Back to New York

As we came up from North Carolina to New England, we had to briefly pass through New York. Now to get from New England back to the desert Southwest, we have to pass through again, but this time we get some bonuses.

We took a little bit of a detour as it fit in our driving day. You may not recall the town of Bethany New York, but you do know what happened there August 15-17, 1969. When the city of Woodstock New York revoked its concert license due to the overwhelming complaints of its citizens, but long after all the promotional material had been developed and distributed, the Woodstock Rock Festival was actually held on Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethany Woods. And the rest is history.

Max no longer owns the farm – the land was bought long ago by a foundation that has developed a performing arts center, surrounding a museum on the Rock Festival as well as the original ground on which the Festival was held. We visited the museum and thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and documentary films, all of which were new to us. Reliving some of that great music and seeing those famous artists (now my age and older or dead of drug overdoses) in their late teens was great fun. Also, learning how the military actually ran what we would now call a humanitarian operation, delivering food, water and medical aid to the crowd that ended up being 10 times the number of people than the organized had planned and prepared for. How it is the more didn't die is a wonder.

We walked the hillside of the natural amphitheater where the concert was held. Mowed into the grass on the hillside where hundreds of thousands sat is a massive peace symbol, no doubt symbolic in the minds of those in charge of the Foundation. At the epicenter where the stage actually held all those performers in 1969 is a monument to the memory of the Festival. We imagined what it might have been like to be on this site back then with the sea of humanity in front of you – had to be awesome!

After reaching Ithaca, we parked Colectiva at Robert Treman State Park. While there were no hookups, the Park is on the edge of Ithaca, making it easy for our planned visits with my nephew Devin and his wife Liz. One unique feature of this park in addition to the great hiking trails that we took advantage of is that you actually have to drive across a waterfall – yes, in your motorhome! – to get to your camp spot. What an interesting experience!

While in the area, we drove up to Seneca Falls New York. Seneca Falls is believed by the locals to have been the inspiration for Frank Capra’s Bedford Falls featured in the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Capra had visited Seneca Falls during the time he wrote the screenplay for the movie. Seneca Falls has a bridge over a river where man drowned trying to save a woman who fell in, a theme that appeared in the film. Also, at the time, Seneca Falls had a low income housing development sponsored by the town’s savings and loan, another theme prevalent in Capra’s movie. Well, whether Seneca Falls was the inspiration or not, they have a small museum dedicated to the film.

Seneca Falls is also the site of the earliest documented women’s rights gathering in the nation. In 1848, women from around the country gathered to discuss the need for female equality – including the right to vote and hold political office – as well as to draft a document – the Declaration of Sentiments - to serve as the basis for continuing the discussion. The assembly was held in the Wesleyan Chapel – while the Chapel no longer stands completely, over the years its walls and ceiling had been incorporated into other buildings. The Park Service has done a good job of removing the later changes and restoring what remains of the original Wesleyan Chapel, which of course we toured.

Nearby was the early 1800’s era home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, one of the driving forces behind the assembly. Stanton lived in Seneca Falls from 1847 to 1862. Often referred to as the Center of the Rebellion, she held gatherings at her home to encourage her female friends and neighbors to become involved in the movement. She was ultimately pivotal in getting the First Women’s Rights Convention organized.

The exhibits surrounding this 1848 assembly as well as what followed was very interesting. While less than 10 years after this assembly, the country would go to war with itself to grant equality to slaves, including the right to volt and hold political office. But it would be nearly 80 years after this assembly that women gained equality and were granted the rights that slaves had been granted in the 1860’s. Interesting isn't it?

On the way back from Seneca Falls we took scenic Highway 89 along Cayuga Lake, one of the infamous Finger Lakes. While each of the lakes has their own, scenic Highway 89 constitutes much of the Cayuga Wine Trail – many dozens of vineyards lining the hills along the lakeside. We grabbed lunch at Kapp Winery, and paid a brief visit to Toro Winery as well. Toro claims to have the best view of Cayuga along the trail – and we can’t argue with that claim.

Because of the rains we are having nearly daily, the many waterfalls that distinguish Ithaca were full and flowing. We hiked to two different falls in Tremont State Park. Venturing out, we must have visited more than a dozen, including Buttermilk Falls, Taughannok Falls, Ithaca Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and a half dozen other spectacular falls – Ithaca is a great location for waterfall hunting – especially during a rainy spell!

We got to spend a few wonderful evenings with Devin and Liz, and their new baby Maia. We had not met Maia before so this was an extra special treat – last time we saw Devin and Liz at the Bougie Ballyhoo she was still incubating, but she just now fits into her Bougie Ballyhoo shirt we had made up for her. 

We caught up with all the family talk, and saw their new house that they were just in the process of completing some remodeling before moving in – hopefully by the end of the year. And we were honored with a special bonus – little Maia was just at the point where she was taking her first steps walking – what a nice surprise for us!

It’s always so nice to visit, but never long enough. After three nice evenings it was time to say goodbye again for a while.

Talk to you soon!