I wanted to go to Idaho this summer. Then COVID-19 happened and threw those plans into disarray. Airplanes seemed unsafe and I couldn’t tell when I might fly again. My last real trip happened in February when I went to Bermuda. Back then the pandemic seemed a million miles away, something taking place on the other side of the world.
My job shifted into full-time telework in March and I moved my “office” to the basement as the family sheltered in place. I felt very fortunate that my work could be performed remotely. So many people had it so much worse both medically and financially. However I needed to get out of my house for my own sanity as the months passed.
Where Could We Go?
Social distancing limited our options. We needed to take a car while minimizing stops along the way. Preferably we’d get there on a single tank of gas. We also wanted to bring everything we’d need for several days to avoid any shopping once we arrived. Oh, and the in-laws wanted to join us too so it had to be sort-of half way between us. All that seemed like a tall order as we broke out the maps and sifted through possibilities.
Those constraints created an arc running through western New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland, and into adjoining West Virginia. Anywhere along that line might work. It had a lot of empty space so all of it seemed fine for hiding from civilization. Maybe something scenic, with mountains and lakes and nature and stuff? The kids could get outside, we could all stretch out, and nobody would have to worry about germs for a few days.
Pennsylvania Beckoned
I would have been happy anywhere along the possible arc. Of course I mentally overlaid suggestions on my county counting map as people mentioned them. Deep Creek Lake (map) in western Maryland seemed like a solid possibility for awhile. However, I didn’t cry when the price of available rental properties came back too high. I’d already been to those surrounding counties, even focusing an adventure near there in 2016. We could cross it off the list.
Secretly I hoped for Pennsylvania. I’d been chipping away at the state for awhile. I’d carefully sculpted a final residual area of twelve contiguous counties with no doughnut holes. If we could find a place somewhere within that target, I figured, I might be able to finish Pennsylvania.
An Easy Route
It seemed within easy reach too, with almost all of it involving Interstate Highway driving. I could get there in about four hours. Additionally it marked the closest remaining unvisited counties from my home. Only a cluster in southeastern North Carolina rivaled its proximity.
Much to my delight, all signs pointed towards a destination somewhere within my desired zone. Rental homes seemed to be readily available and affordable. I did mention county counting benefits although it didn’t figure significantly into the family decision. Imagine that. The ultimate selection did come as a happy coincidence though.
Finding a Base
We found a base in Clearfield County, at a place near the town of DuBois called Treasure Lake (map). It seemed particularly suitable for county counting, situated near the Clearfield, Jefferson, Elk County tripoint. I sketched a northern loop and a western loop that would accomplish my county counting goal. Both drives would last about half a day. I’d stay in my car most of the time and I’d encounter nearly nobody the few times I’d walk around. The rest of the time I could relax with the family next to the lake by ourselves. It seemed like a perfect idea for a brief pandemic getaway.
We all went into super-quarantine two weeks before the meetup. Neither us nor the in-laws wanted any possibility of spreading germs to each other or to the residents in a place with few infections. Then the journey began. We all arrived at Treasure Lake according to plan.
Spoiler alert: I did visit the remaining twelve counties although you’ll have to wait until future installments to learn the details.
Articles in the Finishing Pennsylvania Series
See Also: The Complete Photo Album on Flickr
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