Our annual visit to WashPA

With our recent travels I'm way behind in posting a blog. We spent six weeks from the middle of August until we flew to Europe on September 23rd in WashPA. As always, it was great getting caught up with friends and family. 

On Thursday the ladies went shopping giving Mike and I a chance to go fishing. As you can see the first trip to Cross Creek Lake was about catching.

Missy and Marty invited us to their place for a cookout and birthday celebration. Pictured here are  "little" Marty, Rick, Dee Dee and "Big" Marty.

Missy and Nanc being entertained by the kids.

It was great seeing Mike, Amanda, Lilly and Asher. The kids are growing up so fast.

It was Kayla's 40th happy birthday party. 

On another afternoon, John invited friends and teaching buddies for his fantastic pizza. Here are Becky, Tish, Reg and Pat....

.... Joy, Ron, Ann Marie, Gail and Donna......

....Sandy, Linda and Joy....

...Nanc, Ed, Cheryl....

....Georgie, Paul, Linda and Carol.

All those people are smiling as they wait for John's wonderful wood-fired pizza. He is a master at his craft.

Open mike night at the President's Pub. Former Washington students Greg and Gary put on a good show.

This is the second year for the Rally on Main. The nearly 1,000 bikes were lined up for five blocks. Just about any make or model you can think.

The music started in the afternoon and went on until after dark. A great showing for WashPA.

Sometimes when Mike and I don't go fishing, we go to the casino. Check this out! We both won!!!! Mike, $175 on the Heidi slot....

....while I won $101 on Hot Hit. It is a VERY rare day when we both walk down what we call the Hall of Despair with smiles.

We did a day in Pittsburgh starting in the Strip District.

We go there so I can get my fix of pancakes at Pamela's. Once you have had pancakes there you will never be satisfied anywhere else. 

We did not get into the Clemente Museum this time, but it is on our to do list for our next visit. Even though we lived in the Greater Pittsburgh area most of out lives we always find new thing to do.

A first this year was a stop at the exact spot where Franco Harris caught the Immaculate Reception. That catch was a sure sign the Steelers had a bright future. In the following six years they won four Super Bowls. The catch was in Three Rivers Stadium, which was demolished, and the spot is now in a parking lot.

Another new stop was Bicycle Heaven, a shop and museum with over 6000 bikes on display. In our years of travel we have never seen anything like this.

Every available spot on the floor and ceiling has bikes on display.

These are Bowden Spacelanders. There are only 30 of the 544 made still around and 17 of them are here. They are worth from $18,000 to $50,000 if original. 

A Hopalong Cassidy bike complete with gun holster.

The bike from a Pee Wee Herman movie.

Where's Jim and Nanc? Lost in a sea of bikes.

The tree was cut down to bring these two bikes to the museum from Ohio. The tree had grown around both that were left leaning against it. If you like unique places, Bicycle Heaven must be on your to do list.

No trip to the Burgh is complete without a stop at one of the many overlooks. It sure has changed from the old steel mill days.

Sunday brunch with the Washington Jazz Society at the Presidents Pub. We always look forward to hearing Dan and his group.

We always look forward to a visit to the lake with Mike and Sherri. It seems Sherri was bored with her company.

Captain Catfish lived up to his name catching a nice one. It was a beautiful September boating day.

Our last Wednesday Lunch Bunch gathering for this visit. Here are Joy, Lena, Jim, Sandy, John, Ron, Charlie, Becky, Linda, Nanc, Gail and another Jim. It is always fun getting together with old friends.

We are now back in Stuart after we were in Europe for three weeks so I have a lot more to write about.