By the Lake, under the Trees, and in the Gorge

Watkins Glen, New York was known to me for the 1973 rock festival that was once the "largest audience at a pop festival" with about 600,000 fans of the Dead, The Band, The Allman Brothers and more. While I was too young to go(!), the name "Watkins Glen" has been ingrained in my mind ever since.  I had no idea there were car races there, and thankfully this didn't happen during the past week. 

My impression now is of a fairly non-descript little town of friendly folks on beautiful Seneca Lake, that is also gifted with the Glen Creek Gorge. I'm so happy to have had my first Finger Lake experience here, and even enjoyed the drive along the west side through wine country to connect with friend Barbara at the northern point. State Park camping is lovely when the weekender 36-hour time is up, and I hiked the Gorge trail twice at different times of the day as the light changes the magnificent rock and waterfall scenes. While the Catherine Valley Trail was disappointing (I don't want to bike on grass without a view), it did take me a few miles out to discover the lovely Montour Falls.  Just once, I also got my climbing legs on pointing north along the lake and was rewarded with the views.  

It was an active, yet not too busy week of the outdoor life, moving on two feet and two wheels, reconnecting with a long-time friend, and discovering the beauty of the Finger Lakes region.  Next stop, Granville, just a sneeze to the Vermont border.