More than anything, I loved this ride because the scenery was absolutely sensational and the roads were incredibly twisty, winding, hilly bastards that demanded focus and energy.  It was an all-around great ride.  I would highly recommend you try it.  There are a ton of things to see, down, eat, and experience all along this route.  Low volumes of traffic, at least when I did it, make it a joy to experience at your own pace.  We finished off, after having a dinner at Brown’s Country Kitchen (the Wing Basket was AMAZING), by checking out the first of the public firework shows from Pyrotechnics Guild International at Coopers Lake.

The fireworks show from the PGI 2013 Convention at Coopers Lake were not just mediocre – they were a dramatic letdown.  For all the hype and hoopla I’ve seen on local websites, social media, and tourism guides, the show was really not any better than the traditional Zambelli’s show you see downtown.  In fact, I’d say it was worse, because for the first hour and a half they only sent up one or two fireworks every 10 minutes or so, and when they finally DID do a “full” show at almost 10PM, it was relatively short.  I am VERY glad I didn’t pay for the privilege to watch (we sat with about 100 or so other people at a pull-off on Park Road directly across 79 from Coopers Lake), and would not recommend any Pittsburghers make the journey.