The Powers Above

(Sunday morning, 8.21.22) A flash of lightning crosses the sky right above the church as I turn off my engine. A second later a loud crack of thunder follows. It rumbles on after the initial explosion, it seems to last forever. The rain is coming down hard.

    Inside the church, the lights are low, the few people there are quiet, the rain on the roof adds a soft background noise. Flashes of lightning illuminate the stained windows and the resulting thunder joins in to accompany the beat of the rain.

More people arrive, the lights are brightened, and the Mass begins. The organ adds to the music of the storm outside. The lightning and thunder make dramatic backdrops to the service. As the priest gives his sermon, he talks about families and how accepting they are. I look at the parishioners around me, I’ve always thought of them as family.

We are all here together to celebrate this sacrament. We are all accepted, no matter if we are wearing a suit and a tie or a t-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. It doesn’t matter what our political views are. We all have needs, desires and insecurities. We all carry burdens on our shoulders and here at the Mass, the weights are lessened.

The storm continues on through the Mass. Afterwards, people congregate in the gathering space, hesitant to step into the downpour. It smells good outside; it smells like summertime. I walk out to my car through the rain, feeling refreshed, my load lightened.

An Exercise in Futility?

I like taking pictures of the moon. I’ve always imagined taking a photograph which would include a group of shots of the moon as it rises up over the horizon, all on one photo. The near-by cemetery is a perfect spot for such an attempt. The view to the east is across a wide valley and the horizon is fairly close to being level. The next morning, the moon would be rising while the sky was still dark and it would be a nice sized crescent, perfect for an attempt!

    (Tuesday 8.23.22) I woke up around 1:40 and when I looked outside, there were numerous stars visible in the sky. I got dressed, put some day-old coffee in my travel mug and loaded my camera gear in the car. The cemetery is only about 3 minutes away, I only got one sip of coffee before I had arrived.

    I set my tripod up, made sure all the joints were tightened and the legs were solid. The camera was leveled and manually focused on infinity. I took a couple shots to determine what exposure I should use and then I got out my compass to determine where the moon would be rising. (54 degrees from north, give or take) I centered the camera there and then waited.

    A large cloud was gathering in the valley below, extending into the sky and obscuring the horizon towards the south-east. The area I was concerned with was still clear. I had about 10 minutes until moonrise.

    While waiting for the magic moment, the clouds started moving towards my target area. When the clock showed 2:38AM, moon-rise, my site was hidden by the mists. 

    I used my binoculars to scan the top of the hillside, going well past the place where I had guessed it would appear. I took a couple more test shots, being sure to check my lens for moisture. The cool air and the humidity had given it a slight coating and I carefully cleaned it off before each shot.  Still, no moon was visible.

    The moon simply wasn’t bright enough to be seen through the fog. Being only 15% illuminated, it was hidden by the clouds which were getting thicker. I could still see the lights of houses on the hill and I had my fingers crossed. I kept scanning the hilltop for any possible sign of the moon, with no luck. After 30 minutes had passed, I finally gave up my search. 

    I took one more shot before tearing down the set-up.  This morning was a wash but there was always tomorrow morning, the weather forecast looks a little better. The moon will be rising around 3:36, but it will be even smaller, only 9% illuminated, even tougher to see! We'll see what tomorrow will bring!

    I will get this shot...eventually!

    (Wednesday 8.24.22) The alarm went off a little before 3. With some fresh coffee in my travel mug I headed out to the car.  My camera gear was already there. Overhead there were lots of stars, I was feeling hopeful.

    There were some clouds visible in the west as I set up and wouldn’t you know it, they covered the sky 10 minutes before moonrise. Not even Jupiter was visible. Still, I kept my hopes up.

    At 3:36 most of the clouds had passed by and behind me the sky was once again covered with stars. I kept scanning back and forth, trying to catch that first view of the moon.

    When it showed up, the first thing visible was the orangish colored dark side. I re-centered the camera and started taking pictures. I took one shot every minute, counting off the seconds in my head. I checked for moisture on the lens before clicking the shutter and was extra careful not to bump the tripod as I did it. 26 minutes later, the moon left the cameras field of view.  I took a couple more shots and then packed up my gear.

    The sky looked great, Jupiter was high overhead, Mars was sitting below the Pleiades, Orion was hanging low near the horizon and Castor and Pollux were sitting above the moon. I spent a little time gazing through the binoculars and got lost in the multitudes of stars that opened up in front of me.

    The pictures all came together well, it was pretty much what I was envisioning. It didn’t come out the way I had planned on Tuesday but on the next day, it all came together.  No matter what you're attempting, keep on trying, it’s bound to work out eventually!

A Couple Sights Found While Crossing the State

 When Ann Marie and I head east to visit my daughter and her family, we take rt.22 rather than spending money on Turnpike tolls. We take our time, enjoy the scenery and often, find things we’ve never seen before. We don’t rush, we stop when we see something interesting. We also aren’t afraid to try new routes because we never know what we might find!

    Here are a few of the things we ran across on our latest trip across the state.

    Just outside of McVeytown, we stopped at an old log cabin. There are no signs on it; it is just sitting alongside the road. Someone keeps hanging wreaths on it so somebody cares for it. It is in pretty sad shape, I wonder how much longer it will remain standing.

    We stopped at a diner called Red’s in Lewistown. This has been here for quite awhile, not real fancy but it was just what we were looking for. As you walk in the door there is a griddle right in front of you with seats at the counter if you want to watch your meal get cooked.  The diner is completely Coke themed. Best of all, they served good food!!

    Sitting beside the Clark Creek in Stony Valley, north of Harrisburg, is the Victoria Furnace. Built back in 1836, one hundred and eighty-six years ago, it only operated 9 years before it went out of blast. Maybe that is why it is in such good shape. It is huge! The inside lining of the chimney is collapsing a bit but the outside is holding up well. There are some trees growing on it and they will eventually be its downfall. A high stone wall surrounds two sides of the furnace. It is amazingly graffiti free. It took a short 15-minute walk though fields and woods to get to it.

    Not far from Chelsey and Jaime’s house we came across this truck. Perhaps the Clampetts left it behind.

    Near the “town” of Geigertown, we rounded a bend only to see numerous railroad cars, cabooses and small railroad engines. There was also steam driven construction equipment in the field, just sitting beside the road. Of course, we pulled over to explore a bit.

    Five minutes down the road we came to the Joanna Furnace. This furnace had been used for over 107 years before it shut down. Originally built in 1791, it finally went out of blast in 1898. The place has been turned into a park and special events are often held there. Some of the buildings have been preserved and rebuilt. It is quite orderly and neat compared to the Victoria Furnace!

    Our next stop was a butcher shop located in Krumsburg. Dietrich’s Meats has been a regular stop on our visits out east. They have a lot of the meats my father used to bring home such as Scrapple! While we were there, we got a sales pitch from Verna Dietrich, now in her 90’s, a visit without it just wouldn’t seem right!

    In Lenhartsville, we happened across another iron furnace. We saw it as we were driving down Old Rt.22. I couldn’t find much information about it other than it was called The Maiden Creek Furnace and it was built in 1854. It was in blast for 27 years before shutting down in 1881. Not far from this stream is Furnace Creek, we will have to return and see what we can find along it!

    Rejoining the new rt.22 we continued west, passing the Rockville Bridge a bit north of Harrisburg. A train was crossing it but we didn’t stop for a picture…believe it or not. A few miles further and we sighted the Statue of Liberty, or at least a copy of it, sitting on an old bridge pier in the middle of the Susquehanna River.

    We pulled into Lewistown again, this time to take a short walk around the center of town. While we were there, we met a guy from Texas who had to tell us a story about a dramatic kitten rescue in a derelict building. “Right there in that window!” He would have gone on forever if we gave him the chance! The temperatures were once again near 90 so we got an iced beverage and Ann Marie took the wheel for the rest of the ride home.

     This was another fun trip, but of course, they all are. Our travel plans are 1) After you make your plans, feel free to deviate from them and, 2) Time is NOT of the essence! Look and see what you can see, you never know what might pop up! Keep on searchin’ cause the world is full of wonders! You just have to look for them!

The Making of a Family Story

 Every family has a collection of stories, you know the ones, they are told over and over again. Usually they are remembered at family gatherings and holidays. Here’s how another one came to be.

    After planning for weeks or even months for her son’s third birthday party, the grim reality that everything could be cancelled had just hit Chelsey. My daughter’s husband Jaime had told her that he tested positive for Covid. It was Friday night, the day before the big party.

    He tested, masked up and stepped away from the visitors already at the house. Besides Chelsey and Jaime, her mom, Barb and her husband Jim were there along with Barb’s mom, Carolyn. Ann Marie and I were minutes away; we received the news when we arrived. Being vaccinated and boosted we felt safe, as long as we kept our distance from Jaime. Besides that, my new grandson Nico was there, right in front of me. This was the first time I’d seen him, how could I leave now?

    A runner was sent to the store to purchase some tests and everyone participated in a “testing party”, just to ensure that we all were safe. The fifteen-minute waiting period seemed to last forever!

    Thankfully, we all passed with flying colors. Jaime sequestered himself for the rest of the weekend.

    Saturday arrived and the BIG party had been reduced to just six adults and the two children. The boys didn’t miss the party, they were kept busy, at least Mateo was. His younger brother was content to lay on the chest or shoulder of whoever was holding him.

    Presents were divvied out and were played with. Lots of food had been prepared so the adults were happy also, no one starved. The cake was decorated with candles and we all sang to Mateo and then we feasted on it. Even though Jaime wasn’t there we were definitely thinking about him and hoping he was OK!

    Sunday was the end of the visits from the Pittsburgh side of the state. Ann Marie and I stayed until the boys were put down for the night. Before bedtime, we ate dinner and played some more and cuddled the baby as much as we could.

    Chelsey’s mother-in-law, Helen would be coming over to help out on Monday morning; we would be leaving for home. Jaime would be returning and spending his days in the basement until he was sure that he was safe before returning to the family. (He is on his last day of isolation as I write this!)

    We sadly said our good-byes and hoped that the hugs and fun we had with the boys would last until our next visit. We both missed seeing Jaime. 

    We can plan all we want but there is no guarantee as to what we will get. Dates had been set, invitations sent out to family, friends and schoolmates. Food had been bought and prepared, cakes were ordered and the house cleaned. Then, reality stopped by. It didn’t matter what had been planned, it all had to change. When it comes to the family’s health, that takes precedence.

    Chelsey handled it very well. She made calls to cancel the party, worried about her missing husband and dealt with the stress that the kids could get sick. I’d like to think that her visitors helped her during this difficult time, thank heavens we had all been there.

    There is a wonderful feeling you get when you hold a baby. He took me back to those great days when his mother was the same age. Holding Nico in my arms I felt as if I was protecting him, everything would all be OK. Playing with his older brother, Mateo, I slipped back into my own childhood, playing with trains and not worrying about the dangers we all are exposed to in our modern world. (Or the difficulties of getting back up off the floor!)

     It is fun reliving those marvelous days of innocence, the joys of imagining, having people come to see and play with you, when there are no cares and no problems. Sadly, these times pass by so quickly. That is the reason we need to memorize them, soak it all in, the smells and the feelings, remembering all the good experiences. They will be what we live on until the next visit!

    I can say, without any doubt, that this will be a birthday party we all will remember, a story that will be told over and over again. It is the newest chapter in Chelsey’s and Jaime’s family history.

Searching For Satellites

The Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, (AAAP) had scheduled a club event for the 29^th and 30^th of July. It wasn’t a star party; it was a club get-together to see how many satellites we could spot in the course of a night. There had been a previous record of 62 set by two club members many years ago, it was time to try and break the record.

    As so many of our clubs' events go, the weather on Friday was rather “iffy”. An e-mail was sent out cancelling that night's event. Four of us showed up anyway.

    A beautiful sunset appeared as I drove up to the observatory. It was that time of the day where the colors seem more intense. The tiny crescent moon was located a short while after the sun set, a mere 2% illuminated. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a moon as thin as this before! That was the highpoint of my night, but the rest didn’t let me down either.

    We sat on the concrete pad beside the observatory and watched as the sky darkened. The brightest satellite we saw was the International Space Station, (ISS) making a 5-minute pass. It skimmed stars in Ursa Major (The Big Dipper) and Ursa Minor (The Little Dipper) before cruising through Cygnus and then disappearing in the earths’ shadow and the clouds.

    In the couple hours of darkness that I was there, I saw 8 satellites, 9 if you wanted to count the moon! I went home a happy sky gazer.

    Saturday delivered another nice night sky. The moon, a little bit larger than the night before was located around 8:30. As the sky darkened, (sunset was at 8:37) it became much easier to see.

    I took a walk over the hill to get some pictures of the moon and the observatory. While I was playing with my camera, I missed the first sighting, the ISS. I was watching for it but between the lower position on the hill and the bright sky, I missed it. (I know…excuses, excuses) I did see it on its second pass 90 minutes later.

    There was at least 14 people that showed up on Saturday. It is hard to say since it was dark when some arrived. By the time I returned to the top of the hill, they were well on their way accumulating their numbers.

    The rules are pretty simple. It has to be an artificial satellite; the moon doesn’t count. There also has to be at least two people that see it, it needs confirmed. That was it, nice and simple.

    Thank heavens for the members with good eyesight, that and laser pointers. They would see a satellite and then point to it with their pointers, enabling me to find the satellites with my binoculars. I was able to see the brighter ones by eye, but most of the ones I saw were seen with optical aid.

    We saw Saturn rise and we saw some falling stars. In-between sightings I browsed around the constellations, checking out things I normally only observed with telescopes.

    I left a little after 11, there were some clouds moving in and I had to get up early the next morning. I saw one final satellite as I was getting into my car bringing my total to 30. I had watched a couple satellites that appeared to be crossing each other’s paths, which was pretty cool. I saw three in the sky at the same time, though I’m sure there were probably more up there, I just didn’t see them. 

    The most satellites I’ve seen in the sky at one time was well over 15 or 20. It was right after a Starlink dump. They stretched across the sky, coming from behind a cloud and disappearing near the horizon. It was a morning I’ll always remember. There were over 30 satellites in the parade passing overhead.

    Sadly, the official grand total for Saturday as computed by our esteemed official, Eric Fischer, was 42. That is 20 less than the current club record. Cirrus clouds moved in and hid the fainter satellites from view as the night progressed. Since we are moving into August the angle of the sun isn’t favorable for long nights of satellite viewing. We will try again next year, maybe the Pittsburgh weather will co-operate with us for a change.

    I believe we all enjoyed ourselves though, we talked, we laughed, we visited with each other unlike at star parties where we tend to our telescopes and only talk with the public and the members parked beside us. We relaxed and had a good time, sitting under the stars and the satellites.

Playin' Hide-N-Seek with the Heron

The day was cooling off as the evening approached. A little bit of exercise and some fresh air seemed appropriate and so I headed over to one of my favorite spots, the stream in Hampton Township. The sun was getting lower and the sky had a nice shade of blue, the trees were bright green where the sun still lingered.

    Pulling into the road leading down to the creek, I had to slow to a crawl to allow a couple small fawns and their mother to cross the road. The two young deer took one look at my car and jumped into the woods while the doe stood her ground, staring at me, daring me to do anything. I slowly passed, not six feet away and wished her a good night before continuing on. 

    I parked the car and started my stroll down the road. In the distance I could hear someone cutting their grass but other than that, it was quiet. No cars were on the road and soon the lawnmower shut off, all was still.

    I crossed a small rise and saw the cars of a couple fishermen. One could be seen in the creek trying his luck with a fly rod. I moved over to the railroad tracks which parallel the stream, being careful not to kick any stones, attempting to be quiet. I was watching the stream, searching for the heron that frequents the area.

    Taking my time, slowly working my way past bushes, he was nowhere to be seen. I came to a path which leads down to a flat beach and as I started down it, I saw the heron take off, flying upstream. I went down to the creek and looked for him but he had flown out of sight.

    Returning to the tracks, I backtracked a bit and returned to the road. There is a small swamp which often acts as a hide for all sorts of birds, this would be the midpoint of my walk. I could hear bull frogs calling as I neared the overgrown path which leads to its edge. Walking quietly, I kept an eye on the trees growing in the area.

    A huge dead tree sits on the edge of the muddy land encompassing the swamp. There in its branches, I saw the heron. The dim light made his chest, legs and neck look the same as the dead wood of the tree. The camouflage was perfect, if I hadn’t been looking for him, I would have walked right underneath him.

    I raised my camera slowly and he took off, dropping into the tree covering with a few squawks, effectively hiding himself from my lens. He was on his game tonight, or maybe I was just too slow, either way, he had won again!

    The swamp was mostly dry, what was covered with water a few weeks ago was now a thick mud, the water laying further out, barely visible. I stood and listened to the frogs awhile and searched the trees for my feathered friend. No other birds could be seen or heard. I returned to the road and headed back towards the car.

    Nearing my car, I saw another deer. Thinking it might be the doe and her fawns, I prepared the camera to get a picture. When I had a clear shot, I saw that it was a young buck, standing in the shadows of the hillside. He was watching me. A picture wasn’t worth attempting, the best shot was the one I retained in my memory. The two of us stood still, staring at each other, about 30 feet apart. He decided he had enough and turned and leapt off into the darkness.

    I walked over to the car and returned home. It was a great walk. Fresh air, a nice cool time of the evening. I saw four deer, two of which were fairly new to the world. I was serenaded by frogs singing in the swamp. I had watched a fisherman enjoying the pleasures of a quiet stream and got a couple quick views of “my buddy”, the heron. He had bested me tonight...but there is always tomorrow! It was another wonderful summer night in Pennsylvania!

Sometimes You Win and Sometimes...

 I consider myself fairly lucky at getting most of the photographs I envision. It probably ranges a bit higher than 50%. When things go right, it’s wonderful, but when things go bad, it seems as if everything is going downhill.

    I’ve recently had a string of good shots, the “photography gods” were smiling down on me. But I knew it wouldn’t last for long. This is one of the "joys" of amateur photography, you try your best and sometimes it works. The longer you keep trying, the better your chances get!

    On the 2nd of July, I was looking forward to what would have been a great shot, well at least in my mind.  The Chinese space station, Tiangong, would be coming out of the west and would be passing directly across the face of the moon! The moon would be only a few days past new, only 11% illuminated. This would enable a longer exposure without overexposing the moon. The longer exposure would also enable the camera to record a longer pass of the bright satellite as it neared and passed over the moon.

    I checked my sources and then rechecked. I did a run through on Stellarium and they all showed that the space station would be going right across the moon as seen from my home. By moving just few miles away, the chances of a “moon hit” was decreased. This was only a prediction, there was always the chance of a miss! Still, how could I not be excited?

    During the day, things were looking good, the skies was mostly cloud free. I charged the battery to the camera, set the gear by the door and then laid down for a short nap.

    Waking up, I looked outside and saw that the blue skies had morphed into grey. It didn’t damper my enthusiasm though, I still had hopes.

    Disappointing would be a good word to describe what I saw at the appointed time. The sky was grey except for a bright patch to the southwest, the reflection of the city’s lights on the clouds. Some fireworks were being shot off, but that wasn’t what I wanted to see! The moon couldn’t be seen at all and neither would the space station. I watched a few aerial displays and then headed back into the house. "Ya gotta remember, you don’t always get what you want!"

    This was my second failure in two days. The day before I had set up to catch the same satellite as it passed close to the bright star Vega. I had the camera set up with a nice composition with some trees in the foreground, a couple test shots had been taken, all was ready. All that was needed now was the space station. I watched the western sky, waiting for it to come up out of the trees. Then, there it was! I moved over to the camera and watched as it crossed the sky, nearing the target.

   Just as I touched the shutter release a neighbor started up his truck and its lights flooded the camera. I attempted to shield the lens but it was futile; the lights had destroyed the chance to catch the pairing. As I watched the satellite drift into the trees in the east, my neighbor put his truck into gear and drove away, leaving me in darkness once again, never knowing what he had done. Well, that’s life, there was no sense getting upset because that wouldn’t solve anything. I’ll catch it again in the future. 

Jupiter and the road to Wagman

    I know that there will be lots of other successful shots to come, I can’t let one or two destroy my will power. These future shots are the ones I’m looking forward to!

     You have to remember; mistakes and problems can sometimes turn out for the better! Ann Marie and I made a wrong turn the other day while on a short road trip. As we navigated the back roads returning to our route, Ann Marie spotted a red fox running through a field. She would’ve never seen it if we had taken the correct turn! It all worked out in the end.

    In the meanwhile, I’ve been thinking. These types of things tend to happen in threes, I guess I have another one coming. Sometimes you win and sometimes… ya don’t!

Waiting for the Earth to Turn

 

Crickets chirp,

The stars sit motionless

In the sky.

 

Glances at my watch

Are fruitless,

Never seeming to change.

 

Watching the horizon,

A slight glow

Slowly erupts.

 

The tip,

An edge of

The crescent moon!

 

The camera clicks,

Time speeds up,

The moon dramatically

Rises across a distant hill!

 

The clock slows again

As the earth slowly

Turns towards Venus.

 

Patience…patience…patience…

                                                                                6.25.22    3:20AM

Slippin' Into The Past

 The past is all around us, the buildings in our neighborhoods and towns, the technology we hang onto, the faces we see in the mirror and the memories we hold in our in our thoughts. Some of these memories stick with us and others tend to drift into the deep, depths of our brain cells.

    During the past few months I have been copying the black and white negatives I had taken 30 or 40 years ago. This was during the midst of my darkroom days, photos taken with celluloid, light sensitive film. Pictures would be taken, the film developed and then hours spent in the darkroom trying to get that one, “special” picture.

    When moving into my present home, the darkroom and film developing was left behind. (The processes, not the equipment!) The age of the digital camera was rapidly taking over the photographic market. My developing started going to commercial companies rather than my basement.

(1985?)

    The Pittsburgh area had lots of camera stores in those days and when pictures were needed there a couple excellent places where enlargements could be made. It was amazing how many hours were saved by doing this! Never the less, I miss those days in the darkroom!

    While copying these negatives onto my computer, I was continuously being reminded of the places and adventures I had experienced. That and the people I shared them with. Most of these weren’t forgotten, they just hadn’t been thought of for decades. Seeing pictures of landscapes which have changed because of buildings being built or removed is reliving history. The cars are dated and signs reflect the times, they are showing us the past.

    Trips taken, places visited, experiences... Here are a few shots I’ve recently uncovered and re-remembered. Just a little bit of my own personal history!

Entrance to the Waterworks

(1984)

    The city of Pittsburgh had a water treatment plant where the Waterworks Mall is now located. There were acres and acres of underground filtration beds, unused because of more efficient means of purifying the city’s water. They were abandoned and used only for parties and visits by urban explorers. A parking lot now occupies the spot where this shot was taken.

The Civic Arena

(1986)

    Before the Civic Arena was torn down, it was a premium spot for concerts and sporting events. The arena was equipped with a domed roof which could be opened, allowing fresh air in. (and letting “smoky” air out) It was always exciting to see the roof open. In the background, the Veteran’s Bridge was still in the process of being built. The dark building in the center was once the Pennsylvania Railroad headquarters. During the 60's it had been scheduled to be demolished but the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation managed to stall the destruction of this building. It is presently the location of the Amtrak station with apartments above, called The Pennsylvanian.

5^th Ave, when people used to fill the streets

(1987)

      Pittsburgh is a major city and the sidewalks showed it. The storefronts were all occupied and when one closed, another took its place in no time. The buildings were filled with offices and the workers crowded the streets as their work days ended.

Early morning at DeLuca’s 

(1987)

    There were diners all around the city but some of the best were located in the Strip District. They didn’t cater to sightseers and tourists as much as to the working men and women of the city.

Pencil Vendor in NYC

(1989)

    On a trip to New York City I was amazed at the size of both the city itself and the population. My camera got a good workout as I explored the town.

The start of demolition at the Syria Mosque

(1991)

    Early in the morning, I took a ride into Oakland to watch workmen remove the 2 Lions from the entrance of the Syria Mosque. After they put the lions on a truck and drove them away, the bulldozer moved in and started with the roof covering the main entrance. I had my high school graduation ceremony there and spent many a night watching my favorite bands perform in it.

Amtrak and Circus trains at the Pgh. Station

(1992)

    Amtrak still stops at the Pittsburgh station but the circus trains are a thing of the past. I watched a couple parades where they marched the elephants up to the Civic Arena. The last year I saw it, they were trucked up from the RR station in the early morning. The excitement of the circus was waning.

Workers building a sculpture in Pittsburgh

(1986)

    I liked how the workers placing the cobble stones mirrored the sculpture mounted on the wall. The wall is what's left of an old building. This is pure Pittsburgh, always re-building itself!

    It's just a couple pictures, a quick journey into the "good old days". I shudder to think how many more pictures are “stored” in the attic. That will be in my future…exploring the past!

Crossing the Field

 Taking my hiking staff out of the car, the humidity was immediately noticeable. It was still fairly early in the morning but already the temperature was in the 80’s. The weather forecasters were warning about dangerous conditions as the day progressed.

    Working my way down to the stream on an overgrown path made by fishermen, I tried my best to avoid brushing against the weeds. Both to avoid the dew which was still coating them and to avoid any ticks which might be waiting for me to pass.

    The stream was wide but not high. Evidence of high waters could be seen by the eroded walls on the banks of the far side. I stepped into the water and was instantly cooled down. Starting across, my staff aided me from slipping on the slick stones. The deepest section reached my knees, the ripples dampened the bottoms of my shorts. Reaching the far side, I had to go upstream a bit to find a tree whose roots had been exposed, allowing me to climb out of the water and up the bank.

    On the top of the bank, a large field of tall grass, cat tails and flowers spread out in front of me. A hillside covered with trees sat at the far side. The stream ran around the field, in essence, cutting it off from visitors.

    Large bunches of flowers grouped together. High grasses separated the various colors with waving greenish-gold bands. I followed paths that deer had created. The cat tails tend to grow in boggy areas, so I avoided those plants. In the grasses were tall thistles, covered in thorns, I avoided these also.

    Ruts lay in the field filled with water and mud, the tops provided a stable place to walk. My legs had dried off quickly from the crossing, but my shorts were getting wetter as I walked through the high, dewy weeds.

    I passed through batches of white daisies, bluish-purple spiderworts and crown vetch. Surprisingly, there wasn’t any poison ivy to be seen.

    At the far side of the field there is a small rise, the remains of the Pittsburgh to Butler Short Line, an electric trolley which stretched between the two cities from 1900 to1931. 

Not far from the cache…back in the day

    Remnants of the line can still be seen in numerous places, small bits and pieces were among the weeds where I was walking.

    Climbing onto the old rail bed, avoiding the wild rose bushes, I came to a spot I had visited just a week ago. I had been searching for a geocache and wasn’t able to locate it. Leaving a cache “unfound” plays heavily on my mind, so I was determined to return…soon.

    The stream level was low, even after a small rain the night before, a walk through the stream would be nice and cooling, but most of all, it was that anal desire to return and find the cache that brought me back today!

    I hadn’t brought my GPS, I remembered where I had been. I was pretty sure the cache was still there, even though no one had found it in close to a year.

    I rooted around at the base of the “obvious” tree and then slowly worked my search up the trunk and into its branches. With-in a couple minutes, the find was mine! 

    It was a small round match holder wrapped in camouflage tape. It was hanging on a small stick, blending in nicely with the branch behind it.

    After signing the log and replacing it for the next cacher, I headed back. Already the dew had evaporated from the weeds and bugs were starting to fly around. Still, it smelled wonderful and it sounded delightful. The birds were the only sounds I heard. I was too far from the stream and no cars had passed since I left, at least none that I heard.

    Haze filled the sky giving the field a muted look, like a painting with groups of flowers; their colors all mingling together with the grasses to create a masterpiece in the way only nature can create.

    A couple Red Winged Blackbirds flew by and as I neared the stream, I saw a Baltimore oriole. I was watching for the heron but “he” chose not to show himself to me today.

    At the stream, I climbed down the roots of the tree, back into the nice, cool water. Climbing out of the other side, a much easier climb, I passed a small batch of yellow Iris and then through another large patch of spiderworts.

    Back at the car, my legs had dried already but my shirt was soaked. It was only 10 in the morning and the heat would be continuing to rise as the day progressed.

    It was a great way to start the day, the rest of it would be spent in dark, cool places, avoiding the heat outdoors. I found my cache but seriously...the best part of the morning was the refreshing walk through the stream, walking through the field amongst the flowers, enjoying the smells and soaking in the quiet of the morning.

Welcome to the Star Party

 Welcome to a night under the stars. If this is your first time visiting a star party, here are a few guidelines.

    Star parties are held to allow the general public access to the telescopes owned by astronomy clubs and astronomers. The goal is to introduce you to the night sky and astronomy. On a good night you can expect to see double stars, galaxies and nebulas along with the moon, planets and satellites. Every time you visit one, different things can be seen.

    The telescopes are set up there for you to observe through. All you need to do to look through these instruments is to ask! These are often very expensive, be careful when looking through them and follow the owners instructions. Don’t touch the optics or move the scopes. If you want to look at something else, ask and if possible, the owner will show you.

    They will tell you what you are looking at and hopefully be able to answer any questions you might have. If they don’t know the answer, chances are that someone else near-by will!

    Weather plays a big part in star parties. If there are clouds in the sky, chances are the telescopes won’t be set up. Heavy clouds hamper viewing and the members don’t want any moisture getting onto the optics. So saying, rain will cancel these events. If the weather looks threatening, call the observatory before driving up!

(Observatory phone #’s are usually on the clubs web site)

    If you have a telescope at home, bring it along. Most star parties have darker skies than those closer to the cities; this will enable you to see more than you normally do. If you’ve never used your telescope before, come up early, while the sky is still light, and someone will be able to help you set it up and explain how it works. If you have a pair of binoculars, bring them along also. You will be surprised at how many stars you can see through ordinary field glasses. Bring a lawn chair if you want, to just sit and enjoy the skies above.

    If you are considering buying a telescope, a star party is a great place to see what is available. Compare the views you get through different styles and brands, ask the owners what they like about their scopes and what they would recommend.

    Bringing a jacket and a hat and wearing long pants is suggested since the temperature quickly drops after sunset. Most star parties are held on hilltops and there is usually a slight breeze blowing!

    There is no smoking or alcoholic beverages allowed near the telescopes and it’s best to leave your pets at home to avoid any problems.

    Another important thing is, don’t bring a flashlight! Bright lights are frowned upon at star parties. If you don’t know how to dim your cars lights, please park near the entrance and walk up to the site, it’s won’t be far! This will preserve everyone’s night vision.

    After being in the dark for awhile, your eyes become accustomed to the dim light. Your pupils open up to permit more light in, allowing you to see more. Just a brief glimpse from a white flashlight or a car headlight will cause your pupils to shrink. It will then take up to 20 minutes for you to regain the night vision you had before. Astronomers use red flashlights since this won’t cause your pupils to react.

    Children are very welcome at star parties; we hope to instill the love of astronomy in them at an early age! Keep your children close at hand. Explain to them about how costly these instruments are and share the need to respect the equipment and the owners.

    When you go on trips, check to see if there are any astronomy clubs in the areas you will be visiting. They will usually have the dates of star parties they have planned on their web sites. Major parks have star parties also, their skies are often much darker than what you experience normally and they want to share this with you. Check before you visit. Commonly, star parties are held during the summer months and whenever something special happens, such as eclipses or meteor showers. Keep an eye out for them and come up and visit!

    Should you be bitten by the astronomy bug, members will be more than happy to tell you how you can join the club, anyone is welcome to join! You don’t need any expensive equipment, just your enthusiasm!

    To find out more about the Pittsburgh club, the AAAP, their two observatories and their star party schedule, visit;

http://3AP.Org

    The night sky is a treasure which is often over looked; a visit to a star party just might help you see what great things you’ve been missing! Chances are, I'll be there and I’ll be watching for you! Be sure to say "hi"!

HoJo's

 Whenever my parents and I took a trip across the state to visit relatives, our route was along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. At each of the service plazas was an easily recognizable restaurant, Howard Johnson’s. While we rarely stopped at any of these plazas, other than to use the bathrooms, we passed lots of HoJo’s in our travels.

    The restaurants along the turnpike were housed in attractive stone buildings but the Howard Johnson’s on other roads usually had that distinctive shape and orange colored roof. You knew what they were before you even saw the sign.

    The company started in the 1920’s, opening its first restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts. In the mid-50’s they opened their first Motor Lodge. The company used to be huge, in 1965 its sales exceeded McDonalds, Burger King and KFC combined. Sadly, this wouldn’t last. Fast food claimed the prize eventually. Howard Johnson’s had over 1000 restaurants and 500 motor lodges before their success started to wither. 

    I can remember going there for my birthday. I think I looked forward to the fried clams more than their 28 flavors of ice cream!

    The chain was bought and over time the iconic buildings started to disappear or change purpose. As of 2018 there was only one restaurant with the Howard Johnson name on it, located in Lake George, New York.

    In Hampton Township there are the remains of what used to be a HoJo Motor Lodge. Once being visible from the turnpike exit it is now hidden from view by tall trees and weeds. When exactly it closed, I’m not sure but in 2012 it had been approved by the township to be rebuilt and reopened. That never came to be. 

    It sits beside a closed Max and Erma’s restaurant. The motel is covered with plywood to keep scavengers and vandals out. This hasn’t worked since some of the wood has been torn off and the sliding glass doors broken. The rooms and furniture are exposed to the weather and the openings provide easy access to the insides. I stayed outside since there are No Trespassing signs posted on the building. I did look inside though.

Vines and weeds covered the balconies.

Guests would have to search for their room numbers!

    The lodge provided top of the line technologies as the satellite dish shows. Looking at this site takes us back to another time, the days of traveling and pulling into a motel to get some rest, often without even calling for a reservation. Motels scattered alongside the roads, often owned by the families that cleaned them and lived in the house next door.

    Many were just 5-10 rooms with the bare essentials, a place to sit your bags, a bed and a bathroom. If you were lucky there would be a “color” TV! Hanging by the road would be a flashing Vacancy sign. Of course, the locals used these rooms also. There is no need to go into any details about that here, we’ve all heard the stories. (I’m not talking about the stories where you’d wake up in a bathtub full of ice and missing a kidney!)

    Chances are that this place is destined to be torn down and a new, multi storied, corporate hotel will take its place. For now, it is a reminder of what used to be and another thing that is slowly disappearing from our lives.