Fort Stanix, in the middle of Rome, NY has an interesting exhibit featuring four perspectives on the Revolutionary War.  The first is a young woman torn between her husband who has joined the militia and a brother who joined the Loyalists.  Next is an Indian woman from the Six Nations who saw her tribes divided between the two sides.  The third was a Scottish trader who had developed a fur trading business with the Indian tribes, only to see his land (and all land belonging to the Indian tribes) confiscated.  The final was an arrogant Continental soldier who saw the land he’d received as the “spoils of war”.  The implication was, it was the land the Scottish trader had owned.

Turned north to catch the elbow of Lake Ontario.   In my efforts to get closer to it, I found a pretty floral mailbox in the same neighborhood as the Oswego nuclear power plant.  It’s also apple orchard country and it looks like a bumper crop this year.  The trees are loaded, with some branches almost touching the ground. Stopped at a roadside stand and pick up some apples and apple brownies.

The original Fort Ontario was built and destroyed several times during the early wars but the new fort is reconstructed to its 1867 appearance when it housed Civil War disabled veterans.  It also became a Safe Haven for victims of the Holocaust and returning WWII veterans and their families. Got more info about the War of 1812 - an extension of the Revolutionary and the English/French tussle.

Went to Rochester for my second meeting with Susan B. Here is where she joined with other northern New York abolitionists and suffragettes. She was a good friend of Frederick Douglas but they had a brief falling out when he failed to support voting rights for women when the Negro men got theirs with the 15^th Amendment.  “Are there no Negro women?”  Although she never lived to see the passage of the 19^th Amendment, she never stopped advocating for it; haranguing Congress every year. 

Found a pathway out of the middle Rochester which surprised me.  It goes from the city and looks like any old country road along grassy ravines through a little town called Irondequoit then empties into a county park where you drive through the middle of a golf course and then bump up against Lake Ontario.

Took the Lake Ontario State Parkway down to Niagara Falls and it reminded me of the Blue Ridge Pkwy (only lower) because no commercial vehicles were allowed on it.

My curiosity got the best of me (and my rumbling tummy) so stopped a Celtic Festival held at Olcotta along Lake Ontario.  It’s an annual festivity and attendees sure got into the spirit of it by dressing in kilts and whimsical Irish characters.  Passed up the shepherd’s pie and bangers but munched on a hot beef sandwich and listened to the kilt-clad band playing Irish songs. 

Took 1 ½ hours in the evening to get across the Rainbow Bridge to the falls.  Good news is, it was raining so I got to park right across from the falls to see the colored light show.  The area has changed considerably since I was here almost 25 years ago for a high school Student Council convention.  Huge hotel and casino towers now line the roadway.  Came back the following day to see the falls in daylight –minus the long wait to cross. Watching the power of the water coming over the edge is truly spectacular.

Continued my ride down along Lake Erie and noticed Sea Cliff Roadway (part of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail) and happened upon Graycliff, a Frank Lloyd Wright home built as a summer home by a wealthy Buffalo family.  It’s a lovely see-thru house out to the lake and a preservation group saved it from destruction and becoming condos, like the land next door.

Finished my ride along Lakes Ontario and Erie and then doubled back through the Chautauqua Valley toward the Finger Lakes. Chatauqua is a lovely drive thru the wooded areas – a bit of color to contrast with the evergreens and also some  roadside wildflowers still blooming. A beautiful mix of marshes and ponds, lakes and creeks. Gotta be careful because I’m also in Amish country so have to watch for horses and buggies.

Went from apple country to wine country.  The top area of Lake Seneca seemed to be mostly corn and soybeans but by the time I got to the tips, it was all grapes. It was a clear bright day and the ride through the grape country was on a higher perch so you could see forever – across the lake to the rolling hills beyond. Decided I had to stop taking pictures or I would never make it up Lake Cayuga.  Saw a sign for “Falls” road and thought I should turn around when voila, there it was - Hector Falls, right beside the road.

Went down to Ithaca, made a U-turn and followed Hwy 89 north along Cayuga Lake.  Saw a rowing team practicing along the river and a couple of butterflies decorating the side of the road.  Found another waterfall, Taughannock , which at one time emptied directly into the lake.  It’s retreated about ¾ of a mile back and now stands at 215’ tall.  The tallest in the east.

Had to have Patience’s shoes checked. The temp dropped into the mid-30’s and so did her tire pressure so the light came on. The kind folks at Goodyear checked her out and added more air. Had lots of businesses help me out along the way and reply “no charge” when I ask.  I decided to ask for the name of their favorite charity and when I get back, I’ll check my list and send donations to them.

Had to pull over to the side of the road and felt like I was watching a parade.  A huge of piece of equipment was coming down the road with several police cars and trucks with hydraulic lifts preceding it; raising wires that crossed the road so the equipment could pass under them. Have no idea how far they had to travel like that. 

Almost passed up Watkins Glen but the young attendant at the gate said the falls were just inside the entry tunnel.  What he failed to mention was there were 11 more along a 2 ½ mile trail along a chasm that included a 200’climb.  Well worth it – the climb was all stone steps and there were plenty of opportunities to “admire the view”.  That’s code for catch your breath.

Next was Seneca Falls, home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton.  What a whirlwind she was!  When she was locked out of an abolitionist’s conference in London (because she was a woman), she returned home and within 5 weeks, she and a group of 5 friends organized a conference attended by over 300 people.  Eventually she joined up with Susan to become a formidable force. Elizabeth, a mother of six, did lots of strategic & tactical planning at home while Susan took to the road.

Came back to Syracuse to catch a flight to San Diego and spend 2 weeks as a grandma.