Log_Fall_2020#2

NY Wine Country
Part 1

Corning Glass Museum

The Corning Museum of Glass is a museum in Corning, New York dedicated to the art, history and science of glass. It was founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Works and currently has a collection of more than 50,000 glass objects, some over 3,500 years old. Throughout the museum, glass is used to convey both its many uses, beauty and elegance.

Glass rabbit Glass dress

Edison lamp tester Creating a vase

Creating a dolphin Tiffany lamp

Creating a pumpkin Holiday pumpkins

Glenn H Curtis Museum

Glenn H. Curtiss was a pioneer in American aviation and motorcycles and a founder of the US aircraft industry. As early as 1904 he began to manufacture engines for airships, forming the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, now known as the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. In 1907, Curtiss set an unofficial world record of 136.36 miles per hour on a V-8 powered motorcycle of his own design and construction. In 1908 he flew the June Bug 5,080 ft to win the Scientific American Trophy and $2,500 prize. This is considered to be the first pre-announced public flight of a heavier-the-air flying machine in America and placed him is direct competition with the Wright brothers.

The June Bug – 1908 Early motorcycle

World War 1 “Jenny” Motorized bicycle

Float plane

Letchworth State Park

Genesee River Gorge

With cliffs up to 600 feet deep, the Genesee River Gorge is called “The Grand Canyon of the East”. On a beautiful autumn day, we view three major waterfalls as we hike the lengthy, narrow, undulating cliff rim on the Gorge Trail. Challenged by a flight of 201 steps we descend into and across the gorge.

70 foot Upper Falls 107 foot Middle Falls

Constantly changing Lower Falls Crossing the gorge

On the far side of the gorge ran the 124 mile Genesee Valley Canal, a man-made waterway started in 1837. It took 25 years to build with 100 locks to link the Allegany River to the Erie Canal. Abandoned in 1878, it has been replaced by a railroad.

Watkins Glen State Park

The town of Watkins Glen is located at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, one of eleven of New York’s Finger Lakes. Within two miles, the glen's stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs continuously cutting away the sedimentary rock forming this gorge and generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and behind the spray of Cavern Cascade and through the Spiral Tunnel cut in 1927. Rim trails overlook the gorge. From our camp site in Watkins Glen State Park we had access to the trails.

The stone trails were crafted by the CCC in the 1930’s and are annually repaired and updated by the New York Park System. Unfortunately the upper section of the gorge, including Jacob’s Ladder, was closed due to “dangerous conditions” on the trail.

Entering the gorge Crossing over

Many waterfalls and cascaded

Famous for the Watkins Glen Grand Prix road race first contested in 1948, this 6.6 mile circuit ran through the village streets, even crossing an active railroad track where the trains were stopped during the race. The circuit is now public road and can be slowly driven by tourists.

For a short history of road racing in Watkins Glen:

http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/tracks/wat.html

Wine and Brew Touring

The Finger Lakes of Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga form the most celebrated wine producing region in the Eastern United States. The glacially deposited soil has nurtured the growth of the vines since the 1860s. The typical vineyard offers a variety of red, white and rose wines and specialize in Reislings and Gewürztraminers for tasting with both indoor and outdoor areas overlooking the vineyard or a beautiful lake.

Advise for enjoying wine country