I always find driving the part of the Thruway around Illion to be the most fascinating. It's an interesting mix of geologies as you rise from the end of the Mohawk Valley into the Onieda Lake plains - the mucky farm country with many a swamp and arces of fertile black dirt. 

I was curious what this area looked like, especially what is now the closed MOSA Landfill back in 1956 before the dump was constructed in the old gravel pit along the Lasher Creek. Also check out Spraker's Hill Road before the NY 162 Bypass and bridge over Flat Creek was constructed.