Showing posts with label Lebanon County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lebanon County. Show all posts

Friday, May 6, 2022

Cycling Stony Valley Rail Trail and the Union Canal Tunnel

Located in PA State Game Lands 211 
outside of Jonestown, Lebanon County, PA
the Stony Valley Railroad Grade is pretty isolated. 


One end, close to where we started, 
is the Lebanon Reservoir and dam. 


The other end, 20 miles later, 
is near Ellendale Forge. 
But other trail users, 
and there were not many,
said you could get to Dauphin 
along the Susquehanna River from there as well.


The best sight along the trail was above...
do you see it?
There were several of them. 
Beaver Lodges. 
We saw 3 from one vantage point. 
We didn't see active beavers though.


This trail tends to be a little rough. 
My husband did not like it 
and was ready to leave way before me 
and I'm the one without shock absorption. 


We totaled 20 miles which means we 
completed half the trail. 
(20 mi is my mental limit 
unless motivated by something else...
ice cream maybe?)
I don't think either of us is in a hurry to 
complete the other half.

For trail info click here 



Since we were in the area we stopped to see the 
Union Canal Tunnel
which can be seen from a park with said name. 


The Union Canal Tunnel boasts being the oldest in the USA 
and was built 1825-1827. 
The mules used along the towpath made their way over top the tunnel 
while the boats were poled through it. 

For more canal info click here.

I would not go out of my way for either 
the rail trail or the tunnel, 
but if you are near it 
the tunnel is a nice stop.

Click here for my additional images.




Friday, March 25, 2011

Pennsylvania German Heritage Festival

Out in Lebanon County, PA
there is plenty of German heritage.
Mostly what would be called Pennsylvania Dutch.

Redware by Steve and Susan Horst


Interestingly enough,
Pennsylvania Dutch has nothing to do with being Dutch!
These people are of German descent.
 and are generally trilingual
speaking formal German, English
and their own German dialect called
Pennsylvania Dutch

Here are some handcraft photos from the event:

Brooms by Daniel Michael


Years ago I purchase a handmade broom
and it is wonderful!
Beats anything you can buy at Walmart.


I love scherenschnitte
and combined with my love of Windsor chairs
I can see some of those framed silhouettes
on my wall in the future.

Brenda Miller


Tole painting mini hope chests by
American Art Traditions



Quilts are a huge part of the culture.
Sharon Zook


Soaps by Ricki Light



This is a free annual event in Lebanon, PA
at the Harrisburg Area Community College
branch in Lebanon.

It is a rather small event
and not worth a long drive to attend,
but if you are local -
stop in and check it out.