Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

some studies and this place seemed to inaugurate the trip. Gone was our lethargy—we were alive and keen on new things. ; Our next stop was on Route 44—when we stopped by Oswego Inn for lunch. I was in a low spot —we parked in the shade of a dark wooded hill—we ate sandwiches, coffee & fruit cake B had prepared in the morning—here we find shin-leaf and its “cousin” one flowered Pyrola in bloom and B conceived the idea of making a collection of plants, and planned to get a loose-leaf note-book in the next town to put them in. After lunch, we took a trail along the lower edge of a wooded hill (evidently made by a gas co. for we found several gas well outlets). On the return we went up onto the woods and were delighted with the many Indian pipes in bloom. Here we found a beautiful plant that we learned, (on consulting our flower guide) to be an orchid—the rattlesnake plantains.; Our next stop was in Coudersport where we bought the loose-leaf & refreshments. We debated whether we should get a room at a hotel here & explore from here, but decided against it as we didn’t want to be tied to a place so early in the day. We next visited the famous “ice-mine” which proved to be a temper disappointment. I had always pictured it as a huge cave in which great masses of ice formed—whereas it was merely a small square hole in the ground, made by some mis-guided prospector searching for gold. Interesting form a scientific point of view, & ominous; but nothing visually. ; From here we headed towards Wellsboro—at this time we were undecided whether to go north into N.Y. State, or turn south toward Central Pennsylvania. We began to think about getting a place for the night.—; We ate our supper along the road between Galston and Gaines.