Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, with a reputation for leaving visitors spellbound. Within two miles, the glen’s stream descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its course. The gorge path winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascade. Rim trails overlook the gorge. Campers and day-visitors can enjoy the Olympic-size pool, scheduled summer tours through the gorge, tent and trailer campsites, picnic facilities and excellent fishing in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek, which is renowned for its annual spring run of rainbow trout.
I was looking forward until the first clap of thunder happened about the time I was ready to get in pool. At least once the storm passes the pool will be open until 7.
Best time to go is in the evening, after most people have left for dinner after a good rainfall when you can really observe the glen without the crowds.
It turns out it is possible to do a short -- 3/4 mile paddle on the marsh from the Airport Road parking area along part of the drainage canal and creek, however when water levels are higher supposedly you can get out to the center part of the marsh. Lots of birds and wildlife!
Maybe now that my summer vacation is ending, we will get some real heat. Maybe that calls for a trip to the Potholers for a long weekend as the dog days of summer get really doggy. 🐶
What to do today? Time is tight, July is winding down, so is summer vacation. ⌚
It’s a beautiful day and time is tight. ⏳ Last full day of vacation. I think the plan should be to explore the Connecticut Hill WMA 🚶🏻 with walking some of the dirt roads and the Finger Lakes Trail. That said, I’m seriously considering paddling Seneca Lake first 🛶 as it’s so calm this morning although with the sun rising ☀ I’m not sure if that will remain as such.
Later on I do want to paddle part of the Catharine Creek Marsh 🛶 and then go for a swim 🏊🏻♂️ one last time at Watkins Glen. The pool is open until seven 7⃣ on Saturday which gives me a little bit more time. Then maybe one more ice cream 🍧 at the Glen Dairy Bar. Maybe another night watching the sun set at Seneca Lake.
Tomorrow looks rainy ⛈️ but I’m in no rush to get home. 🏡I want to leave the Finger Lakes by five 5⃣ o’clock so I will have the bulk of the day but I can poke home on NY 23 or another back road 🚗 🐢 but be home by nine 9⃣ so I’m not driving in the dark and have time to get a bit unpacked and shower 🚿 before bed.
Then it’s back to work 🏢 downtown on Monday but I kept a set of clothes 👚 ready for that. I’ll probably do the laundromat after work, although technically Tuesday I still have the option to work remotely, so maybe I can work from the laundromat on my truck as they have Wi-Fi there. 📶
But I’m fine with that. 🏖 Vacation can’t last forever and I’m running low on money 💵. I also look forward to looking at and posting more vacation pictures and getting back home where I can use my laptop to learn more about python and all the data science and analysis things I’ve been learning about. 💻 Looking kind of forward to the normality of working back in the office downtown 🏢 and going to the library 📚 and park 🏞 after work. No more working from home or mixing fun camping with eight hours of work. Camping 🏕 will just be all about fun.
And the future 🔮 – my vacation in the autumn in West Virginia, learning a lot more python, figuring out my mental health needs, changing my life. 🐮 And then getting closer to the rural life, saving money 💵 so eventually I can have that off grid property 🏡 and own my own land where I can have my guns and fires whenever I want.
