It was grocery day a week ago Wednesday in Hornell, our route was the Eleven Mile, what a beautiful ride. Colored leaves were falling from the Soft Maples and Cherry Trees and the sun was making them glisten coming down. Just a simple pleasure that reminds me how wonderful nature is. When a car came along the leaves danced around making for a beautiful scene. My favorite motorcycle rides are fall rides when the leaves are falling and we drive through them causing little tornadoes of leaves. Of course we are always on the lookout for falling hickory nuts! That gets a little tricky, we know where most of them are in our travels. Fall has always been my first pick for the seasons, warm sun, blue sky, color everywhere and that detectable smell (I think it smells like Hickory Nuts) that always arrives with the changing colors. Since 9/11 it also reminds me of the feelings and shock that followed, the next day the sky was a beautiful blue with no jet streams. It's odd, I never thought of them until they were gone.
Yesterday "The Dirt Road" took us to Coudersport and back, not to mention bringing back thoughts of a few that have left their mark in Clara. Not far from our house is the land and home our grandson bought over a year ago. Proof of the "circle of life". We passed the pond the Mayberrys had built and where they lived for many years. When our kids were little they spent a lot of time feeding the fish at the pond. Across the road is the house Kenny and Linda Pease built. Kenny has passed but Linda still lives there. Kenny was the Road master for Clara Township. He amazed us with his clean, crisp pressed dress shirt everyday and could run the backhoe, shovel dirt and still look good at the end of the day. Kenny was one of the good guys that offered a pleasant conversation, always.
Farther up Moffit Rd. we passed the narrow little road that the Wattersons built their camp on. The kids and Barb come to stay for long weekends and during hunting season. Mr. Watterson, since he was our teacher in high school it is hard to say Bob, passed away this year. He was also another "good guy" of Clara Valley that is missed.
Next we passed the beautiful farm and the last residence of the Valley that Mrs. Graves and her husband owned years ago. Mrs. Mabel Graves was also a teacher in our area, I had her for English in 7th and 8th grade.
Now the "dirt road" with no buildings and the only human intervention, signs announcing the Pennsylvania State Game Lands. It is a beautiful, peaceful ride that sometimes offers the sightings of the wild animals living there. We have seen deer, bear, turkey, coyotes and fox. The leaves also showed color and blanketed the road. On the dirt road we take the seat belts off and roll the windows down to give that wonderful feeling of freedom. God Bless our military for allowing us to never have experienced anything but freedom.
The "dirt road" has many wonderful memories for my family. From hunting, trapping, fishing, hikes, building our home and our daughter and family building their home and family celebrations starting back in 1965. Clara just feels so right with the world.
The wood fired pizza oven is starting to look like the real deal. Soon the smell of fresh breads, pizza and meat roasting will be filling Clara Valley, depending on which way the wind is blowing. Today is the day the forms used to build the dome will be removed. Dick is quite nervous and has had a few sleepless nights worrying it will fall in when he removes them. He keeps saying he is not a brick layer. Not to worry, I have faith! Thank you Dick!
