Idle gas pumps form a curious backdrop as assorted vehicles zip past in this night exposure at the intersection of I-71 and SR 13 south of Mansfield—while, at the same time, long lines at the pumps and gasoline rationing are occurring in some mid-southeastern states.

GASOLINE PRICES--

Certainly, it is beyond the scope of this blog to try to make sense of these almost daily shifts—usually upward—in gasoline prices.

And, I understand this Earth of ours is a finite reservoir of crude oil. Like a milkshake, adding more straws does not increase the supply.

But, it rankles me to constantly read of enormous profits being harvested by the oil companies while inflation is thrashing our economy.

It rankles me to be held hostage to market forces also driven by short-term profit speculators.

It rankles me to see the retailer boost his pump prices without the arrival of a tank truck delivering a new and higher priced load of fuel.

Yet, while I do not like these increasing prices at the pump, that pain might be just the jolt we, as a free-enterprise society, need to develop and provide affordable, sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.

Meanwhile, here are two informative sites on gasoline pump prices. The first contains both a US map and an OH map with average costs per gallon—updated daily, by county. The second is the AAA synopsis of costs and trends:

http://www.ohiogasprices.com/price_by_county.aspx and, http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/OHavg.asp

Cousin Bob Wolf (right) and guide Brian (next from the right) plus other tour guests enjoy the geologic formations visible throughout the Lincoln Caverns. In the two photos below right, visitors are left to ponder the near magic of water’s ability to form such massive, subterranean beauty.

SPELUNKERS FOR A DAY--

It is a peculiar sensation to be enjoying some speleology (cave exploration) in the dark and damp silence far below the Earth’s surface—and hear the nearby sounds of highway traffic.

We were on a guided tour of the Lincoln Caverns located between Altoona and Huntington, PA when we encountered the original entrance to the cave which was discovered during the construction of US Highway 22 in 1930.

While crews were then blasting their way through bedrock, one massive explosion revealed the cave to a very surprised construction crew. That became the original, commercial entrance to the cave but is now sealed behind a concrete block—but not soundproof—wall.

This cave, a meandering tunnel between randomly shaped and sized “rooms”, takes about an hour to tour leisurely; a very enjoyable experience when you have the pleasure of an informed and enthusiastic guide as we did.

Like most caves of this sort the tunnels and rooms are the result of flowing water dissolving the sub-surface rock over periods of geologic time. That process also leaves caves such as this with abundant formations of stalactites, stalagmites and columns; also the result of the process of minerals being dissolved by water then re-solidifying over those countless centuries.

Think of a stalactite being much like an icicle. With each drip of water and icicle grows longer almost imperceptibly, but it will form in a matter of days while a stalactite will often take thousands of years.

The stalactite grows from the ceiling down while its companion stalagmite will be growing from the ground up. When they finally join they form a column. The process is also different from an icicle’s which requires freezing temperatures while their underground counterparts grow happily in a constant temperature of 52 degrees F.

Other mineral formations found in caves such as this are pure white (popcorn) calcite and crystals. The caves are also rich in flowstones (think of theater drapery) and bacon; a thin, wavy deposit of minerals that looks surprisingly like bacon when back lit.

And, the entire cave formation is nicely lit by rich back lighting that accentuates the formations and allows safe passage in the subdued lighting.

This attraction is located 3 miles west of Huntington, PA on US 22.

For you GPS technocrats the coordinates are: N 40.30.441 by W 78.04.279.

If you prefer to take a peek from your armchair, click here: http://www.lincolncaverns.com/index.html

TWO, ALMOST 3 CAVE VISITS—

While poking around my hometown of Altoona, PA with my cousin Bob Wolf recently we did a bit of speleology.

Near his home we chugged up through a massive notch in Brush Mountain called the “Kettle” and headed out Sinking Valley Rd., about 6 or 7 miles to the Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve; one of only 13 such preserves in the US owned by the National Speleological Society. Click here.

In the above photo that’s Cousin Bob dwarfed by the gaping opening to what is described as one of the most significant caves in the state which traces its history to accounts published in 1788.

This cave is not open commercially and contains a trunk passage of about one mile divided by water sumps. These are sections that are completely under water and require highly trained and certified divers before exploration will be allowed.

I am shooting this picture while standing just 100 feet or so inside the cave mouth which extends nearly 1,000 feet under the rocky surface until the first sump is encountered. The roar of an underground stream was clearly audible at the cave entrance.

In the photo below Cousin Bob has discovered the Indian Caverns, our second stop of the day, was only open weekends after Labor Day, so, we moved on to a very interesting visit to the Lincoln Caverns which is featured Saturday.

Please stop by!

SCHEDULE CHALLENGES--

Sunday the 14th I left for an annual visit to my hometown of Altoona, PA--just hours, it turns out, before the remnants of Hurricane Ike delivered high velocity winds and lots of damage to much of Ohio.

In fact, my power was out from Sunday to Saturday the 20th. Consequently, my blog publishing schedule this week is, well, fluid. I do expect to produce a piece on cave visits, a story about a visit to an historic inn that traces its origin to 1762 and some general interest stuff from around Altoona.

When I got home from PA in mid-week I discovered I had, indeed, dodged a bullet as far as potential damage was concerned. Five trees around the house had fallen and managed to avoid doing any harm to the house, two small barns and two decks. Mercy! Thanks God, and kudos to AEP for the yeoman effort on power restoration around Ohio.

Please stay tuned.

My cycling companions Lynn Rush, Gary Courtright and Ted Kmet enjoy the smooth, crushed limestone Towpath Trail as it parallels the Ohio & Erie Canal visible to the right near Canal Fulton. The hand operated Lock #4 near there is pictured lower right.

SOME OHIO HISTORY—
By Bicycle

My regular cycling companions and I recently rode our second segment of the Ohio Towpath Trail, this one from Massillon north to Clinton, OH (Near Akron) and return; a nicely shaded ride of about 24 miles.

For you cycling enthusiasts it is a crushed limestone surface fairly well maintained but with some challenging sections of loose gravel. Our group included one mountain bike, my hybrid touring bike and two of the skinny tire variety. A mountain bike would be the most comfortable choice, particularly with less experienced folks in the saddle.

We turned around at Clinton because just a bit north of there, through greater Akron, are many segments either under construction or just in the planning stages.

Our ride covered a tiny part of the Ohio and Erie Canal which was 308 miles in length and connected Lake Erie at Cleveland to the Ohio River at Portsmouth. It was constructed between 1825 and 1847 and included 42 locks between Cleveland and Akron alone.

Akron is at the highest point on the entire canal; hence the surrounding county being named Summit. The canal accomplished a total lift of 1,206 feet by using locks and the canal boats were propelled by horses or mules towing from the adjacent bank—the location of today’s bicycle trail.
Early canal construction workers were paid 30 cents per day plus a “jigger” of whiskey.

Freight traffic dominated the canal from 1827 to 1861 when it began to diminish due to the growth of railroads. By 1840 Ohio was the 3rd most prosperous state in the existing union; owing its growth to the canal.

In its later years the canal struggled to stay profitable until a huge state-wide flood in 1913 destroyed critical sections of the canal and it was abandoned.

Today, Ohio’s bikeways are growing to cross the state from Cleveland to Cincinnati. The Towpath Trail will drop south from the Lake Erie shore where it will one day connect through Wayne County to the mostly existing Holmes County Trail.

When that trail is completed through Glenmont it will connect with the Kokosing Gap Trail to Mt. Vernon. There is a large gap in the planning stages between there and the Columbus area and another gap from Columbus to London.

From there you can now bicycle to the eastern suburbs of Cincinnati.

I hope I get to ride those approximately 335 miles—without having to wait for another 67 years.

This portion of the Ohio & Erie Canal at Canal Fulton was part of Ohio’s 1,000 mile network of canals built in the early 1800s, transforming the then very young state’s economy almost overnight.

A CONFAB IN CLINTON, OH—

My three local bicycling companions and I pause in this small canal town for a chat with local enthusiasts of the Towpath Trail near Akron. We had ridden here from Massillon and confirmed much of the trail through Akron remains uncompleted. Please stop by Saturday for another peek at this very historical cycling venue.

BOOK REPORTS--

All the Clean Ones are Married by Lori Cidylo

A young reporter for an upstate NY newspaper heads for a new life’s experience in Moscow; the Russian one. Armed only with some skill in their language she immerses herself in their very foreign culture and tells the story with humor and compassion. It’s a very penetrating peek at their “bipolar” world; a Publishers Weekly term. Her description of the Boris Yeltsin-era coup was particularly illuminating.


The Moonpool by P. T. Deutermann

Some wily ex-cops tangle with some terrorists in a South Carolina nuclear plant setting. Lots of action in this yarn with a great ending. It joins a growing list by Deutermann of detective novels, thrillers and a few centered on naval adventure. I’ve read and enjoyed all of them.


Havana Nocturne by T. J. English

This is an interesting peek at Cuba in the 1950s; a true tale of organized crime, political corruption, roaring nightlife, and a revolution among other things. Fulgencio Batista was a corrupt dictator/president who coddled US mobsters in development of Havana’s gambling mecca of the Caribbean. Of course, Fidel Castro trumped the gangsters and the dictator with his 26th of July Revolution.


Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille

516 sizzling pages of cop story set mostly in upstate NY involving a plot to eradicate Islamic terrorism with nukes. An off the wall, often whimsical NYPD veteran and his FBI agent wife buzz through this believable tale with page turning speed. I can always count on DeMille to spin a great yarn.