we took to the road again and drove all the way into the mountains of Pennsylvania, more precisely in the Pocono Mountains area.

There is history here, but what really interested us were the nature and the fresh air.

This area is rich in waterfalls; some of them are easily accessible, while others require walking on steep slippery trails and are more for the adventurous type.

Dingmans Falls

Silver Thread Falls

Easily accessible and probably the most famous are the Bushkill’s waterfalls (what they call the Niagara of PA, fee required) and the Dingmans falls which are in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (free).

There are many others; the Hawk Falls in Hickory Run State Park, the Glen Onoko Falls in Lehigh Gorge State Park for example, require a bit more research and a good physical condition. Someone sure-footed and adventurous could go on a Waterfall hunt here.

My way to catch a fish!

I can just imagine what a walk in the woods would be like in early July here. The forest is covered with Rhododendron bushes, the biggest I have ever seen, and I was told that they bloom in early July.

Bear under a Rhododendron bush

One of the most unusual natural formations we saw was in Hickory Run State Park; the Boulder Field. It is a small piece of landscape left over from the last ice advance. According to the literature, this type of environment was common throughout North America 15, 000 years ago, but since then, the climate warmed, plants, soil and weathering have covered or removed boulder fields.

That would be paradise to my friend Lanna!

The field is about 400 feet wide by 1, 800 feet long and 10 feet deep. It is composed of an assortment of boulders ranging in size from a few inches to 25 feet long. Predominantly composed of red sandstone, you can also find some quartz and conglomerate.

Near Lehigh Gorge State Park, we found the Borough of Jim Thorpe (1887-1953).
This amazingly talented athlete has been dubbed the most talented athlete in the world. He won both the Pentathlon and the Decathlon in the 1912 Olympics (he tripled the score of the runner up in the Pentathlon and finished 688 points ahead of his nearest competitor in the Decathlon). It took 40 years of improved diet, techniques and training procedures to break all of his times and distances. His career in sports, especially Football, remains unequalled to this day. He played and won against West Point and was greatly respected by their halfback, Cadet Dwight D. Eisenhower, future President. He also kicked an eighty (80) yard field goal which to me is extremely hard to even imagine.

The Village is picturesque and the old part of town is rich with little shops restaurants and cafés.

Architectural treasures can be found like this pretty Victorian adorned with fish scale siding. A train departs from here and takes you through Lehigh Gorge State Park along the river. (The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway)