Happy New Year From Mt. Dora

And a Happier, Healthier New Year to All!!    When we woke up on January 1, 2016 - It looked like the year that just ended but, hey, let’s not judge it yet and give the New Year a chance.

Congratulations to the Michigan Wolverines who handily whooped the Florida Gators in the Citrus Bowl stadium down here in Orlando!  We had been out exploring Winter Garden when the game came on so we listened to the enthusiastic announcers on the radio calling all the game plays. Their

exuberance sounded more like they were calling a horse race instead of a football game!  We were close enough to the stadium we could see the big blimp slowly circling above!  We were home by half time and were glued to our seats in front of the TV for the rest of the game.  Oh – and congrats to Ohio State for winning their game also.

Fountains of Winter Garden

The Christmas displays are still up in downtown Winter Garden.   On this visit, the dancing fountains were busy with little tots and their attentive parents.  The little ones would giggle and dance and then when the

water spray would stop, they would turn and look to see where the tall wet refreshing spray went.  Whoosh!  It would start up again and so would the giggling!  

Fishing pier at Winter Garden

On each visit to Winter Garden, we must visit the peaceful lake front park on the edge of downtown next to the slimy green Lake Apopka to stroll the bridges, sidewalks and lone fishing pier . . .. and look for alligators.  There were none to be found on this visit!  Lake Erie is not alone in its fight against pollution and Algae Blooms.

So far, this January in central Florida has been sunny, warm and humid but the breeze coming off the lake, just 20 or so feet from the back of the trailer has kept the heat under control.   #8, then #7, then #6 were our normal 1^st choices of campsites at the other end of the small dusty circle of 15 sites. This year we are nestled in on site #12 and the back of the trailer with all its huge windows is about 20 feet from the small waves that lick the shoreline.  Palm trees, Cypress and Live Oak trees draped with silvery Spanish moss border the shoreline and protect the trailer with dappled shade during the warm afternoons.  Across the lake, the sunsets are either glowing gold that softly change to bold corals before disappearing into the blackness of night or shades of silver with bright chrome accents of light glimmering across the steel shades of the water with the stark silhouettes of the trees standing guard.  And, yes, we have seen the alligator lurking out past all the reeds! The owl is still here, as are the woodpeckers, cardinals, a flock of shorebirds that resemble long legged, hungry chickens and the always-present squirrels, chasing each other thru the palmetto brush!

In the past, Webster Florida has been best known for it’s HUGE Flea Market that has ALWAYS been open only on Wednesday. S had taken me to this market years ago and we had only managed to complete about a quarter of the rows and rows of venders.  This year, H answered the call to finally go explore this market, so off we ventured – across long bridges and thru tiny towns with silly names like Howie-In-The-Hills and Yalaha.  As we drew nearer to where the market was, we noticed the lack of the normal backed up traffic that comes with popular flea markets.  As we approached the intersection, we then noticed the empty parking lots and the skeletons of wooden tables where the busy, hawking venders should have been.  All of the multiple rows and rows of rickety, rotten tables looked like a neglected cemetery with decayed, dilapidated grave markers.  I guess we should have checked before we ventured out, eh?  The trip was not a total bust – we did enjoy the great scenery and on the way back to base we stopped at a German Bakery in Yalaha that we had been told about.  This ethnically designed big yellow building was painted with German designs over all the windows, the doorway, and even over the archway to the outdoor sitting area.  Inside, crusty looking loaves of flour dusted bread sat on the shelves and in the front glass display case were all the pastries - expensive but delicious looking!  H’s choice was the small, creamy rich hazelnut confection in a scrumptious chocolate-crusted pie appropriately called “Fat Man’s Misery”

Bakery in Yalaha, Fl.

We’re here in Trimble Park for 2 weeks and we have another week yet to go. A cold front and rain are pushing out the warm sunny weather. So we’ll see what is to come!

Merry Christmas 2015

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR FAMILY & FRIENDS!

Best wishes for health and happiness in the New Year!  Healing and comfort also!

 

The heat and humidity is still abounds as we said “Goodbye” to all our new friends and moved out of Salt Springs and headed for Ross Prairie Campground just south of Ocala in preparation for spending Christmas with D&S.  As usual, my sister has decorated the inside of their home with brightly colored trees, poinsettias, red ribbons and anything sparkly and gold!  Out front, surrounded by more poinsettias, was my favorite large white 3-piece Nativity Scene that has greeted us for the last 7 years of our spending the holiday with them!  On the front door was a beautiful, welcoming wreath and the walkway was lined with the large red bells that played Christmas music when you walked by!  Christmas Day was enjoyed by visiting with D’s son, daughter and son in law and caught up with the events of the last year!   After our scrumptious dinner we came home with leftovers to enjoy! 

Our time in Ocala was shorter this year but we did find the time to go re-explore Dunnellon, the Rainbow River and Rainbow Springs State Park. Of course, we walked the sprawling Paddock Mall, Dicks Sporting Goods and even Hobby Lobby!!

The path leading from Ocala was much more uneventful this year than last - with it’s multi stopping to cool off the overheated wheel bearings!  The “train” cruised on with only a short delay for breakfast at Cracker Barrel where we thoroughly enjoyed one of our Christmas Gift Cards! 

Marina lights and reflections

Trimble Park, just outside of Mt Dora, is one of our favorites.  And Mt Dora celebrates Christmas to the fullest!   We delayed our first trip to town till after the gorgeous coral sunset had faded and the homes along the roadway had turned on their sparkling decorations of lights.  SPFB’s for my blathering about the millions of bright lights that adorn the large marina that we pass by each time we go to downtown!  This year they even outdid themselves with all the boathouses covered in bright blue lights that reflected over the ripples on the water of the small cove.  From our vantage point you could see the palm trees, standing tall and wound around with even more bright lights.  HA!  Maybe we should have worn our sunglasses! As we drove by the decorated fence, there was a big red boat parked, with a big red Santa occupying the Captains seat.  Several reindeer were in the back seat!  A nativity completed the collection of holiday scenes.

 

We managed to find a parking spot on the crowded streets and strolled the busy shopping area of downtown.  The tall Christmas tree that used to be hid in a large empty plaza has been moved to the middle of a blocked off street so you don’t have to go far to be amazed by this brightly lit spectacle.  The lights still dance and change with the music!   Across the street is a 1920’s bungalow that has been transformed into a gift shop.  It’s covered with lights and decorated in a gingerbread theme!  Down the hill is the public marina so you can see and hear the tree from the waterfront!  The shops that line the narrow streets are outlined with more lights and all the small trees that dot the sidewalks are draped with even more white lights!  We really should have worn our sunglasses!

So, we’re parked in Trimble Park now for 2 weeks to enjoy the scenery and make more new friends.  Stay tuned, dear ones and we’ll share our adventure with you!

Ocala National Forest

"Back in the forest again!”  Sounds like a Gene Autry song.

 Most things are the same - kayaking with the manatees, swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful spring with the always moving school of silver-sided mullet, riding our bikes and walking up to the office to borrow wifi.  The campground area is still dotted with long needled pine and live oak draped w/long strands of web like Spanish moss.  There are still bears in the neighborhood but we haven’t seen any no matter what sandy forest road we explore.  The park is getting fuller with a plethora of motorhomes, oversized vans, 5^th wheels and trailers - with the usual population swelling on the weekends and empty spots opening up once more on Sunday afternoon.  The closer we get to Christmas - more of the rigs are beginning to stay.  Folks from Ontario, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Connecticut!  Even Montana and South Dakota!  What’s changed is that the local grocery store is closed so there are no more tasty hot chicken livers for us to get our fill of!

In our wanderings we’ve headed north to Palatka for H to shoot skeet at the Palatka Skeet Club.  On our first venture, H shot with a trio of new shooters, one of which was a BRAND new shooter.  H stepped in to coach her on her unsure stance and awkward handling of the gun. By the time both rounds were over, she was doing much better and even hit some of the bright orange disks as they flew across in front of her!  On the next Wednesday, he joined in with a fun foursome of seniors whose group name was –“Blind, Deaf, Infirmed Skeet Club”.  Their official uniforms were black tees w/HOT pink printing!  They must have felt that H qualified for those 3 requirements, because they made him an honorary member!  To make it really official we were also invited to join several of them for lunch at our new favorite restaurant- Corky Bell’s. 

 

On our 1^st trip to Corky Bell’s, we enjoyed our deviled crab & shrimp lunch out on the large terraced deck so we could take in the expanse of the St Johns River.  A bonus thrill was when an eagle flew over and landed on the dock next door!  We also noticed a new addition to the deck area - a large PVC pipe that extended from above the railing to down under the water level far below.  We learned that when bass tournaments were held there, the live captured fish were released back into the water via that long tube.

One day of exploration led us to an RV Show that was listed as being huge and free – and was at the Daytona International Speedway.  Obviously we don’t need a new RV but it was at the SPEEDWAY and neither of us has ever been to the speedway!  There were a lot of rigs at the show but they were all from one dealership and the show was in the parking lot and not inside the racetrack as we had hoped.  Those grandstands are HUGH! 

 

As long as we were in Daytona we made our way to the beach to walk the boardwalk and shop a few tee shirt shops!  No driving on the beach this time tho – the entrance gates were staffed and fees were being collected.

 

On yet another day out on the road we ended up in Sanford – SE of the forest.  As usual we checked out the marina area and even got in some Christmas window shopping at the brightly decorated, busy, sprawling mall.  On the way home we finally stopped to see the landing area for the Juniper Springs Canoe and Kayak Run.  We had been invited to kayak the run with a group of neighbors in the park but the trip was going to be 6 hours of narrow, very shallow congested paddling.  They were going to transport us and our kayaks along with theirs and then we all would paddle back down to the landing where the truck would be parked.   However, 6 hours is a very long time for us to be captive in the kayaks so H graciously declined their friendly offer.  The landing was very well staged and had an appropriately placed slot to slide a kayak into for easy disembarking.  Also included in the landscape was a well placed sign warning about the presence of alligators!!

Our two weeks of warm sunny weather has been interrupted by a night full of rain pounding on the curved roof of the trailer followed by 2 days of cool weather and another night of cold temps.  This “cold front” has now passed and we will again see sunny days and temps in the high 70’s and low to mid 80’s.   The weatherman is forecasting 80 degrees by the first day of winter and 85 degrees by Christmas day!  Really rough, eh?

Christmas is fast approaching.  It’s time to move to Ocala. 

Southward Bound

SNOW?!!?    A week before Thanksgiving and we got 4 inches of the stuff!  Sparkling white, beautiful snow!  Would it still be around for the grand start of our Winter 2015 Venture??  Would it cause a delay?  NO – Thankfully, or sadly, the gorgeous glittering wonderland in our back yard was back to drab green and dull brown by Thanksgiving Day.  Thanksgiving, as usual was held at Dave and Staci’s home and our family Christmas was on the Sunday following.  Last year, Jean and her family and Dave and his family met us at the perfect facility – Nazareth Hall in Grand Rapids Ohio (See Previous Florida Blog!) but this year we met at LaRoe’s Restaurant in historic downtown Grand Rapids.  Not a very extensive buffet but it was still good to get this part of our families together before we left for the winter again!

This year’s route south was the same as last but without all the wheel bearing problems.  Going thru Columbus Ohio, H smelled something hot and for a moment got nervous but as it turned out – it was hot brakes from a semi truck and not our wheels.  The rain that we started out with when we left Michigan was still with us when we parked for our first night out at Paintsville Lake State Park in Kentucky.  Bud and Carol parked in the spot we had last year and we parked right across the little campground loop road.  The memory of all the ups and downs of US 23 must have faded from our minds, but we prevailed and crossed Tennessee, Virginia and entered the bad roads of North Carolina, thru Asheville and down to Strausberg where we parked in the mud at Cunningham’s RV Park for the next night. 

 

In Virginia, H made an executive decision and turned off the highway to stop and see Natural Tunnel State Park.  After a short winding narrow road we reached the dome of the small state park and got out for a well-deserved chance to stretch our cramped legs.   While H and I had been to this amazing little park a long time ago, B&C had not and seemed amazed at the view from the top of the gorge – looking down into the gargantuan mouth of the train tunnel below.  On our last visit, H and I rode the ski lift down into the valley to stroll into that mammoth opening in the mountainside.  Before we climbed back into our vehicles, C and I climbed aboard a festive looking bright green steam train engine that had been in the park since 1996 and pretended to wave to imaginary well-wishers.          

In Savannah Georgia, we parked for 2 nights in Skidaway Island State Park.  It was easy to park our collective wagon train since all the campsites were large half circle pull thru’s.  We had all been to this historic town before so we just enjoyed refreshing our memories and strolled in and out most of the intimate little shops that are still nestled below the shops on the main road level.  Then, poor Bud had to follow H’s directions as he tried to steer around the small green parks that were hidden among the city’s quaint antique homes.

From Savannah to Jacksonville Florida, our route detoured out onto A1A and Amelia Island to stroll the busy holiday decorated streets of Fernandina.  As in Savannah, it was cold and windy near the waterfront but as we walked and shopped further inland we were able to get a bit warmer.  Of course, I had on my eclectic collection of patches jacket and several folks stopped to ask or comment about it.  One shopkeeper lady was so impressed with my jacket that she even handed me a circular white patch with the Fernandina Lighthouse on it with instructions that I should affix it to a hat since there was no more room on my jacket!

 

Finally arriving in Jacksonville we fought our way thru all the cross-town traffic to park for 2 nights in Abbey Hanna Park & Campground.  The following day’s choice of exploration was lunch at Singletons Seafood in Mayport before heading farther down A1A to St Augustine.  H felt the cheapest place to park was the parking lot for the Castillo de San Marcos Fort since at 5pm the parking there would be free AND it was close to Old Town.  Out on the lawn of the fort were 3 sets of costumed soldiers – Old Spanish, English Red Coats and Old Floridian.  As we shivered in the cold wind, they proceeded to demonstrate how they loaded and then shoot several rounds with their temperamental muskets.  As long as we were there at the fort, and had our Eagle Passports, we chose to tour the big stone structure once more.  In and out of the small cave-like rooms we went, and then up the wide steps to the 4 diamond shaped bastions with the wide protected walkways still lined with large black cannons.  We did our own walking tour of old town, took a hot chocolate break, toured the interesting museum of dug out canoes in the restored Government House.  The nice ladies there even let us sit for a while, out of the wind, in their little courtyard.  We tried our best to wait till dusk for the lighting of the trees in the park at the end of old town but the cold got the best of us and we voted to head for home.  In the warmth of the car, we enjoyed the Christmas lights on A1A instead!

In the morning, it was time to go our separate ways – B&C followed I 95 south to reach their winter parking spot in Lake Placid and we took US 17 down thru Palatka to our 2 week home in Salt Springs

Niagara Falls

The trailer is still in the driveway and is half packed for Florida.  However – the truck is in the body shop and the insurance company has issued a rental car that happened to have UNLIMITED miles AND gets 40 miles to the gallon.   You know H cannot resist putting miles on a vehicle that gets that kind of mileage – especially when it’s not his!

Niagara Falls, here we come.  It had been a long time since we’ve visited and on our last few trips, the falls were covered with sparking ice and snow! This time the sun was shining and temps in the 50’s.  The traffic was not too bad until we reached Buffalo NY where we missed our turn and ended up winding around thru downtown.  We caught back up with Rt 190 that zoomed along the eastern edge of Lake Erie and headed north once more to Niagara.  Lodging was secured at Motel 8 and we quickly made our way to downtown Niagara Falls to refresh our memory and tried to determine what had changed.  The indoor mall with the greenhouse attached was gone and the state parks that line the American side are in the process of being upgraded.  Parking was free the last time but even in the state parks the fee was $8 and up!   By the time we drove out onto Goat Island and wound thru the construction areas to find the falls overlooks, the sun was setting and the twinkling lights across the river in Canada were sparkling against the dark buildings and ever darkening sky.  The colored beams of light began to shine on the misting waters as they plunged over both the American and the Canadian side of the falls.

Lockport NY

Tuesday’s weather was threatening rain so we had our coffee and breakfast and headed out to explore.   In one of the books we had picked up was an article about Lockport and the remnants of the Erie Canal and the restored historic locks that were right in the middle of town.   Cobblestone buildings still surround the deep canal and are well preserved.   On to our next point of interest before the rain got any heavier!  We headed back northwest to where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario.  There we found Fort Niagara and the 3 flags she flies – one for each of the countries that claimed ownership at one time – England, France and America. The rain was coming a bit heavier now.  We missed the turn lane for the bridge to Canada, and instead, ended up enjoying a scenic ride south along the tall cliffs of the Niagara River with stops at the Devils Hole and the overlook for the huge power dams that line both sides of the river.  On south we found the Whirlpool and it’s swirling waters and finally got the correct lane for the Rainbow Bridge and Canada.  Our passports were ready!  The gentleman at the customs booth gave us directions to reach Niagara on the Lake and once again found ourselves on another scenic (albeit wet) road that skirted the western edge of the swift river below.  Back up on the coast of Lake Ontario, Niagara on the Lake is still the pretty little town that we remembered – just way wetter!  We did manage locate the Canadian Fort George that matched the fort on the American side.

Niagara on the Lake Ca.

 Time was running out and we wanted to be able to see the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side so we set the GPS to get us back down to Niagara Falls.  By then it was raining so hard that at times you could not even see the falls.  Traffic was getting hectic and the roads were dark and swallowing up all lights – except the headlights that were aimed at us!  One more slow drive along the park that border the falls and I was delegated to quickly jump out and snap whatever pictures that I could get, in spite of the “No Stopping” signs that were painted in the curb lane.   Enough! – time to head back over the bridge and find our home for one more night.

 

Wednesday we reversed our route and headed back south thru Buffalo, making all the right turns this time and easily found I 90 West.  We exited it again at the Pennsylvania border to enjoy a slower pace of traffic and enjoy the small towns and the views of Lake Erie.  Back on again at the Ohio border, but we detoured once more to follow Rt 6 thru downtown Cleveland and then on to Sandusky Ohio.  We endured rain on and off thru New York and Pennsylvania but the sun was shining when we reached Rt 2 that led to Toledo and home.

The very next day the winds picked up and hit gusts of up to 50 mph.  Now that that has passed, it’s time to get serious about finishing up the mowing and cleaning up leaves and getting everything secure for winter.  Time to finish packing the trailer!  I better not forget the sewing machine!

Color Tour Part 2

View from welcome center

Another cool cloudy day arrived but we were not afraid – we had places to go – things to see! We drove up and around Tioga once more, past the manicured green lawns that covered the dams that divided the two reservoirs.  Our first stop was the Pennsylvania Welcome Center on Rt 15.  The sprawling brick building sat high on the hill that overlooked the small town, the massive dam, the two end to end bodies of dark water, the high banked sides of the weir that kept the acidic water of Tioga lake from entering the waters of Hammond Lake and the campground nestled on the velvety green and gold banks in the distance. 

Wellsboro Pa.

Back in the truck we drove down and thru Mansfield and turned right and headed west to find Wellsboro.  When you walk the quaint streets of downtown Wellsboro, the feeling that you have stepped back in time slowly covers you.  On the main thoroughfare, gas lamps in the boulevard flicker just like they did 200 years ago.  Surrounding their black wrought iron bases were tall corn stalks with bright orange pumpkins at their feet which set the mood for the Mid October day.  On the sides of the wide street were well cared for and preserved buildings – like the 1939 Sterling Diner car that sits on the corner of Main and East Ave. – or the 1921 Arcadia Theatre, - or the Deane Center for the Performing Arts, - or the Dunham Department store.  The town is also known for it’s Dickens Christmas but we can’t stay here that long!

 

Grand Canyon of Pa.

Wellsboro is also called the starting point for the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.  Our last visit was in the summer and was from the seat of a motorcycle.  As we drove the winding narrow blacktopped road this time, neither of us remembered any of it!  As we descended from the truck and approached the deep, wide gorge – we realized why.  We had been on the opposite side of the canyon!  Whether it was because it was now fall and the colors were so very vibrant, we both agreed that this east rim at the Leonard Harrison State Park was the best side to enjoy the view of the valley and Pine River far below!  I couldn’t stop taking “one more” picture from each new step and each new angle of view!  Ohhhs and Ahhhs also abounded!

Morning fog lifting

Then came the foreboding weather forecast that hinted of the winter “S” word!   Rather than be involved in inclement weather that far from home – we chose to pack up and head towards the west and closer to Michigan.   One mile led to another and we crossed the Ohio-Pennsylvania line.  Our first attempt to stop for the day ended up with us being turned away from a full campground.  On a THURSDAY?   In October??  Yes – because it was an OFFICIAL Halloween weekend!  Needless to say it was well after dark and in a drizzling rain when we finally backed the train into an empty site in Findley State Park just east of Norwalk Ohio.  Holding the flashlight high and shining it down onto my white baseball hat, gave H a good target to aim for when he was backing up in the pitch-black darkness!

Findley State Park occupies 838 acres of thick woods, complete with hiking trails and a small lake and is just 2 miles south of yet another quaint historic town – Wellington.   On our way home, the road choice was the Norwalk bypass or business route 23 thru the heart of this small town that we had been passed a million times but had never been “thru” it.  Thankfully the truck wheels were kept straight and we even managed to find a parking spot long enough for us to park on the main street in bustling downtown.  Historic downtown Norwalk is home to Berry’s Restaurant which was established in 1946 and is still owned by the same family.  The present restaurant is part of the original St Charles Hotel that was built in 1867.  One of the dining rooms was once a confectionery store, one was a cigar store and the 3^rd was a Singer Sewing machine store.   Good service and great food!    The closer we came to Toledo, the darker the clouds became. Luck was with us and we skirted around the heavy bank of dark clouds as we crossed the Veterans Memorial Skyway Bridge and made the last few miles to Michigan without getting wet.

The trailer is still in the driveway and is patiently waiting for a final tune-up before getting repacked to head south in just another month.  See you then.

Fall color tour

I feel like I should apologize for not letting everyone know that we did take our annual July/August up and around the beautiful state of Michigan.  Things got rather hectic when we arrived back home and then after so many weeks it was just not gonna happen.  But now autumn has arrived and we’re out hunting for fall color and falls with water!  H rolled his final decision dice and Pennsylvania won!

Getting out of Toledo on a Sunday morning was easy since all the road construction was halted for their day of rest!  Rt 20 took us to Norwalk Ohio and then on to the interstate, past Akron and Youngstown.  Picturesque northwestern Pennsylvania with her small quaint towns, vibrantly colored hills and sprawling farms kept us Oohing and Ahhing at every turn.   All that rural-ness meant no gas stations and the next decent sized town was 20 some miles away when H chose to take a 10-mile side trip to visit the Kinzua Sky Walk at the SE edge of the Allegheny National Forest

The engineering masterpiece – the Kinzua Viaduct once soared 301 feet high and 2,053 feet across was once the highest and longest railroad bridge in the world.  This bridge had spanned the gorge for over a century but was partially destroyed by a tornado in 2003.  Eleven of the 20 support towers were ripped, twisted and thrown to the valley floor along with all the lush green trees that lined the valley.  The Kinzua Sky Walk was built on the remaining 6 original steel towers and was opened to the public in September of 2011.  Out at the end of the reinvented pedestrian overlook is a glass floor, which shows dizzying views of the valley below. The walk out to that section of thick glass was dizzying enough for me so I did NOT venture to step on to it!  I stood near it to take a quick picture and then grabbed hold of the sturdy railing that surrounded the entire walkway!  Two other – closer to land - overlooks offered even more amazing views of the walkway and the opposite hillside still strewn with the collapsed rusty supports.  In another year the visitor center will be completed and open and filled with more history and amazing facts about the bridge and sky walk.

On to Smethport for gas and breakfast - with just a pint or two of gas yet in the tank!   Once all of our “tanks” were full we drove thru the “Mansion” district and tried to imagine living in one during their heyday.   The road beckoned and we pushed on to the Tioga-Hammond Lakes Area and the Ives Run Campground that nestled in the valleys by the two end to end reservoirs.  What a gorgeous campsite we were issued!  We sat high on a knoll that overlooked the sloping hills, the dark peaceful water below and the tall earthen dams that were built on the opposite side.  Once settled we explored by foot the sprawling campground with all of its spacious green sites, ample boat docks and launches. We even drove the “two track” path that led up thru the glowing golden trees.

Day three arrived with dark clouds, rain and wind but who cared – we were off to explore the neighboring state of New York via the nearest town of Corning and then to revisit Watkins Glen!  By the time we arrived at WG the sun was out and the hillsides were again looking like overstuffed richly colored velvet quilts!
As we approached the long, dark, narrow, damp, deep crack in the mountain that is known by the name of Watkins Glen Gorge, memories of our biking days rushed back to us.  Along with other visitors, we wound our way up along the wet walkways that hung to the sides of the crevice, past ribbons of water and crashing waterfalls.  From near the top, the widening edges of erosion from all the centuries of water that had rushed past showed how the water had washed away the sides of that once solid rock. Amazing and awesome!

The village of Watkins Glen sits at the very southern tip of Seneca Lake.  The 30-mile long, 3-mile wide lake is next to the longest lake in the collection of lakes in NY referred to as the Finger Lakes.  The WG harbor is home to a vast amount of pleasure boats – both sail and motor!  We found the public pier and the tour boat – the Strollar IV that was built in 1934, just backing out of port!  At the end of the pier was the schooner True Love!   Out past the pier were the growing dark ominous clouds of the next storm so we climbed back in the truck and headed south. We headed south 5 miles to the small town of Montour Falls to see if the She-que-ga Falls had changed much over the years.   Nope – it was still right there at the edge of the “historic” downtown, prominently displayed at the back of the little park just like she had been all those years ago when the motorcycle was our main vacation vehicle.  We laughed because the very first time we tried to find it, we had ridden ALL around the town and could not see it!   We must have driven right by it but never looked at the back of the park!  We finally drove Main Street TOWARDS the mountain – and low and behold – there it was! 

Today we revisit the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania and the quaint town of Wellsboro, which still lights up her nights with gas lamps!