On Friday August 28th, day 114, we departed Livonia NY. I always hate today "see ya later" because many times in my life, we have never seen that person again. We are all getting to "that age." Although, some of us will deny that fact! I had a few tears in my eyes as we hugged our "camp host" and Charlie said he did too. All our friends in the Livonia area, please check on him now and them for us! It was an overcast day, so there was not much to see, but you can see even the sunflowers had their heads down. Sunflowers are large, cheerful annual plants native to North America. They are widely recognized for their bright yellow petals and unique behavior of tracking the sun. Yes, sunflowers follow the sun, but only when they are young. This daily tracking behavior is called heliotropism. In the morning, young sunflowers face east to greet the rising sun. As the day goes on, they slowly turn west to follow the light. During the night, an internal biological timer called a circadian clock helps the plant twist its stem back toward the east.
Our destination today is Chemung County Park Station, a county recreation area with a small 40-site campground on a lake. We have one set of friends here that arrived on Thursday, the other 4 couples arrived today. We are not as close to each other as we are when we usually camp, but we will make it work!
While we were waiting for everyone to get here, two couples went to a seafood store close by and then they called us to meet them at Horseheads Brewing. This brewery was founded in June 2006 , by Ed and Brenda Samchisen. They had the grand opening on July 3, 2007. Quickly the brewery's name grew and the brewery won the FX Matt Cup as the Best New York State Brewery at the TAP New York festival in 2010 and 2015. The award is named in honor of FX Matt of the historic FX Matt Brewing Company (makers of Saranac and Utica Club.) The competing breweries submit three different beers for blind judging, and the trophy is awarded based on the highest combined overall score.
They gained regional fame for distinct creations like their Pumpkin Ale and the pepper-infused Hot Jala Heim Ale. Dana had the Pumpkin Ale, with the fancy rimmed glass. After 11 years of operation, the Samchisens retired and briefly closed the brewery in July 2018. The Lilly family purchased the business and reopened it in early 2019, preserving the original recipes and legacy while adding equestrian-themed taproom decor. Back to the FX Matt Brewing Company in Utica, NY, it is also famous for its iconic talking beer steins featuring characters like Schultz and Dooley from its classic 1960s–1970s advertising campaigns. The characters were created by copywriter David Reider and voiced by comedian Jonathan Winters, Schultz (a German with a mustache and a chrome pickelhaube helmet) and Dooley (an Irishman with red hair) famously argued in commercials until they ordered a Utica Club beer. My brother still has the famous stains from Utica Club.
Did I mention how much I love to walk in this recreation area? It has 3 trails of varying length and difficulties. I took the blue trail early this morning, day 115, Saturday August 29th. It allowed me to see the fog on the lake. Is it really fog? Yes it is. Morning mist on a lake is a real type of fog called steam fog (or evaporation fog.) It is very common in the late summer and autumn when air temperatures drop faster than water temperatures. It usually disappears as the sun warms up the air.
On the crushed stone path, I found a little friend. The only other place I have seen this little orange guys is on the old railroad path at Ives Run in Tioga PA. The eastern newt is a native North American salamander renowned for its fascinating "triple life" cycle and striking color transformations. This resilient amphibian navigates both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems throughout its 12 to 15-year lifespan. This "orange guy" is actually a Red Eft. The newt sheds its gills, develops lungs, and transitions to land as a bright orange-red juvenile called an eft. They live in damp forest floors and leaf litter for 2 to 8 years. This bright color is a warning sign that tells predators they are toxic.
Since this is our last camping trip with the "camping gang from NY" we have to have Espresso Martinis! Karen was turned onto them on a cruise we took together and she has been perfecting her craft since then! We have enjoyed them at several campgrounds around NY. This time, I got the chocolate covered Espresso beans to garnish them with! I can't say if the beans enhanced the flavor, but the first one sure did taste like a second was in order!
We said our "see ya later" to Dana & Dawn, as they left this afternoon. There were a few more tears with these two too.
We enjoyed our traditional bring your meat to cook dinner with friends. We all had great sides to share! After dinner Royce and Karen got the fire roaring for all of us!
It was an overcast and gloomy morning, which matched the mood for some of us. Today is day 116, Sunday August 30th. More friends head for home today and we won't see some until who knows when. Some we will see in March on a cruise, but that does not make the "see ya later" any easier! There were some tears for sure... see y'all soon!
There is only Karen & Royce and Charlie & I left. So, once all of our friends headed home, we decided to check out Wetlands Brewery in Van Etten, NY. When Nathan and Sara Emery got the idea to start their own brewery, they wanted something different, something that would stand out from other breweries around the Southern Tier. Nathan was already doing some home brewing using leftover hops his father-in-law had, and when he noticed how popular his product was with family and friends, the idea for Wetlands Brewery was born. Wetlands Brewery is a craft brewery in Van Etten pouring locally made beer in a welcoming taproom atmosphere with beautiful views of the wetlands below their establishment. Their mission is to create a business that helps support their local economy, brings families together and connect the craft brewery trail.
The couple, who already had full-time jobs building and selling commercial playgrounds, purchased 25.5 acres of land across from their home on state Route 224 in the Town of Van Etten — including a wetland that inspired the name for the new business. They built the new facility from scratch and opened for business in June of 2025. From the start, they wanted to set Wetlands Brewery apart. They wanted to be family-friendly. Offering both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. They have kids. They're different from a bar. They're definitely not a bar at all.
We enjoyed three different beers between the 4 of us and each couple enjoyed a pretzel! Royce had a Wetlands House Wren, a brown ale, Charlie had a Wetlands Kingfisher, a light lager. Karen & I both had a Wetlands Cedar Waxwing, a golden ale. The beers take inspiration from the birds that soar, glide and nest near the brewery. Another aspect that gives Wetlands Brewery a different twist is the menu, which not only includes locally-sourced food, but changes on a regular basis. The brewery also features the biggest pretzel Charlie has ever seen! You can sit indoors or enjoy the scenery from an outdoor patio. Scenery that often includes a variety of wildlife such as turtles, bald eagles, otters and wild turkeys. The rain set in later and killed our hopes for a fire!
On day 117, Monday August 31st, the last day of August, it certainly starting to look a lot like fall up here! The subtle shifts in the weather, shorter daylight hours, and changing leaves are signals the arrival of early fall. The official start of autumn is marked by the fall equinox. While meteorologists consider September 1 the start of meteorological fall, the natural transition between summer and autumn is much less tidy. Good thing we start south soon!
Found this guy climbing on our campsite number post, the fall webworm caterpillar, which will become the fall webworm moth. They are hairy with colors ranging from pale yellow or greenish to dark gray, covered in long white hairs that sprout from black bumps. They often feature a black head and distinct black spots along their back. Back when I was a kid, they always said that the fuzziness of the caterpillar told us the weather. However, the thickness or fuzziness of a caterpillar does not actually predict the weather, though weather folklore claims a heavy or fuzzy coat means a bitter, cold winter. Another reason for us to head south.... better safe than sorry!
In early afternoon, we went into Horseheads to visit with friends from Majestic Oaks, our "old park" in Florida that moved back to NY. It was great to see Terry & Vicky, they were "regulars" at Bob & Marie's house at Majestic Oaks. It is not the best picture, but Vicky is not on social media... so, don't tell her!
After our visit, Charlie and I headed to Upstate Brewing Company. It was originally founded by a pair of Horseheads residents, now, only one original founder is running the brewery. Upstate opened its doors in 2010 and has since expanded capacity to nearly 2,000 barrels (or about 62,000 gallons) per year.
Upstate was an early regional pioneer in packaging its craft beer exclusively in cans rather than bottles. Their distribution along the I-90 and I-86 corridors is expansive and even reaching craft beer stands at the NY Met's Citi Field.
Upstate uses its brewhouse to experiment with different styles, including some from long ago eras. Visitors to its tasting room and the Central New York Brewfest in January 2016 had the opportunity to try an exceptional honey porter. Common Sense, its bestselling label, is a Kentucky common ale; a lesser-known style that was nearly lost as a result of Prohibition. The IPW marries the American-style wheat with an India pale ale for a smooth-drinking beer with a hoppy bite. Charlie had the Upstate IPA and I went for the Roasted Coffee, it is a signature coffee-infused brown and cream ale. It was delicious!
I loved the bathroom door. The inside of the door was covered with their beer can labels. It was so colorful and cool!
In the hallway to the bathroom was a wall of craft brewery stickers, I found 3 Daughters Brewery from St Petersburg Florida on the wall! I wish I had a No BS Brewery sticker to add to it!
We talked to new head brewer at Upstate, he has been there about a week. He came from Bluestone Brewery in Sayre PA. We learned so much about his beers and his brewing style. We ended the day by stopping at Wegmans to grab a few groceries.
It was a rainy morning on day 118, Tuesday September 1st and we needed to make a trip to Horseheads for some hose and maybe some new western wear for our American Mountain Music Tour! The sun came out, as we headed into tow. A local crossed the road ahead of us! Between the auto parts store and Tractor Supply, there was an Ollie's Bargain Outlet. You never know what you might not need!
After we finished shopping, we decided to head the 20-miles to the Bluestone Brewing Company we heard about yesterday, from the brewer at Upstate. A quick look-up showed they were open and had food! All of the partners, at Bluestone Brewing Company, have loved going to different breweries all over the country. They chose to provide a brewery the area could call their own. For Christmas of 2010, one of the partners (Mandy) bought her husband (Brady) a beer-making kit as a last-minute, impulsive gift and he fell in love with homebrewing … and now they have a 3200 sq ft brewery of their own.
They initially bought the property as an investment, but the location was too ideal for them to flip. They went through a three-year process of planning and building the brewery. They are federally licensed as a brewery and a winery, and state licensed as a brewery and brewpub. That means they can only sell what they make, in addition to any Pennsylvania-made wine. They currently offer wines from Antler Ridge Winery and liquors from Big Spring Spirits and Jacquin's Spirits.
The name is distinct to the area. Pennsylvania Bluestone is a unique natural resource found in the local area. Pennsylvania bluestone is a dense, durable sandstone quarried primarily in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Architects and designers use this stone when creating a high-quality, distinctive appeal for their projects. Their goal at Bluestone Brewing is to offer the same high-quality and distinctive beers, ciders, and services in which people can notice the quality while appreciating the local environment.
They kept more things local, from using all local subcontractors, to bar and conversation table are built out of six different species of Pennsylvania hardwoods hand-crafted by Ron, one of their friends. The entire design and building process was centered around a place the local community could be proud of, tourists would find memorable, and families would be welcomed bringing their children in to eat as we establish a relaxing and professional environment. The brewer that just left, was beloved here and it showed. The beer board was all designed and drawn by him. So, not only were his beers unique, so was his personality and artistic abilities! We had Christine for our server and she rocked everything too!
I went for the Blueberry Cobbler. Charlie wanted the Crunch Cucumber Blonde Ale, but they were out of it. That was one of the beers the brewer told us about. Charlie settled for the Blue & White Blonde Ale (also a nod to Penn State Nittany Lions.) Both were very good. The menu was expansive and varied. But, Charlie saw the pretzel logs and he was sold! I was glad that the pretzel logs came with two dipping sauces. He had the cheese sauce and I went for the jalapeno cheese sauce!
On our way back into NY, we went through Waverly, NY. There was a new mural being painted. The new 9/11 remembrance and patriotic mural is currently being painted on the side of Becky's Diner. This new mural is going to be an epic memorial to 9/11 and all of those who served, protected and stood together for this nation, the people and pulled us through a tragedy. Every time locals pass, they can see the mural unfold before their eyes but the theme of it is - "United We Stand." The mural will be ready for the 25th Anniversary of the dreaded day of 9/11.
It is being painted by Underdog Murals. Here is what I learned about them... Every great mural begins with a team. This mural brought together three artists with very different strengths. Stephen's incredible talents, Rebecca's love of symbolism, storytelling, and design, and all the way from France, Antoni's years of mural experience. Individually, they are artists. Together, they became a team. They understand that the best projects happen when everyone brings their gifts to the wall. Public art does more than beautify a space. It creates places where people gather, connect, and build memories. A thoughtfully designed mural can transform an overlooked wall into a source of pride, a conversation piece, and a destination. It can celebrate local history, honor community values, and create a stronger sense of belonging for the people who call a place home.
We enjoyed dinner with the Fairheads and a nice fire with a chimney log. Thanks Royce!
The sunset was gorgeous too!
Our last day in Chemung County at Park Station was day 119, Wednesday September 2nd. It started with a walk on the red and green trails with a back track on the blue trail, instead of going across the wet grass on the dam. Today walk was a study of fungus. On my walk, I found two varieties of Turkey tail mushroom. They are common, non-culinary polypore fungus renowned for its potent immune-boosting and prebiotic properties. Named after its striking, multi-colored concentric rings that mimic a wild turkey's plumage, this woody bracket fungus grows abundantly on decaying logs and stumps across the woodlands.
These are beautiful oyster mushrooms, growing right on a mossy log. They are known for their distinct fan-like shape. They are a popular edible mushroom, I'll pass! They do hold the water nicely for the creatures in the forest!
These vibrant orange mushrooms are poisonous and famously known as Jack-o'-lantern mushrooms for their bioluminescent glow. They glow in the dark... I really don't need to see that!
My last fungus for this walk is a Yellow Fly Agaric mushroom. It has a bright cap and distinctive white warts. It is a striking, poisonous, and psychoactive mushroom. This mushroom contains ibotenic acid and muscimol, which are potent neurotoxins.
The trail I took this morning, I called the red loop. However, the official name is the Park Station High Loop at Park Station. It is a well-maintained trail managed and cared for by the local Rotary Club. The loop features a few short, moderate hills if traveled counter-clockwise and ends with a steep downhill section that connects back to the lower trail circling the lake.
A rainy day off and on, makes it a perfect day to do laundry. This laundry at the campground is a hidden gem! $1.50 for a wash and $1.00 for 45-minutes of drying time!
We sat outside with Karen for a little while this afternoon between the rain storms. Tonight, we are glued to the TV as there are heavy storms all around us.
We were safe and no issues where we are!
Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!
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