely old fence posts, fungi and assorted growth.
Our last scheduled destination was The Eliza Furnace / Ghost Town Trail on Monday, October 16th. While en route our group decided to stop at Buttermilk Falls first, since it would come up before we reached the turn for the Ghost Town Trail. What a spectacular area! Cary & I had to climb all the way down to play around the falls,
like any other juvenile delinquents! That’s where Dick Byers joined us. We then decided he might be part mountain goat as he led us around the ruined foundations of the old McFeeley property (Mr. Roger’s Grandparents) and the surrounding hills. He explained differences between various ferns and how to identify some trees in their dormant state, too. Then we got in our cars and followed Dick out to the Eliza Furnace. That is one big piece of history! A few twists down the road the Laurel Furnace is a bit older (1825-1849) and a bit less intact. We discussed going on to State Game Lands to see the Baldwin Furnace, but none of our group came prepared with blaze orange and it was hunting season.
Two additional photo walks were added at spur-of-the-moment. Dick, Cary and Doug managed an outing to see the Baldwin Furnace about a week later. October 30th presented a lovely morning for Richard, Cary and Doug to walk at Harrison Hills Park and photograph the sugar maples hanging on to the last remnants of color.
