Three Mile Bay from Pickerel Park Carefree RV Resort along the shores of Lake Ontario

We departed Pickerel Park Carefree RV Resort in Prince Edward County heading toward the Thousand Island Bridge border crossing. We took the scenic route along 33 and ventured into towns with the same names as towns in western New York, Bath is one example. Traveling along these two lane roads affords you a chance to see so much more than traveling down the super highways! We moved onto Route 2, continuing our tour along the northern banks of Lake Ontario, eventually merging onto the 401 and back over the Thousand Island Bridges.

After we crossed back into New York we followed the Seaway Trail for a while. If you look for the green-and-white "footprints and waves" signs, they will guide you on your Seaway Trail journey. If history is more your cup of tea and you follow the brown-and-white “sailing ship” signs, you will discover the sites related to the trail's role in the War of the 1812. One of these sailing ship markers is on Route 12 outside of Alexandria Bay, New York. It shares the story of The Battle of Cranberry Creek. British ships used the St. Lawrence River to transport materials. In 1813, on July 13^th an American raiding party intercepted a shipment. After the supplies were confiscated by the Americans, the British pursued the Americans into Goose Bay and up Cranberry Creek. The force of about 50 Americans hid, preparing to surprise the approximately 250 British soldiers pursuing them. The Americans inflicted heavy casualties on the British and forced their retreat.

 We made an overnight stop at a high school friend of Charlie’s, Kathy & Pat Hadley. They summer in a cottage in Three Mile Bay, on the opposite side of the peninsula from Point Peninsula. Point Peninsula is a water management area. It is divided by Beach Road, South Shore Road and Pine Woods Road. It is a natural wetland area made up of sand beach, dune, emergent marsh, grassland and wooded shrub swamp. It is predominantly wetlands, with mix of grasslands and wetlands on the property's eastern edge. Late summer mowing is conducted every year to prevent grassland succession to brushland or young forest. This area is home to many species of small game, white-tailed deer and multiple species of grassland nesting birds. Point Peninsula is located in a bird migration corridor and provides important stopover and feeding habitats for a wide diversity of migratory bird species. In addition, Point Peninsula may be one of the most critical wintering areas in the Northeastern US for arctic-breeding raptors, including the short-eared owl, rough-legged hawk, snowy owl, northern shrike and the northern harrier.

We drove across the isthmus to get to Kathy’s house. What the heck is an isthmus? I asked the same question … it is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water that otherwise separates them. I guess you can say if there is an isthmus, it stops it from being an island. At the isthmus, we found “Lake Ontario at the Isthmus Park.” It is the Three Mile Bay Waterway access site providing additional access to Chaumont Bay. It features a single-lane concrete launch with a floating dock. Parking will accommodate six vehicles with trailers and 10 additional vehicles. It was very full when we went bay and that was a week day, I am sure it is over full on a weekend! Naturally, we had to dip our toes in the cold waters of Lake Ontario!

Kathy told us there used to be seventeen farms on the peninsula, now there is really only two and one is a gentleman farmer, who has a few beef cows. He got the beef cows so he could show that he was a “working” farm. Since he is a working farm, he can have a windmill. He really did not want to be a farmer, he just wanted his windmill! What some people will do to get what they want!

We also learned that the Chaumont-Three Mile Bay area is known as the "Golden Crescent." This is one of the most locally famous spots of the region. It is known for some of the best fishing in New York State. The bay’s rocky shores and shoals provide the prime places for the best catches: bass, perch, pike, salmon, lake trout, pickerel and bullhead are all likely to make the menu after a day of fishing in Chaumont Bay. Void of heavy commercialism, areas of Chaumont Bay offer relaxation, swimming, fishing, biking, walking trails, boating and camping. On the walking trails, you can just stop and smell the wild flowers!

There is also a great State park on the peninsula, Long Point State Park. The remoteness of Long Point State Park offers a peaceful, relaxing camping experience for all. It is situated on the peninsula facing Chaumont Bay on Lake Ontario, the park is small and almost completely surrounded by water with great views from anywhere in the park. The bay provides a protected harbor for boats, and Lake Ontario offers excellent boating and fishing opportunities. Constant lake breezes keep the park cool and mosquito-free. Any place that is mosquito-free is for me! We sat on a picnic table and watched the sunset.

Traveling to Pickerel Park Carefree RV Park, Round Two of our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

 

Leaving Lake Avenue Carefree RV Park we passed by the Picton Airport, it looks like it was an old military airport? A little research showed that to be true. During World War II, the United Kingdom required training facilities outside the British Isles for the thousands of pilots. Because of geographical similarities to Great Britain, sparsely populated Prince Edward County was considered an ideal location for an RAF Bombing and Gunnery School. In the summer of 1940, an aerodrome was rapidly constructed and in November 1940 the RCAF moved in and began small arms training at the facility. In April 1941, the RAF took over the base as No. 31 Bombing and Gunnery School and used it to train many of the aviators needed to help defend Britain as part of the British Commonwealth Air. Following the end of the war, the Canadian Army maintained a training facility at the old aerodrome. It was renamed Camp Picton in 1960 when it became a fully operational Army base. In 1966, it was renamed Canadian Forces Base Picton, but this was short lived - in 1969 the base was closed down and sold as part of the consolidation and downsizing of the Canadian military. The former Camp Picton now serves many diverse functions but the unique appearance of the base makes it a significant, if obscure, historical landmark. Due to its distinctive appearance, the dilapidated airport has been used as a filming location for several productions.

The quickest way to Pickerel Park Carefree RV Resort was to cross the water on the Glenora Ferry. Getting there is a beautiful lakeside scenic drive. The Glenora Ferry shuttles cars and RVs to and from Prince Edward County at no charge. The ferry crossing is operated by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, which runs at 30-minute intervals year-round and more often at peak times in summer. A one-way crossing takes fifteen minutes. We got off the ferry into the Greater Napanee area. It is slogan is “greater for many reasons.” The area’s heritage dates back to the seasonal migrations of early native peoples, followed by the settlement of United Empire Loyalists, British citizens displaced from their homes at the end of the American Revolution. Greater Napanee’s first settlers arrived in Adolphustown at what is now the United Empire Loyalist Heritage Center and Park. Old Napanee’s earliest settlement was centered on the Springside Falls, which was the source of power for some of the earliest mills in eastern Ontario. The village quickly grew on the success of lumbering, farming, manufacturing and shipping.

We traveled along the scenic Loyalist Parkway. It provides a leisurely tour along the Lake Ontario shoreline. The route honors the United Empire Loyalist heritage in the region. In 1984 Queen Elizabeth II officially designated the route as the Loyalist Parkway. Along this route, is a historic marker honoring the Loyalist Landing Place and Burial. This plaque marks the landing place of the Loyalists in 1784. It was unveiled at a ceremony celebrating the 175th anniversary of the landing of the Loyalists at Adolphustown held in June of 1959 in the park. The plaque was unveiled by John D. Van Alstine, a great-great-grandson of Major Peter Van Alstine. The plaque reads as follows: “THE LOYALIST LANDING PLACE On June 16, 1784, a party of some 250 United Empire Loyalists landed from bateaux near this site and established the first permanent white settlement in Adolphustown Township. They had sailed from New York in the fall of 1783 under the leadership of Major Peter Van Alstine (1747-1811), a Loyalist of Dutch ancestry, and passed the winter at Sorel. Van Alstine was later appointed a justice of the peace, represented this area in the first Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada and built at Glenora the earliest grist-mill in Prince Edward County.”

We arrived at Pickerel Park Carefree RV Resort, located on the shores of the Bay of Quinte. The Bay of Quinte provides some of the best trophy Walleye angling in North America as well as most sport fish common to the great lakes. The Bay of Quinte area played a vital role in bootlegging during Prohibition in the United States, with large volumes of booze being produced in the area, and shipped via boat on the Bay to Lake Ontario finally arriving in New York State where it was distributed. Illegal sales of liquor accounted for many fortunes in and around Belleville.

Traveling to Lake Avenue Carefree RV Park, Round Two of our Great Canadian Two Lane Camping Adventure

Heading from our overnight stop at a KOA just south of Rome New York, we went by the Griffith Tech Park, which used to be the Griffith Air Base. During our time in the New York Army National Guard, we spent many a night there. It was a great place to spend the night, especially while I was the company commander of a unit in Utica. The BOQ (Bachelor Officer Quarters) was always cheaper than a hotel. When the base was completely fenced there was a large herd of albino deer. I wonder if they are still around.

We passed the Mohawk River Trail several times on this leg of the journey. It is a development of a multi-use waterfront trail along the Mohawk River from Bellamy Harbor Park on the Erie Canal in Rome to Delta Lake State Park. The goal of this project was to develop a waterfront trail that connects the downtown business district, historic sites, city parks, schools and neighborhoods along the Mohawk River. The trail also links the Erie Canalway to the New York State Parks System.

Every time we are in New York, we try and stop in to see some friends, Claude and Shirley. This trip was no exception! We spent an overnight at the N Wilson Rd Family Campground in Taberg, NY. Don’t look it up, because it is not a real campground … it is where we found our friends! For the past two years running, when our schedule allowed us to pay them a visit, they were having a party! Being the welcoming friends they are … come on and enjoy the party with us! Last year it was their 50th wedding anniversary party and this year it was their grandson’s high school graduation party. Last year, we got to see another set of friends from Florida, Gary and Marilyn. This year, we camped at their son’s house and we got to see four sets of friends from Florida … Claude and Shirley, Gary and Marilyn and Walter and Betty! We also got to enjoy time with their kids, that we only see when they visit their folks in Florida, the great food and all the fun, that is always part of the party. Any party they hold is a great time and we are so blessed to be able to spend this time with all of them!

It has been a long time since we have taken Route 26 and Route 12 toward Watertown! We passed through Lowville and saw hundreds of windmills! We learned that the Maple Ridge Wind Farm, which achieved full operation in 2006, has over 190 wind mills. They are a Danish model turbine and were shipped in parts by sea to the United States via the St. Lawrence Seaway to Lake Ontario. They were transported by trucks to the farm near Lowville, New York. Each turbine tower is 250 feet tall. Each turbine has three blades that are each 130 feet long. The site was chosen because it lies at an elevation of 1,600 feet; strong winds are part of the area's lake-effect weather patterns generated by nearby Lake Ontario. Maple Ridge Wind Farm was named in honor of Lewis County's maple syrup production, for which it ranks as the top county in New York.

 Ok, if you follow this blog, you know we are really into the crossing signs you see along the road … well, you know you are too far north, when you see all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile crossing signs! There were also many Amish buggy road side signs. They are creating a larger presence in the “North Country” of New York State.

We traveled through the Thousand Islands and crossed the Thousand Islands Bridge. It is an international bridge system over the Saint Lawrence River connecting northern New York with southeastern Ontario in Canada. Constructed in 1937, with additions in 1959, the bridges span the United States-Canada border in the middle of the Thousand Islands region, from which it derives its name. The actual international border bridge crossing is a set of two parallel 90 feet long bridges between Wellesley Island and Hill Island in Canada. The bridge is actually a series of five bridges that span parts of the St. Lawrence River. We entered Canada on this bridge using the Thousand Island Border Crossing.

It seems that wherever we go, we see Sky Diving places. Entering Canada was no exception! We found the Gananoque (Gan-an-OCK-way) Sky Diving center. This center was founded in 1971 and they are the oldest skydiving school in Canada under the same management. Since their inception, they have been proudly teaching people how to skydive. Plus, they are a family-run business, which means that when you jump there, you get personal service, and you will feel like just like family.

We also found several Wetlands Conservation Projects - Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). They manage habitat conservation programs across Ontario. They have completed more than 2,700 conservation projects, and have conserved almost one million acres of wetland and associated habitat. They build the habitats to enhance breeding and staging of the waterfowl habitat, which also improves the quality of life for all Ontarians.

In Ontario, the IBEW local plays an important role in the development and implementation of alternative energy facilities. IBEW members are educated in specialized solar power electrical training to meet the growing demand of the solar power construction industry. We saw the Loyalist Solar Project, which IBEW members have taken part in the construction of a new solar power facility on 200 acres of farmland outside of Loyalist, Ontario. The solar power farm incorporates state-of-the-art solar power technology, and sets the standard for solar power plants in Canada. At peak capacity, this solar farm of 312,000 solar panels will power up to 7,000 homes in the area. The Solar Project is one of five solar power projects in Eastern Ontario.

Prince Edward County is home to several Trails … The “Taste Trail” is a unique trail to follow and experience some of the county’s fantastic flavors! On the “Taste Trail” you will visit local artisan shops and farmers markets to discover handcrafted preserves and locally grown goodies of the area. You can stop at a cidery, brewery, or an ice-creamery. You can discover pretty Pinots or cool Chardonnays, visiting the wineries. Enjoy a meal at any of the Taste Trail restaurants and see why The County was coined as Ontario’s “gastronomic capital!”

The “Arts Trail” is a way to tour the spectacular countryside and meet the talented artists and gallery owners who make Price Edward County a beautiful place to explore, tour and unwind. With modern galleries, rustic barn studios and everything in between, the places you visit will be as diverse as the artists themselves. Explore their artistic journeys and gain insight into their original creations. Purchase a unique work of art as a keepsake of your time in the county.

We traveled through Cherry Valley and turned onto East Lake Road and followed that along the shoreline of East Lake and arrived at Lake Avenue Carefree RV Resort. Just around the corner from Lake Avenue Carefree RV Resort is Sandbanks Provincial Park.

Two Lane Adventure to "Podunk" and Back

Did you know that Connecticut has a Lovers Leap? Yes, it is a State Park located on the Housatonic River in the town of New Milford. It is a walk-in park that sits on 127 acres. Within the park is the Lover's Leap Bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Lover's Leap Bridge is a wrought-iron lenticular truss bridge over the river. It is a 173 foot single span bridge, resting on coursed stone abutments. It was built in 1895 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company, and originally Pumpkin Hill Road ran over it. This was one of the last bridges manufactured by the company. Prior to 1977, the bridge was used by both vehicles and pedestrians but is now closed to vehicular traffic.

If you enjoy flea markets, be sure to stop by Elephant’s Trunk. It is famed to be New England’s largest flea market. It started out as an eclectic boutique in an old Victorian house. The owner called it "The Elephant's Trunk Too." The original Elephant's Trunk name came from a shop located in Mt. Kisco, New York. The original logo designed for the boutique contained an elephant with a chest full of gems strapped on its back. When the boutique closed, the logo was transferred to the Flea Market. When you think about it, it is appropriate, since there are treasures and gems to be discovered here every week. The Elephant's Trunk Country Flea Market began in 1976. The first markets found aisles named after New York City streets or alley-ways. The market was held on Sundays, and in 1976, the presence of fifteen vendors was a "big" day! The market in those early years found dealers set up on the lawn in front of the house. As the flea market grew, uniform dealer spaces were created. As more dealers came in, more fields were added to create our current design. It remains a treasure chest of deals each week!

If hunting for a treasure or two is more your speed, Connecticut has an antique trail to explore. The antiques trail winds through historic and scenic Connecticut, representing all five regions – Fairfield, New Haven, Mystic, Hartford and Litchfield. It features collections of varying styles, periods and price ranges to satisfy all antiques enthusiasts. Many of New England’s earliest antiques collectors lived in Hartford, and the state continues to attract antiques lovers from all over. The Connecticut antiques trail is a convenient way for residents and tourists alike to discover, explore and enjoy the very best destinations that the state’s antiquing community has to offer. Go on line and you are connected with everything from auction houses and historic inns to quaint boutiques located in every region of the state. The web site will help you plan the perfect Connecticut day-long antiquing adventure, weekday getaway or weekend escape.

 

When you travel two lane roads, you do get to see some very unique things. On Route 66, between Marlborough and Hebron we came upon a few painted rock outcroppings.  The first one we came to looked just like a large eagle head with small American flags around the base of it. The second one is a large disembodied snake's head painted on an outcropping of rocks along the roads edge. Just another example of the oddities we have in America!

 

We arrived at the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds for the 19^th Annual Podunk Bluegrass Festival. How would someone come up with a name like Podunk, for a Bluegrass festival? The word “Podunk” is often used, somewhat unflatteringly, to refer to a small, inconsequential, out-of-the-way town. At the Podunk Bluegrass Festival they create a small community of sorts, they are not inconsequential. “Podunk” is derived from an Algonquin word used to describe a confluence of streams or rivers. However, “Podunk” was also the name of a small tribe of Native Americans who lived on the east side of Connecticut River, in present day South Windsor and East Hartford. Early histories of the area describe several “Podunk” villages along the Hockanum River, which flows right through Martin Park, the festival home from 1996 to 2011. The whole area was referred to by the Algonquin as “Podunk”. So, if anyone asks you, you can tell them that yes, Podunk is a real place, and yes, you know how to get there! Even though the festival is not on the banks of the river anymore, they will always be Podunk!

If you have children or grandchildren, take them to the Antique Radio Museum in Connecticut. At the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum, you can learn about the history of electronic communications and experience the evolution first-hand.  Tune radios over 80 years old... talk over candlestick telephones ... send a message in Morse Code... crank a phonograph and listen to 100-year-old records... see what television was like when the only color choices were black and white. Learn about the telegraph, telephone, mechanical sound recording, wireless telegraphy, radio and television, and the seeds of computers, satellite communications and the Internet. It's all at the museum. The museum is also home to the DeGeorge Memorial recording studio for music and vocal recordings and for transcriptions of vintage sound recordings to modern digital format.

Old Newgate Prison is a former prison and mine site in Connecticut. It is now operated by the state of Connecticut as the Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine Archaeological Preserve. Normally open to the public, it is currently closed for restoration. The site includes a colonial-era copper mine, and the remains of the state's first official prison. State records indicate that copper was discovered at this site on the west side of Talcott Mountain, then part of Simsbury, in 1705. A mine was in operation in 1707, created by digging a vertical shaft and tunneling horizontally, with additional vertical shafts dug for ventilation. The mine operated until 1745. About half of the extant tunnels can be seen. The Colony of Connecticut then converted the tunnel network into a prison, naming it after London's Newgate Prison. The first prisoner for whom the state has surviving documentation, John Hinson, was committed for burglary in 1773, and escaped in 1774. During the American Revolutionary War, the prison was used to house Loyalists who fought against independence, as well as British prisoners of war. During this time the holding areas in the mines became known as "Hell", and the prisoners were employed as miners. In 1790 it became a state prison, the first such in America. Most of the above-ground facilities present today were built between then and 1802. These include the main prison wall, and five brick-and-masonry buildings, all of which now stand in ruins. In 1827, the remaining prisoners were transferred to the new, "state-of-the-art" Wethersfield State Prison. Attempts were made to reactivate the mines in the 1830s and 1850s, but these ventures failed. The site has been considered a tourist attraction since the 1860s. Nearby Peak Mountain offers a bird's eye view of Old Newgate Prison from the Metacomet Trail. The mine complex was acquired by the state historic commission in 1968. In the 1970s the state rehabilitated the old guardhouse for use as a visitor’s center and museum, and took other steps to stabilize the ruins. They also constructed a sloping tunnel to provide visitors access via stairs to the mines. Old Newgate Prison was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, and was designated a National Historic Landmark two years later. The site is now owned and administered by the State of Connecticut as a museum. In 2006 an episode of Treasure Hunters sent the contestants to the prison.

In historic Pittsville Massachusets, the reconstruction of prime industrial property at the heart of the City, and an energized arts and entertainment scene in the downtown, Pittsfield establishes itself as a cultural center for the region with the prospect of renewed economic vitality. We saw some very unique signs in the second story windows at a corner building. Good thing we had a red light to study them a bit! One of them had a web site, Emptysetsproject.com. The Empty Set Project Space is active sporadically as a gallery. The signs displayed in the windows are part of a series titled “BIG SALE!” The project began in 2001 and now includes posters for over 190 different items. The signs look like old fashion grocery signs, except they aren’t selling food. “BEST WISHES 3/$1.” The entire BIG SALE inventory is available for purchase. The Project Space was dedicated to exhibiting new works by emerging artists in all media and is currently in cryogenic stasis. At present, the space houses the studios of Monika Pizzichemi and Michael McKay.

Established in 1783, Hancock Village thrived as an active Shaker community during most of the following two centuries. Divided into six family groups along north-south and east-west axes, Hancock was a typical Shaker community with communal dwellings, craft shops, a meetinghouse, and barns. Like most Shaker communities, the designs for the buildings at the Hancock village were driven by function and utility. No extra materials or time were wasted in their construction. Emphasis was placed on efficiency, and although architecturally conservative, at the same time they are quite intriguing. The Round Stone Barn, the most notable Hancock building, is an architectural gem and the only Shaker barn of its kind. Built in 1826, its circular design was a model of efficiency and a curiosity to Shakers and "the world's people" alike, including

farmers and progressive thinkers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville. The elegant beauty of its simple form and details typify Shaker design. In the past, the barn was a center of community activity. Hay was unloaded from wagons into a wooden lined central storage area on the top floor spanning 95 feet in diameter. One level down, 50 or more cattle were kept in stanchions, posts used to secure the animals, which radiated outward from a central manger. Finally, at the bottom level lay the manure pit, accessible by wagon. Unfortunately, this architectural model of efficiency succumbed to fire in 1864. The wooden interior and roof were quickly rebuilt thereafter, with the whole building undergoing complete restoration in 1968. The largest Shaker museum in the east, Hancock opened as a living history museum in 1961. It contains 20 historic buildings, extensive gardens, and a significant collection of Shaker artifacts. The Round Stone Barn continues to impress visitors and scholars alike with the ingenuity of the Shakers. The village also includes Shaker craft demonstrations, historic breeds of livestock, and its restored 19th-century water system.

We traveled most of the day today on Route 20. The New York State Scenic Byway designated section of U.S. Route 20 is 108 miles in length, I think we traveled most of that today. The Route 20 scenic byway corridor celebrates Central New York's diverse heritage, natural beauty, and agricultural vitality, and is defined by rolling hills and broad vistas framed in a working landscape, lakes, tranquil communities, and historical places. It's all about the drive! Route 20 offers rolling hills, spectacular views, working landscapes, tranquil communities and deep history. That's US Route 20, the longest highway in the United States stretching 3,365 miles coast to coast from Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts to the junction of US 101 in Newport, Oregon. US Route 20 is also New York State's longest highway; 372 miles from the border with Massachusetts to the border of Pennsylvania. The area stretching about 30 miles either side of the Scenic Byway is considered the Scenic Byway Corridor. The corridor features even more idyllic communities, numerous specialty shops, local farm markets and numerous

community events. Along Route 20, travelers pass New World Dutch, English, and gambrel-roof dairy barns, the numerous drive-ins and motor courts of the 1930s-1950s, all against the backdrop of the productive fields and tranquil pastures that first brought prosperity to the region. This leather stocking region is rich in history. In the last 1700’s, the construction of the Cherry Valley Turnpike, now known as Route 20, brought prosperity to this small village. Soon followed the Cherry Valley Academy (a renowned girl's finishing school), Oliver Judd's iron foundry (a sample of his work is at our present day Lithia Spring fountain), the National Central Bank established in 1818 (presently the NBT Bank), and is the oldest bank in New York State west of Albany. You cannot forget the exquisite views of the valley. We ended our journey on Route 20 near Richfield Springs, tomorrow we head out to rendezvous with some more friends from Majestic Oaks Carefree RV Resort in Zephyrhills Florida.

Two Lane Adventure to the Podunk Bluegrass Festival

While driving to the Podunk Bluegrass festival, we heard a commercial on the radio and made a phone call to see how close we were to some neighbors of ours. After that phone call, we decided to make a side trip to stop and see some friends from Florida, Richard and Vera. We enjoyed catching up with them, an early dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s and their nickel tour of the area where they grew up and raised their family. We saw a number Richard’s family farms that he worked as a boy. It is always great to see friends and enjoy their fellowship while you are on the road traveling!

During our two lane adventures, we get the opportunity to see many scenic byways. A scenic byway is a road, but not just a road ... It's a road with a story to tell. Some scenic byway might offer magnificent views or fascinating historical sites or amazing wildlife. It might offer access to an exhilarating array of outdoor activities or reveal captivating cultures, spellbinding art or spectacular structures. The Shawangunk, pronounced SHON-gum, Mountains Scenic Byway runs through the Shawangunk Mountain area. It is a true paradise for hikers, rock climbers and outdoor enthusiasts of all types. Towns and villages along the trail are a blend of the past and present. Historic sites and architecture mingle with modern shops and activities. This area is well known for its thriving population of artisans and the unique shops that sell their wares. The

88-mile byway encircles the northern Shawangunk Mountains and travels through the Rondout and Wallkill valleys, linking communities that have a common relationship to the northern Shawangunks and forming a distinct region of the state with its own special character. The state awarded designation based on the significance of the scenic, natural, historic and recreational resources in the region. We followed a portion of the Wallkill Valley Route from the center of Pine Bush east. The scenery changes from commercial to rural countryside, with woods, open fields and the Shawangunk Mountain backdrop at Black Hawk Road. There are more working dairy farms along this stretch of road than any other part of the Byway. There are several horse farms and acres of pasture for grazing. The largest farm is the “Blue Chip,” which is owned by some Wall Street investors, hence the name! At Old Ford Road the landscape opens up with the most awesome views of the escarpment that you’ll see along the Byway.  Orchards and woodlands span the country side, this is truly “Apple Country”. Be sure to stop at one of the farm stands as you travel this roadway; fruit, vegetables, garden plants and ice cream are all so fresh.

Richard and Vera took us to Watchtower Farms, which is very near the area they summer at. It is a group of farms that has played an important role in the worldwide work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The first of the Watchtower Farms, as the facilities are now known, was purchased 50 years ago, on January 2, 1963. The first farm was obtained as a cost-effective way to feed the growing staff of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Brooklyn. The other farmland that Jehovah’s Witnesses had been using in upstate New York took between six and eight hours to reach from Brooklyn. Wallkill is only two hours away. This made it the ideal spot for their needs. Jehovah’s

Witnesses uses this farm to grow fruits and vegetables and to produce poultry, pork, and beef, as well as dairy products. In time, more farms have been added. The Watchtower Farms are more than just a farm, in addition to producing literal crops that can be harvested, literature began to be produced that would help with the figurative harvest work. During the mid-20th century, the print shop located in Brooklyn, produced the majority of our Bible-based literature. But as the demand for literature increased, the Brooklyn print shop was no longer able to keep pace. So in 1973, Jehovah’s Witnesses completed construction of an additional print shop at Wallkill. Since then, the buildings housing the printing operations have been expanded several times. Currently, Jehovah’s Witnesses are constructing more office, residence, and support facilities at Watchtower Farms. This compound is almost overwhelming in size!

To many people, Pine Bush, is just like any of the other towns found in northern Orange County. It’s small, filled with local flavor, and is currently being encroached upon by chain stores and condos that are slowly replacing the more rural life the area is accustomed to. Yes, on the surface, Pine Bush faces the same problems all the other suburbs face. But we were told that Pine Bush is far from a normal, quiet suburb. If it were as average as it seems at first glance, flocks of outsiders would not have swarmed the town at night for the past quarter of a century, racking up trespassing fines and clogging local roads. If Pine Bush was normal, it wouldn’t be known to conspiracy theorists the world over and it certainly wouldn’t be the subject of almost endless discussion in Internet chat rooms. If Pine Bush was truly as peaceful as it appears, locals wouldn’t tell tales of their unbelievable sightings on the checkout line at the local supermarkets, they wouldn’t have so many stories of treacherous encounters with strange creatures, and they certainly wouldn’t make so many wild, incredulous claims about alien abductions and nefarious experiments conducted upon the unsuspecting townsfolk of Pine Bush.

 

No, Pine Bush is no normal Orange County suburb. Pine Bush is widely regarded as the UFO capital of the east coast. The Hudson Valley of New York has long been referred to as the home of some truly strange occurrences. Ghost lights are seen in the woods regularly. Ghosts themselves run rampant throughout the entire area. And, most famously, the Hudson Valley has long been known to attract strange vessels and beings from outer space. Pine Bush came to be known worldwide as the primary destination for these extraterrestrial visitors in the area. Some Pine Bush locals have personal stories of alien sightings, abductions and encounters dating as far back as the 1960s, but the town’s reputation as a hotbed of UFO activity was cemented largely during an incredibly active flurry of strange sightings that occurred in the mid-1980s and continued into the 1990s. Throughout the early part of the ’80s, a mysterious aircraft that has come to be referred to as “The Westchester Boomerang” was seen over two thousand times in the general area, including a handful of sightings in Pine Bush. As the craft’s name suggests, however, most of the sightings occurred not in Orange, but in Westchester County. While the sensational Westchester Boomerang was occupying the attention of researchers, curious, quieter, less hyped, but just as strange events were happening on a frighteningly regular basis in Pine Bush. As the hype over the Westchester sightings died down, more and more people began to realize that truly strange, phenomenal things were occurring in the seemingly normal rural village. They even hold an annual Pine Bush UFO Fair & Parade in May.  A few magazines and television programs visited Pine Bush to conduct their own investigations. Most importantly, Ellen Crystall’s book, Silent Invasion, chronicling her eleven year investigation into the mysterious activities surrounding Pine Bush outed the town as a focal point of UFO activity, and made people much more comfortable about coming forward with their own personal tales.



We even were treated to a bit of “star gazing” … Richard and Vera took us on a roadside tour of the summer home of the owner of Papa John’s pizza. John Schnatter is the founder, CEO And spokesman for Papa John's. The story of his rise in the pizza business is quite an American dream. The Papa John's pizza business was founded in 1983 when he knocked out a broom closet in the back of his father's tavern in Indiana. He then sold his 1971 Camaro to purchase $1,600 worth of used pizza equipment and began selling pizzas to the tavern's customers out of the converted closet. His pizzas proved so popular that one year later he was able to move into an adjoining space. Today, the company is the third largest take-

out and pizza delivery restaurant chain in the world.  Its slogan is "Better Ingredients. Better Pizza. Papa John's." Internationally, there are over 4,600 Papa John's establishments, including over 3,200 in the U.S. and the remainder spread among 34 other countries. In September 2012, Papa John's Pizza opened its 4,000th restaurant. We did not catch a glimpse of him, but it was a very beautiful homestead. We stayed the night with Richard and Vera and headed out to Connecticut in the morning.

 

We traveled to Nelson Family Campground to spend the night before we could arrive at the Podunk Bluegrass Festival. This campground has been owned & operated by the Gustine family since 1964. It is located on 175 scenic acres in the heart of central Connecticut. The campground is an ideal place to camp, relax and enjoy the great outdoor life with your friends and family or just kicking back and escaping for a while. The campground shares a border with the Meshomasic State Forest and offers hiking trails into the forest. The campground has it's own pond and sandy "beach" area, but just down the road is Lake Pocotopaug.

For years, it has been a popular resort area. The lake is surrounded by numerous year round residences and summer cottages. It is especially noted for two islands in its center, separated by a narrow, shallow strait. Both islands have cabins. The lake's name comes from the local Pequot Indian word for "lake with pierced islands". Some time long before the area was settled by whites, the tribe living there felt they were being cursed by their irritable Great Spirit. To try and appease him, the main chief agreed to sacrifice his daughter, who willingly threw herself into the lake and drowned. The tribe's shamans announced that never again would an Indian be killed on the lake. Lake Pocotopaug at 512 acres.

We arrived at the 19th Annual Podunk Bluegrass festival. It is being held at the Hebron Lions Fairgrounds. Being members of the Hemlock Lake Union Agricultural Society, they operate the Hemlock "Little World's" Fair annually. We are always looking at other fairgrounds for upgrades or new ideas for our fair grounds. We are staying put for this great four day Bluegrass festival! Looking forward to a great line up of music! With three stages of entertainment, it should be a great time!