Appalachian Highways for September 2005 Big Blow, September 11, House of Glass Greetings from Appalachian Highways, Just a few short weeks ago the wife, kids and myself were exploring a city we’d never visited before, enjoying the sights and sounds of a rich, diverse culture. We browsed through dozens of tiny, unique shops in a sprawling, old commercial district, then strolled along the riverwalk back to our hotel. At night, we enjoyed a superb view of July 4th fireworks from our hotel balcony. It was a spectacular beginning to a great vacation. The next day, the city was brushed by a borderline hurricane. By the time it blew into town all that was left were some heavy rains and gusty winds. During the night the rain pounded our hotel windows, but we never felt threatened. Still, in this small storm there was wind and water damage to be seen the next morning. On the way out of town, we wound around a few downed trees and garbage cans scattered about. My wife looked around and said, “I sure wouldn’t want to get caught in New Orleans in a Big One.” The whole family is still trying to grasp just what’s going on in southern Louisiana and Mississippi and I’m sure you are, too. It’s hard to believe that the place we enjoyed so much just a few weeks ago is devastated. We’ve seen what a tenuous concept “civilization” can be and are reminded how fragile our existence is. I know you’ll take the opportunity to contribute to the relief efforts in your own way and I thank you in advance. Here are some things a few rider organizations are doing. Christian Motorcyclist Association: http://www.cmausa.org Riders Offer Relief: http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_3002975 AMA Auction: http://www.amadirectlink.com/news/2005/Katrina.asp Safe Journeys, Dale ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Destination: Flight 93 Memorial In addition to what’s happening down south, we’re reminded closer to home of September 11th here along Appalachian Highways. If you’re traveling through the central Alleghenies in southern Pennsylvania or western Maryland, you’re close to the Flight 93 Memorial. This week a final design for the memorial was announced that will feature forty wind chimes, one for each passenger and crew member aboard the flight. Project Site: http://www.flight93memorialproject.org/crescent_of_embrace.asp National Park Service Site: http://www.nps.gov/flni The Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville is a short drive from Johnstown which is remembered for another tragedy, the Johnstown Flood of 1889. National Park Service Site: http://www.nps.gov/jofl If you’re of a mind to pay tribute to the people and places memorialized by these sites, here’s a recommended route. I like MD Route 35 north out of Cumberland to start. This follows the folds of the Alleghenies up into Pennsylvania where the route becomes PA 96. I’ve followed this route through beautiful farmland and rolling hills through Pleasantville, PA. Shortly after passing through, PA 96 narrows and becomes PA 869 through Blue Knob State Park. Once you pass through Blue Knob you’ll nearly be in Johnstown. At Creslo, turn right onto Lake Road and you’ll ride right up to the Johnstown Flood Memorial visitor center on your right. Coming out of Johnstown, I vastly prefer PA 160 heading south toward Berlin, PA. As you pass through Windber, PA, chances are you’ll see a prominent sign proclaiming this small coal mining town as the “Home of Johnny Weismuller.” Who is Johnny Weismuller, you say? Johnny was an early prototype of today’s celebrity athlete and crossover movie star. If you’ve ever seen any of the early Tarzan movies, you’ve been Johnny in action. About Johnny: http://www.answers.com/topic/johnny-weissmuller About fifteen miles below Windber you’ll arrive at the intersection with US 30. To visit the current Flight 93 memorial site, turn right and head west. Five miles west, turn left onto Lambertsville Road and ride 1.7 miles to a left turn onto Skyline Road. Follow Skyline for .8 miles to the temporary memorial. On your return, it’s about 40 miles from the Flight 93 memorial to Cumberland. The events memorialized by these sites are tragic, but the riding is beautiful, especially at this time of year. Your visit would make a fitting tribute. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Destination: Blenko Glass Time for a fun stop in your travels. As you’re wheeling along I-64 between Charleston and Huntington, look for a sign near Milton, WV that reads “Glass Factory Tour.” Following those signs a short distance through town will bring you to the Blenko Glass Factory. You don’t know what factory you’re going to visit until you actually arrive. The name “Blenko” didn’t mean a thing to me, but my wife spouted off a half-dozen things she liked about their products. Apparently, in the world of decorative and collectible glass, Blenko is da bomb. Part retail outlet and part museum, the Blenko visitor center gives you a complete history of the company and displays the wares of several of the influential designers who have worked for Blenko over the years. When you meander through the displays, you can cross a short covered walkway to watch the workers crafting glass objects of both practical application and artistic appeal. At first glance, the process seems chaotic. Workers mill about, slinging glowing hot glass products around from one workstation to another as casually as a potter throws a hunk of clay on the wheel. Watch them for more than a few minutes and you’ll see the process is carefully coreographed from initial form to final product. These guys have done this for so long, they typify the expression “I could do that in my sleep.” It’s a fun, short visit and a nice break from the fast pace of the interstate. Rest assured, if you have any gaps of any size in your saddlebags, trailer, or tank bag that need to be filled, Blenko has something that will fit very nicely. Blenko Glass: http://www.blenkoglass.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Found something interesting in your own Journeys? 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