No, Pittsburgh is not on the way home from West Virginia! Kathy recently reconnected with a childhood friend, who lives part of the year in Pittsburgh. We cruised with them in March and visited them in Florida, so we decided that a detour north before heading south was worthwhile.
Tom and Howard at ‘Over The Bar’ restaurant at North Park in Pittsburgh
When I found out we were going to be in the area, I contacted fellow photographer and blogger Howard Grill and made arrangements to meet for breakfast at a park near where we were staying. We met there on Saturday morning, had a lovely visit and spent some time exploring the lakeside. By the time I got my camera out the light had gotten harsh, but there were still some interesting reflections.
North Park Lake in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaNorth Park Lake in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
After our breakfast, we headed to our friends’ home and took a jaunt into town to visit The Frick. The Frick Pittsburgh is an art museum which is the legacy of Helen Clay Frick, daughter of industrialist Henry Clay Frick and his wife Adelaide Howard Childs Frick. The family home was called Clayton, which is on the site of the museum, from 1883 to 1905.
‘Romare Bearden: Artist as Activist and Visionary’ Exhibition at The Frick Museum in Pittsburgh‘Romare Bearden: Artist as Activist and Visionary’ Exhibition at The Frick Museum in PittsburghSLAY: Artemisia Gentileschi & Kehinde Wiley Exhibition at The Frick Museum in PittsburghThe Car & Carriage Museum at The Frick Museum in Pittsburgh1898 Panhard et Levassor. The Car & Carriage Museum at The Frick Museum in Pittsburgh1940 American Bantam Convertible Coupe. The Car & Carriage Museum at The Frick Museum in PittsburghThe Greenhouse at The Frick Museum in PittsburghThe Greenhouse at The Frick Museum in PittsburghThe Greenhouse at The Frick Museum in PittsburghClayton, former home of the Frick family. The Frick Museum in PittsburghThe Greenhouse at The Frick Museum in PittsburghVisitor Center at The Frick Museum in Pittsburgh
I’ve still got a few photos to process, but have completed the best ones. As I typically do, I have created an Adobe Portfolio gallery of selected photos from this trip at My Adobe Portfolio page.
Smooth Ambler Distillery near Lewisburg, West Virginia
The primary purpose of our recent road trip was to meet up with our friends Jim & Lisa in Lewisburg, West Virginia. We had each visited Lewisburg previously, although not together. And because it is roughly halfway between our home in NC and Jim & Lisa’s in PA, it was a good place to get together for a few days. We had a blast wandering the shops of the town, and we visited the Smooth Ambler distillery. Kathy & I are distillery veterans, so we needed to show Jim & Lisa the finer points. 😉
Smooth Ambler Distillery near Lewisburg, West VirginiaSmooth Ambler Distillery near Lewisburg, West Virginia
Surprisingly, although I carried my camera around just about everywhere, I took very few photos with it. I actually took more photos with my phone, because it was simpler to hand off to someone and to share. We were just having too much fun to pay attention to photos!
The General Lewis Inn in Lewisburg, West VirginiaFlowers along Washington Street in Lewisburg, West VirginiaShops along Washington Street in Lewisburg, West VirginiaVW Bus on Washington Street in Lewisburg, West VirginiaPay phone on Washington Street in Lewisburg, West VirginiaTom and Jim in downtown Lewisburg, West VirginiaKathy and Lisa in downtown Lewisburg, West VirginiaThe New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge 3,030 feet (924 m) long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia. With an arch 1,700 feet long, the New River Gorge Bridge was the world’s longest single-span arch bridge for 26 years and is now the fifth longest. The roadway of the New River Gorge Bridge is 876 feet above the New River, making the bridge one of the highest vehicular bridges in the world. It is the third highest in the United States. When completed in 1977, it was the world’s highest bridge carrying a regular roadway, a title it held until the 2001 opening of the Liuguanghe Bridge in China.The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge 3,030 feet (924 m) long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia. With an arch 1,700 feet long, the New River Gorge Bridge was the world’s longest single-span arch bridge for 26 years and is now the fifth longest. The roadway of the New River Gorge Bridge is 876 feet above the New River, making the bridge one of the highest vehicular bridges in the world. It is the third highest in the United States. When completed in 1977, it was the world’s highest bridge carrying a regular roadway, a title it held until the 2001 opening of the Liuguanghe Bridge in China.
Last light on Sharp Top peak at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
We decided to break up our trip northward with a stop at Peaks of Otter Lodge, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Roanoke, VA. We’ve stayed there before, and have enjoyed the lodge, with its lakefront location, decent restaurant and overall quiet vibe. Our previous attempt to stay there was thwarted by the remnants of a hurricane, which forced us to change plans and cancel our reservation.
View of Peaks of Otter Lodge across Peaks of Otter LakePeaks of Otter Lake, at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
We headed north on the Parkway, enjoying the sunshine, cooler weather and lovely clouds. As we approached the lodge, however, it became apparent that a storm had recently passed through the area. Leaves and twigs littered the road and everything was wet. Water falling off the trees made it seem like it was still raining.
Our room (with no power) at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
We arrived at the lodge with high hopes, only to be told that the lodge was without power because of the storm. And due to the somewhat remote mountain location, there was no guaranty when or if the power would be restored. Not to worry, though, right?
Hiking trail at Peaks of Otter, on the Blue Ridge ParkwayPeaks of Otter Lake, at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
Soon afterward we decided to make drinks. We always travel prepared, so all we needed was ice. But of course the ice machines are powered by electricity, so while there was probably plenty of ice in the hopper, it wouldn’t dispense. So I took my trusty ice bucket to the lodge to get it filled. Fortunately they still had plenty of ice, so all was not lost.
Sunset over Peaks of Otter Lake, at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway in VirginiaSunset over Peaks of Otter Lake, at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
But…between the time we checked in and when I returned to the lodge for ice, a decision had been made that the bar and restaurant would not be opening for dinner. So much for the nice dinner. Faced with the prospect of a cold chicken salad wrap from the lodge or driving into the nearest town for dinner, we opted for the cooked dinner in town. But first…drinks! Yay for ice!
Sunset over Peaks of Otter Lake, at Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia
The lodge is located at a high enough elevation that even though the rooms have air conditioning, it is seldom needed. So it was no problem for us to sleep there. And since sunset was late at this time of year and we had our tablets fully charged with books pre-loaded, it was easy for us to pass the time. Did I mention that there is no cell service at the lodge? And with no wifi, we were really “off the grid.”
“Polly Woods Ordinary” mountain cabin located at Peaks of Otter, on the Blue Ridge Parkway
So it was a little bit like camping, except that we were in a bed in a room with a roof and a door. And as it turned out, even though there was still no power in the morning, somehow there was hot water for a shower! Ultimately the biggest hardship was that we were unable to get coffee or tea. But we lived to tell about it and to head on to our next destination, Lewisburg, West Virginia. More to come!
February 2007: Tree in silhouette at twilight, The Saddle Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia
A frequent stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia is an overlook called “The Saddle.” So named because it sits on a ridge with a eastern view toward a deep valley and a western view toward Buffalo Mountain.
September 2016: Sunset at The Saddle Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan Virginia
We’ve visited The Saddle probably dozens of times over the years, occasionally getting a nice sunset there. The view toward the east would probably make for an interesting sunrise, but in all our trips there we haven’t been close enough for a morning visit. I may need to remedy that at some point!
There is a tree next to the parking lot that I have photographed over the years. I was interested, and a bit disappointed, to see that it is for all intents and purposes, past its useful life. The decline was pretty obvious over the years, but is very apparent now. I suppose it is just a matter of time before a big wind, or a chainsaw, carries it off.
July 2022: Tree at The Saddle Overlook, Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan Virginia
Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Kathy & I just returned from an abbreviated version of our somewhat annual “Friends and Family Tour.” ‘Somewhat annual’ because it hasn’t been continuous, ‘abbreviated’ because we only saw a few of our friends and didn’t take quite as much time as we have in the past several years. But we saw some good friends, met a long-time friend in person for the first time, and generally had a nice week.
Sewing and weaving exhibit. Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, VirginiaSewing and weaving exhibit. Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, VirginiaCheckerboard and chairs. Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, Virginia
The first stop on our journey was Mabry Mill, a landmark on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. For good reason, the mill is one of the most-visited and most-photographed spot on the Parkway. We were fortunate to have visited on a weekday morning, so things were not too crowded, and the weather was a refreshing 70 degrees. Quite a departure from the upper 90s we were experiencing in Charlotte!
Blacksmith shop at Mabry Mill, on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, VirginiaBlacksmith shop at Mabry Mill, on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, VirginiaMill powered woodworking band saw. Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, VirginiaMill powered woodworking band saw. Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, Virginia
We’ve visited Mabry Mill dozens of times, and I have photographed the mill in all seasons. This time it was mostly snapshots, but I still ended up with a few interesting shots.
Rhododendron at Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, VirginiaFlowers at Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Meadows of Dan, Virginia
I’ll have more words and photos to post as I get through the week’s files.
Cloud reflections in the Lendingtree Building in Charlotte
More from our walking around town a few weekends ago. Perhaps channeling Kirk Tuck here with the pointy-uppy building shots. The clouds were pretty nice that morning.
Cloud reflections in the Lendingtree Building in CharlotteCloud reflections in the Lendingtree Building in Charlotte
Big and little. Allure of the Seas and Marella Discovery docked at the Port Zante cruise terminal in Basseterre, Saint Kitts
One of the things that always amazes me about cruise ships is their size! The loop in our neighborhood that I walk around some mornings takes 5 laps to make a mile. The walking/jogging track on Allure of the Seas takes only 2.5 laps to make a mile!
Marella Discovery is what cruise ships used to look like. She was placed in service in March 1996 as Splendour of the Seas. With a capacity of 1,830 passengers, she was considered state of the art at that time.
Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, by comparison, holds 5,402 passengers. When she was introduced in 2010 she was the largest cruise ship in the world. That title now belongs to Wonder of the Seas at 5,734. That’s a lot of peoples! 😉
I just posted a gallery of photos from this cruise and our recent swing through Florida at my Adobe Portfolio site.
Walking track on the promenade deck of Allure of the Seas
Early morning in Cental Park aboard Allure of the Seas
Yes, I’m still here. And thanks to those who wrote separately to ask if everything was OK. All’s well!
Kathy & I had a little “Caribbean Business” to attend to for a few weeks. We visited friends in central Florida, met up with a long-time friend of Kathy’s and her husband on a cruise for 6 days, stayed on the same ship for another 8 days, then visited with different friends in Florida on the way home. Got back, started attacking a long-neglected to-do list and here we are!
Early morning in Cental Park aboard Allure of the SeasEarly morning in Central Park aboard Allure of the Seas
Remarkably, we have no confirmed travel plans for the remainder of the year. But we are working hard to remedy that situation! Lots of possibilities in the works, to be sure.
View from the sun deck aboard Allure of the Seas
One of the things I love about cruising is the interesting variety of things to photograph. The ships themselves have plenty of subject matter, and in sailing to different destinations, there are always new things to see. I grabbed a quick handful of a few photos in order to end the drought, as it were.
Light fixtures in Dazzles night club aboard Allure of the SeasStairway reflections in the Royal Promenade aboard Allure of the SeasColor changing ceiling in the Royal Promenade aboard Allure of the Seas
I’ll have some more photos and stories to share as I get things done over the next week or two, so stay tuned! 🙂
Shadows aboard Allure of the SeasAboard Allure of the SeasRailing shadows aboard Allure of the Seas
