The Exploration Continues..............

We are still in the Finger Lakes region.     What a beautiful area.     We start out exploring the Skaneateles Lake.   This is the furthest East of the lakes and is also the highest  (867 feet above sea level).    It's 15 miles long and is surrounded by gentle rolling hills on the south and more majestic, near-mountainous ones to the north.   It is spring fed, crystal clean and clear.

The only real village on the lake is of the same name.   Handsome summer homes surround this north end, not far from Syracuse.  

 

The first Europeans were Moravian missionaries who came here in 1750.     From 1843 forward they advertised a short-lived Utopian community that advertised in NY newspapers for followers and advocated communal property, nonviolence, easy divorce and vegetarianism..     Quite a combination of guidelines!

The area also served as a stopping place on the Underground Railroad, with English born Quaker James Fuller spearheading the local abolition movement.

These two beautiful wood boats do wine runs on the lake, deliver the mail and give passengers a ride.

I loved the roof on this church.

In the lake front park is a Veteran's Memorial Park.

There are plaques throughout this small area recognizing the fallen heroes of various wars, starting with the Spanish-American War, The War of 1812 through the current time.

Although this Park recognizes our fallen heroes, this duck says it is also for the living.

Since RJ is a Navy Veteran, I am also including this bust depicting the Navy.

I can now say I truly know where Cornell College is located.    What a beautiful area to spend four years of your life!

We moved on to Cayuga Lake.   This is the longest of the lakes at 40 miles long.   We visited a couple winery's.      Our favorite today was the Long Point Winery.       We have been slowly accumulating bottles to take to Ron & Mary when we arrive for an extended visit next week.     RJ was set to buy 5 bottles, but I reminded him of our limited car space, so we finally settled on two.

This is a small winery  (as most of them are in this area).      They produce about 1,500 cases of wine per year.      I got permission to photo their production room (and storage area for aging the wine).

Sorry about this first blurry shot.     No excuses, just bad photography!    The blur you see on the left is Gary, the owner, maker of the wines, etc.

The next two pictures are the extent of his brewing equipment.

Cases of wine awaiting sale/delivery.

The view outside the winery.

I couldn't resist getting a photo of this barn across the road.

We visited another winery down the road, but the wines couldn't compare to this place.     Maybe I should have let him buy those extra bottles!

Tomorrow we hit the road again.........