White Haven,Pa Photo Tour (Wilkes-Barre, Jim Thorpe: how much, new house, unemployed)

[varmintblaster]

I decided to do one more photo tour and post it up here on CD. I notice that the photo threads do not enhance interweb bickering/bantering, and that's a good thang -- right TBT?

I took a ride "Down By the River", checked out a couple of Yote Hunting Spots for recent sign, fished a little private pond, and then took a trip down Main Street - a typical winter day for a guy that is on self-imposed layoff and enjoying playing Mr. Bum till February..

Hold on Ladies & Germs, here we go:


Entrance to State Park - 1 minute from Main Street White Haven. This hiking/biking trail runs alongside thescenic Lehigh River and will take you 25 miles S to Jim Thorpe:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6deCEriBI/AAAAAAAAAvI/VJThfI35N4I/LEHIGH%20GORGE%20STATE%20PARK%20SIGN.jpg (broken link)

I80 Bridge Pillar - at the Put-In Spot for the local rafting companies:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6dfgYwBeI/AAAAAAAAAvg/RdUwSmSzEoI/I80%20BRIDGE%20SUPPORT%20-%20LEHIGH%20RIVER.jpg (broken link)

No trout fishin for awhile. The shelf ice along shore is one thing, but ehen the river starts growing anchor ice from the bottom up - you know the river is locked up - and so are the fish's jaws..

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6dgvk0ekI/AAAAAAAAAvo/MuifX_gvH_c/LEHIGH%20RIVER%20ICED%20UP.jpg (broken link)

I hate grafitti. - this is about the only spot in town that has it. I don't know if it is area kids or tourists from out of the area that take raft trips.
The "art" will be painted over again come spring, then tagged again. I think Penndot should try using a few leg-hold traps to catch the perps once and for all.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6dhwtTstI/AAAAAAAAAvw/qFKJpT5KBEY/GRAFITTI%20ON%20I80%20BRIDGE%20PILLAR.jpg (broken link)


Nothing a quick trip the hardware store can't fix:

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GOD BLESS AMERICA:

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I love this house - pass by it every day. New houses today should be built with wrap-around porches. The McMansions I see being built with just a small stoop barely big enough to hold a newspaper are not my cup of tea.
This property is A+ - borders SGL, and a Native Trout Stream runs through it's backyard.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6dmPmuS-I/AAAAAAAAAwI/wEeDu2YYj9Y/WRAP%20AROUND%20PORCH.jpg (broken link)


Mountain Laurel Golf Course - in it's winter slumber:
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The golf course recently added a stone wall along the north perimeter of the course. It must run over a half-mile long. I can only imagine what it cost them to get that built - my WAG is over $75,000.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6doGOMK1I/AAAAAAAAAwY/shYlAW_NJBo/SNOWY%20GOLF%20COURSE%20-%20STONEWALL.jpg (broken link)

Just across the street from the golf course is one of my Nighttime Yote hunting spots located on public game lands. It is important to have quick, direct-line access/egress to/from your yote sets to minimize human scent trails. Yotes also come at you from downwind 99.9% of the time, so you have to keep that in mind also. Food plots are excellent yote hunting spots - since they always travel along edges that provide them cover & security (unless someone is sitting 100+ yards away with the crosshairs on them )..

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6dozkz50I/AAAAAAAAAwg/460a6JmC7Rc/FOODPLOTS%20RTE%20534.jpg (broken link)


Horse Riding Stables along Rte 940:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6dqq9BAwI/AAAAAAAAAxE/uUoZ6cGqvzA/DEER%20PATH%20RIDING%20STABLES.jpg (broken link)

One of my favorite road signs - especially when I have "exterminator rights" to hunt the private property and rid it of varmints:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6duVuPMrI/AAAAAAAAAxM/OULIbfw50Zg/NO%20OUTLET.jpg (broken link)


My Kinda Guy:

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View from the bridge - a tributary stream of the Lehigh River that holds Native Brook Trout - Pa's State Fish. There is nothing prettier than a native brookie - and the small streams that hold them:

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FUNKY Color Choices - Heyna or No??

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You know its cold when the Mountain Laurels are shriveled up tight. I could hear their muffled screams as I snapped this pic:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6d4HFPWQI/AAAAAAAAAx8/PHKD0wZr34c/FROZEN%20LAURELS.jpg (broken link)

GOING UP - 4WD TIme:

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Quite a camp this is - might be a bit out of Sheena's budget for a getaway spot:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6d7i2tAnI/AAAAAAAAAyM/tjZNM6sqbKU/HIGHCAMP.jpg (broken link)


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This is a very productive hunting spot - but I don't hunt it all that often. You must let an area settle down for awhile if you make a shot - coyotes have very long memories.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6d0ki-sZI/AAAAAAAAAxs/vRjqOTTeSrQ/YOTE%20SET.jpg (broken link)

This is the same stream I crossed earlier - about 1/2 mile upstream. The elevation drop from my vantage point to the stream is about 150' - the camera does not pick it up very good. Very few folks will go to the trouble to fish this stream - hence the Native Brookies are quite safe:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6d9-uzgOI/AAAAAAAAAyc/oAw0HbRyHJ0/HAYES%20CREEK%20FROM%20ABOVE.jpg (broken link)

Time to hit the Pond:

Private Development that I have access permission to fish:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6d_jZV11I/AAAAAAAAAyk/BUhbBeRCxLA/PRIVATE%20PONDS.jpg (broken link)


Pretty interesting T shaped getaway house:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eBASe6HI/AAAAAAAAAys/sPd2KQ-3lN4/T%20SHAPED%20HOUSE.jpg (broken link)

This deep freeze weather has really put the fish down. Almost everyone I talk to has had a tough time on the ice so dar this season. I fished for an hour or so and pulled another SKUNK...

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eEqDaIVI/AAAAAAAAAy0/72jcEGccJJA/BLAZER%20AT%20POND.jpg (broken link)

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I usually drill a straight line hole pattern at various depths to try to locate the fish. This pond is about 8 feet deep in the center:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eHaGC9wI/AAAAAAAAAzU/bHhEDE1zEvY/STRAIGHT%20LINE%20HOLE%20SETUP.jpg (broken link)


My Executive Chair and High-Tech Office Organizer:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eINRAHuI/AAAAAAAAAzc/aeDiOYAiNOw/CUSTOM%20CHAIR%20AND%20OFFICE%20ORGANIZER.jpg (broken link)


Very pretty scenery at the pond today:
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Intersection of Rte 940/I80/Pa Turnpike:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eM9etNJI/AAAAAAAAAzs/umVEc7P8frw/WHITE%20HAVEN%20SIGN%20AT%20TURNPIKE.jpg (broken link)

White Haven Vet Center:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eOMsT96I/AAAAAAAAAz0/FdAsX960gbc/WHITE%20HAVEN%20VET.jpg (broken link)



This is the bunkhouse for one of the local Rafting Companies. Most of the rafting employees/guides are not Vegans, but they are Herbalists.. The inside walls of the bunkhouse is so saturated with pot smoke that it will never be removed - not that there is anything wrong with that..

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6ePejClgI/AAAAAAAAAz8/S5Faz0ppi1Q/GUIDESHACK.jpg (broken link)

EAST SIDE INN - Joe & Crew cook up some great homestyle dinners on Fridays and Saturdays. It is located just 3 miles from the I80/Turnpike interchange. Worth a drive for some good home cooking at very fair prices:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eQg7FpGI/AAAAAAAAA0E/1IJsTZL0uMc/EASTSIDE%20INN.jpg (broken link)

A View of the Quiet Mountain Town of White Haven:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eR5XjWnI/AAAAAAAAA0M/97Ep9kDHQAo/VIEW%20OF%20WHITE%20HAVEN.jpg (broken link)


The Lehigh River - looking upstream from the Rte940 bridge in White Haven - locked up by Mr Winter:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eTEzbUPI/AAAAAAAAA0U/MxcbD080xUM/LEHIGH%20RIVER%20VIEW%20FROM%20WH%20BRIDGE.jpg (broken link)

White Haven Shopping Center:

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The FEED MILL restaurant - run by Tim, a cerrified chef and his wife. They fixed up this building which is gorgeous inside. and he makes some very fine meals - probably the best filet mignon I ever had. If you want some upscale dining off the beaten trail this place is it.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eaM9nzKI/AAAAAAAAA0s/ZDZA9yVeRys/FEED%20MILL.jpg (broken link)

A quick tour down Main Street:

Capones Bar - where may of the World's Problems are solved:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6eXMT5zNI/AAAAAAAAA00/4ckS74sIbt8/CAPONES%20BAR.jpg (broken link)






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Video Store, Town Hall & Police Dept, White Haven Diner, and the Odd-Fellows Clubhouse:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6ebhrXO0I/AAAAAAAAA1E/HF144T0qkhg/MAIN%20STREET.jpg (broken link)


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The Fireman's Bar - a private club at the N end of Main Street.

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As folks are solving the world's problems at Capones Bar on the S end of Main Street, the folks at the Firemens Club drown them.

If you are ever down in the dumps and feel that life has tossed you a curve ball, I have a suggestion to lift your spirits.

Walk into the Fireman's Club about 10:15 any Sunday Morning when Church Service is being conducted for the hard-cores.. Belly-up to the bar, take a look to your left, then your right, and I guarantee you that you will feel better when you realize that you really don't have it that bad..

Last stop on Main street - you can buy nails, a hammer, plumbing supplies, or bait - my kind of hardware store:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6effaTQAI/AAAAAAAAA1c/bhydp1eKNh4/G%26A%20HARDWARE.jpg (broken link)


That's it for the White Haven Photo Tour. I didn't realize I snapped so many pics until I started loading them , but I hope you liked looking at them. I also hope some of you do the same with your towns. It;s always nice to see other places through someone else's eyes..

***************

Is it Over Yet? My Butt is Sore from bouncing around in the Front Seat of your truck all day. Don't get me wrong, I really like tagging along, but it was pretty cold today and I missed watching Kelly Rippa from the comfort of the couch.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6zq9hPYOI/AAAAAAAAA1w/O58PJwdfNUg/MISHA%20IN%20FRONT%20OF%20BLAZER.jpg (broken link)


Well, I was informed that I am heading up to NY first thing in the morning.
Crazy man was going to drive up at 3am, but decided to wait till dawn to head north - due to a few nasty lake effect snow ribbons in Cortland and Syracuse area. I'm looking forward to zero degree temps again, but I have a prime spot in front of the wood stove and my very own bunk to crash in.. What the hey - it's a Dog's Life - but it sure beats workin for a living.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_mqwMWqeJqGg/TT6z3ver0RI/AAAAAAAAA10/sfTta7yL2iE/MISHA%20-%20SNOWY%20NOSE.jpg (broken link)

[Magritte25]

Great photo tour VB! Your dog is really cute

I hate graffiti too! I can agree that its just an eyesore. I don't think I've ever seen that part of White Haven before, though we have been to Lehigh State Gorge a few times.

I enjoyed all of the photos and you've inspired me to do a resident's POV photo tour of Wilkes-Barre.

[cowboyxjon]

I worked as a vendor for a major cracker and biscuit company for awhile and the Thriftway (now called White Haven Market?) was one of my stores!

[theatergypsy]

By Jove, VB! You've done it again! I enjoyed looking at your 'hood and seeing the places you hold so dear.
I'm not a photographer. I'm not saying I'm not a good photographer. I'm NOT a photographer. Never have been. Don't even own a camera. (Although my late husband tried his darndest by giving me a camera for Christmas...three years in a row!) I guess because he never saw me use them he forgot he ever gave me them. LOL
Thanks for posting these.

OMT: I don't have a wrap-around porch, but I do have a screened in front porch where I can sit and read. Two of my neighbors had them, tore them off, and a couple of years later realized how much they missed "settin' and rockin'" and they screened them in again.
"You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone".

[coalboy]

Originally Posted by theatergypsy

By Jove, VB! You've done it again! I enjoyed looking at your 'hood and seeing the places you hold so dear.
I'm not a photographer. I'm not saying I'm not a good photographer. I'm NOT a photographer. Never have been. Don't even own a camera. (Although my late husband tried his darndest by giving me a camera for Christmas...three years in a row!) I guess because he never saw me use them he forgot he ever gave me them. LOL
Thanks for posting these.

OMT: I don't have a wrap-around porch, but I do have a screened in front porch where I can sit and read. Two of my neighbors had them, tore them off, and a couple of years later realized how much they missed "settin' and rockin'" and they screened them in again.
"You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone".

That BIG OL' WHITE HOUSE IN vb's great narrative/pic vignette of small town America, is called an 'American Foursquare'... one of the most solid, and thankfully, prevalent examples of enduring Architecture on the East Coast and Mid West..
What's not to like about it.... it comprises strength, symmetry, and dignity.
So nice that the style bears the name of a Country as equally strong and dignified.

[frank754]

Nice photos, VB, one of these days I'll have to take another day trip and drive around. Always enjoy your descriptions, too...

[DE_NePA]

Hey VB! Thanks for the photos and narrative. We have a place at Towamensing Trails in Albrightsville, and the wife and I "collect" NEPA towns on our motorcycle. A lot are on our list due to photo tours posted here. We found Whitehaven in September, and I recognize everything downtown, and alot of the outlying spots. (I wondered about the expense, and reason for, that stone wall at the golf course myself). Stopped at Capone's looking for lunch. We walked in the front door, and just kept walking thru, and to the right, and out the side door. If the Sunday mass crew at the Firehouse looks rougher than the Saturday 2PM crew at Capone's, well...
Anyway, then we found the diner, and asked the waitress what the one not-to-be-missed item on the menu would be. We each ordered the recommended burger, finished about 1 between the two of us (the patty is about as big across as the plate...we didn't know! :-)
Thanks for pointing out the Feed Mill, we saw the building, but didn't realize what it was. We'll have to go back. Also the East Side Inn. Maybe we'll run into you at one of those places, but it wont be til spring. My bike hibernates from November to April ;-)

[varmintblaster]

The patrons at Capones may look scruffy, but they are harmless. The unemployed and retired guys hang there in the afternoon most days. At night you will get a varied crowd from young to old.

A little note about Capones's Bar. The current owner is Jimmy Capone, he is an Italian fellow from NJ and works in the "waste management"business - hence all the Soprano & Godfather memorabilia in the joint. (Jimmy thinks his nose is crooked, but it ain't.).

Years ago, the first time I visited that bar, the local regulars were suspicious of me - which happens whenever a new person shows up at a bar. I was asked if I was military or a Narc.
I offered up choice C - State Cop -special assignments..

I turned the tables on them and played with their heads for the first six months until I came clean - which allowed the blood pressure of a couple tough-guys to drop back to normal levels.

That bar is over 100 yrs old - as evidenced by the antique,handcarved mahogany barback. It used to serve miners & lumbermen, housed a cathouse upstairs. During the 60's & 70's it was a Biker Bar. There are a couple of bullets imbedded in the wood behind the bar from biker antics.

It's looks rough, but it isn't. Personally I like the little hole-in-the-wall bars and the local flavor that you get with them. The $1 draft beer prices don't hurt either. About the worst thing I see happening there is a couple patrons occaisionally go outside to puff up a J behind the walkin-cooler.

Let me know when you roll your bike out - I'll meet you & your wife for a drink.

I sent you a PM about the Flying Aces Motorcycle Club.

Later.

[DE_NePA]

Originally Posted by varmintblaster

I turned the tables on them and played with their heads for the first six months until I came clean - which allowed the blood pressure of a couple tough-guys to drop back to normal levels.

Yeah, we'll have to meet up some weekend that the wife and I are up north. You seem like an interesting guy...

[PWGUNNY]

I love the pics and I love the commentary. I am only a part time resident of NEPA and these photo trips help me learn more about my area.