All Aboard! The Oil City-Titusville RailRoad

 Last Saturday afternoon, I went on a train ride that boasts going thru the valley that changed history.  This was the very valley where Oil was first discovered and harnessed by man. It dates back to the civil war. The oil was refined for Kerosene.  Although, it is not quite Fall yet, I went and made the trip anyway. Each of the cars were named after famous people that influenced the valley. Originally, the Indians had found pools of oil coming to the surface all on its own, and used it to light fires, and keep warm, and to use as insect repellent.

This was our Engine. It is a diesel electric.

This car was reserved seating.  More plush.

Conductor collecting tickets before getting underway.

Photo Op.

The length of our train, way back in the distance is the open car which you can enjoy the view unhindered by windows.  Another view a bit later.

Video of us departing Perry St. Station, and another train sitting idle next to us. Note how close we passed by it.

A view from our seat

Note outside of the window how close the cliff wall is from the train. At places, this valley is very narrow.

 An uninterrupted view out the window.

Our train as it rounds a curve.

One of the views of Oil Creek

Here is a shot of the open air rail car.

Walking carefully down the aisle, holding onto arm rests

Tried for a view down the cars. All doors are open so can walk from car to car.

On the return trip back to our starting point, our engine switched ends of the train. Now it is attached to the open air car.

Me trying to think aloud. Note that I must be burning wood as I think. See the cloud of smoke above my head?

Looking out from the mail car.

The Heads Up Family, Or, Nature Interpretive Pontoon Ride

On Friday, Aug 23, 2013, we were luck enough to gain seats at the last minute for an interpretive Nature Exploration of Presque Isle's Misery Bay and lagoons.  Our captain of the boat also was our tour guide.  He gave us history of Misery Bay and some of the War of 1812, and Oliver Hazard Perry and his role in our area. We had a full boat.  We went out into Misery Bay, saw some sites, and then proceeded back into the lagoons.  We here learned more about the way Nature landscapes the Peninsula, and also continues to do so. We were able to view some beaver dam lodges, and heard about some of the local wildlife and fauna, and also some of the invasive European invaders.  The second British Invasion!  Any way. along the way, we can to a resting site for turtles.  I have called them the Heads Up Family. And you will see why in just a few.  Also was lucky enough to catch a few photos of water Lillie's in bloom.  Sit back, and enjoy a few photos.

And here below were some people enjoying the self guided tour in their kayaks.

Perry Monument

Coast Guard and EPA doing studies of the waters

 

We got bird MOONED!

City bay front from Misery Bay 

The next group of travelers to explore

As Marlon went up stream to set up base camp, we travelers were out and upon the excursion.

Can never leave without a view from the car. Notice who is driving!

I Was Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay

  Reminiscing recently of Otis Redding's song recently made me just want to go sit on the dock. As we sat in camp chairs, the song was going thru my mind, and here are some of the images I took last Friday afternoon.  Just to keep you up to date, here is a copy of the song written by Steve Cropper and Otis Redding, and sung famously by Otis Redding.

Sitting in the morning sun
I'll be sitting when the evening come
Watching the ships roll in
And I'll watch 'em roll away again, yeah

I'm sitting on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away, ooh
I'm just sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time

I left my home in Georgia
Headed for the Frisco bay
I have nothing to live for
Look like nothings gonna come my way

So I'm just go sit on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
I'm sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time

Look like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remain the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do
So I guess, I'll remain the same, yes

Sitting here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone, yes
Two thousand miles I roam
Just to make this dock my home

Now I'm just go sit at the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away, ooh
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time

  Here is the water Taxi that a lot of us in our youth, used to take over to the Peninsula for our swims at the lake, and use to get back to Erie before dinner time. It is still up and operating, but, not at the same costs as it did when I was young.

  

Not only were there human fishermen on the dock with us, we were even treated by a visit from a Blue Heron who came by to watch the ships come in.  After a bit, it did fly across the inlet, and I think that he may have been sizing up the child to see if he would qualify as a meal. Eventually, came back across the inlet to once again visit with us.

  This is actually how far across the inlet was.  Just did not want to mislead anyone about how narrow the channel is.  If you blow up the photo, you can see that the Heron is next to the child, and they are almost the same height.