Ithaca NewYork 1999

1999 FALL VACATION



This year the decision was made to take a fall vacation trip up to Ithaca New York and the Finger Lakes region. We also stayed a short time in Wellsboro Pennsylvania and viewed the Pa. Grand Canyon.

October 18, 1999

The drive up to Ithaca was perfect. The weather was a combination of clear sunny skies with dark cumulus clouds creating a patchwork overhead. Also, the crisp autumn air was gently blowing. The forest was perfectly colored in a mosaic of Indian red and lemon yellow along with gold and raw sienna. Adding contrast to the bright colors came dark pine green and raw umber’s. As we drove down the country roads we could see the yellow leaves of a birch tree dance as the autumn wind swirled among its branches. Many walnut and chestnut trees dot the mountainsides among the evergreens.

When we arrived at the bed and breakfast it was a welcoming down home type place. The gardens out side contained herbs and vegetables and flowers of many types. Numerous gray squirrels scampered among the walnut trees near by. The thundering sounds of a close by waterfalls could be heard as we entered the front door. The interior is filled with charming Victorian antiques and federal style furniture. Original oil paintings adorn the walls. Our room was small but had quilt covered beds and a warm inviting feel to it.
Jan and I had a late dinner at a relatively new place near the B&B on route 34 called Branches. The food was very good and well prepared. We both had the stuffed shrimp and were unable to finish it all. On our return to the Federal House I was amused at the way the hard wood floors carried on, creaking and complaining enough to beat the band. I don’t want to give the wrong impression; the old boards are immaculately kept and well polished. The floor adds a charm to the place. I was later informed from our hostess Diane that the floors had a major restoration performed on them when she first bought the house.

October 19, 1999

In the morning I got up with the sun and walked a short way through a walnut covered lawn and past a playground. Following the melody of rushing water I found its source in a nice sized waterfall tumbling over a stone ravine. It was a frosty morning and a mystical fog embraced the water spray.
Breakfast was a wonderful experience with Victorian table settings and it was served in courses. It was the first time I enjoyed a candle light breakfast with music in the background. The freshly prepared items included homemade muffins and nut bread, a fruit cup and French toast prepared with extra care.
Jan and I spent the day exploring the spectacular state parks that are scattered nearby. The area of the Finger Lakes is a natural wonder due to the glaciers that carved out the lakes and many gorges over 10,000 years ago. In the parks, natural beauty surrounded us in heavily wooded forest along with abundant streams bejeweled with cascades. Among these parks are the Treman parks, Taughanock Falls and Buttermilk Falls. Each park has more than one entrance and both should be explored.
We had a marvelous lunch at the Ithaca bakery, which is also a great New York style deli. The bakery is in town along route 13 and 34 north. It offers about fifteen different types of bagels and all kinds of sandwiches. It carries many unusual food products as well. I had the Ruben sandwich and it was one of the best in flavor that I can remember. We then drove east on route 79 and stopped at the Six-mile Creek winery. The place was small but we enjoyed a wine tasting and purchased a bottle of their wine. We then went to have dinner at Maxis Harbor Inn along route 34 near the Federal House.

October 20, 1999

Early in the morning I went down stairs and created a fire in the fireplace while I waited for breakfast to be prepared. Breakfast was as enjoyable as it was the morning before. It included fresh baked pumpkin bread and pair muffins.
Along country and county roads we drove to Hammondsport. The vistas were spectacularly illuminated by morning sunshine. Jan and I enjoyed a peaceful boat tour of Keuka Lake aboard the Keuka Maid. The buffet lunch was good and the service was excellent. The paddle wheeled boat was spacious and comfortable. The captain entertained a few children by allowing them to sit at the helm and ring the bell and blow the foghorn. A good many of the summer homes along the shore are extravagant.
After the boat tour we drove to Watkins Glen State Park and walked the gorge trail. The trail has 822 steps we walked about 350 to 400 of them. On our return to Ithaca Jan had a stuffed Portabela mushroom and I an onion bagel with cream cheese at the bakery. As the coolness of evening enfolded the land we settled into our new room. We decide to upgrade our last nights stay at the Federal House and moved into a wonderful and more spacious suite. It was like living the life style of the rich and famous just for a moment.

October 21, 1999

In the morning and after another great breakfast we said our goodbye and went into town to pick up some cheddar and chive bread from the bakery. The bread came highly recommended and has chunks of cheddar cheese in it. We stopped at one of the State Parks to take in its beauty a second time and started on the road to Wellsboro Pa. Our ride down route 13 and 15 to Wellsboro was unexpectedly scenic. This area of Pennsylvania is more mountainous than most other areas of the state. As it has been throughout the trip, the autumn colors were perfect. On arriving in Wellsboro we had dinner at the famous Wellsboro diner. The hot roast beef sandwich is made with real roast beef and the red raspberry pie was superb.
Not far from town we found Kaltenbach’s B&B. It is a ranch style structure on farmland with a basic but comfortable setting. Kaltenbach’s is as informal as the Federal House was formal. Sheep graze in the field outside the bedroom window and white tailed deer venture out at dusk to do the same. Our spacious room had a walk-in closet and the large rectangular closed in porch was perfect for sitting in and watching the deer.


October 22, 1999

Lee, our host, prepared a nice country breakfast for us including homemade sausage and homemade jam. Our road trip around the countryside to the canyon was pleasantly scenic. Harrison and Colt Point State Parks offer a grand view of the canyon from their overlooks. On our return to Wellsboro we had a good lunch at the diner. The macaroni and cheese was like grandmother used to make. The homemade beef vegetable soup was also very good. The street lamps in Wellsboro are gas fueled and each holds four mantles. We returned to the B&B and relaxed, as it was a rainy afternoon. We later returned to town and explored the shops. On Central Ave is a bakery and deli combination with a good-sized area for eating in. A folk singer named Ray Owens performed for a small crowd there. He put on an entertaining show. Our dinner at the Penn Wells Hotel had potential but missed the mark. We finished the evening with a movie at the old time Movie Theater in town.

October 23, 1999

It was a typical fall morning with cool temperatures and darkly overcast sky’s. The colors are more advanced here in Tioga County with a good many trees stripped of their leaves while in the north around the Finger Lakes it was peak. However the landscape in late fall has it’s own charm. Our last day was rainy and it set the mood of melancholy. It was a time of thoughtful reflection and it does the soul good to listen to the pitter-patter of the raindrops. Our day was sadly uneventful because the train ride we planed to take was cancelled due to an accident that occurred the night before. We drove home down back roads in the rain. We stopped at Saint Mary’s Pa to have lunch at a wonderful Inn but it was closed for lunch. Along the way we managed to see a few Elk. Then we stopped at the Clarion River Lodge to have dinner but could only have lunch. The lunch was good and the lodge has a nice fireplace to take the chill off. Cook Forest was beautiful and the Clarion River was flowing through it gracefully. I stopped to take a few photos then we took route 80 and 79 home.