Western Pennsylvania

Sept 7 - 11...Drove around the local area. Friday we drove to Somerset which is about 16 miles away. From there we drove the short distance to Shanksville, PA where United 93 crashed on 9/11 (5 yrs ago today). We went to the temporary memorial site which was very moving. We learned specific information from volunteers on what happened. There are several plaques, memorials and items placed on a large fence as a remembrance of the victims. There is a flag placed in the ground at the actual crash site. While there we saw a Pittsburgh ABC newsman and truck. When watching the news on Sunday night we saw our car on the telecast - they commented on people coming to visit the site ‘from as far away as Montana’. After leaving the crash site we visited the Memorial Chapel just out of Shanksville. This chapel & ground is also set up as a memorial to Flight 93. Inside is a wall with biography’s on each victim Outside is a new granite memorial that will be dedicated today (9/11). This is to honor the UA crew. There are also granite benches that list the names of the passengers. There is a ceremony today at the site where President Bush will lay a wreath at the site and speak to family members. We decided to not fight the crowds today!

On Saturday we drove into Pittsburgh. This city was a surprise to us! For some reason we didn’t picture this city as ‘picturesque’! We were wrong - it is very pretty. We had our picnic lunch at Point State Park which is at the point where the 3 rivers join. There is a fountain there that propels plumes of water to heights of 150 ft. It is one of the nations largest fountains. We road up the Duquesne Incline in the same cars used by passengers since 1877. This was quite interested - it’s a pretty steep incline but once at the top you get a beautiful view of the city and surrounding area. We have never seem so many bridges as there are in Pittsburgh. From this viewpoint we counted 18 bridges and could see more in the far distance! It really is quite a site.
Another trip was down the road to Seven Springs, a large ski resort. It’s actually much more that a ski resort - offering many summer activities as well. The western PA countryside is very pretty - the trees are just starting to turn.

Today we are going to Farmington where the PGA Golf Tournament is being played this week. We will watch the practice rounds today.