Fall 2019 Road Trip; Part VII; Almost Over

Presque Isle Lighthouse.  In service (and still active) since June 12, 1873. (click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 Mark II; 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens @ 25mm; 1/2000th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200

As the road trip started to wind down, I made the decision that I wanted to make a stop in my hometown in western Pennsylvania.  From Rochester we drove west on I-90 trying to stay out of the way of the crazies and mad drivers who obviously are in a huge hurry just to be in a hurry.  I don't think anyone was driving anywhere near the speed limit.  It is not the speed that is bothersome.  It is the darting back and forth from lane to lane with no signaling that I deem dangerous.  I guess that kind of driving is another reflection of our current culture of immediacy.  For me, a good reason to stay off the multi-lane highways and enjoy the secondary roads, scenery, farmlands, small towns, etc.  

Our next to last stop would be in Erie, Pennsylvania, a city located on the southern shore of Lake Erie.  I had been to Erie many times in my college days.  One of the places I remember enjoying immensely was Presque Isle State Park, about a six mile long peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie.  Also, I seemed to remember having some excellent Italian food in Erie in those younger days.  Could we find a good restaurant during our short stay.  Finally, being a student and photographer of railroads and railroad locomotives, Erie still (and it seems to be winding down its production to move elsewhere) has General Electric's locomotive works.  

Dinner at Serafini's Italian Restaurant turned out to more
that what I bargained! (click to enlarge) iPhone 8+

With a recommendation from a couple of local residents, we did find a wonderful Italian restaurant downtown—Serafini's Italian Restaurant.  We both enjoyed a nice meal and our server just delightful.  When I mentioned that I really loved cooked tomato sauce and I asked if I could have just a little extra on my spaghetti and meatballs, that is when I found out our server had a sense of humor as well.  Look what he brought!  Is that enough extra sauce?  I couldn't begin to eat it all but I did have a great time trying.  Our server's efficiency and sense of humor just added another delightful dimension to our dinner.

The next morning we drove to Presque Isle State Park.  I wasn't surprised that my memory of the place, other than I very much enjoyed being there, turned out to be nothing like how the park is in reality.  I guess my memory was of the "concept" of the park and I realized I remember only a couple of actual details of it.  I did manage to make a few images, four of which are posted here.

This is an alternate view of the Presque Isle Lighthouse, from the front, with the beach in the background. (click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 Mark II; 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens @ 12mm; 1/500th sec. @ f/8; ISO 200

The Presque Isle Lighthouse was a pleasant surprise as it was one of those "details" I had forgotten.  The lighthouse, which still provides navigational aid today, was first operated on June 12, 1873.  Of all the lighthouses I've seen over the years, I like this one is well as any of them.  It is well maintained and picturesque from more than one direction.

While walking the beach, I spotted these gulls sitting on a high spot on the beach, just out of reach of the waves.  I was taken by the contrasting and complimentary colors as much as anything.  Whatever the reason I liked the scene, I decided to make some images of it.

Presque Isle State Park beach on a stormy day. (click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 Mark II; 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens @ 100mm; 1/640th sec. @ f/8; ISO 200

Finally, during our visit to the park and adjacent to a marina, I spotted this obvious hungry (and possibly jealous) Great Blue Heron intently staring at this fisherman hoping he will share some of his catch of the day.  LOL.

The heron is hungry and obviously looking for an easy meal while the fisherman is doing his best to ignore the bird!
(click to enlarge)
Olympus E-M1 Mark II; Panasonic/Leica 100-400mm f/4-6.3 lens @ 213mm; 1/400th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200

One more stop in my hometown and then our Fall 2019 road trip comes to an end.

Join me over at Instagram @dennisamook or my website, www.dennismook.com. 

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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