ALONG THE CONEMAUGH

SEPTEMBER 13, 2009

Carl and I had simply gone out...driving...with nothing particular

in mind but to enjoy a simply splendid September Sunday and listen

to the sound of the new motor purring happily in the car. We went

as far north as Vandergrift, which for me will ever hold the connection

with the fact that's where my ambulance came from on January 6th

as all the local ones were busy that icy day, cut back to Apollo, where

we had lunch in a slightly scruffy Victorian house that was named

the Maple Springs Cafe. The food was delicious, though. Then we

headed south along the river, ending in Saltsburg where we parked

and walked along the bank. I love the name 'Conemaugh'...is just

kinda fun to say. Anyway, Saltsburg was having their fall festival and

I took these pictures as we walked:

PS: THE CONEMAUGH NOW FIGURES IN A STORY I'M WRITING

SET AROUND THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD, AS THE CONEMAUGH

GETS ITS START THERE IN JOHNSTOWN. LINK TO STORY HERE

To our left as we walked and across a grassy lot was...this. It was huge and its state of dilapidatedness quite

fascinated me. It was five stories tall and really...bulky.

I walked across the tall grass closer to the river-facing side of it. It obviously once was red. I think

it had something to do with grain and feed a long time ago.

We walked a couple of blocks up the main street of the very small, old town. People were sitting around in

lawn chairs listening to two gospel singers and there were small areas set up with crafts, food, etc. for sale.

I liked this shop on the corner. There were a lot of very old, unused buildings around, like the

white one off to the right here.

We went back closer to the Conemaugh and walked down to the car.

There were a lot of sycamores here, which have become one of my favorite trees as there is

always and ever something very artistic about their branches.

I took this out my side window as we crossed the Beaver Run Reservoir on our way home.

This is really not very far at all from where we live. We had driven along here once before

last October, but it was almost night. I like the blues and greens here in the bright daylight.

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