Sightseeing in Upstate New York
My favorite part of my stay in the Finger Lakes was setting up camp in one place for an entire month. It felt more like the lifestyle I envisioned when I set out last May. Some days were spent exploring the surrounding area, some were spent visiting famous attractions, I had a wonderful time visiting with a long-time friend, and even spent a bit of time just hanging around the house or doing laundry. It was exactly how I pictured my life to be and that made it perfect.
The campground I stayed in was predominantly seasonal campers with a couple dozen sites for “in-and-out” campers. Since I was there in Autumn, the campground was nearly deserted during the week but would come alive on the weekends.
My home for the month of October at Flint Creek Campground.
The motorhome was backed up to a black walnut tree, which I didn’t realize until the started dropping on the roof. The two-inch orbs would strike with such tremendous force that it sounded like bowling balls hitting the room. As you can imagine, this was particularly startling in the middle of the night.
Black walnuts sound like bowling balls when they hit the roof of the motorhome.
Click to view video of empty campground.
The campground came alive on the weekends.
Flint Creek Campground is a family-run business and the husband, wife and son couldn’t have been more welcoming. WiFi was only available at the office so I would go up there twice a day with my laptop. Sometimes I would set up in their rec hall or even in the front office. I bought a new laptop that was delivered to me at the campground and I needed to transfer software and files from my big iMac so I brought everything to the rec hall and spent several hours transferring data from one to the other. They frequently joked about my personal office space. When I left after 32 days, they gave me a hand-painted wine glass as a parting gift. It was a heart-warming gesture and I use this glass all the time.
Hand-painted wine glass given to me as a parting gift at the end of my stay.
My barometer for measuring if my stay in an area has been a success is if I become a regular in the neighborhood bar. At the end of the street from the campground was Smuggler’s Corner where nearly everyone at the bar is a local. On my third visit, my bartender Julie asked if I wanted “the usual.” Wow! That was fast! I swear I don’t really drink that much. I think it had more to do with my choice of Old Grand Dad bourbon and ginger ale. On my last visit to the bar, I learned that Julie had suffered a cardiac event and had just come home from the hospital. I wish I’d had a chance to say “good-bye.”
My bartender, Julie, hands me my “usual” at Smugglers Corner in Potter, NY.
One of my first outings was to Watkins Glen. Most famous for Nascar racing, the town is named for the gorge that runs through it. For the nominal cost of $8, you can enter the State Park and hike the two-mile trail that follows the stream as it descends 400 feet and passes 19 waterfalls. Parts of the trail can be slightly challenging but, for the most part, it’s an easy hike. That is, until you have to walk back up from the bottom.
Another outing took me to Niagra Falls State Park. I’ve been here a few times before so I skipped the fee-based attractions and opted, instead, to simply walk the different observation areas that are accessible for free to the public.
Click to view video of Niagra Falls.
The same shot of the American Falls using different photographic techniques. The top image was shot using a fast shutter speed to “freeze” the water as it cascades over the edge. For the bottom image, I slowed the shutter speed so the water blurs, producing a “ribbon” effect. This is my favorite way to photograph waterfalls.
One day, while reading the local paper, I noticed this announcement for the weekly dinner at a local church. I’ve heard of spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts, but I thought Goulash was an odd choice for a church supper so I just had to go and see for myself. Besides, where else could I get dinner for only three dollars?
Newspaper ad for Goulash Supper.
On Monday evening, I arrived at the First Baptist Church, eager to taste my first dish of Goulash. As I entered the community room, it became quite apparent that everyone in the place knew each other and they all looked at me like I was an alien. I looked around the room hoping to find someone who seemed like they’d welcome a stranger to dine with. I found a farmer and his wife who turned out to be quite enjoyable company. She’s a seamstress so we had a lot in common to talk about.
I told them how I came to be there that night and to my surprise, was informed that the Goulash Supper had been the previous week. Apparently, I had read a week-old newspaper. But I was in luck, I learned as my new friends whispered to me that the Goulash was something worthy of missing and tonight I would get a real treat with chicken and biscuits. And, boy, were they right. The food was delicious and the conversation pleasant. All-in-all, not a bad way to spend an evening in an unfamiliar town.
Church members dishing out the chicken and biscuits onto plates identical to the ones my mother used for my entire life. In fact, they’re still in use in the house in Florida.
Chicken and biscuits with mixed vegetables at the church supper.
I took several drives through the countryside as the leaves began to change color.
Corn field on rolling hills.
View of a farm as seen from a neighboring hillside.
Red leaves back-lit by the autumn sun.
Weathered barn wood.
This red barn really stands out against the wooded hillside.
Dusk on Canandaigua Lake.
Marshmallow farm. Bet you didn’t know that’s where they came from.
Upcoming post:
Moving on to Pennsylvania.
