Letchworth State Park

Because of the continuous cold throughout the winter of 2014-2015, Letchworth State Park’s Genesee River and falls completely froze over, and the spring created a frozen volcano.  Here’s some photos I took of the river and the volcano after they had already started melting on March 9th, 2015.

Here’s the middle falls:

Here’s the volcano, with my Mom beside it for a reference as to its size:

Here’s a couple of views from high up of the river / falls and Portage Bridge:

Needless to say, we can’t wait for spring!

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Snowbergs

Last night I went to Alaska:

At least it looked like what I think Alaska might look like in spots:

I mean, doesn’t it look like it?

Seriously, I went to Lake Ontario at Oswego last night, and this is what Lake Ontario looked like! Unbelievable! I’ve never seen this before.

See this scene:

It looks like this in the summertime:

Ahhhh, summertime. . .

And here is what these formations are called:

I learned a new word last night: snowbergs. Yeah, I’d rather not have learned that word, ever. But you have to admit, this is pretty cool, now that we’re (supposedly) into springtime now.

The Thousand Islands – Saturday

Saturday we got up extra early (why?) got ready and headed for a breakfast buffet (mmmm, breakfast, my favorite meal), which pretty much held us all day long.  We then headed down to Clayton, stopping first at this marine store, where there were various sizes of anchors that had been rescued from the bottom of the river. Here’s some of the smaller ones:

We then headed to the Antique Boat Museum and the Antique Boat Regatta.

It was quite windy, as you can see from the water!

I love the old wooden boats.

We were hoping to go through ‘La Duchesse,’ but it was closed for the Regatta weekend.

This houseboat was built for George Boldt for living, housing guests, and entertaining.

We then took a nap here, because somebody was grumpy from not sleeping good on the ground (hmmmm, yes, it was me):

Then we went to Corbin’s River Heritage store, which was so cool! The walls were filled with old photos that could be bought. And there were tons of books, of which I bought a couple.

Then it was time to get ready for our three hour dinner cruise. Note to anyone wanting to take a dinner cruise – make reservations – that way you get a table by yourself and in a prime location!

It’s so cool to see so many islands, and the huge houses that people build on them. Don’t sleep walk, you may end up in the river!

As we were eating we passed under The Thousand Islands bridge:

After we finished eating, we sat in the bow and enjoyed the fresh evening air:

And by the time we got back, it was late, so we went straight to the ground and I slept like a log.

The Thousand Islands – Friday Night

We went to The Thousand Islands on the New York State side this past weekend for a much needed two day vacation (I actually need a week long vacation, which will hopefully come next year), where the earth was my bed for two nights, which I haven’t done since I was a kid, and after getting used to how to arrange my body parts so I could sleep the first night, I slept like a log the second night.  Except I got rudely woken up by rain and getting dry clothes off the line so I didn’t have to cart around a bunch of wet clothes.

Anyways, on Friday night after we arrived, we went snorkeling / swimming across part of the St. Lawrence River to this island, of which I could figure out the name and I will, I just don’t have the map on me right now.

View from our campsite to the island.

Once we reached the island we saw a freighter go by – awesomely close, and I wish I had the camera on the float. We got back just before dark.

Sunset view from our campsite.

We had a great view of The Thousand Island bridge from our campsite – I just needed to bring a tripod for the night shots I took!

The Thousand Island bridge – really blurry, but the only photo I have of it!

We then went into Alexandria Bay, where Bill Johnstons Pirates Days was being held, and the streets were teaming with (drunk) people.

Yes, I need to work on my night shots.

After we found a parking place just inside of town, we walked down to Scenic View Park, window shopping along the way (stores stay open late and open early – very convenient!). This was my first view of Boldt Castle.

More to come on the castle in another post!

We then went back and fell directly to sleep on the ground underneath a sky full of stars. It was great seeing stars!

Do you know how many islands are in The Thousand Islands?

Last Week

I had to work late for OHA’s Evening at the Museum, and you know I can’t just sit there without taking pics:

We snorkeled/swam across this river to an old sunken barge and got some big, old square nails. The sky was gorgeous the whole time, but until I get a water camera, I can’t capture the cool stuff I see while in the water! This was after we got back:

Queen Anne’s Lace is blossoming beautifully now:

Along with the Mullein:

And we went snorkeling/swimming every night, if not out of town, then at our favorite local place:

Scenes from the Week

Last week, as we all know, there was a beotch of a heat wave, and with the sun feeling like spikes driving themselves into your skin, we sought water and cool places.  We caught the tail end of a car show – there were some awesome cars there, but this one really caught my eye, a 1960 Thunderbird:

And this is why it caught my eye – my Dad had one: (that’s me in my Mom’s hat)

After walking around the car show, we jumped in the water for a night-time swim:

The water was freakin’ hot! Hotter than bath water. So the next night we went to another, much cooler lake. And I wore the mask and am getting used to not being able to breathe through my nose, so I could see the remnants of the steamship The City of Syracuse, which was burned in 1917 and sunk. No pics, sorry.

We went to the Antique Truck Show, and quickly walked around since it was my lunch time:

There were lots more very cool looking trucks!

That night we went to Tinker Falls, where we used to go when I was a kid, and the last time I went was with my parents in 2006. It has greatly changed since I was a kid:

Not much in the way of water coming over the falls, and there were tons of mosquitoes and deer flies, so we won’t go back until those things go away (or bring lots of herbal bug spray).

Then we went for a swim in this water:

Where there were ducks hanging on the edge eating:

It was cool, refreshing, and nice to have the sun go down on a way too hot week:

Camillus Erie Canal Park

This past weekend the Camillus Erie Canal Park had a Grand Celebration to dedicate the restored Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct, but since I work on the weekend, we couldn’t make it out there until Sunday after work, after all of the festivities were done.  It doesn’t matter, because I don’t really enjoy crowds, anyway!  And by the time we got there (after eating Luigi’s  pizza, mmmmm), the sun was in that perfect place in the sky to shed an orange glow on everything.

Here’s a replica of the Sims’ canal store, now known as Sims’ Museum, which wasn’t open. I do want to go back when it is open, soon!

Sims’ Museum

A long bed of iris along the canal bank were all so beautiful!

This is an old lock:

As we were examining the lock, Midnight, the resident kitty, came over to greet us, and then to perch himself underneath one of the bottom valves of the lock:

Buoy Boat 159 is on display here:

This is a replica of a Lock House:

We then went a mile down the canal to Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct:

If you click on this Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct link, you can see progress pictures of the restoration:

This looks great!

The aqueduct over Nine Mile Creek:

Of course, we had to walk down to the little waterfall of Nine Mile Creek:

Assuming that this is the old wood which was taken out and replaced with the brand new wood:

There is a steam engine exhibit that we need to come back and see sometime, soon, too! This is one of the steam engines outside of the exhibit area:

The back wheels are taller than me!

I took this shot of the sign for the hours, so we can visit when the museum is open:

And the last thing I noticed was this wildlife refuge sign!

I always love to see areas for wildlife!

Still Sad. . .

so still seeking out photos to make me happy.

Liverwort and moss at Watkins Glen State Park

Letchworth State Park – The Nature

Since we were parked near the Portage Bridge, we decided to walk down along the Upper Falls on the Gorge Trail. Have you guessed that I love bridges? So please bear with me, here’s a couple of photos of the Portage Bridge, taken from beneath the bridge.

I love the symmetry of bridges.

Here we are looking down on the Upper Falls, and a sheet of ice on the east side of the falls:

There’s interesting rock along the trail. I have to investigate this.

This is part of the trail down. We had to really watch our steps, because the stairs are uneven, and in some places are missing:

There are cool smaller falls that feed into the Genesee River:

Here’s part of the ice on the east wall I mentioned above:

We’re looking back at the Upper Falls, the Portage Bridge and the ice:

I was on the search for Bloodroot, but saw tons of Skunk Cabbages along the west bank:

I also saw an area with Coltsfoot (Tussilaga farfara), which is so exciting to see after winter!

We had lunch down near this CCC Statue (sorry the statue doesn’t show up, but I was freezing after eating outside in the cold wind) and didn’t feel like getting out of the car at this point to get a better photo:

After eating we went to the Glen Iris Inn to the gift shop to buy their new self-guided driving tour book:

And to see the Middle Falls:

This fountain:

was spraying on the evergreen, causing it to ice up:

(yes, it’s still cold in NY!)

We then hiked up the Mary Jemison trail and saw a downed Eastern Hemlock tree (wah!). Even though I was sad, I loved looking at the wood:

I love the grain, and it smelled good, too:

As my brother said, “this is pleasant,” and it truly was:

Still Lovin’ the Camera!

I never know what photos I’ll end up with when I go for a walk.  I love the element of mystery.

Bird on a wire – mourning dove:

An old abandoned chick coop?

Getting a bit better with the macro – thanks to everyone’s suggestions!

Taking a photo directly into the sun gives this cool silhouette effect:

Woods without leaves: