One:  Whoopie Pies

I found them in the “local” mini market made by S.D.S. in Claysburg PA.  Of course we had to try the standard; devils food-white cream and it was wonderful.  I couldn’t resist the Orange Creamsicle.  What a fun variation.  Good thing the store is 10 miles away or I would have to be trying the pumpkin, lemon and peanut butter.

Two: Punxsutawney

These people are crazy about their groundhog.  We explored for much of a day and had a great time.  We visited Phil in his Burrow on the square.  We peeked into the windows of the Groundhog Club; home of The Inner Circle, the caretakers of Punxsutawney Phil.  They have chocolate groundhogs here and street corners are adorned with six foot tall groundhog statues in all manner of garb.  There are more than 30 of them.  The most official, “Phillage” sporting his tophat as he occupies the honored spot in front of Phil’s Burrow.

Most fantastical, “The Wizard of Weather” just outside of the Weather Discovery Center since Punxsutawney is the Weather Capital of the World you know.

My favorite, “There is work to be Done” posing proudly outside of the hardware store.

As we walked around checking out statues we noticed dozens of fantastic homes lining the streets.  Obviously there was much money in this town in its heyday.  It’s great to see that many have been or are being restored.

Just out of town is Gobblers Knob where the whole February 2 event takes place.  A local fellow gave us a fun tour with a bit of the history and a good feel for just how entrenched this town is in its Holiday.  What with the decline of lumbering and coal mining it’s what keeps the town alive.  A forest trail was lined with metal sculptures.  My favorite was a sun dial with groundhog shadows marking the time….at least on sunny days.

We glided along gravel roads that crisscross the lush green forests inn search of two favorite spots identified by the camp hosts; Panther Rocks (a rugged outcropping that appears right in the middle of otherwise rolling forestland-very out of place) and Shaggers Inn Dam (a quiet impoundment nestled in the woods…one of the few places osprey nest in PA..we saw the nesting pair!).  It felt like passing though a place where no one else had been…until…the gas exploration zone.  Oh man, what a disappointment.  Fenced in tank farms and wells and a huge brine processing system to manage fracking fluids.  It is like a blight.  IT is still a mostly beautiful place but makes one wonder if we have all our priorities right.

The Ranger Program at Parker Dam SP was on campfire cooking.  Dinner: chicken breast with rice and peaches in foil packets on the coals.  Dessert: cherry chocolate dump cake.  They let us sample and both were delicious.  I want to try the flavor variation for the dump cake; spice cake and apple filling…sounds yummy to me.  It makes we want to dig my oven out…maybe tomorrow after we go grocery shopping?

The forest service seedling farm here at SB Eliot SP is part of the research project to create disease resistant American Chestnut hybrids.  They still rent out a number of the original rustic cabins built by the CCC in the 30s.

We drove through elk country again today and saw more than 90, mostly cows and calves but a few of the big bulls too.  It was great to watch them but a young fawn made an adorable showing at one of the meadows.  Too cute!

Applewood BBQ roadside stand in Penfield.   Not very smoky but the meat (pulled pork and brisket) had a nice flavor, was tender and the sauce had a balance of tangy and sweet.   Mac salad was classic PA, creamy and sweet.  It’s not Texas BBQ but it was delicious.

The Pennsylvania elk herd hangs out around Benezette.  An evening drive gave us a look at about 60 females and their young mostly hanging out in large groups.  One came close along the road to pick apples.  The apples were almost out of reach but she figured out that if she grabbed a low twig in her teeth and giggled the branch apples would fall to the ground.  Smart lady.

The guys don’t seem to have much interest in the ladies just yet and are still chilling and eating and growing some pretty spectacular antlers.  A group of 9 peacefully went about their business as every car that passed near, including ours, just had to stop and check them out.  Impressive.

I still need to check out the visitors’ center so we will head that way again tomorrow.  Here’s hoping we will see lots more of these magnificent locals.