Sometimes you just have to hit the road and make time for some silence in your life. So I drove from Buffalo to an Airbnb in western Pennsylvania. I wanted to hike, see a few places, and spend some time alone.
That first night I drove into Oil City and went to a couple of bars. I talked to locals, had some drinks, and ended up running my mouth. At the last bar I literally had to run out to avoid a fight. That part was on me.
Cook Forest and Kinzua Bridge
The next morning I started at Cook Forest. I hiked the Longfellow Trail into the Cathedral Forest. Biggest hemlocks I have ever seen. Pure silence.
I spent the day hiking and driving. Having all that time alone was a big part of what made the trip good.
After Cook Forest I made my way to the old Kinzua Bridge and learned about the tornado that wrecked it. You can still see the fallen steel out in the valley.
Trusting the GPS
I found a diner where I could charge my phone and ate the biggest burrito of my life. Directly after that, I followed the GPS down a back road I had no business taking.
I almost got the Lexus stuck in the mud. No cell service and no help around. It was a stupid decision, and I was lucky it did not turn into a much bigger problem.
After getting out, I drove to the Allegheny Reservoir to cool off. By then I had done enough for one day.
I went to find my accommodations in Bradford and discovered the inn was closed and out of business. Relying on technology again.
So I drove to the Seneca casino to get a room. Once I had my head on straight, I went to dinner at Beefeaters. An awesome old-school restaurant with a cool atmosphere and bar. I took it easy that night and crashed at the hotel.
Heading home
The next morning I went to the Austin Dam ruins. After that I drove through Allegany State Park, explored by car, and got out to hike another trail.
Then I headed back to Buffalo to get home to my girl.
It was an awesome trip. Hiking all day, diners, talking to strangers, and plenty of time alone. A couple of stupid decisions too. I remember a lot of it, and I wanted to get it down before I forgot the smaller things.