Rochester, NY

We left Franklin this morning on US 62 which followed the Allegheny River north.  This caused the road to be very curvy (see yesterday's statement that twisty-turny was a word).  For those of you who are geography buffs, the Allegheny River is the one which flows south toward Pittsburgh where it meets up with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River.  Thus, the name of the old Three Rivers Stadium where the Steelers used to play.

Following the Allegheny north, we passed through a whole lot of riverside camps, vacation homes, fishing and kayaking/canoeing, etc. points.  Great area during the summer time, but it must be difficult to drive in the winter time.  There were a lot of areas where you could see where rocks and dirt had fallen off the cliffs during the recent rain. 

As we passed through the various county seats and small towns, it seemed like each one had an impressive courthouse and Civil War statute in the center square.  We were reminded that this was the area where Standard Oil started by the refineries, to say nothing of one town named Oil City, think John D. Rockefeller and how his fortune started.  The Allegheny was one of the rivers which provided transport for his oil, as well as the railroads.  It kind of reminded me of I-80 through Nevada where the Indian trails became the wagon trails, in turn the railroads and highways followed.  Back here, the rivers provided the original transport system, then the railroads followed because it was easier than blasting through the mountains. Now you have the highways alongside the railroad tracks alongside the river.

Passed through Bradford, PA on our way out of Pennsylvania.  Still the home of Zippo lighters - we didn't stop to visit their museum, have to save that for another time and day.  I think, back in the day, everyone used to carry a Zippo lighter emblazoned with the military unit of their choice, or some other form of advertising.  They were almost ubiquitous among smokers because they always lit, even in a windstorm!  Fond memories.

In New York State we took I-86 (the old Route 17), the Southern Tier Expressway.  I think the Red Baron (Vi's Impala) breathed a sigh of relief because it could run at 65 mph and in a relatively straight line!  It runs through some beautiful wooded countryside which isn't populated too heavily (there's an understatement for you).  Headed north at Hornell up to 390 and into Rochester.

Tim's on vacation this week, so he was home to greet us (and hand me my phone which Paul had sent on ahead).  Good to see Tim again.  Kathy came home a little later from work and we went out to dinner at the Genesee Brewing Company.  The GBC is located on the Genesee River which flows through the heart of Rochester.  From the patio dining deck, we had a great view of the falls in the center of town.  They are a little weaker because Rochester is also suffering through a drought this year.

We weren't able to visit the tasting room because it was closed for a private party, have to do that on a later date.  Food was great - I had a "beef on weck" and you won't have any idea of what that is unless you have lived in either Rochester or Buffalo.  Suffice it to say that it ain't exactly health food :-) between the salt, the beef, and the au jus.  Fun evening.