Garlic Fries and Feasts for Eyes

(2022 Newfoundland Ep 20)

With Vermont behind us, we continued through the Adirondacks and were surprised with the remoteness of the area, considering we were in New York.  We passed through Spectacular, aptly named for the colorful fall drive we were enjoying.

Max’ gas gauge was between half and quarter full. To continue or not to continue? We decided to play it safe and turned around to fill up at the only gas station in town and for more than 30 miles in each direction.  You can’t take chances when you get 10 MPG.

We set up camp and the next rainy morning we visited Utica, a small city several miles away on the Mohawk River.  Lunch was at Golden’s, a highly rated tiny downtown restaurant, where we tried Utica Burgers.  The burgers were topped with cherry peppers, pesto, mozzarella and tomato, and included sides of garlic parmesan fries. 

The burgers were good. 

The fries were GREAT!

After lunch we visited the Erie Canal.  Completed in 1825, the canal extends 351 miles east-west from the Hudson River to Lake Erie.  It is 120 feet wide and 12 feet deep, and a series of 34 locks raise and lower vessels a total of 565 feet.

At Lock 20 State Canal Park, just outside Utica, we watched a small tug boat and canal maintenance barge enter the lock.   The downstream gates closed and the lock filled with water.  A few minutes later the water level had risen 16 feet and the upstream gates opened.  The tug and barge were on their way.

Similar to historic railroads, Pat and I are fascinated by canals – they are rich in history and much slower paced than interstates and airports.  We dreamed of taking a boat trip on the canal or riding some of the bike trail adjacent to the canal.  Unfortunately, our time was short.  Perhaps on a future trip…

We hiked the Vista Trail in Black River Wild Forest near our campground the next morning.  The hike wasn’t long but it was challenging because a thick mat of colorful leaves completely covered the forest floor and trail itself.  We hiked across low wet areas and climbed rock outcroppings as we searched for small blaze markers attached to trees and rocks.  Our slow-going efforts were finally rewarded:  we enjoyed lunch at the vista where the fall leaves had peaked and were visible all the way to the distant hills.

Next week:  we near the end of our Newfoundland Journey as we hike Watkins Glen State Park and tour the Corning Museum of Glass.