Columbus - Chillicothe, Ohio

Well when leaving PA we had trouble with the transmission light and could start the engine.  After several hours of debugging we got it started and headed to a repair shop in Columbus, OH.  After two days the shop came up empty on solutions, Allison Transmission paid for the service.  This made us change and cut short our planned destinations into southern OH.

Relaxing at the Edmund RV Park in Columbus, OH.  Since we knew we would be in Columbus a few days we called brother-in-law Mark.  Mark graciously accommodated us for a few days while the repair shop looked at the transmission.  The original plan was to meet him for lunch as we passed through Columbus.  Accommodations were excellent, Thanks Mark!

After departing Columbus, 2 day delay from original plans, we headed to Chillicothe, OH.  We wanted to visit college friends and see Hocking Hills State Park.  Hocking Hills is noted for its sandstone caves.  

Scenic trail through Hocking Hills.  Sandstone have been carved by glaciers and then weather for many years.

More views of the rock.

Old Man's Cave - fairly large cavity into the rocks.  People actually called this space home many years ago.

Stream flowing through the park creates this waterfall.  Swimming / jumping from the rocks seems to be a local favorite.

Ash Cave - this is the largest cave in the park. 

Another view of Ash Cave - Frank Lloyd Wright design of water flowing through your home!

 Hocking Hills was very interesting.  We understand why it's one of Ohio's big attraction. 
The other reason to go to southern OH was to visit Pat and Tom Woebkenberg, Tom attended Indiana Tech with Larry.    They leave in Wellston, OH.

Tom viewing his sweetcorn development with Cheryl.

Fishing pond!  Pat and Tom own about 50 acres which they share with the native animals. 

Larry dreaming of driving the tractor.  One of Tom's many toys to take care of the land.

One of Tom's hobbies is wine making.  Here we are tasting one of many!!!!!
Thank you Pat and Tom for a great visit. 

Pittsburgh, PA

Travels continued to the Pittsburgh area. 

Pine Cove RV Resort,  Charleroi, PA.  Nice park south of Pittsburgh.

Large pool at the park, with water slides.  Larry swimming!

Nice!!!!

 This was our backyard at the park!

1754 George Washington, a British Officer, suffered his first defeat of his military career.  This was the opening episode of a world wide struggle known as the French and Indian War.

Not much of a Fort!  The British were allowed to withdraw with honors of war, retaining their baggage and weapons, but had to surrender their swivel guns.  The French burnt the Fort.

Battlefield decor

More decor

Mount Washington Tavern - This was one of the many taverns along the National Road that served as stopping places for the stagecoaches.  National Road (Thomas Jefferson signed into law) was the first Federally funded highway to connect the Atlantic Coast with the Ohio valley.   

Guest entertainment at the tavern!

Searight's Tollhouse (1835) - collected tolls for use of the National Road. 

Following the encounter at Fort Necessity, the French hoped the English would no longer contest their claims to the Ohio valley.  The English sent Major General Edward Braddock and 2400 men to capture Fort Duquesne from the French.  Braddock invited George Washington to join his staff as an aide-de-camp.  Within 8 miles of the Fort the English encountered the French and Indians.  Braddock was mortally wounded and died.  His troops buried him in the roadway so the French could not find him. 

Now we venture to a different type of history.  
A Frank Lloyd Wright designed home for the Kaufmann family.   They owned Kaufmann’s Department Store, a very exciting and elegant place to shop in the 1930s. (Today, it is part of the Macy’s chain). Edgar Kaufmann and his wife, Liliane, had one son, Edgar Jr.  American Institute of Architects designated this as the "best building of the 20th century" because it revolutionized modern architecture and forever changed the way people around the world would live and view design.  

This is one of Wright's masterpieces. 

This is breathe taking!  This is probably the most popular shot of this house.   When the Kaufmanns first looked at Wright’s drawings, they were very surprised! They thought their new house would have a wonderful view of the falls. But instead, with the house right on top of the falls, it was very difficult to even see them. But not to hear them! Frank Lloyd Wright told them that he wanted them to live with the waterfalls, to make them part of their everyday life, and not just to look at them now and then.  

Approaching the house through the gardens and forest.

Pictures were NOT allowed inside the house.  Every room had its own external balcony.  Each bedroom had its own fireplace and bathroom also.

Wright used the natural rock in the hill as the house foundation.  He cantilevered concrete beams off the rock.  Unfortunately the cantilevered beams have shifted about 8" over the years.  Currently they believe they have stabilized the beams.

Fireplace hearth in Family room consists of the same boulders the Kaufmann's sat on when visiting the area before the house was built.

Edgar Kaufmann donated the house to the historical society along with a the furnishings. 

On to more of the surrounding area!

Ohiopyle State Park  - Passing through the heart of the park, the rushing waters of the Youghiogheny [yaw-ki-gay-nee] River. The "yawk" provides some of the best whitewater boating in the eastern United States, as well as spectacular scenery.

Now into the "Big" city of Pittsburgh

"Tribute to Children" - A gift to the people of Pittsburgh honoring children and celebrating the enduring values of Fred Rogers "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood"

Pittsburgh from the river view!

Bridges and Rivers!!!

A visit to Pittsburgh would not be complete without riding this historical incline.  Seniors ride free!

Incline scales the wooded slopes of Mt. Washington.  Commuters have been using this since 1877.

Pretty steep!!!!!

View of the city from the top of the Incline.  The Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River (Three Rivers).

Carnegie Science Center - spent a day going through this center and still did not cover it all.

Attended a Pirates vs Cubs game at PNC Park. 

We had seats behind the 1st base dugout (Cubs)!!!  Unfortunately the Cubs won.  Thing both teams are battling for last place in their divisions.

Heinz Field (Football)

Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History - This would take several visits to cover.  We spend a day and it was overwhelming!!!  Museum of Art, 3 floors, Ancient to Modern Art, Contemporary, Hall of Architecture and Sculptures.  Museum of Natural History, 3 floors, Minerals and Gems, Dinosaurs, Bird Hall, African Wildlife and Ancient Egypt.

Entry art work with waterfall!

One of the best places in the world to see Dinosaurs. 

All the animals in their displays are great.

Across the street from Carnegie is University of Pittsburgh.  This is Stephen Foster Memorial 1935- 1937

Beautiful church located on University of Pittsburgh grounds