The woods are so pristine. No naked swathes of harvested trees, the gravel roads so good, no traffic, no people. What is the secret to these mid Pennsylvania forests ? I wondered as I wandered North. What goes on to make these roads so much better than those in Virginia, or West Virginia? I came across the secret soon enough -- the pipelines. For the first time the clusters of pipes and valves began to show, neat and painted green, alongside the side of the road. Of course, the Marcellus Shale. How could I forget ! Rockefeller got his start selling oil from Pennsylvania oilfields. Now gas is king in the Allegheny region (PA and WV), which accounts for almost 40% of US gas production. Yes, prisons are also a second, silent, revenue source for these rural counties -- encampments hidden in amongst the trees.
Todays run was one of the best. With the exception of a section known as Walters Road, all stones and rocky ledges, the day included long stretches of good forest road. I crossed the West Branch of the Susquehanna in the Jersey Shore area. This river defines Pennsylvania for me. Saw the site of the
original Woolrich textile factory before the long final run up Pine Creek (and Little Pine Creek) to the village of Cedar Run. There is a large inn at Cedar Run, ranked #1 out of 1 for the town. For the second time I arrived on Sunday evening, when neither dinner nor breakfast is prepared. No problem. I had my own food and ate a leisurely dinner at the edge of the lawn sloping down to Little Pine Creek. The rooms at the Inn are OK. Its most attractive feature is the viewing of the hummingbirds which feed outside the dining room windows. Never saw these birds so close.
