Apologies for the long gap between postings. Turns out that Ohiopyle (population 77) is a very quaint little town in Pennsylvania on the Youghiogheny* River, distinguished by its rural beauty, its waterfalls, its lack of phone reception and non-existent internet access. We were drawn to the area by the fact that the Tehran Tigers (Dave, Etienne and Simon) were attempting another adventure race, this time though the Ohiopyle state park, which comprises '19,052 acres of rugged natural beauty'. The Tigers had to plot a route through the course which would allow them to collect the maximum number of points within a given time and involved running 20 miles, kayaking 9 miles, mountain biking 12 miles and abseiling off a bridge (I know what you're thinking - and, yes,I am still trying to explain to Simon that this is not a normal way to spend one's weekend). Their day started at 5am with a team briefing and, judging from the state of them when we met them 13 hours later, the Tigers had covered a good proportion of the 19,052 acres during the day. *Do not try and pronounce this - severe oesophageal injury may occur. The locals have learnt the hard way and now call it the 'Yok' for short.
Meanwhile, Robin, Judy and I arose somewhat later, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the sunshine and headed off to nearby 'Fallingwater', one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous commissions and regarded as an outstanding example of his particular brand of organic architecture. The house was designed in 1936 for the Kaufmann family, who resided in nearby Pittsburgh, and is constructed to mesh seamlessly with its surroundings. Hence, the fireplace for the main living area was built around a rock boulder, the house rests on a series of cantilevers which overhang the Bear River and the floors of the house cascade down the hillside, replicating the movement of the waterfall beneath it. The house is now owned by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and run as a museum, and is one of Wright's most visited properties. The house and its contents were donated to the WPS in 1963 and many of the furnishings and personal possessions on display (including a Picasso sketch and a Rivera portrait) belonged to the Kaufmann family and have remained untouched since that time. Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself at a loose end in rural Pennsylvania.
There was not a huge amount else to see in the sleepy town of Ohiopyle, although in days past it had a much more lively reputation. In 1871, the construction of a railroad joined Ohiopyle to the outside world, and the town prospered as the lumbering trade grew rapidly. Ohiopyle also became well known as a popular weekend destination for tourists from Pittsburgh who could travel from town on the $1 railroad to enjoy the waterfalls and hiking trails through the forests. In 1900, there were four big hotels in the town, as well as a number of smaller establishments, dancing pavilions and boardwalks. However, with the advent of the motor car, tourism gradually declined and although Ohiopyle still attracts the outdoor adventure types, the population of the town itself today is tiny (I think we met most of them at the pub).
We arrived back in Ohiopyle in time to welcome back our glorious heroes, who crossed the finish line just after 6pm to claim a stunning second place. The organisers were particularly excited to have an international team competing in the race, although Simon was slightly put out when the team were called upon to collect their medals and were introduced as Dave from Australia, Etienne from France and Simon from Germany. Nevertheless, he took it in good spirits and we very much enjoyed celebrating the valiant efforts of the Tigers in the local hostelry that evening with a glass of beer and a bratwurst. I can hardly wait to return next year to support the team in their quest for that elusive gold medal.
Emma, Great to see our very own "Tehran Tiger". LE staff are queuing up to see Simon in his shorts, maybe I should charge an entrance fee!
Posted by: Nana Marg | May 13, 2008 at 02:37 AM
Hi Nana Marg,
Great to hear from you! Please send our love to everyone at the Embassy and I'll be sure to post an update on the great Tehran Tigers (and more photos) soon!
Posted by: Emma | May 14, 2008 at 08:00 AM