Ash Wednesday! Arch -a-TEXTture: Vexing Adventures in Erie, and other places in PA.

Written By: Ash Catcher


I hope everyone had a thankful thanksgiving! I was thankful because I had the pleasure of getting out of Philly for a few days, and pandemic aside, I was safe and wore my mask, social distanced, and washed my hands like I have been preaching to all of and any kid I had the unfortunate fortune of teaching (both in English and in Russian) I got to get away, blast it past route 76 into god only knows country where it's clear the election is still in full swing still? Um guys I am not getting political this is as political as I am gonna get, but I think there was a clear winner. Just saying anyway let's do a take down break down of my pandemic travels: I also rocked out to hella 80s music. By the end of my travels I felt like I traveled back in time. I had a freakin blast! 

The World's Largest Coffee Pot: There are few things I love more in this world then coffee and ever since I have parted my way with alcohol and reluctantly but thankful cigarettes on more than one occasion my addiction to coffee has been sky high. I drank way too much coffee on this trip, even slummed it a few times to Starbucks. I am not proud of who I have become. I was proud however to have visited the worlds largest coffee pot, to my fucking utter horror had no coffee in it at all, not even a cafe. Not cool world's largest coffee pot containing an administrative office, and an abandoned gift shop, not cool. The few proud dudes with rifles were a nice added touch tho, good job Bedford County, I can now happily cross this off my bucket list, and put this dream to bed. 

Next on my list was I finally got my ass to Lake Erie, I visited the only beach state park in Pennsylvania. It did not disappoint. Presque Isle State Park did not disappoint, the bay side was warm of all heck, but the beach side. She was a cruel mistress. Windiest day of my life 3 jackets and two hats later and I can still not feel my feet. Oddly enough Erie was super genderfied in certain areas, but I expect that with most small towns. The rocks for my rock collection were bombs. Flattest thing I ever found, I just couldn’t skip them, the waves were TOO DAMN HIGH! Over 6hrs from my first destination. I saw a lot of PA, A LOT OF IT!  I didn’t get a souvenir in Erie, the view from my room was enough for me! ​

On Saturday I went to see Pittsburgh, I never been but It was fucking practacly abandoned when I got there on a Saturday morning and I can safely walk across the street, in Philly I would have been ran over twice already. People are really freakin nice in Pittsburgh. The architecture is also something I was a bit perplexed about; it was like some little kid took a bunch of legos from different play sets and just built a freestanding city. Lots of bridges. I liked that alot and the Indian food I got for lunch was delicious. I liked this City but it was all over the place. 10/10 I would come back for a Penguins game or a baseball game. Idk why you guys are obsessed with pirates? The graffiti and street art was choice! ​

The last leg of my Gonzo Tour led me to somewhere my 6th grade self Fallingwater, If you don't know which I expect not a lot of people do, this was Frank Loyd Wright’s Summer home. This thing is a party house built into a side of a waterfall, I can only imagine the fuckery that happened here. I would love to have something like this one day. The arctcur3e was gorgeous and for the time to have a mostly cement house built into the side of a mountain with all the exposed bricks, grottos, doo dads, and a hilltop garage / studio this baby had all the bells and whistles and more. I got a magnet at the gift shop. It's on my fridge now and I get super jazzed when I pass it to get a snack. 

I had a rocking time escaping to the beach, the woods, and another city. I love traveling as long as I plan to do so safely, and taking certain precautions during this year I will continue to do so. 

I'll catch ya next Wednesday! 

- Ash Catcher 

Photo Credit: Shane Cochran.