June 3rd
– June 9th 2013
The weather was bad, cloudy and rainy, finally by Sunday
sunny and relatively normal.
J. had her work nights through Thursday, sleep and work,
nothing happened.
Friday, another humid and cloudy day. Drove to Mudd Lake
– Beaver Lake Nature Center, nice area, about 3 miles walk around
the lake (undeveloped, mostly woods). Not much lake seen, many
boardwalks (few flooded). Insect and humidity, otherwise really nice.
Drove N – NE and then S to Syracuse. Some areas not seen before –
nothing really interesting. Taste of Syracuse festival (all about
food) in Clinton Square area – thought about stopping, but nowhere
to park – got cranky and drove home. Thought about walking – it
started to rain, who cares.
Saturday. By eight o'clock we left and visited farmers
market, already packed, horrible parking. Cloudy, not raining. Home,
drop some stuff and left for Rome, New York State. New York Thruway
for a few miles, town of Rome and Fort Stanwix National Monument,
pretty much in the middle of the town. Nice visitor center and
reconstructed fort, around 1976. We walked a bit around, pretty
interesting and ended up talking to the ranger (in the clothing from
18th century I guess) for quite a while. Some information
about the fort, Erie Canal and Syracuse (he lives in Syracuse). As
well the stories of life and so on, he used to live in Phoenix,
Arizona for a year (did not like it). Some tips for places around
Syracuse. It was great talk and he was pretty amazing guy. Almost
noon. Drove to Pixley Falls State Park. About 17.43 miles, mostly
north. Small park by the road, some picnic getting started.
Confusing. We walked down and found the falls (really pretty). Found
as well a path following the river, walked along and found about 5
more streams with interesting small waterfalls. It was really pretty.
Nice circle, we walked up and then back to the parking lot, nice
forest, muddy, no rain. Green and lush forest. One small town, walked
around, few old cars and some street fair. Liquor store, J. bought a
wine, apparently the alcohol is sold only in special stores in New
York State. Through many small town and villages and many back roads
we drove back on the north side of Lake Oneida. Nothing really
interesting. The store for some stuff for J.'s cooking. Home. Started
to rain, rainy evening.
Sunday. South. South West from Syracuse. It was sunny
with a picturesque clouds. About 24.5 miles to the Tinker Falls, same
pretty landscape made even prettier with a really beautiful day.
Small walk to the amazing falls, some people there, muddy climb
behind the falls and then even muddier one on the top of the falls,
it was really nice area. Walk back on another trail, drove a few
miles and stop by Labrador Unique area, small wooded lake with about
0.3 miles boardwalk through wetlands, incredible. There were even
fish in the lake (small ones) and it looked like people were feeding
them (just looking at us). Same country. Bucktail Falls, next to the
road, one tiny parking spot, another pretty site. We got on the west
side of Skaneateles Lake and parked by Carpenter Falls. Even
prettier. Walk around a bit, on the top of the falls was a road.
Tried to drive to the lake, some people living there, did not find
any access. Another 7 miles or so to the town of Skaneateles on the
top of the lake. Parked. Walked around, small and really picturesque
and busy, warm and sunny day. Antique shop. Looking at the lake.
Drove home, city and suburbs, nothing special. Great day.
