Port Allegeny, Pennsylvania to Richfield Springs NY

June 21 , 2025

Happy Solstace. Today I woke up in the Mid-town Motel in Port Allegeny, NY. I showered and was ready to go by 7. Two doors down was The Little Red Diner. I had a nice breakfast and then went down the street to the Sheetz gas station. It was a perfect place to clean my chain again. I bought more water and wet down my neckie. It was already feeling warm at 9am. I met a nice man who had just finished his morning run and stopped to get a drink. I wanted to get an early start today, because I was planning on visiting the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. The museum was about 2 hours away. I continued on Route 6, followed by Route 49 then Route 99. It was a lovely country ride through Pennsylvania.

For awhile I was stuck behind a truck pulling a trailer and a big semi oil truck. The speed limit was 55, but we rarely did that. I stopped at a gas/grocery store, in hopes that the trucks would get ahead of me. A nice walk through the grocery stores' frozen food section helped cool me off. After cooling off and wetting my neckie again, I headed out. I had a much better time riding without the trucks. I passed by a tractor cutting hay on a steep hillside. I don't know how they do that. I went by a small pond and noticed 3 kids fishing in it. I also noticed the houses in each of the towns I went through. Some were large Colonials. There was a common one that was square and looked like a big box. Some were quite ornate. There were definitely lots of front porches with hanging planters full of beautiful flowers. It is amazing what you can see when the speed limit is 25mph. Eventually I made it to Interstate 99, which brought me to Corning, NY.

I arrived at the Corning Glass Museum at 11 am. Once I had all of my gear secured, I went in to the visitors center. The guide told me to either follow the red painted line to the museum or you can wait outside and take a shuttle. I took the walk, as the museum was only a block away. I bought my ticket and checked out my map. I noticed that the clock read 11:11. There was a glass blowing demonstration that was going to start at 11:45, so I looked around at the other exhibits until then. In the main lobby there was a green tree like sculpture. There was information on all sorts of glass from lenses for telescopes to light house lenses. Galileo used a telescope to figure out that the earth revolved around the sun. The church of Rome wouldn't have it. In 1633 Galileo was tried and convicted of treason. The church said the Earth was the center of the universe. Galileo was forced to say the earth was stationary. There was more information about how glass is made and colored. It was time for the demonstration, so I went and sat down in the auditorium to watch. I have watched glass blowing on television, but it was great to be so close to the action. The molten glass is 2,150 degrees Farhenheight. One presenter explained the process, as the other used the tools to create a beautiful vase. I thought it interesting that the tools are designed so that they do not get hot at one end, so the glass blower does not have to wear gloves. Without gloves the blower can more accurately control the glass as they are creating their piece.

After the demonstration, I toured the many different galleries and made sure to see the Blown Away exhibit.(A Netflix TV show) I was drawn to coloful glass as well as glass with intricate art painted into or on it. The Tiffany Glass section was particularly beautiful. There were large panels of stained glass. There was one that looked like a church window with flowers and a mountain scene painted on it. I found globes and glass balls. One had a whole ocean scene with coral and fish inside it. I spent 1 1/2 hours looking around and then decided to have some lunch in the cafe. I had a nice grilled chicken salad and a flavored water. I had to get on my way, but it was a great way to spend a few hours on a hot day.

I suited up as quickly as I could, to preserve my coolness. I set the GPS for Richfield Springs, NY and got on my way. It was going to be a hot ride. The GPS said it would take 3 hours to get there. I drove on Interstate 86 for a long while. Eventually, after drinking frequently from my water bladder, I had to go to the bathroom. I took an exit and the closest thing was a McDonald's. I used the restroom and bought an Ice coffee and a small sundae to cool me off. Once cool again, I tried to get back on the highway. Tired as I was, I mistakenly took the road before the onramp and had to go and turn around and try again. I made it back to the highway. I had to go on Interstate 86, then 88, and then 81 within a few miles. Once getting on 81, I needed gas and water, so I got off the highway and took a short break. I didn't stay long, as I still had an hour or so to go. Eventually, I got off the interstate onto Route 28 and then Route 22. I was back in beautiful farm country again. I needed another bathroom break, so I stopped once more and picked up some blueberries and fresh pizza slices for dinner at camp. I eventually arrived at the Cooperstown KOA in Richfield Springs, NY. To celebrate I booked a cabin again for my last night of the trip.

As I pulled into the campground, I realized how far I had travelled, since I was here just a few weeks ago. I thought it was fitting to have my last night be at the same campground that I stayed at the first night of my journey. I am proud of myself. There is a nice sunset and the clouds forsee rain in the near future. I sit at the picnic table and have my pizza and bluberries. Now to write. Till tomorrow.......