New York State of Mind

     Sometimes I program my GPS that results in seasonal dirt roads. This way, I can stop whenever and wherever. No vehicles in front or behind me.

Around almost every bend in upstate New York is a barn.

And a mountain . . .

A barn every half-mile it seems.

My average speed is about 15 mph.

Seasonal roads have been in excellent condition.

Stopped at a cemetery on a hilltop to fix lunch.

View from cemetery.

Studied this 9' 5" clearance sign for awhile and decided not.

     I pass through small towns, too. This bicyclist had a 2-foot bar attached perpendicular to her bike with a 3-point halter on her very obedient dog. The dog had learned to keep her speed and to stop when she stopped.

I love old wood frame structures. This church is in Hartwick, New York, built in 1854.

     Historic homes are beautiful, but since I previously owned a 1913 Tudor style rowhome in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I no longer want the responsibility and cost of maintaining old homes. If you look closely, you'll see tons of repair work needed on these lovely old homes.

Interesting slate roof design below, but see the previous repairs? My 1913 home had a slate roof, too, and it's a major problem to get matching slates and roofers who do slate repairs.

Even the stately masonry stone homes need work.

Love this one, but oh, so much work!

These old homes usually have great old trees in the front yard.

Vermont is coming up next . . . .

Glen Creek Gorge AKA Watkins Glen State Park

     Watkins Glen State Park was on my bucket list. I was reluctant to mingle with the crowds on a Saturday, but the geology of the park is so amazing, the crowds didn't distract from my enjoyment at all. Even more amazing, it was easy going. Babies, toddlers, old folks, overweight folks, un-athletic folks, anyone can do this one-mile or so walk which includes a lot of steps. No special shoes or boots required, even flip flops are fine.

The gorge is 12,000 years in the making by Glen Creek which has worn down the rocks that are millions of years old.

The workers who built the bridges, tunnels and steps in the early 1900s did absolutely beautiful work.

Many water-eroded pools.

Pools are formed through shifting waterfalls over thousands of years.

Staircase waterfalls everywhere.

See all the folks below from my view near the top?

Close-up view of photo above . . .

I couldn't stop taking photos . . .

This waterfall on the pathway caused a traffic issue.

See the traffic congestion below? Didn't bother me at all! Just too beautiful! Everyone was content to be awed while waiting.

This little guy slept through all the excitement!

See the fracture?

Here's the explanation.

Everywhere, more beauty.

Each step was beautiful.

Plenty of tunnels too.

This tunnel was spiral shaped.

The spiral stairs led to a waterfall on the path.

The men who dug and chiseled these tunnels amaze me.

The story behind how all this natural beauty became available to the public . . . .

When I finished the walk at the pavilion (which is probably 100 years old), several folks were preparing for a wedding. What a beautiful place to have a wedding.

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Queen Catherine Montour of New York and Pennsylvania

     I wasn't taught about "Queen Catherine" in high school history. I found out about her during a bike ride on a trail named "Catherine Valley Trail" which loosely follows Catherine Creek near Montour Falls, New York.

     She led a fascinating life during the Colonial Era (click on her name in first paragraph for story). Being part Native Indian and part French Canadian, she was bi-lingual and made peace possible for the two cultures.
     The beginning of the trail was unique; a ramp over the highway which connected to the steep hill on the other side.

     The trail was shady and woodsy, carved into a steep forested mountain.

     I stopped at the town of Montour Falls. Since the namesake waterfalls was dry, I stopped to visit Eagle Cliff Falls. Unlike other waterfalls, folks have to walk "up" and not down to see these falls.

I was perplexed to see moms, tots, infants and blow-up toys on the stairway up to the waterfalls.

But at the top of the stairs, when I saw the beautiful 41-foot falls and its 8-inch deep swimming hole, I understood!

This is the Real McCoy, not a water park!

Moms bring their infants, too.

Biked through the town of Montour Falls where they were having a Classic Car Show on a street closed to traffic.

Later that night, there was a play at their historic Theater.

Back on the Catherine Valley Trail . . . .

. . . and finally "home" to Horseheads, New York, where I spent two nights at a Boondockers backyard. Corky and Paula's backyard includes an above-ground pool, hot tub, and a tent-covered patio. They invited their neighbors over and we all had a great evening together just talking, drinking, and laughing easily. New Yorkers are fun folks, including the folks I met briefly in Montour Falls. They enjoy making wisecracks that keep everyone laughing.

     I was joined by another camper van, a young family of four traveling in a Sprinter (plus tent) and towing their little VW car. Amazingly, this family from Massachusetts will travel for the next year (click here for their blog). Matt and Mom homeschool their 9 and 11 year old daughter and son. Their son is already learning how to design and construct lean-to's; quickly named "Little Lair".

     While sitting peacefully in Corky and Paula's backyard bench, I witnessed an insect snatch a fly sitting on the bench with me, hop with the fly to a nearby rock, insert its tube into the fly to suck it dry for about five minutes (throbbing abdomen), then nonchalantly brush the carcass off the rock with its two front legs. It wiped its front legs over its face (and maybe a burp or two?) then flew off into the wild. When I last looked at the fly carcass, an ant was figuring out how to move it.

Up next, the astounding Watkins Glenn State Park.