Kinzua Viaduct

As promised here are just a few of the pictures I took of the Kinzua Viaduct in Mt. Jewett, Pennsylvania. You can read the story. It is unbelievable that a tornado could destroy this structure where there was so much air space between the iron pieces.

You can walk out to the remaining viaduct and view the destruction below. Out at the end of the viaduct is a viewing platform. In the floor is embedded a 4 ft. square block of glass 4 inches thick. You can look straight down to the ground below..

Nothing left but twisted metal.

The walk out to the end.

The ground below.

The remains of the tornado is still visible after 9 years.

Have a happy and safe weekend.

Day Trip

Friday we took a day trip and first stopped at the Kinzua Dam about 9 miles from my home town of Warren, Penna. This Dam has been in place since 1962. Before that the water from the Allegheny River quite often would flood the towns down stream. I'll save that for another post. My parents owned a cottage 6 miles below the Dam, and more than once had lots of high water. The Allegheny River runs South to Pittsburgh, Penna where it joins up with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River, and eventually joins with the Mississippi.

Across the road from the Dam is a very high rock wall , and there are several pretty waterfalls.

We took our GPS "Lizzie" with us, and sometimes "she" leads us astray... Friday was one of those days! She said to turn left and I did down a one lane dirt road. Bad choice! We were to go 3.8 miles, and once I got on this road there was no turning back! It truly was one lane right through the deep woods. The road was narrow and had many deep mud puddles, and rocks.

Not only was the road deserted, but this Ruffed Grouse was the only wildlife we saw, and then we almost missed her.

Just no place to turn around. We could only go about 2 mph too.

This was the driest part. Finally we got to turn around and would you believe "Lizzie" never told us "Recalculating" LOL

Our destination was Kinzua Bridge State Park in Mt. Jewett, Penna. We went to see the highest railroad bridge in the world. This was before it got struck with a category 1 tornado in 2003. You can read more about it on Gary's blog http://steamacrossthetrestle.blogspot.com/ There is a picture there, and we will be telling the story about this wonderful bridge in the next couple of days.

While at Kinzua Bridge State Park I noticed lots of woodpeckers flitting through the trees. They were Yellow bellied Sapsuckers. There were so many and they were so quick. I felt fortunate to have gotten 2 shots. All 3 were males.

It was a cool and windy day. We managed to get back home withOUT "Lizzie's" help too.

Have a wonderful and Blessed Easter everyone.