August 7, 2006
We awoke to the sound of a train rolling down the tracks. In the light of day we watched as the train crossed the bridge far above the road where we sat. We crossed the street and walked to the visitor center, still closed, and found there were steps going to the view platform we had seen in the dark of last night. We climbed over one hundred steps to the top.
We were rewarded with a spectacular view of Horseshoe Bend and the reservoir below. A speaker blares out the dispatcher and engineers talking, announcing trains coming and going and the condition of tracks. While at the top we watched two trains, one east bound and one west bound. The platform overlook has an exhibit of the first diesel engine used by the Pennsy, as they call the Pennsylvania Railroad. Seems that the company was reluctant to make the change to diesel. They supported the coal industry by using their steam engines despite the world moving on to the more efficient fuel. We listened: “I’ll try to stay at least one train length ahead of you.” We figured that to be a joke between the engineers as some trains are connected to engines at the foot of the hill and given a little help to make it up and over the mountain. As we went down the hundred or so steps, a train came. Right behind it another train came! There really were two trains so the engineer was talking about staying a train length ahead!
Will made us morning coffee and we continued on our way. We arrived at Alla’s home in State College where her parents are visiting her from Russia. Hugs all around then came visiting and playing. Alla’s daughter, Alina, is now 20 months; she is using Russian,
English and her own language to communicate. Her favorite toys seem to be stuffed bears and blankets and she likes music; she stands and wiggles to it. Alla’s mother, Valentina, made Russian pancakes, made much like crepes, and herb tea that we enjoyed with watermelon and a sunflower seed treat. Her father, Nicholi, shared photographs that he had burned on to a CD for Alla. We particularly enjoyed the pictures of the family taken over the years. We presented Alla with a house-warming gift, a Precious Moments Bell. Alla remembered Carmine collects them. We gave Alina a bunny jack-in-the-box. Alla’s parents presented us two magnets: one of a matshka doll and the other a hot water pot. Also a china plate with pictures of Moscow and a bottle of Putinka, a liquor named after Vladimir Putkin the President of Russia.We took the family out to Eat’n Park where we enjoyed mocha milkshakes and baked cod. We ended the meal with Smiley cookies. Outside and in the van we opened the bottle of Putin and toasted to friendship, health and happiness. Hugs all around and we headed back towards Pittsburgh.
We made it as far as Horseshoe Bend where we once again enjoyed the sound of train
whistles, break squeals and the clickety clack of the trains.
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