Erie, Pennsylvania to Lockport, New York

Saturday, August 18 - Mom and Dad told me another story last night that I'd like to share with you.  Erie, Pennsylvania generally is not considered a big tourist destination.  However, Mom and Dad have been in Erie before.  Imagine that!!  They think it was 1992 or 1993.  They were living in Houston at the time and drove to Michigan to see Aunt Mary.  From Michigan, they drove east across Canada to Niagara Falls and then planned to go home.  Their route took them to Erie and they stopped to buy gas.  Dad had read about a lighthouse on the lake and they decided to go see it and then drive another hour or so down the road before stopping for the night. 

They were driving down a city street in Erie on the way to the light house.  They stopped in some traffic and got rear ended - HARD!!  They were pushed into the vehicle in front of them.   They were driving a Ford Taurus (not a small car), but they were rear ended by a Ford Econoline Van and pushed into a Ford F-150 pick-up truck.  They had extensive damage to both the front AND the rear of their car.  Fortunately, they weren't seriously hurt, but to make a long story short, their car was towed away from the scene and a nice police officer took them to a hotel.  Mom wanted me to be sure and mention that it is the one and only time that she has ridden anywhere in a police car.

The next morning they found that the car was totaled by the insurance company.  Their focus turned to just getting back home and they never got to see the lighthouse. 

Finally, today they got to see the lighthouse. 

Actually, until a few days ago, we didn't plan to come to Erie.  When we were in Detroit and turned back south, our plan was to go through the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania and then north through the Finger Lakes region of New York on our way to Quebec.  Like any plan, subject to change.

Well, earlier this week, we noticed that there have been heavy rains and flooding in both central Pennsylvania and central New York.  We found that the water system in Watkins Glen (one of the places we planned to stay) is under a "boil order" and a festival that was supposed to draw 30,000 people, planned for this weekend, was canceled.   Probably not a place we want to be next week. 

We think avoiding Natural Disasters is a good idea, so we changed course toward Niagara Falls.  Tonight we are at the Elks Lodge in Lockport, New York, which is just east of Niagara Falls.

Here is a map to show you where we have been the last 3 weeks.