Poconos Fall 2018 Day 3

"...its about the journey, not the destination..."

The Barryville Emporium. No telling what treasures are within!

     On Saturday, the third day of the Pocono weekend, I decided to do a variation of the route from the day before. I left Hawley on US 6 heading east. I took a left on to PA 434 which led me back to the border with New York at the town of Barryville, and then turned left onto NY 97 north.

The Barbara Yeaman Eagle Observation Area.

Great map on the side of the building that helps you understand the area.

     As I rode out of Barryville I noticed an observation post on the left, so I turned around to see what it was about. It was an eagle observation post. People could stop there, get out their binoculars to bird watch. On the side of this small building was a map of what they called the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway.

The Roebling Delaware Aqueduct in the background.

This has a great picture on the aqueduct in operation.

          About 4 miles north of Barryville I came to Minisink Ford which is the location of the oldest existing wire suspension bridge in the United States. Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct opened in 1849 as an aqueduct connecting two parts of the Delaware and Hudson Canal. Today it is a bridge for cars and pedestrians. John Roebling and his son Washington are best known for constructing the Brooklyn Bridge which was completed in 1887.

The US Post Office in Cochecton New York. You can tell how rural this little town is by the condition of the post office!

     From Minisink Ford I continued north on NY 97 to Cochecton where I hit 371 west which took me back into Pennsylvania.

The Towne House Diner-Restaurant in "downtown" Honesdale.

     I rode PA 371 west to the intersection with PA 191. PA 371 is a really great rural road. Lots of turns and twists, ups and downs. My only regret was that I couldn't ride it farther. Next time! I took PA 191 back to Honesdale, and had lunch at the "Town House Diner-Restaurant." Today it is distinctly more of an Italian restaurant than a diner, but it still has a diverse menu and I had a tasty lunch.

The park in Honesdale. If you look closely you can see my "stuff" on the picnic table.

A striking reminder of a tragedy that tore the country apart in the 1860's- and then brought it back together.

     After lunch I decided to go to the park in the center of Honesdale and read for a while. After parking I noticed a statue and monument similar to what I've seen in many towns in the South. I went over and it was a monument, erected in 1869, to local boys who had died in the Civil War "...WHO FELL...'THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE  PEOPLE, AND FOR THE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.'" While many people were fascinated with the series by Ken Burns about the Civil War, I'm not sure we appreciate how much that conflict changed our country, and defined our future.

   

Bob Murray and his dog. What a genuinely interesting fellow! 

     As I sat in the park a gentleman who was walking his dog came over and questioned my about the scooter. His name is Bob Murray, and was originally from New Jersey. Among other things he was a car salesman, and has been retired since 2004. His son owns a local business, so he decided to move up to Honesdale. We had a great conversation that lasted half an hour or so. It turns out he is several years my senior, and in his past he had ridden a motorcycle until an accident convinced him to quit. What an interesting guy. When you travel you meet many fascinating people.


     After my time in the park with Bob it was time to head back to the cabin. After a short ride I arrived and put the scooter up on the center stand. Tomorrow it was back to Delaware.