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October 15, 2007
Monday
We drove to Watkins Glen State Park, in Watkins Glen at the foot of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes district of New York. Watkins Glen is a 1 ½ mile gorge cut through limestone by Glen Creek over the course of 12,000 years.
Morvalden Ells started charging visitors to walk through the gorge in 1836. The government of New York resented private encroachment on public enjoyment and took over the attraction in 1906.
The gorge rises 500 feet during the course of its ascent on 800 stone stair steps. Gail and I walked about a half mile, perhaps 200 stair steps, and, deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, valorously returned to the park and had a picnic lunch on a bench beside Glen Creek.
We drove up the east side of Seneca Lake and visited wineries, seduced occasionally by signs saying that local wines had won gold medals. We were fooled twice, then bypassed the rest until we arrived at Lamoreaux Landing, which we knew from a previous visit produces superior wines.
We finally rolled into Geneva and checked into our hotel there, in spite of road work that reduced the entry to a graveled street leading to an iron plated ramp into the driveway next to a transient bus station.
Tuesday
We drove from Geneva to North Canton, Ohio. We arrived at Harry London Chocolate, home of
the Chocolate Hall of Fame, in time for the 2:00 tour and found out that 1-800-FLOWERS now owns Harry London.
We paid three dollars for the tour and received a two dollar discount in the candy store afterward, a solid blow for capitalism.
Afterward we found our hotel in Canton, checked in and prepared for a long drive the next day, into a new time zone.
Wednesday
We drove to Springfield, Illinois, stopping for gasoline in Rantoul, former home of Chanute Air Force Base where I spent my 21st birthday and corresponded with my future bride, Gail.
As we drove through town, we passed a brick building that displayed two signs, "Cold Beer" and "Open for Breakfast." A fantastic combination.
We checked into the Statehouse Clarion and the desk clerk gave us certificates for free drinks at their bar. That was a nice treat, to show their appreciation for all the trouble we went to to arrive in Springfield.
After cocktails, we ordered Pizza Surprise from Papa John’s for room delivery and that was the end of our day.
Monday
We drove to Watkins Glen State Park, in Watkins Glen at the foot of Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes district of New York. Watkins Glen is a 1 ½ mile gorge cut through limestone by Glen Creek over the course of 12,000 years.
Morvalden Ells started charging visitors to walk through the gorge in 1836. The government of New York resented private encroachment on public enjoyment and took over the attraction in 1906.
The gorge rises 500 feet during the course of its ascent on 800 stone stair steps. Gail and I walked about a half mile, perhaps 200 stair steps, and, deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, valorously returned to the park and had a picnic lunch on a bench beside Glen Creek.
We drove up the east side of Seneca Lake and visited wineries, seduced occasionally by signs saying that local wines had won gold medals. We were fooled twice, then bypassed the rest until we arrived at Lamoreaux Landing, which we knew from a previous visit produces superior wines.
We finally rolled into Geneva and checked into our hotel there, in spite of road work that reduced the entry to a graveled street leading to an iron plated ramp into the driveway next to a transient bus station.
Tuesday
We drove from Geneva to North Canton, Ohio. We arrived at Harry London Chocolate, home of
the Chocolate Hall of Fame, in time for the 2:00 tour and found out that 1-800-FLOWERS now owns Harry London.We paid three dollars for the tour and received a two dollar discount in the candy store afterward, a solid blow for capitalism.
Afterward we found our hotel in Canton, checked in and prepared for a long drive the next day, into a new time zone.
Wednesday
We drove to Springfield, Illinois, stopping for gasoline in Rantoul, former home of Chanute Air Force Base where I spent my 21st birthday and corresponded with my future bride, Gail.
As we drove through town, we passed a brick building that displayed two signs, "Cold Beer" and "Open for Breakfast." A fantastic combination.
We checked into the Statehouse Clarion and the desk clerk gave us certificates for free drinks at their bar. That was a nice treat, to show their appreciation for all the trouble we went to to arrive in Springfield.After cocktails, we ordered Pizza Surprise from Papa John’s for room delivery and that was the end of our day.
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