Nomad Life - Day 180

Overnight we had to do the annual "Spring Forward" time change - that didn't help me to stay on track for my sleep goals...  In the end, I woke up at (the new) 0730.  Even though time had literally ticked away, I still spent part of the morning with reading, Duolingo and puzzles.  At 0800, I went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Microtel (Beaver Falls).  For the rest of the morning, I worked on my blog and eBird entries and then checked out of my at 1210.  The conditions outside were good again (55 F, sunny) and I was excited to get another day of hiking.  First, I drove through Darlington and got on PA-168.  Like the previous two days, I was following a map (prepared by the Wampum Chapter of the NCT Association) that I'd found at one of the trailheads.  This helped me to locate a new trailhead in the Beaver Dam area (PA-168 at the crossing of I-76) - I was parked there at 1225.  From my car, I hiked back to the east (North Dakota Bound), following the North Fork of the Little Beaver Creek.  In this area, I was very impressed to cross 15 brand new bridges that had recently been built across every single tributary creek by the Wampum Chapter.  Another nice feature was a brand new Lean-To (shelter) that must have just been placed on the site.  Everything in this area of the NCT is so new and shiny!  Today's 2.5 mile section of NCT actually tracked all the way back to the Trailhead I'd found on Friday (Scott Wallace Road).  Most of the trail was dry but I found places where creek water had pooled.  There were plenty of birds and some deer in this section and I very much enjoyed the walk through more of the State Game Lands.  After backtracking, I was done with my hike at 1415 (5 miles).  What a afternoon on the trail!  Hoping to get some more miles of the NCT in my car, I left the trailhead and drove (via farm roads) to the northeast.  Before long, I reached I-376 (Beaver Valley Expressway).  By that point, I was on Edwards Road and had reached the 2.5 mile mark on my odometer as the NCT headed out across a huge farm field nearby.  Looking at my map, I realized I'd be unable to access the NCT again for a while so I gave up and drove (via Darlington Road and PA-18) to the outskirts of the town of Wampum.  I found the trailhead (a bridge that crossed PA-18) and then followed the blue blazes (by car) into "downtown" Wampum.  At 1435, I arrived at a pretty little Trail Town area, with lots of signs and banners related to the NCT's passage through the area.  After admiring the work (yet again) of the Wampum Chapter of the NCT Association, I crossed the Beaver River (from the PA-18 Trailhead, I'd logged 0.5 miles of NCT in my car).  The NCT faded into the trees along the river for a short time but then reappeared near the boat launch on River Road - I followed it 0.3 more miles until it headed into the woods.  Like before, the map I was following showed a long distance of NCT in the forest so I decided to try to intercept it again in the near just to the west of McConnells Mill State Park.  The route to reach my target included some more driving on PA-168 and watching for blue blazes on other local roads.  Eventually, I found the NCT coming out of the woods at the intersection of Snake Run Road and Sankey Hill Road.  In my car, I followed the latter road to the east (Vermont Bound) until I reached Old Pittsburgh Road.  I passed through the town of Energy (they had a nice NCT sign at their local church) and got caught behind a farm tractor.  Eventually, I reached the western side of McConnells Mill State Park and completed my NCT drive at the Hell’s Hollow Trailhead by 1520 (4.6 miles of NCT driving).  I got out of my car and explored the busy trailhead but decided against another hike.  Instead, I drove on some back roads through the State Park.  This section was very hilly and there was also a lot of evidence of mining and blasting.  The houses nearby were also very pretty.  Before long, I got on US-422 and was soon able to locate Alpha Pass, which was in the northeast corner of McConnells Mill State Park (1540).  From there, I started following Johnson Road and, later, Burnside Road to reach the boundary of Moraine State Park.  Along the way, I crossed I-79.  At 1550, I reached the NCT Trailhead at West Park Road (2 more miles of NCT driven).  Feeling like it was fortuitous that I'd reached an easy northbound Interstate, I decided to suspend my NCT scramble for the day.  Before leaving the area, though, I drove across US-422 reach McDaniel's Launch (State Park boat ramp).  I wasn't actually looking for it but I found the NCT there (1555).  Feeling good about my day outdoors, I departed for New York State.  Using US-422, I made my way on to I-79.  With the wide open road in my windshield, I passed the time with some audiobooks.  At 1640, I stopped for a late lunch (or early dinner) at a Dairy Queen in the town of Meadville.  Not wanting to make a mess in my car, I ate in the restaurant.  During this break, I made reservations for lodging in the town of Dunkirk (on Lake Erie).  This activity caused me some fits (because I have to stay inside the GSA Per Diem Rates) but I managed to make a reservation on Booking.com (Choice Hotel site was much more expensive for some reason). Back on I-79, I drove north until I reached the suburbs of Erie and then changed to I-90.  At 1800, I crossed the border into New York and, a short time later, I got off the Interstate (avoiding the toll) at an exit that boasted access to the "Chautauqua Wine Trail".  It seems like this was another name for NY-5 because I passed through a LOT of wineries during the next 30 minutes.  After passing through Westfield (1810), I saw signs for the town of Portland, where the cartoonist creator of the "Marmaduke” strip once lived.  By 1830, I'd reached my hotel, the Clarion Hotel Conference Center on Lake Erie in Dunkirk.  As I'd hoped, the place had a harbor front view - beyond the building, it was possible to see some amazing angles of the partially frozen Lake Erie.  There were LOTS of piles of ice.  After getting settled in my room, I went walking along the edge of the Dunkirk Harbor and did some birding (1905).  Once back inside the hotel (1930), I watched movies until bed time (2300).  Overall, today was a great day of outdoor time, State Park touring and change of State.  I'll be headed to Buffalo in the morning!  NCT Today = 12.5 miles / Grand Total NCT = 133.2 miles

Nomad Life - Day 179

It's the Weekend!  Even though I didn't need to work early, my body wanted to wake me up at 0500.  Somehow, I was able to go back to sleep and didn't actually get out of bed until 0730.  Almost immediately (0745), I went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Microtel (Beaver Falls).  After returning to my room, I worked on my blog and recorded eBird entries.  I'd planned to leave the hotel quickly, to take advantage of the wonderful weather, but ended up in a call with Brenna for almost 90 minutes (between 0945 and 1115).  It was great to catch up with her and I didn't mind the delay.  At 1145, I finally departed the hotel.  Outside, it was very windy but warm (70s!!!).  Hoping to resume the hike I'd done the previous day, my first destination was te NCT Trailhead on Louthan Road NCT.  I arrived there at 1150 and, since it was a "road walk" section, I didn't get out of my car.  Instead, I continued down the street until I located the trailhead at PA-168 (1155).  This drive yielded 0.6 new miles of NCT.  From that point, I explored other nearby trail access points along Hodgson Road, Sterling Road and Watts Mill Road.  At 1215, I parked at the trailhead on the latter road and started a hike (no daypack) towards the east (Vermont Bound).  The map seemed to indicate that I'd be following the edge of the river but it ended up involving a huge climb to a bluff that gave me wonderful views of the valley below.  I passed a nice-looking Lean-To (shelter) in the early phase of the hike. Like yesterday, I was often impressed by the great signage that had been placed by the Wampum Chapter of the North Country Trail Association.  The warm temperatures definitely led to a lot of sweating but, fortunately, I had brought water.  All around me, I could hear the sound of frogs - they were very loud!  Along the way, I passed a local landmark called Indian Rock, which was a huge outcropping that rose several dozen feet above the trail.  I ended up skipping the climb and just continued on towards the east.  When I'd started walking, I had no idea that I would be able to hike all the way to the PA-168 Trailhead I'd found earlier in the day.  Since the trail surface and terrain change wasn't too extreme, I actually had no issues and ended up walking the entire (three mile) distance before I knew it.  Starting my backtrack, though, I started noticing ominously dark rain clouds in the distance and began looking for a way to curtail the time it took to reach my car.  As a result, I got off the NCT at Hodgson Rd and, on foot, retraced my earlier drive to Watts Mill Road.  Even though this decision was a good one - it yielded a quick pace due to the stable and smooth surface - I was not able to avoid the rain (and lightning) that soon covered the area.  Unfortunately, there was no cover from the elements by this point and I just had to hope that the worst of the weather held off until I was finished.  Somehow, that's exactly what happened - when I reached my car (1430), the sky opened and I just barely avoided a HUGE downpour.  As I sat in my car, I figured out that I'd (again) hiked six miles of NCT on the State Game Lands near the Ohio border.  I should mention that some of the game lands had major warning signs about closures during hunting season(s) in the Winter-time.  Meanwhile, there was terrible rain outside my car and I couldn't even see the surrounding scenery.  During a lull, I departed the NCT Trailhead and drove south towards PA-251.  During this drive, I had to drive around trees that had fallen almost completely across the road.  One of these trees looked like it had suffered a direct lightning strike!  Before I reached a main road, the sun actually came out again (I guess I'd driven out of the weather?) and I decided I'd like to cross into Ohio in search of the NCT there.  Fortunately, I had a good map (prepared by the Wampum Chapter).  About a quarter mile from the border, I located the NCT Trailhead (still on the Pennsylvania side) - from there, it was 0.1 miles of driving on PA-251 until I found a huge NCT road sign that said "Welcome to Ohio".  I crossed the border after that and followed OH-154 (synonymous with NCT for part of this drive) until I reached the town of Negley (OH) at 1445.  Only then did I realize that I'd passed the turn to the west (North Dakota Bound).  After turning around (backtracking in my car on the pavement), I found the NCT again at Carmel-Achor Road.  From that corner, I drove another section of trail that took me down Jackman Road.  I followed this latter road until I reached a closed gate (1500) at the two mile mark of my drive (started counting distance at the PA-251 Trailhead).  From there, I backtracked to the north and then drove west to OH-170.  After driving a few more miles to the south, I found an NCT Trailhead with a muddy parking lot.  The best thing about this location was that the NCT then followed OH-170 towards the south.  I restarted my Subaru's odometer and made my way to Clarkson Road.  After reaching the town of Clarkson (1520), I switched to Sprucevale Road and used that road to reach Beaver Creek State Park.  Somehow, I again lost the trail at around 6.6 mile mark (since the last trailhead).  I believe that this occurred because there was a closed State Park road at the turn point,  Knowing that I wasn't on the NCT anymore, I kept driving towards the Beaver Creek bridge in the middle of the park.  At the 7.4 mark on my odometer, I crossed the NCT again where it passed an old stone mill building.  I gave myself credit for 0.1 more miles of NCT and then crossed the Beaver Creek.  Just at that point, the rain got REALLY nasty.  There were more downed trees in the area and I couldn't see anything while I was driving.  As a result, I turned around (Cannon Mills Rd) and backtracked on Sprucevale Road.  Since the weather was still horrible, I parked near the old stone building and waited out the worst of the storm.  Once conditions improved, I drove north and west (through the State Park) until I reached OH-7.  Just after that, I passed a High School that made it very clear they were the (Proud) "Fighting Beavers".  Next, I got on US-30, which I later learned was called the Lou Holtz Freeway.  At the time, I thought "that's kind of an interesting coincidence" but I didn't know more.  My immediate priority was to reach East Liverpool OH so I could attend a church service.  I was successful in this effort and, at 1600, arrived at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Downtown area just in time for their Vigil Mass (it was still raining).  The church was very old and the architecture was interesting.  It was a bit unsettling that there was a cop guarding the door...  The organ was much louder than the choir/cantor so I couldn't follow a few of the responsorial prayers.  However, I did hear one prayer that was "Clue #2" that I had stumbled into an interesting place.  They were praying for the souls of recently departed parishioners and mentioned Lou Holtz.  Since I'm a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and had only recently learned of Coach Holtz's passing, I was definitely more intrigued than when I first entered East Liverpool...  At 1700, the service ended (the rain had ended) and I got back in my car, hoping to find out more about the local area.  First, though, I stopped for gas at a station ("Mainland") that boasted the lowest prices I'd seen for days (Ohio is definitely cheaper than Pennsylvania).  By 1710, I was back on the road and decided (then and there) to cross the Ohio River into the "panhandle" section of West Virginia.  Using US-30, I drove south into Chester (Hancock County, WV) and then followed the river to the west.  Along the way, I had some very good views of the Ohio River in the "Tri-Point" area of the three states.  I passed an intriguing toll bridge ("Cash Only").  Just after that (1720), I reached the town of Newell.  By this point the temps had settled in the 60s.  I had noticed a place on the map called "Hanna’s Tap Room" and stopped there at 1725.  Along the way, I met the owner (Ms. Hanna, a Navy Veteran) and worked my way through their local (WV) beers (tasting).  I also ordered a chicken parmesan sandwich, which was very tasty.  Overall, the patrons and staff were very friendly and I learned a lot about local history, life in Ohio Valley, the East Palestine Rail Disaster and Lou Holtz.  On the last topic, I learned that Coach Holtz had maintained a close relationship with the area ever since he'd learned to coach football from his relatives in East Liverpool.  What an amazing coincidence to have found a small corner of the world where Coach Holtz lived during the exact week when he passed away.  A larger amount of time was focused on the The Fiesta Tableware Company (formerly known as The Homer Laughlin China Company) that practically built the town of Newell and still controls many of the utilities, a toll bridge and other civic functions there.  I very much enjoyed the overall experience.  After finishing my social time (1830), I departed West Virginia (crossed the Ohio River on US-30 again) and drove back towards my hotel.  Along the way, I talked to my dad on the phone (I actually stopped so I wouldn't lose cell signal) and then later listened to audiobooks.  In order to get "home", I used back roads across southeastern Ohio until I (re)entered Pennsylvania.  In a few cases, I had to dodge deer in the darkness.  I will admit that I breathed a good sign of relief when I arrived at my hotel (1940).  Like the night before, I took advantage of having a bathtub (ahhhh...) and then spent the rest of the evening watching movies and reading.  By 2300, I was ready to turn out the lights.  As I dozed off, I felt really good about my NCT trail experience today - but even more about finding Lou Holtz's hometown.  NCT Today = 12.4 miles / Grand Total NCT = 120.7 miles

Pittsburgh Trip - Day 5

Last day in Pittsburgh...  This morning, I woke up (without an alarm) at 0630 and started teleworking immediately.  I stayed online until about 0800 and then went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Staybridge Suites (Pittsburgh).  Following my meal, I worked out for 20 minutes in the Fitness Center (biking, 4 miles).  After returning to my room (0845) I resumed teleworking.  At one point, I received a call from Mollie so that interrupted my work day to catch up with her.  Also during the lull, I set up some laundry to wash (free at my hotel!).  I continued teleworking until 1300, when I started loading up my car.  Outside, it was partly sunny and very warm (60s!).  After thanking the hotel staff for the late checkout, I drove a short distance to a nearby Panera to pick up lunch (tuna sandwich) I'd ordered earlier.  I ate my food in the restaurant and then (1330), departed from the Summit Park area.  Initially, I followed I-376 towards the northwest - along the way, I crossed the Ohio River.  Before long, I got off the Interstate (at PA-51) and continued northwest into the village of Chippewa (Beaver County).  By 1400, I'd arrived at my new hotel, the Microtel (Beaver Falls) and was able to check into my room quickly.  Even though my work week was already mostly over, I got online to make a final check on my work emails (I was also receiving text requests from colleagues during this time).  After about 35 minutes, I completed my telework day and week.  It was a relief to log off my computer and have some free time for fun!  Yesterday was the 46th Birthday of the North Country Trail and social media had reminded me to search out hiking zones near my new hotel.  Armed with some good intel, I left the hotel (1445) and drove a short distance into the nearby town of Darlington (arrived at 1455).  Once I found a place to park, I explored the historic area in town and also located the blue blazes of the North Country Trail.  With a rare opportunity to follow the trail through an NCT Trail Town, I followed these blazes towards the north (Vermont Bound).  Seeing that the trail continued on pavement at the corner where Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church was located, I decided to turn around.  It was 71 degrees by this point!  As I began my backtrack towards the south (North Dakota Bound), I passed several historic sites and old "downtown" buildings.  I was in a residential area until the NCT crossed the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek - from there, I followed the blazes into the woods.  Initially, the trail followed the bank of the river and I kept encountering waterlogged areas.  Before long, though, the terrain began rising and falling (dramatically in some places).  Along the way, I encountered a lot of bird!  At one point (near Georgetown Road), I passed through a pretty cemetery.  Just after that, I crossed Constitution Boulevard and then continued walking through farms and woodlands until I reached Louthan Road.  At that point, I started my backtrack, hoping to have a good location to resume from when I next wanted to hike the NCT nearby.  It was still very warm and I started sweating - for this reason, I very much enjoyed the nice breezes on ridges I crossed.  During this three mile section, I only encountered two other people - they seemed to be hiking NCT sections like I was and had some good suggestions for future hikes.  By the time I arrived at my car (1715), my pedometer indicated that I completed six miles of hiking through what I later learned were State Game Lands.  Hoping to log some more NCT miles, I drove north on PA-551 (Hollow Road), continuing to follow the blue blazes.  Before long, I switched to Echo Valley Road and followed that to PA-351 (Crescent Drive).  Then, after crossing a major railroad junction on a flyover bridge, I used Houston Road to reach Scott Walker Road, which I followed into Lawrence County.  I passed friendly locals (some were toting hunting rifles) had no trouble on one-lane bridges or muddy tracks as the road continued deep into the Beaver Dam area.  Eventually (1740), I found another North Country Trail Trailhead just north of the North Fork of the Little Beaver Creek.  Since there was a gate there (and limited parking), I called it a day.  This drive yielded another five miles of NCT.  Using PA-351, I made my way back into Darlington (via New Galilee).  After that, I mostly backtracked towards my hotel.  Hoping to get some dinner, I got off (Old) Darlington Road and got on Constitution Boulevard.  Almost immediately, I spotted an interesting place called Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe and decided to stop there for dinner.  Just after I got inside, I remembered that it was a Friday in Lent so curtailed my original plan of getting some hot dogs.  Fortunately, they had some good soup and sides - I got broccoli and cheese soup, cheese fries and a milkshake.  The food was good!  Afterwards (1830), I returned to my hotel, which was very close, and was faced with the normal dilemma: be productive or relax.  Before departing for my hike, I'd had all kinds of ideas about getting things done in the hotel room.  In the end, though, I took a bath (to sooth my sore muscles and joints) and, after that, felt so relaxed that I only wanted to watch movies and read.  My workout definitely made me feel sleepy earlier than normal but I didn't go to bed until 2230.  It's been a good work week - another site has new hardware installed!  Very glad to have taken advantage of the amazing, unseasonable weather - hopefully, I can get some more good NCT miles this weekend...  North Country Trail Today = 8.0 miles / Grand Total NCT = 108.3 miles

Pittsburgh Trip - Day 4

We were still working at the Pittsburgh Airport at midnight and continued into the early hours of the new day.  Unfortunately, the team I was working with was slower than they'd advertised.  To stay awake with them, I drank coffee throughout the night - it seemed to help.  At around 0330, we finally got going in earnest and I had some hope we'd get gone by the deadline (0500).  Eventually, though, it became clear that I (as the on-site lead) would need to ask for some extra time from the local site personnel.  This request was granted and we finished all of our testing at around 0530.  By that point, I was exhausted and a bit frustrated - fortunately, I kept my cool.  Soon after the site accepted the new equipment, I met up with the team, told them they had done a good job and said goodbye as they started to trickle out of the building.  For my part, I left the Pittsburgh Airport at 0600.  Outside, it was rainy but still warm (50s). My drive was uneventful and I arrived at my hotel by 0615.  Bonus: breakfast was open at the Staybridge Suites (Pittsburgh) and I was able to get some before I conked out for the "night"; by 0630, I was in my room and immediately went to sleep.  Over the next few hours, I managed to get about 2.5 hours of sleep.  Awake again by 0900, I got online and joined two important meetings (between 1000 and 1200).  After that, I skipped lunch and went back to sleep.  This second attempt for a nap was successful but I was awake again by 1500.  Since my work day was already complete, I passed the time reading, working on puzzles and completing Duolingo exercises.  There was also some time to watch movies.  I got a surprising call from Eileen (she wanted to finalize plans for our meet up later in the month).  At 1720, I left the hotel and drove to the nearest Staples to do some recycling (ink cartridges and old tech).  Next (1735), I drove west on US-30 until I reached the town of Findlay (Village of Imperial).  I'd seen on the map that there was a hiking route in that area, the Montour (Rail) Trail and I found a trailhead for it at 1745.  By then, the rain had completely stopped and the temperature had settled.  I learned from some signs, brochures and an internet search that the trail was 47 miles and that I was hiking on a cinder section between mile marker 8.5 and 7.0.  It also turned out that the Montour Trail was part of a 200 mile bike trail between Cumberland, MD and Pittsburgh (and a larger, 400 mile trail between DC and Pittsburgh called the Great Allegheny Passage).  Starting from a parking lot next to the Altered Genius Brewing Company (Trailside Taproom), I walked east.  It was humid and the ground was wet.  There were plenty of birds and I even saw deer in the twilight.  Towards the half-way point of my walk, I found a paved section that took me to the entrance of the Elbow Tunnel.  From there, I backtracked to my car.  In the end, I hiked about 3 miles (1.5 miles out and back) and was done by 1845.  Because I was already parked in the lot for the Brewery, I decided to go inside to sample some of their beers.  Ultimately, I tried four beers, including "Grinch", "Real Nice Surprise" (good), "Hyde" (sweet potato) and "Rescue".  Frankly, I didn't like the "sweet potato ale" very much but the others were good.  While there, I talked with "mug club" members and the two ladies who worked there.  Everyone was very friendly.  I was finished with my beer tasting at 1930 and then headed back to the area near my hotel.  Before calling it a night, I stopped at Chick-fil-A at 1945 and ordered some dinner.  For some reason, it took almost 15 minutes to get my food but, as usual, it was good.  When I reached my hotel again (2015), I found that the parking lot was almost completely full - I felt lucky to find a spot to park.  Before going to my room, I asked front desk for late checkout.  For the rest of the evening, I caught up on blogging and finances.  I kept thinking about going to the Fitness Center but, by then, I'd already made my step goal for the day.  Also, I was feeling lazy after such a wacky day of working hours. So, instead of getting more exercise, I watched movies.  Bedtime was at 2315.  Feeling good about another successful Installation Trip!

Pittsburgh Trip - Day 3

Because I had an all night work period coming up, I tried not to get up very early.  As a result, I was still in bed, resting, at 0730 (yay!).  After that, I was able to do some reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  At 0845, I ran down to eat breakfast in the Lobby of the Staybridge Suites (Pittsburgh) and then hurried back upstairs to start teleworking (0900). After three hours online (1200), I took a break for lunch (leftovers from the Industry Public House).  Outside, it wasn't raining but there was evidence that it had been, off and on, through the night and morning.  The best thing, though, was that it wasn't too cold.  During my break, I successfully set up my printer (in order to catch up on some personal business).  I was back online at 1300 and was able to complete a few more meetings.  By this point, I'd reached the four hour mark for my day so decided to log off my computer.  Starting at 1430, I took nap; in the end, I managed to get about 90 minutes of good sleep.  After waking up (1600), I did a little more telework (reached 4.5 hour mark) and then went to Fitness Center for some exercise (1630).  I spent time walking on the treadmill and reached 2.5 miles for the day.  Next, I went biking (stationary machine) for 20 minutes (4 miles).  Even though there were windows near the gym, I was still not having any luck with birding for the day.  I had a 106 day streak going on eBird but, in the end, I had to admit that I was licked.  I even went outside on the way back to my room and, in the fading daylight, turned on my Merlin App in hopes of catching the sound of a bird at least.  No dice...  Oh well, it was a good run!  In my room again (1730), I got back online and capped off the telework portion of my day (reached 5.5 hours by 1915).  During this window, I did take a short break to get some dinner at the social hour in the hotel lobby (1815).  Unlike previous nights, this one only involved leftovers (broccoli, mashed potatoes, rice).  There were also options for pork or chicken but I decided against both.  I also didn't have beer (because I had to work later), only soda.  With dinner and work completed, I got prepped/packed for my return to the Pittsburgh International Airport and our all-night installation effort.  At 2010, I departed the hotel and drove back to the airport.  This time, there was some traffic on the way but I was still parked by 2025.  The air was full of moisture - no rain yet but definitely incoming.  Because the temps were in the 50s, I began to feel bad that I hadn't gone anywhere during the daylight hours.  Hopefully, I won't rue this decision...  Once inside the building, I met up with the rest of the Installation crew and (at 2100) we started working on the technology refreshment of the on-site computer equipment.  There was a lot of intense effort and a few delays - we worked through to midnight with hopes of finishing in the wee hours of the morning.  Still working at midnight...

Pittsburgh Trip - Day 2

I realized very early today that my cold was almost completely gone!  Actually, I really hadn't noticed it yesterday either but it felt good to "return to normal."  My morning began when I woke up at 0600 (before my alarm) at the Staybridge Suites (Pittsburgh).  I had time for reading, puzzles and Duolingo exercises before I got online for work (0615).  After checking my email and clearing work items from my desktop, I went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Hotel (0645).  There were a LOT of people there from something called "Trinity Solar" (they were wearing matching shirts) but, luckily, I found a chair to eat my food.  Back in my room, I returned to teleworking and then got ready for my Installation activities for the week.  Outside, it was very rainy and cooler (high 30s).  At 0800, I departed the hotel and drove through the weather (mostly on I-376 Business) for about 15 minutes to the north.  Before long, I reached the Pittsburgh International Airport.  This was the first time I visited this place since I'd landed on the runway a few times while in the Navy.  Entry into the airport complex was a lot different by car, though, and I was glad that I left early because it gave me a chance to check out the access requirements.  Since I was there early, I was able to talk to everyone on site before the rest of our Installation crew arrived (0830).  Once we got started with our project, we dealt with badging issues, space dilemmas (where to put our stuff?) and logistical challenges.  In the end, we had to carry pallets of stuff up a few flights of stairs but we worked through all of the issues.  This was my first time working with Damien (Site Installation Lead for our Contractor) and I found him to be quite easygoing and knowledgeable.  I also got to meet Stacy, one of the Program Manager types from company headquarters.  The only other members of the team that I'd met before were Lorenzo and Charlie.  Among the group, we had a good chat about lessons learned since we'd last been together.  Things have been going pretty well but there have been a few hiccups (for various reasons).  Crossing my fingers for a lack of drama at Pittsburgh...  For a lot of the day, I tried to assist the on-site rep, Gavin, who had never been involved in anything like this.  He was eager and interested, though, and even watched a lot of our unpacking and testing.  Most everything went just like it normally has but there was one scare - some equipment that was installed on site back in the 2012/2013 timeframe could not be located.  Since I'd seen this issue before, I worked with the local personnel to track down the items - eventually we located the old computers in a cabinet.  I guess it's a good thing we are doing this technology refreshment...  When we were finally done with all our Installation preparations and had coordinated our system outage for the following night, I left the airport (1500) and returned to the hotel (arrived at 1515).  Once in my room again, I resumed teleworking and stayed at it until I reached my 8 hours for the day (1600).  The rest of the afternoon included catching up on blog stuff, working on finances and continuing plans for my upcoming European Adventure.  At 1730, I went downstairs to the lobby to join the nightly social hour.  This time, there were green beans, rice and pork chops.  The food was very good!  There were also some flat bread slices and a free beer (I got a Yuengling again).  I was still eating in the Lobby of the hotel when Scott S (a former Navy Shipmate) finally got back to me about getting together for dinner or a drink (1755).  Despite the late hour (and the fact I'd just eaten), I told him I still wanted to meet up.  He suggested the Industry Public House, which was so close to my hotel that I was actually able to walk (across the Sam's Club parking lot) to it.  Even though it was raining, I was glad to get the extra steps - my umbrella was mostly effective...  At 1815, I arrived at the restaurant and found Scott and his sons.  After nearly 25 years, it felt like old times as we settled into sea stories.  Even though I was mostly full, I still ordered a snack (buffalo chicken and macaroni flatbread pizza) and local beer (Copper Ale from IPH).  Understandably, I didn't finish much of my new food - it will be nice to have leftovers tomorrow.  Overall, it was great to visit and catch up.  Scott's sons weren't too enthusiastic but I guess they had no say in whether they came with us.  We stayed at the restaurant until about 1915 and, after saying goodbye, I walked back (no rain this time) to the hotel (arrived at 1930).  In my room again, I spent time relaxing and trying to psych myself up for more activity.  Frankly, I wasn't very motivated... Finally, at 2140, I went to the hotel Fitness Center and biked for 20 minutes (4.1 miles).  Along the way, I finished my step count goal - yay!  Back in my room, I tried watching movies but the network quality of the hotel WiFi was as bad as I've seen at any hotel in months.  Oh well... Instead, I read and watched short videos (on YouTube) on my phone until going to bed (2330).  I've got a LONG day/night coming up again tomorrow but I'm stoked to get another airport tech refresh done!

Pittsburgh Trip - Day 1

My work trip in Pittsburgh starts today!  Since I was already pretty close to the Steel City, I slept until 0630 (no alarm set). Even though my work day was predominantly going to be related to the travel requirements for arriving at the Pittsburgh Airport (10 hours allowed), I still got online at about 0700 and cleaned up email.  I went to "breakfast" (again, very limited) in the Lobby of the Super 8 (Pittsburgh/Monroeville) at 0800 and then got back online for some early meetings.  At 0920, I took another break to get a haircut at the Supercuts (my first time ever) across the street from the hotel.  Somehow, I'd gone almost three months without a haircut (last one was in Washington State back in mid December)...  I had more meetings in my hotel room between 1000 and 1100.  After that, I started packing and did a few personal items of business before checking out of the hotel (1145).  Outside, it was mostly cloudy (a gray day) with temps at 38 F.  To depart from Monroeville, Google Maps took me down a series of back roads until I was able to get on I-376.  Sadly, there was lots of traffic and construction.  Along the way, I passed through the Squirrel Hill Tunnel and then came out to views of Downtown Pittsburgh (1210).  Before long, I was exiting the Interstate on to a "spaghetti-like" series of ramps and bridges and ended up getting misled by the map app.  I had been looking for a place to park near "The Point" but Google Maps didn't seem to understand that - instead, it took me to a place without a parking lot (or even a place to pull off the road).  This situation required me to cross the Monongahela River accidentally.  On the other side, I found the Duquesne Incline but decided not to explore that landmark.  Instead, I backtracked across the Monongahela and (with no help from map apps) managed to reach the surface streets of the city.  Along the way, I noticed that almost all parking garages were too short for me to use (because of my cartop carrier).  Crossing my fingers that there might be street parking, I drove around until I found and open spot near the Gateway Subway Station.  I was able to pay for one hour on a kiosk (1220) but wished later that I'd added more time.  From my car, it wasn't a long walk to reach the area where Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt used to stand (Point State Park).  When I arrived there, I walked around for a bit but then decided to go into the Fort Pitt Museum, which was built inside a recreated bastion of the original British fort.  I paid for my ticket at 1230 and, with the clock ticking on my parking meter, I sort of rushed through the displays.  There was lots of cool history and the exhibits were very professional.  Along the way, I got ambushed by an enthusiastic lady Docent (she was dressed in Kelly Green and wore a St. Patrick's Day tophat) who wanted me to join a "tour".  There were two other "captives" already with her and, admittedly, she did have some information that was interesting.  However, I really didn't have time to spend with her - using the excuse that I was feeling parched (not really a lie), I excused myself and, after getting water from a fountain, I continued the museum on my own (including a walk through the second floor).  In the end, I wrapped up my visit at about 1255 and then went outside to visit the Block House, which was the only original building on the property from the era of Fort Pitt.  I first walked down the Monongahela River, following something called the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, until I reached a marker (at the Fountain) that indicated where the Ohio River began.  Across the river(s) from here, I could see the Football (and Baseball ?) Stadium.  My friend Bob would like to know that I was here...  From The Point, I went upriver on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, following the Allegheny River, and then cut across the State Park.  In the middle of a large green area, I encountered a cement outline (built flush with the ground) of the original Fort Duquesne.  It was great to get so much up-close history!  After that, I walked back towards my car.  With barely enough time on my meter, I decided to visit the original location of the Primanti Brothers  and found it nestled in an interesting old area with lots of brick buildings.  From there, I made it back to my car about five minute late.  What a whirlwind of exploring!  By this point, I was hungry and hoped I'd be able to find parking to get something to eat.  Erin had recommended I get lunch at a place called S&D Polish Deli so I drove uptown (along the Allegheny River) to a place called The Strip District.  Somehow, I found a place to park on a side street there - everywhere else was metered or cost an arm and a leg.  From my car, I walked to the deli found it to be an old time Polish Market with lots of character.  Inside (1340), I explained to the lady working there (there were no customers) that my daughter had raved about the pierogies and she directed me to their "hot & ready" area.  Fortunately, there was one order of "Cooked PCC Pierogi" available for purchase!  I also got the only other remaining item in the warmer, a container of "Heluski, Pittsburg Style" (noodles with cabbage).  I guess I'd made a good impression on the clerk because she suggested that I dip the pierogies in sour cream.  Also with her recommendation, I added a Juniper and Hops Black Currant (fizzy soda from Poland) to my meal.  Overall the food choices were excellent (I followed all the instructions) and, while eating my delicious meal, I felt very fortunate to have gotten some food because the place was going to close in about 20 minutes.  I sent Erin a text with photos and she told me she was jealous...  After I was done eating, I checked on my car and then explored the nearby neighborhood (I learned later that I was very close to a place called Polish Hill).  Along the way, I saw a huge banner for a restaurant that had apparently (per the sign) been featured on "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives".  When I reached the building, I was immediately distracted by the fact that there were several Whiskey Distilleries nearby.  Since I was full of food already, I decided to go inside the Wigle Whiskey Distillery and ordered a flight of four flavored whiskeys.  Most were just infused but there was on Bourbon among them.  No one else was in the place so I enjoyed the ambiance with some silence.  The establishment offered materials and utensils for straight, splash of water and ice cube options.  Brett, one of the Executives for the business (and today's bartender), explained that they wanted everyone to be able to try whiskey "as they like it."  After trying each option, I'm a believer...  Brett also told me the story of how Whiskey originated in Western PA and gave me a long (historical tale) that involved the Wigle family, Neville Family, George Washington and the Whiskey Rebellion.  What a great story!  After I was done sampling (1440), I bought two bottles: Wapsie Bourbon (made with special corn from Iowa and flavored with Maple Syrup) and Phil's Shadow Rye. Another fun thing I learned while at Wigle's was that there are now whiskeys being produced that are aged in barrels that previously aged beer (and previously aged whiskey).  What a recycling idea!  The best part was that this combination of aging yields "Teddy Bear Kisses" (involves beer from Upland, IN).  Overall, it was a great decision to visit the Distillery!  Once I'd reached my car, I made my way back to the west (along the Allegheny River).  On the way, I passed a marker for the Lewis & Clark Expedition - it was great to see evidence of them again.  Near The Point, I was able to cross the Monongahela River again.  Unfortunately, there was a huge traffic jam that was waiting to go through the Fort Pitt Tunnel.  Instead, I followed the route I'd earlier taken by accident (past the Duquesne Incline) and followed the opposite bank of (eventually) the Ohio River.  On this route, I was later able to turn south and get on I-386, which took me all the way to the area near my hotel (Summit Park).  During this time, my TPMS acted up again, with one tire showing extremely low suddenly.  Fortunately, I found a Sam's Club gas station that offered free air for tires - I pumped up the low one.  Right next door, I found my hotel, a Staybridge (by IHG) and was checked into my room by 1515.  After that, I resumed teleworking and stayed online until 1700, when I knocked off officially for the day.  During my "off-time", I read a bit and updated my "fans" on social media.  At 1730, I went down to the "social hour" in the hotel lobby, which ended up being a free beer (I chose a Yuengling), some chicken in a sauce, mashed potatoes and broccoli!  There was more but I was quite satisfied with that much.  After finishing this substantial "happy hour" meal (1750), I explored the hotel and discovered that they had free laundry machines!  Returning to my room, I read for a while and then got dressed to workout in the Fitness Center.  Between 1845 and 1905, I rode on the stationary (upright) bike, logging 4.2 miles in 20 minutes.  This is closer to my normal workout pace so I started wondering if the reclining bikes in the other hotels were set to Kilometers...  Back in my room again, I couldn't get inside because the door had an error code (lights).  When I returned to the front desk, I had some new keys made and then tried again - I got the same result.  With some persistence, though, I managed to get the door open.  Not wanting to get stuck outside, I went into my room and essentially became a captive.  Calls the Front Desk didn't yield satisfaction until after 2200, when the clerk brought me my third set of keys since arrival.  It turned out the problem was related to a sensitive "privacy" lock - hope this doesn't happen throughout the stay...  After this annoying interlude, I settled down for the night and watched movies until bedtime (2300).  What an amazing day in Pittsburgh!

Nomad Life - Day 178

Last day of "lollygagging across Pennsylvania"...  I slept soundly (despite still dealing with lingering effects of my cold) until 0730.  After that, I did some reading, Duolingo and puzzles.  At 0800, I went to "breakfast" (still very little in the way of food) in the Lobby of the Days Inn (Indiana) and then proceeded to the Fitness Center, where I rode on the stationary (recumbent) bike for 20 minutes (9.6 miles but I'm still not sure this could be accurate...).  Back in my room again, I did some more reading, Blogging and eBird; I also made reservations for the coming night's lodging.  I'd coordinated for a late checkout so was able to stay in my room until 1200.  At that point, I grabbed all my belongings and headed out to the car.  On the hood, I found little flecks of what looked like snow (or ice pellets?) but the weather didn't seem to match this image.  Perhaps it was colder overnight...  At about 1210, I departed the hotel and drove to the nearby campus of Indiana University Pennsylvania (IUP).  I located the northern terminus of the Hoodlebug Trail Extension which, when it was added to the original 10 mile trail, created an 11.6 mile total (all paved) rail trail to the town of Black Lick.  Unlike the longer (orginal) section, though, this extension was mostly on the streets - the only indication one was following it was the green paint (with an outline of a bicycle) on the driving surface.  From the corner of 8th Street and Church Street in Downtown Indiana (IUP Campus), I followed the Extension by car until I arrived in the area near the Rose Street Trailhead parking lot I'd visited the day before.  There were some sidewalks and a short paved section of the Extension there and I walked about 0.5 miles of trail (1 mile total).  Bonus: I was also able to do some birding and encountered some interesting species.  I forgot to mention that I saw lots of signs for "IUP 150", which I learned foreshadowed a huge celebration that will take place in June.  With the full northern section of the Hoodlebug Trail completed, I got back in my car and drove south (via US-119 and back roads) to Homer City.  This time, I parked at Floodway Park (1250) so I could keep working my way towards Blacklick.  By this point, the temps were 37 F and it was very sunny.  Before starting south, I walked north from the park (it looked like the Town Depot used to be located there) until I reached the turnaround point (Mazzi Street) from the previous day.  After backtracking and passing my car, I made my way all the way through the rest of Homer City until I was basically walking through a longer section of open land (paralleled US-119).  I ended up walking around 1.5 miles to the Red Barn Trailhead and enjoyed the section a lot.  Even if it had been boring, I was treated to another beautiful day and some wonderful silence at times.  Like I'd seen in Indiana, the birding was awesome.  When I turned around at the Red Barn, I saw a marker that said I was 6 miles from the Rose Street trailhead, which means I've completed 7.5 total miles of the overall trail - awesome!  On the way back, I checked out a historical cemetery in Homer City that had American Revolution and Civil War burials.  I arrived back at my car by 1405 (three more miles of walking) and quickly got back on the road.  I used US-119 to reach US-422 and then continued driving northwest until I reached Elderton (Armstrong County).  Wanting a break and some birding in a new county, I stopped at Plum Creek Park (1425).  Sadly, there weren't many birds there.  From that point, I was (mostly) all business in wanting to reach my new hotel.  The route included driving on PA-210 until switching to PA-156 and then following that road for a little while.  I reached the town of Apollo at 1445 and got on PA-66.  A short time later, I crossed the Kiskiminetas River and continued south on PA-380.  After reaching PA-286, I stopped for late lunch at Dairy Queen in Murrysville (1510).  I ate in the restaurant and, by 1535, was on my way south again.  At 1540, I arrived at my hotel, the Super 8 (Monroeville), checked in immediately and got settled in my room.  By this point, I was feeling really sleepy (a side effect of the cold, I think) so completed some paperwork and did some reading to seal the deal - naptime followed soon afterwards.  When I was awake again (1830), I ate "dinner" (snacks) and did some more reading (I had a book that needed to be returned to the digital library).  For the rest of the evening, I watching movies and didn't try to go to bed for real until 2300.  Unfortunately, I had lots of trouble falling asleep (probably due to the nap).  It's been a wonderful week of wandering in the Keystone State but work in the Steel City awaits!

Nomad Life - Day 177

Even though it was Saturday and I'd stayed up late, I still woke up at 0600.  And I was still sick - yaay...  I spent some time reading, doing Duolingo exercises and working on puzzles.  One sobering moment was when I read the news that the USA was at war with Iran.  At 0745, I went to breakfast at the Days Inn (Indiana) - they barely had any food but I was lucky I got some because lots of other people came away empty handed...  Back in my room, I did some more reading, more relaxing and tried (desperately) to recover from my cold.  At 1255, I went to McDonalds (across the parking) to get some sandwiches and a Shamrock Shake for lunch.  While eating (back in my room), I took care of finances, blog, eBird  etc.  With this unusual "down time", I was able to get a lot of work done and didn't feel ready to depart from the hotel until about 1445.  Once I was outside, I was stunned to find that it was 55 F!  Like so many other Nomad Life days I've had, it was also quite sunny.  Before I took advantage of the spectacular outdoor conditions, though, I wanted to explore a bit of history in Downtown Indiana.  From my hotel, I drove a short distance to the Jimmy Stewart Museum, which was located on the third floor of the Indiana Public Library.  There were parking meters on the street but didn't pay, hoping my luck would keep me out of trouble.  I arrived at the ticket booth for the Museum at 1455 and was given a quick overview of the contents by a friendly Docent (lady).  For the next 45 minutes, I wandered through the very good displays, learned about the history of the Stewart family in Indiana and met several friendly people.  Like most Americans, I've always admired Jimmy Stewart and this museum was a great tribute to his life and accomplishments.  I especially enjoyed the Military section (lots of good artifacts).  Afterwards (1540), I left the museum and took photos of some historical markers (including a larger than life size statue of Stewart) in the area.  I also explored a bit of the nearby Philly Street district before returning to the area of the Hoodlebug Trail.  I began where I'd parked the previous day, exploring signage and trying to find the northern terminus for the trail.  In the end, I determined that there was a discrepancy in the maps, local knowledge and other data and gave up on trying to connect any trail dots (more research needed).  While there, though, I walked a little bit on the trail before departing for another section. I drove (via back roads) to Homer City and parked at the Yankeetown Access Area Trailhead.  By this point, tempos had risen to 60 F - whew!  Starting at 1610, I walked back (north) to the Homer City Asphalt Plant (where I'd turned around the day before) and then backtracked towards my car.  Along the way, I saw a family gardening in their yard, accompanied by a well-behaved pet pig!  At around this tame time, I figured out that Mass would be starting at a nearbyt Catholic Church nearby so modified my walk on the Hoodlebug to merge with a walking route (on side streets) to Homer City neighborhood that included the St. Mary's Holy Protection Byzantine Catholic Church.  I arrived at 1650 and Mass began at 1700.  This was the first time I've ever been to one of the "Eastern Rite" Churches and it was a truly special experience.  For one thing, the entire premise of the service was a series of chanting sessions between the Priest and Cantor.  This made it similar to the Orthodox churches I'd encountered in Eastern Europe back in 2024.  For another thing, the Altar was set apart, with gates and mostly "mysterious goings on" behind the "curtain".  The Order of the Mass seemed to be following a little booklet I found in the pew - it matched with the Mass format developed by St. John Chrysostom.  Still, it was hard to follow most of what was happening.  All around me, there were LOTS of pretty icons.  Overall, the service only had a few places regular speech but I got used to the chanting.  There was a lot of standing for prayers (rather than kneeling) and lead up to Communion was very solemn and respectful.  The biggest surprise was when the Eucharist was scooped on to my tongue ("Body soaked in Blood ?") with a little spoon.  The Priest served me, a "Servant of God", and I hoped I wasn't acting too far away from what he expected when I accepted it.  My fellow Parishioners were mostly older and I heard some other languages than English.  Beyond Communion, there was a kind of memorial service for departed church members (a Lenten tradition of the church, apparently).  The whole experience was very moving and I've so glad that I attended.  After Mass (1800), I made my way back (still walking) towards my car at the Hoodlebug Trailhead (arrived at 1815).  Next, I drove north on US-119 until I reached the Levity Brewing Company (1825).  The place was all decked out for a Mardi Gras Party that I'd heard about on the previous day and, when I went inside, almost all seats were reserved or filled with people.  The bartender, Ed (I'd met him yesterday), showed me a spot against the wall and I squeezed in there.  To get food or beer, everyone had to wait in a big line to get food or drink.  When my turn came, I ordered the special gumbo, some King Cake and a beer I hadn't tried the day before.  When the King Cake arrived, the lady who served it showed me that I'd "won" a free beer because I'd gotten the Baby!  I'm feeling quite lucky...  Later, the gumbo arrived and it was so good and had a bit of a kick.  For this reason, I had to get in line for another (this time it was free!) beer.  During that time, a New Orleans Style Jazz band started playing.  When I returned to my seat, I learned that a young man (probably early 20s) sitting next to me was the nephew of the band's Trombonist.  He told me the band members were all faculty of IUP.  My new friend himself was a student at the college and he told me about life on campus.  We had a good conversation while the band wrapped up their first set (and took a break) and I genuinely enjoyed this encounter.  At about 2010, I reluctantly decided I'd had enough fun for the night and closed out my tab.  Saying goodbye to my friend and his uncle, I left the Brewery and returned to my hotel (arrived at 2030.  Back in my room again, I took care of some online stuff before heading down to the Fitness Center (2100) to ride the stationary bike again (this time, I completed 9.3 miles in 20 minutes).  for the rest of the evening, I watched movies.  With my cold seemingly subsiding, I managed to set a deliberate bedtime for once (2330).  What a great day in Indiana, Pennsylvania!

Nomad Life - Day 176

The (common) cold is really taking its toll - case in point, I woke up at 0500 without an alarm - feeling horribly congested...  I managed to start teleworking almost immediately but my heart wasn't really in the work.  I took a break for some reading, Duolingo and puzzles and later (0745) went to breakfast in the Lobby of the Quality Inn (Johnstown).  There were some (annoying) loud talkers in the lobby but I managed to ignore them before returned to work.  All morning, I kept fighting the cold (headache and congestion).  When my last meeting was complete (1100), I decided that four hours of work was enough (I balanced out my day with four hours of leave).  After loading up my car (I saw a South Dakota license plate in the parking lot!), I departed the hotel.  It was (again), a marvelous day: sunny and 43 F!  My next destination, the town of Indiana, was located to the northwest of Johnstown so I used PA-65 and PA-403 to drive through the old downtown area.  Several of my friends are from this area and it was very familiar (Mollie and I also visited the nearby Johnstown Flood NPS site in February 2020).  Beyond the edge of town, I followed US-22, PA-65, P-954, US-422 and PA-286 until I reached my new hotel, the Days Inn (Indiana) at 1150.  It was too early to check in, so I went in search of the Hoodlebug Trail, a nearby rail trail that was (at least) 10 miles long.  I located the Hoss' restaurant on Rose Street (see FEB 2020) at 1200 and parked in their lot (I didn't realize there was a trailhead parking area across the street).  With great weather, I headed south on the paved bike trail.  There were plenty of other walkers with similar ideas and I encountered lots of birds too.  In the end, I walked almost three miles and only turned around when I reached an informal trailhead next to the Homer City Asphalt Plant.  It was warm and sunny - it seemed so much like Spring!  During my outbound leg, I'd noticed the Levity Breweing Company and decided to stop their (for lunch) during my backtrack.  Started at 1350, I ordered a flight of beer and a delicious fish sandwich.  Everything was delicious.  The bartender (Ed) invited me to return for the Mardi Gras party the following night - it sounds interesting!  At 1420, I left the Brewery and walked back to my car after nearly 6 miles (3 new miles of the trail) outdoors.  Since it was now possible to check into my hotel room, I drove back to the Days Inn and was settled inside by 1445.  Even though my work day was done, I still checked on work computer to make sure I hadn't missed anything important.  After that, I did some reading and watched movies until I felt tired.  Between 1630 and 2030, I took a nap from 1630 to 2030.  This may not have been the best idea because it screwed up my sleep schedule.  Still, I felt better.  I did some more reading and also ate a late "dinner" (snacks).  At 2200, I went down to the Fitness Center and rode on the stationary (recumbent) bike - I didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to get some more miles!  In 20 minutes, I logged 9.4 hours - it felt good to keep up with my fitness goals.  I then returned to room and worked on Blog.  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies and didn't go to bed until about 0045.  Being sick is not pleasant but I must admit that I maximized my body's potential today.  Hopefully, I'll start to feel better soon...