Actually I drove lead vehicle and tried to keep everyone on the 60 mile course rather than scattered about the woods. Iron Cross hits up some pavement and trails in Michaux, but is mostly about the fire roads. These gravel roads are well maintained and great for just crusin’ through the woods by bike, car, foot, horse or even Segway especially during the leaf show Mother Nature puts on this time of year in the PA forests.

Then last weekend had me fitting a friend to a bike and heading out to sample some super sweet singletrack around his joint. Michaux is one of the many incredible riding spots in PA and while I’m drawn there by the technically difficult mountain bike trails,  I can easily hop on one of those forest roads to chill a bit or even just take it all in by cruising through the valley between Caledonia State Park and Pine Grove Furnace SP on pavement or hitting up the rail trail for some dead flat spinning. I love it when a plan comes together.

Here’s a shot of the Iron Cross piece de resistance, the Wigwam “run-up.” A feature in cross racing that forces riders to shoulder their bikes and run is taken to an extreme at this race.  These fellas are about to top out.  Its a great way to spend a day in the woods.

Photos courtesy of Don Pagano.  Color courtesy of Mama Nature.

Leaf Michaux You Somethin’ (Michaux = ME-sho)

Two of the last four weekends have found me heading west to the hills and valleys of Michaux State Forest near Carlisle, PA for bike gigs.  Iron Cross kicked off PA’s unofficial bike month with the largest mass start cyclocross race in the world and a portion of the 300+ who took part

shown here navigating the Death Spiral; yours truly rode shotgun.  Actually I drove lead vehicle and tried to keep everyone on the 60 mile course rather than scattered about the woods.  Iron Cross hits up some pavement and trails in Michaux, but is mostly about the fire roads.  These gravel roads are well maintained and great for just crusin’ through the woods especially during the light show Mother Nature puts on this time of year in the PA forests.

Then last weekend had me fitting a friend to a bike and heading out to sample some super sweet singletrack around his joint.  Michaux is one of the many incredible riding spots in PA and while I’m drawn there by the technical difficult mountain bike trails I can easily hop on one of those forest roads to chill a bit or even just take it all in by cruising through the valley between Caledonia State Park and Pine Grove Furnace SP on pavement or hitting up the rail trail for some dead flat spinning.  I love it when a plan comes together.

Here’s a shot of the Iron Cross piece de resistance, the Wigwam “run-up.”  A feature in cross racing that forces riders to shoulder their bikes and run is taken to an extreme at this race.

These fellas are about to top out.  Photos courtesy of Don Pagano.

I paid a visit to the boutique today for the Neighbor Teaze Trunk Show and purchased a great gift for one of my close friends. The Picket Fence is a boutique you can’t go in without purchasing something for yourself or for someone special.  Next time you are around Shadyside, make sure you stop in.

Dakota Ridge is run by photographer Dan Hugos, a friendly man who you’ll meet when you first set foot in 9 West Broadway Street, located right across the street from the Mauch Chunk Opera House. He’ll gladly let you peruse the various gallery rooms in which the works displayed without a word – the whole purpose behind Dakota Ridge is to provide a location where people can appreciate the art of photography which isn’t easy to do if you have someone talking you ear off. But after you’ve looked, if you want to talk about photography or the picturesque town of Jim Thorpe, he’ll be glad to chew the fat for a while.

Last time I visited Dakota Ridge, I was particularly drawn to the work of Matt Dallos, whose featured works in the gallery focused on Pennsylvania forest-scapes. I find that nature shots, particularly of water, are incredibly soothing to me – Slipstream quickly became one of my favorite photos in the entire gallery. Then I saw the quiet majesty Matt captured in his photo of Mount Nittany shrouded in fog (and for which my beloved Penn State Nittany Lions were named). If only I had the wall space …

Before I left Dakota Ridge for the day, I noticed some very intriguing photos filled with sparks and fire. They were photos taken of the late, great Bethlehem Steel plant while it was still in operation. The Bethlehem-based photographer, Peter Treiber, even put out a book (which Don did have at the gallery) of these iconic images.

Don’s Web site for Dakota Ridge is being updated as I write this, but the basic info like hours still holds true.

Do you have a favorite Lehigh Valley art gallery?

Chunky Susquehanna River smallmouth bass

Fall can be one of the best times to be on the water casting away for those eager fish trying to fatten up before the long winter. I recently had the pleasure of fishing with a “band of anglers” from the Harrisburg area. Six anglers total converged on Shamokin, Pennsylvania for some  fall fishing in the balmy waters of the Susquehanna River.

We converged on local fast food place at 6:30 a.m., downed some coffee while plotting our strategy to land some of those chunky Susquehanna River smallmouth bass. We also hoped to get a bonus Walleye or two for our efforts. It was very apparent that these fellas were some serious anglers…like myself. I drove about 1.5 hours to arrive on site and many of the others had at least a 1 hour drive. Now that’s dedication! Of course as we drank our morning “go juice” and talked strategy, we also managed to tell a few tall tails about our past fishing adventures.

Fueled by coffee, we convoyed down to the rivers edge. Before unlaoding the gear, we surveyed the water and took a quick temperature reading…water was cold!! This is a good time to mention that cold water is definitely no place for the novice paddler. Check out this recent warning from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. We dragged out kayaks down to the rivers edge, loaded our fishing gear on board and paddled off up the river. It must have been quite a site for the onlookers to see six kayaks in a flotilla of sorts gliding up river to our fishing destination.

The river didn’t disappoint us. Most of us caught smallmouth and one of our crew even landed a very nice walleye. I landed a good number of smallmouth and one that was quite memorable. I was tossing a suspending jerkbait into a current break, cranking it down to depth then just letting it drift with the current. This is a common way to work the bait in the cold fall water. I was talking to one of my fishing companions when…WHAM! Something almost ripped the rod out of my hand. Of course, I reacted with a sharp hook set but whatever was on the  end of my line didn’t budge an inch….AND THEN..it pulled back. It was a seesaw battle that had my kayak doing donuts and my rod doubled over. After a long back and forth battle, the fish finally showed itself. It was a fat football shaped beautiful bronze colored smallmouth bass! A couple of quick photos later and I freed him to fight another day. We fished on through most of the day but no fish fought with the determination of that 17.5 inch hard headed fish!!

It was a great day on the water with some new friends and some fantastic fall scenery. The fall colors are just starting to take hold on the riverbank which certainly added to the experience. There’s nothing like fall in the woods of Pennsylvania! That being said, we’re already talking about a second trip farther north on the river…of course in the spring when the water warms. I’m definitely looking forward to it!

Small details characterize Zagar's Magic Gardens Creation

Philadelphia’s South Street is a well known destination for visitors interested in exploring a hip, urban, funky spot at any hour of the day. One of our favorite destinations is Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, a fantastical creation by an iconic artistic figure in the Philadelphia community, Isaiah Zagar. Click here to view our photos taken during recent visit to the garden. Zagar’s works can be found throughout the city and beyond.

Many of the mirrored mosaic murals can be seen strolling South Street and the narrow allies of the Bella Vista neighborhood. The murals are intricate reflections of his artistic influences and vision designed to reflect beauty in chaos. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, the house that Zagar built, is open for all to explore every day of the week for a small fee to support the non-profit organization that has been founded to preserve his works and sponsor community artistic educational activities.

We were pleasantly surprised to drive up to a beautiful and large stone home. We walked into the rustic yet cozy room where the host took our name and we enjoyed the colonial ambiance while waiting for a table. Decorated in 18th century style with period-dressed wait staff, we were seated in a corner of the second floor. Even at 9:00 pm, the House was full of diners – some seated in wing back chairs at their table, and some dining under what looked like the curtains of a canopy bed.

We started off by ordering Jack’s Hard Cider, which is brewed at the Hauser Winery in Biglerville, PA. Next, I ordered the filet mignon with a sweet potato and my dining mate, ordered the lamb chops with a peppered merlot sauce. Before the entrees were served, we enjoyed some delicious warm, homemade white bread and a variety of sweet breads, followed by a salad with house herb vinaigrette. Our meal was phenomenal with everything fresh and cooked exactly as ordered.

The menu also boasts seafood, chicken and pasta dishes. The Dobbin House is named after its builder, the Reverend Alexander Dobbin, who built the house in 1776. The restaurant continues to get rave reviews and is a highly sought out destination for those visiting Gettysburg!

This weekend the ghosts of Downingtown will have a chance to to come alive as The Downingtown Area Paranormal Investigators and The Downingtown Historical Parks Comission invite you to the First Downingtown Ghost Tour.

Lots of communities have historic ghost walks around Halloween, but on October 24 and 25, Downingtown, PA will be the site of a unique event.  The Downingtown Historic and Parks Commission contacted Downingtown Area Paranormal Investigators (DAPI) and the two groups have put together a walk sure to delight and spark your interest in the paranormal.  Instead of just gathering local legends and stories, DAPI members investigated 7 iconic sites, including the Historic Log House in the center of town and The Downingtown Library(a documented stop on the Underground Railroad) just to name a few. DAPI members conducted paranormal investigations using a combination of modern and time-honored methods to document hauntings.

During the Ghost Walk, visitors will be treated to guides in costume, leading them from site to site.  There are four sites, DAPI members will present photographic and audio evidence of ghostly activities.  Participants will never pass these historic locations again without a glance over their shoulders to see who might be looking back!

For times and ticket locations, please visit www.downingtownparanormal.com.  Tickets are $3 each.  The Downingtown Ghost Walk will take place rain or shine.

The first one, which focuses on Milton’s transportation history, has images of railroads, trolleys, barges and early airplanes, as well as images of the coal and logging industries.  It even features a few real people (Miltonians, as they’re affectionately called) like Mary Strine who is a very young-at-heart centenarian. The mural also features the artist’s lovable dog, Kensey.

The second mural, which was just finished at the end of the summer, is so brightly colored that I often find myself stopping to look at it on my way to work. The mural pays tribute to the former Capitol Theatre, which faced a terrible fate during the 1972 flood, was renovated, and then tragically burned down in 1973. The mural features three movie heavy-weights: King Kong, Laurel and Hardy, and Shirley Temple. And the colors – wow. This mural also features a few local Miltonians, including the woman who managed the theatre. Kensey the dog also makes another appearance, with one small change –- the shadow in the mural is that of another dog, the artist’s new puppy!

Looking for more art in the downtown? Head to the Milton Post Office to buy some stamps. Yep, you read that correctly. Milton’s post office features New Deal Era Post Office Artwork on the outside façade AND art deco elements in the inside lobby. Commissioned during the New Deal Era, the post office has a series of five bas relief panels on the outside, representing the past and present modes of mail transportation and two showing Native Americans.

While you’re in Milton, check out the local shops and eateries, or take a picnic lunch to the Milton State Park – located less than 1 mile from the downtown. The Park is an 82-acre island in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. It features wildlife habitat, picnic facilities, walking and biking trails, a children’s playground, soccer fields, a boat launch, and great fishing spots along the Susquehanna River. Access the park via PA 642 off of PA 147 on the east, and from US 15 at West Milton.

Before you visit, check out this brand new “Every Town a Treasure” brochure about Milton, published by the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, TIME, and the local historical society, explaining a brief synopsis of Milton’s history and heritage.

Enjoy your trip!

I know tons of people who’s favorite holiday of the year is Halloween – it’s fun to get dressed up in costumes, and take your kids out to get tons of free candy – or to go trick-or-treating yourself!

Well, fall is in the air, and that means a lot of things, but one in particular – Halloween is coming! So I’d like to share with you a few traditions that our family has taken on and some great things to do at Halloween in Lancaster County! Here are my top 5:

1. Nobody does SCARY Halloween like Jason’s Woods. They’ve been around for about 25 years, and have a bunch of different attractions with tons of special effects. Now I’m not much for being scared out of my skin, so when we go, I hang out at the fabulous pre-show entertainment. They’ve got live bands, DJ’s, magic shows and a bunch of other performances – just check out their website to see what’s happening!

2. Hersheypark in the Dark is a must for the Halloween season. Are you a person who loves amusement rides but hates the lines? Well, then this is for you. There’s three weekends in October that you can hit a lot of the rides that they have – roller coasters, merry-go-round, salt & pepper shakers, and more. Not all the rides are open, but there’s plenty and the lines are generally shorter than they are in the Summertime! Also, when you go, with your park admission, you can get into Creatures of the Night & ZooAmerica! Visit their website for more details!

3. We don’t have this tradition yet, because my husband & I don’t have any children of our own yet, but it’s one that we’ll be sure to start when we do! Dutch Wonderland has Happy Hauntings, where your kids can get dressed up in their costumes and enjoy themed rides & attractions, trick-or-treating, magic shows, and much more! See the website for more details!

4. The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire!! This is such a great fall activity, and costumes are a must! The Ren Faire is a great place to get food, and enjoy some great shows. They’ve got over 90 shows daily – we love watching the jousting, and trying to get a photo with the Queen! My husband is bound to get a grilled turkey leg (truly a Renaissance meal). This is great to walk around on a crisp day, and enjoy the weather! See website for details!

5. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm has a flashlight maze. If you think that a corn maze is fun during the day – just you wait until you get there at night time! The flashlight mazes are complete with wagon rides and a campfire. They’ve got group campfires packages and scout troops can even stay overnight at the maze! The flashlight maze is open Fridays & Saturdays October 2 – November 7.

I’ve been visiting Miller’s Natural Foods since the early 1980s. My uncle frequently bought antiques from a man named Eli Miller on Miller Lane in Bird-in-Hand and would bring them home to NC. So, we started visiting Eli’s antique shop that he ran from a  building on his farm. His son, Christ, had opened a health food store on the property in 1968 and had since built a store beside Eli’s place. He sold all types of vitamins, supplements, medicinals and herbals, and organic foods. The first time I ever heard of organic and natural foods was when shopping at Miller’s.

As word spread, Miller’s became a local favorite, so Christ built a new, larger, solar-powered store across from the old one. This store opened in 2006 and is a really nice facility. He stocks products such as Annie’s, JASON, Ezekiel 4:9; Nature’s Gate, Burt’s Bees, Maranatha, Tom’s of Maine, etc. To me, the store is a Plain version of Whole Foods. The store frequently hosts health screenings, seminars, and information sessions on topics such as eating healthy, special diets, and holisitic medicines.

The irony of this story is that the Amish family that I am close friends with are first cousins of Christ’s and live on the same lane. We met them while they were visiting NC and started visiting them after we had already been going out to Miller’s Natural Foods. My friend Leroy owns and operates Life Enhancing Acres on the same lane, so if you visit Miller’s Natural Foods, you might stop in and take a look at Life Enhancing Acres’ produce, meats, and dairy products.

Miller’s Natural Foods
2888 Miller Lane
Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505
Hours: M-Th: 7-5 pm; Sat: 7-4 pm. Closed Sundays.

I began visiting Country Housewares Store in the early 2000s, when my friend Linda had us drive her over to pick up some items. Country Housewares is basically a large, Amish owned general store, though it’s almost like an Amish department store. Its lighting is similar to Miller’s Natural Foods. They stock clothing, dinnerware, fine china, kitchen utensils, books and school supplies, toys, silverware and silver sets, a nice display of harmonicas, clocks, gas lamps, pretty much anything you can think of. The store was started in 1980, at a different location, by Reuben Beiler. In the early 21st century the Beilers built the current store. Definitely stop in if you are taking a back country tour of the county and you happen upon it.

Country Housewares
589 Musser School Rd
Leola, PA 17540
717-556-0985