Finger Lakes, New York

September 1st-We have now been on the road for a week and can honestly say we are adjusting well.  Miss Jim B is very comfortable and we are all enjoying her very much.  It’s pretty cool to take your home wherever you go. There is a lot of freedom with not having to worry about the typical mundane homeowner chores like lawn mowing and cleaning a big house.  We have spent a week in New York and are driving to Cape Cod today.  We have been extremely impressed with the New York State parks (they are everywhere) and the dimension of the state.  Below is a detailed account of our last few days.                                 Sunday, August 28th-Today Hurricane Irene hit this area and we awoke to a steady downpour of rain.  We had church in Miss Jim B and then set off for some sightseeing.  We enjoyed driving down along side of Cuyaga Lake.  Even though it was raining, we enjoyed seeing the vineyards and farmland along the lake.  We stopped to get a glimpse of the Taumerack Falls which has a vertical drop of 200 feet.  We ended up in Ithaca which is at the end of the lake.  We enjoyed driving up to Ithaca College and walking through the music building.  We found a Starbucks where we enjoyed a hot drink while lounging in the Hilton Lobby where I wrote the last blog.

We went to the Corning Museum of Glass.  It was very impressive and educational.  It was amazing to see how glass has developed and the varied uses of glass.  We learned that the basic component of glass is silicon, sodium and calcium and that the Egyptians used a basic form of glass.  Red glass is the most expensive because it has gold in it.  It was fun to see all the beautiful art pieces and the scientific uses of this medim.  A highlight was watching a live glass making show.  Mark won the raffle and a handblown blue bowl.  Janae and Stefan got to blow glass to make their own Christmas ornaments.  Also impressed the Corning Glass has been in business for 60 years and hasn’t sold out to China.

Stefan blowing his ornament

Janae making her ornament

Moss huts

  Monday, August 29th-We awoke to a beautiful, sunny day.  Everyone had left the camping area at Cuyuga State Park and we had it all to ourselves.  We enjoyed riding our bikes around the paved camping streets and Jane and Stefan loved making moss t- pees.  It is awesome to see them be so creative and work together.  We decided to pack up and head to Saratoga so we could get to our campsite early.  On the way, Janae and I went to Seneca Falls to the Women’s Right’s Museum.  It was wonderfully done.  It was eye-opening to see the corset and what it actually did to the skeleton.  We saw the first bloomer outfit and learned that it was Amelia Bloomer who started the trend who was from Seneca Falls.  Elizabeth Stanton also from Seneca Falls was instrumental in leading the first women’s convention in 1848.  It would take another 70 years before women could vote.  I hadn’t realized that it was the government who put heat on colleges in the early 70’s to provide equal funding for women’s sports.  There has been a 100% increase in women’s sports since then.

Well, all the flooding shut I-90 down around Syracuse.  We were detoured and couldn’t get to Saratoga.  We were lucky to find an opening at Green Lakes State Park close to where we were detoured.  This turned out to be a divine gift. 

Tuesday, August 30th-The best campsite opened up (#98) and we were able to get it.  It backed up to the trail leading to round lake and it was big with sun and shade.  It was also across the way from the playground.  Our neighbors were very nice and Janae and Stefan enjoyed playing with McKayla and Justin.  This park is a gem.  There are two lakes Round lake and Green lake.  They are National Natural Landmarks.  They are meromictic lakes meaning that the bottom of the lake doesn’t mix with the top of the lake.  Therefore, the lakes are very clean and very green.  There is only one other lake nearby in New York and a few in Russia.  Very rare and beautiful.

After getting settled in our permanent campsite, we had lunch and then did school.  Later in the afternoon, we went to the beach.  It was amazing.  Janae and Stefan spent two hours building an elaborate sand village (Tiny Town) and Sondra swam laps.  The scenary and setting here were idyllic to say the least and the glow of the late afternoon sun was beautiful.  We went back and got a snack and walked from Miss Jim B down to Round Lake (190 feet deep).  Stefan held my hand and did his infamous skip all the way down the trail, saying I’m so happy.  Stefan and I walked one way around and Mark and Janae walked the other way.  Mark and I enjoyed the steady chatter of our children while we soaked up the beauty of the lake surrounded by tall tulip trees (tallest trees east of the Mississippi and a member of the Magnolia family).  The lake is perfectly round due to the waterfall run off from the glacier.  We grilled hamburgers, corn and roasted marshmallows before dropping into bed.

Tiny Town

Rainbow Falls in Watkins Glen

Wednesday, August 31st-Sondra awoke early for a walk around Round Lake.  She got lost and was given a ride back to camp from her guardian angel that day.  We left to go for a day trip to Watkins Glen State Park.  Two hours away, but so worth it to see the 19 waterfalls.  Rainbow falls was the highlight.  I (Sondra) got a little emotional when I saw it.  It was so beautiful and I was so thankful that I could experience it.  A little taste of heaven and a taste of what is yet to come.  The ride back along Seneca Lake was lovely seeing the wineries and vineyards along the sailboat dotted lake.  Especially nice since it was sunny.  After a trip to Walmart and Panara Bread, we were back for the closing hour at the beach and to get ready for our big drive  Cape Cod.