Day 5 Discovering Pennsylvania's Route 6

After painting for a few hours at Arvgarden, we went into Wellsboro and walked around this lovely town. We were told the old elm tree by the Courthouse was the oldest and the largest in the state of Pennsylvania and it is very beloved.

Though speculators have recently said they may have found an orphan tree in the woods outside of town that maybe older, we’ll give this tree its due today. The way I see it, it is pretty awesome to have both trees within the Wellsboro limits.  

In the park across from the courthouse is the famous Wynken, Blynken and Nod statue with a nameplate of the children’s nursery rhythm. Turning around and looking beyond the park, it’s clear that Wellsboro has a wonderful main street.

On Central Avenue there is a sweet, very crowded little café, Native Bagel, with some really great food. It had  homemade chocolate cake with peanut butter icing to die for. So much for watching what I eat!

Of course our drive to Wellsboro had to include Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon about ten miles out of town. As we got closer the paved roads became gravel and was at times a little scary. It was worth the drive though. The view was magnificent. It was so green, filled with trees, and ran so very deep. If they only had the right size in the gift store, I would have walked away with a tee shirt. 

We left the Grand Canyon of PA and stopped in Port Allegheny to see a really quaint diner we had seen on the way to Wellsboro. It was bright red and just begged to be photographed. I wish it was open to find out more about it. It’s name was "The Diner," of course.. 

A short drive beyond Kane stopped at Olmsted Manor, a United Methodist Retreat Center on Route 6. This beautiful structure features a modern addition to a tremendous old Tudor manor where both Tom and I have spent many meaningful days reflecting on our faith. It is beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.

It started raining as we drove through Corry, but I needed to get back to Mead Park to take a few photos of the lake. Even in the rain it was well worth the trip. There was a young fellow fishing off to the side of the foot bridge. He didn’t seem to mind the rain either.

As we return home we will have tons of work to do to get ready to go out again Monday afternoon. I will be painting in Meadville all day Tuesday afer accompanying George Nowack to a radio station to talk about my discoveries on Route 6 in the morning. 

Then off to the Market House to paint and then later in the day I will go to the Baldwin-Reynolds Mansion to paint.

See you then!