#16: Visited Moraine State Park

Though I have seen the signs everywhere during my four years at SRU, I had never visited Moraine State Park until this past week, and I am now obsessed. Moraine is definitely the place to go if you want to hang out with good friends in the sun, want some family time in nature, or just want some alone time enjoying life away from everyone and everything. Moraine state park is one of Pennsylvania's state parks that stretches across 16,725 acres resting in Brady, Franklin, Muddy Creek, Clay, and Worth Townships within Butler County. I have learned that you can come to the park for their beach, for boats and fishing in the water, for amazing hiking trails, and fantastic bike trails.

Here is a series of pictures I took when I reached the beach on my first day after biking half of the 7.5 mile long paved bike trail, which you can also hike on if you choose. The Moraine bike trail is as I said, 7.5 miles long and paved, and a one way path meaning that it is 7.5 miles to the end and then 7.5 miles back, so it does not loop around, which is fantastic for most bikers. On this trail, which I have now biked half of it multiple times since I enjoy biking to the beach and then hanging out there in the sun for a few hours, is positively gorgeous.

 I have seen the cute families taking a bike ride for the day as well as couples of all ages, running from as young as teenagers to as old as well into life, simply enjoying the weather and scenery. I have also seen the competitive riders working on their speed and exercise habits as well as groups of great friends and the solo riders getting away from life for a bit. The trail is relatively easy to ride, so an amateur cyclist who has not ridden in years should not die from exhaustion, because the paved trail is relatively flat for being in what I consider the mountains with various slight inclines and a few deep slopes and hills. Also anyone on the trail is more than welcome to stop and turn around at any point in their ride. For me the best part of riding the trails is the

sights, smells, and overall aura of being thrown into nature and hiding from society for a bit each day or week. As you can tell from some of the pictures the trails primarily flow with nature versus cut through it like most roads and highways do these days. This adds to the mindset of being out and about and away from the craziness of society and really lets you think out anything that is on your mind as you travel through the woods. Of course as you can see I am fascinated by the sights because they are so different to what I am used to from being from New Jersey which may

 sound crazy to you since you are thinking that all woods are alike, but they are not. I'm from South Jersey which for starters is flat as
flat gets. So what you would call as normal terrain I call hills, and your version of hills to me are mountains. Also, the area of South Jersey I am from is also known as the Pine Barrens, so most of the trees I am typically surrounded by are, shocker, pine trees as well as various other plants and trees that I did not see so much in Moraine which adds to the change of scenery as well.

Another aspect of riding along the bike trail that I loved was that parts of it run along the water, and it was beautiful. Each time I came to a point in the trail where I passed the water's edge I had to pause and just look and truly see how massive Moraine State Park really is. Another fantastic perk for those who are like me, and burn at the
 thought of the sun, is that most of the trail is relatively shady due to the canopy above you from the trees. Obviously there are some break points where the sun peeks through or you can break out of the forest for a loop or two as you pass a tent/cabin area for campers, but otherwise the trail is primarily shady so don't have too much fear of becoming a lobster on the 14.5 mile bike

ride if you plan on doing the whole trail. And
also if you do not have your own bike it's no
problem because at the beginning of the trail
 is a bike rental spot that opens at 11:00. I do not know how much it costs though since I have a bike, but I see lots of renters on the trails so I'm sure it is not an arm and a leg, and whatever the price may be it is totally worth it! Also I have noticed that they have a variety of bikes from standard bikes to mountain bikes, bikes with baskets to hold your stuff, bikes with additional connections for two-riders, and bikes with children's seats on the back. So what ever may be your situation and group, I am sure you will have no trouble finding a bike to use there. They also sells snacks and drinks at the rental shop as well as have restrooms at the beginning of the trail and at various points throughout the trail for anyone who needs to stop.

And finally the best part is the wild life. You will see some critters who at the sight of you will run and scamper off into the forest, and others who will give you the approving head nod saying 'sup' as you ride on past. Which ever it is you may encounter, you will see wildlife from as small as birds and insects to as large as dear and possibly black bear who inhabit the area. On my last ride I had the experience of seeing a family of turkeys, parents were not too excited about me though and hurried the 'kiddies' along, as well as a young buck. From the picture you can tell who approved of my passing by.

I know I have written primarily about the bike trail but do not forget that there are hiking trails throughout the park that are also easy to get along through whether with friends/family or solo, and the trails have just as many beautiful sights if not more. So do not be afraid to grab a pair of comfy clothes and shoes, possibly some good friends or family, an rent a bike or pick a trail or grab a spot of the beach, I've done all and they are all beautiful and relaxing. Can't wait for my next adventure!

#21: Go to the Big Butler Fair

Well I got to check off my first item on my Pittsburgh Bucket List! Yes number 21, go to the Big Butler Fair, is officially off the list. Now I know going to the fair may not be a huge deal to most but for me it was an uber huge deal not only because I had never been but because I never really went to a real fair. Yes my best friend took me to a small farm fair one year that came to town but that was mainly like a 4H crossed with a craft show with some rides. The Butler Fair however was a full on fair and for me it was amazing. Prior to going I was warned by great close friends about the carnies and their tricks and all, as well as had all my previous misconceptions, but when I got there I learned that those ideas were not so wrong. Innitially I arrived at the fair an hour before my friends, and the pick-up lines from the carnies were endless and insane. I truly thought my friends were exaggerating a bit when they warned me but oh to my surprise they were far from exaggeration. Everywhere I walked the carnies screamed out lines such as, 'hey blondie! I see no friend, want to be mine!' or 'Someone's looking lonely there, I can change that!' and 'ever dream of being with a carnie?' These lines made me laugh out loud as well as think twice about ever coming to a fair alone again, but thankfully I was only alone for an hour, and it really wasn't that bad, just shocking at how open they were to asking me to join them later that night. Later however I did see the other side to them.

Now for this visit my friends and I were only walking around, next time I am most definitely going on the rides against the warnings of their safety. Now we were having a blast just being ourselves with great friends. At first we wondered around the shops and carts just seeing everything and that alone was a blast for me. Now us being awesome girls and great friends we couldn't help but have a blast goofing off with the hats when they came in sight. I mean honestly who cannot play around with hats. There Hats! It's like a required Photo Opportunity!

 Hats! How Could Anyone Not Take Pictures!!!!

But the real fun happened when we went down "the alley." Now when I call this place the alley, it is strictly my nickname for it. This alley was the long pathway through the middle of the fair that wrapped around the food carts almost in a tear drop shape, and at the largest part of the drop, or the bottom, were a couple rides as well as some rides inside. All along this alley however on both sides were the games. Dart games, throwing ball games, knocking bottles and clowns, tossing coins and ping-pong balls, winning stuffed animals of all sizes! Though that was the funny part, oh yes there was stuffed animals as big as a fifth grader and soft and fluffy and fun colors.

 "Hey! You there! Blondie! Just play once! Today is Lady's Day! Every Lady wins a Prize!"

 and after you play and even win by hitting three balloons with your three darts, you get some dinky little toy that looks like it fell out of a serial box or came in your happy meal box. And of course there are the deals too!

 "Ladies! Ladies! Over Here! I give you a special Deal! Just for You!

Oh it was ludicrous! Carnies shouting from every where at anyone who walked by. It wasn't like walking by girl scouts or fundraisers where they only spoke if you made eye contact, oh no if you were living and walking and in sight they would shout at you. I feel my favorite "Special Deal" was a carnie shouted at my two friends and I and simply said, "I have a special deal for you, each of you ladies pay $5 for three darts, and even if you all miss on each dart, I will let you three have one giant prize versus three small prizes, just for you ladies!" All I could think of is are you kidding me! Yes we want to pay $15 for a stupid stuffed animal that probably only cost 8 bucks and then we can share it, who are you kidding bud? Don't let my blonde hair fool you, we're not stupid.

Now we did not take that carnie's "Special Offer,' but of course being in the spirit of the carnival we did play some games. S'mall's came out with more than enough fun reminders of the day, one of which being an awesome white bison she chose to name Jaquine, which she won by paying for three darts at multiple games and letting each of us taking a shot and then trading in the dinky prizes for him, and Lex got out with her very own living Goldfish which S'malls won for her on Lex's last ping-pong ball in the toss. Surprisingly enough the Gold Fish is still alive and it has now been a whole week! I know right!

To end the day I got the chance to try my first ever Fried Oreo..........It was AMAZING!!! I particularly do nto like oreo's in general but I tried a fried one and I could not get enough of it! Sooooo delicious! Now the fair is gone but the memories remain and I know one thing for sure, I cannot wait to go back to the fair when it comes back to town next summer! And next time I'm going on those rides too!