Ithaca, NY
Fall has hit the northeast. For Rochester, that has meant cool days with not a lot of sunshine. It’s been hard to see my friend’s forecast down in Charlotte. This is the prime time of year for the south. 70’s and 80’s with vibrant sunshine makes golf and going to football games perfect. This weekend we had a heads up on them. I’ve been cooped up staring at grey skies and when the forecast said mid 60’s and sunny, I knew I had to get outside. I couldn’t spend another Saturday in front of the TV with college football and baseball playoffs.
I had never been to Ithaca before, but many of my friends in town rave about the deep ravines, falls, and gorges that make the area a must visit. The leaves on the trees had also started their metamorphoses, so the 90 minute drive was awesome. My friend King gave me sunglasses for my Bday and they make the yellows, reds and greens pop out. Hitting 89 from I90, we drove south past the Cayuga Lake wine region, stopping for some pizza in Trumansburg. After lunch, it was time for the first stop, Taughannock Falls State Park. A friend had told me the falls were like Hawaii. He was right. The pictures from the ridge above were spectacular, with the blue sky, different colored trees and flume of water over 200 feet high.
The gorge was spectacular and the walk to the Falls was very flat and easygoing. We were able to walk next to a meandering stream that had its own mini falls from time to time. I love the sound of the water cascading onto the rocks below, so peaceful. I snapped numerous pictures and once we came to the base of the Falls, it was clear about the Hawaii reference. The sign said the falls shot out to 215 feet below with the gorge being 400 feet high. It was not Hawaii-esque weather, so there was no wading in the pool below, but I could imagine this as the place to be during the summer. I wondered if the No Swimming signs were obeyed.
We sat at the base of the Falls for 30 minutes, soaking up the mist, the sounds and the views. It was a busy day and group after group came through. Many dogs made the walk with their owners. The mist floated to us like snow in the angle the sun was hitting. We walked back down the stream and hopped in the car, driving south through the city of Ithaca and to Buttermilk Falls.
Buttermilk was more exercise than Taughannock. We took the steep steps up the side of the falls, huffing and puffing to get to the flat ground. The walk was breathtaking as the falls flowed down within 15 feet of us. The water in both places was very shallow and I was surprised by the volume that a one foot drop can make in water that is only 6 inches deep. We kept working our way up the gorge, constantly at an incline, our breath heavy, but our eyes big. Once we got to the top, we decided to take the Ridge Trail versus the Gorge trail back. It was much easier, but lacked the scenery of the walk up. Or that is what we were saying until we made a bend in the wooded trail.
After making the turn, standing on the trail was a buck, maybe a 4 pointer. We stopped in our tracks and I fidgeted to get my camera out without scaring the deer. It was only 30 feet away, and centered on the 5 foot wide trail. He nibbled on something and made no attempt to run or move. We stared at the scenery Mother Nature provided us. After a few moments, the deer walked slowly off the trail, grazing here and there. It made a half moon around us on the trail, never getting more than 15 feet away. I shot pictures, but nothing came out too crisp. I motioned for a couple coming up the trail behind us to stop and pointed at the lucky find. They were like us, in awe. He got out his camera and started shooting. We stood for 5 minutes and the deer made his way past us, now 50 feet of the trail, but following the path.
That made the day. There is something about being outside in the sun and with nature. It clears the head. Western New York may not have the best weather or taxes, but in terms of outdoor activities, you can’t beat it. Outdorrs gives your mind the time and place to not think about whatever is normally bouncing around in there. New perspectives lead to new ideas.
I have some pictures, but my database doesn’t want to upload them. As soon as I can, they’ll be up.