DAY TWO of Fall 2017 Watkins Glen Trip

We woke up to a very cool day. After eating breakfast in our room (pumpkin muffins, fruit and yogurt) Mary Anne and I headed out towards FILLMORE GLEN STATE PARK.   We located it easily enough and saw the replica of the cabin that Millard Fillmore grew up in

There was a huge pavilion/shelter nearby where we had our picnic lunch and then we headed down a trail to see a waterfalls.  

 I guess it is called COW SHEDS Falls!  I am not sure, but it really is pretty.

Then we headed towards Sherwood to go to the Sherwood Stone Store Museum. 

These two "docents" showed us around and explained the items inside.  Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take pictures inside, so I coerced them into posing for this shot.  

We stopped at an antique shop (very expensive) in Aurora and saw some beautiful buildings there.  We headed back to Watkins Glen and had supper at 

which is an Italian restaurant.  I had ravioli with meatballs, which came with a salad and garlic cheese bread.  It was delicious. 

We decided it was too early to return to our motel, so we went Watkins Glen State Park and hiked a short way down one of the trails.  

and then returned to our lodging.  It was a good day.  

Drive to Watkins Glen on September 27, 2017

Mary Anne and I headed east towards Watkins Glen early this morning. We went on the thruway most of the way.

We turned off of 5 and 20 and drove down the east side of Seneca Lake. 

We stopped at Sampson State Park and located a picnic table and had lunch and found a spot with a beautiful view of the lake. We also went to a museum that we had not even heard about.  SAMPSON MEMORIAL MUSEUM.  This complex of military museums was created by members of the Sampson WWII Veterans organization and was a military base. The Sampson Naval Training Station and Sampson Air Force Base were temporary homes to over 400,000 U.S. servicemen during the 1940s and 1950s. The adjacent former Seneca Army Depot occupied 10,587 acres between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. It was used as a munitions storage and disposal facility by the U. S. Army from 1941 until the 1990s.  

It is a great museum and we enjoyed it.  It was nice to be able to have something to do inside with air conditioning.

We located the old Willard Psychiatric Facility

and the cemetery.  It was too hot to explore the cemetery.  I found the geocache in the parking area right across from the entrance to the cemetery.  We also found one in front of a boy scout camp.

It was still early and I had plenty of cache info. but it was simply TOO HOT to do any more, so we headed to our lodging at the Seneca Lodge.

We found our room in the motel satisfactory and rested a bit before going out to supper at NICKEL PIT BBQ.  Our meal was good.

It was raining when we left and just about dusk, so we went back to our room and got settled in for the night.

ALEX RENE BIG BAND at the Palace (9/26/17)

Pam  and I met at the Palace and went to the first hour of this event.  The band was very good, playing stuff that was even before my time, and a few that I remember.  We only stayed an hour so we missed the BUFFALO DOLLS.

MEET ME AT THE FLAGPOLE 9/24/17

This event was announced today at church.  It is an annual event, held at a different school every year.  This year it was held at North Park School, right down the street from where I live.  I invited Marlene and Pam to go to the event and then have supper at my house.

They arrived and after a few minutes, I put the meatloaf and potatoes in the oven.  Then we walked down to North Park School.

Turns out the event was INSIDE, in the small auditorium.  It was sooooooooooo hot in there.  I left early to come back to my apartment and take the meatloaf and baked potatoes out of the oven.  I took a quick shower and put on a fresh outfit.  A couple minutes later, Marlene and Pam arrived.

We had meatloaf, baked potatoes, and sliced fresh tomato for supper.  Pam had baked an apple pie which we had with Cool Whip on top.  It was a good meal.

All Over the Place with Betty: Saturday September 23, 2017

A couple of days ago I found out about this event:  SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE:  Museum Day Live.  The date was today and free tickets for two were issued for many museums all over the USA.  Two museums included are close to me:  The Erie Canal Discovery Center and the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Museum in Amherst.   I was able to download two tickets for free admission to both of these museums and Betty agreed to accompany me.

She picked me up at ten a.m. and we went to the Erie Canal Discovery Center.   However, we noticed that the Lockport Community Market was going on and decided to go to that first.  Betty bought two bottles of wine(one for me) after we test tasted two types:

Then we went to the Discovery Center.  We were the first people to use the free tickets.  Betty had never been to this museum.  I had never seen the short movie, and I really enjoyed it.  There is a simulated trip on a packet boat at the end of it!  I love this mural.

Many of the displays are about the building of the Erie Canal.

We  went back to the market for a few minutes because someone Betty knows was playing music in the gazebo.  

and she bought some produce.

We had lunch at Kalamata's.  I had the patty melt with sweet potato fries, both were good.  

Then we headed out towards Amherst to the Buffalo Niagara Heritage Museum.  Betty had never been there, in fact she did not even know of its existence.    Most of the buildings were open.  The most interesting spot was where Civil War re-enactors were holding a post civil war get together.

It was terribly hot and humid, but we stuck it out and I think we went into every building.  We also spent some time on the inside exhibits.  The radio and tv exhibit is really nice.

replica of  Jimmy's Diner.

We went for ice cream at JoJo's before Betty dropped me off.

Meet up with Nancy and Mike

Many years ago Nancy and I became friends and our friendship lasted many years.  However, when I moved to Oneonta, somehow we became disconnected.  I was able to find her phone number online and I called her a couple of weeks ago.  We set today to meet up for lunch.

We met up at a restaurant in Batavia.  Nancy and Mike treated me to lunch.  We had a nice get together.

I invited them to come to Lockport to sightsee and possibly go to Niagara Falls and I think they might take me up on that offer (after various surgeries that they are both having).

West Seneca, New York ADVENTURE

Once again, Mary Anne and I planned on going to Buffalo to take a free tour of City Hall.  However, when I called  I was told that the tour guide was not available, so there would not be a tour given today.  I called Mary Anne and we made a quick change of plans.

We decided to go to the BURCHFIELD ART AND NATURE CENTER in West Seneca, NY.  On the way there Mary Anne said she was hungry so we started looking for a spot to get something to eat.  We saw a CHECKERS and I was able to use  one of Peg's BUY ONE GET ONE FREE coupons there.  We both had a chicken sandwich and a drink. (the wild cherry pepsi tasted soooooooooo good)

We absolutely LOVED the Nature Center.  My entire set of pics taken there can be seen here:  www.flickr.com/photos/juneny/sets/72157689400335985   but I  think these are my favorites from Burchfield:

After leaving this wonderful area, we looked for four geocaches, finding THREE of them.  The first one was at a huge Pet Cemetery, where we enjoyed looking at and reading the grave stones.  

At  another geocache spot we saw two interesting mounds.  Here is one: 

We had passed a restaurant that advertised mac and cheese and Mary Ann wanted to find it so we could have an early supper.  We found it!

Our meal was outstanding.  We shared the 1531 Deli Salad and a small serving of Beef on Weck Macaroni and cheese.  Good thing we ordered the small (on the advice of the waitress), because it really was more than enough.  But we finished both the salad and the mac and cheese.

On the way back, Mary Ann drove a bit out of her way to show me the Lancaster Opera house (at my request).  Note to self:  SMOKING LITTLE DINER on Broadway just before we turned right to get back on 78, looks like a REALLY old, interesting small diner.  

It was a wonderful day!!!!