Finger Lakes

We have spent a few days sightseeing around the lakes of NY. Have managed to find Locks 1,2,3, and 4 of the National Erie Canal Heritage Trail some of these locks range in depth difference from 7.5 feet to 20 feet. Locks 2 and 3 is a double lock system. We expected them to be higher in elevation but considering the access it allows it is interesting that so long ago this was all done for cargo to flow and business to flourish. Many towns depended on this canal system and along with the railroad system that still is in existence industry was in full swing. Many small towns still have an active community for the boating enthusiasts and offer docking space as well as park area to tie up at. and picnic at. (or Dock at) By the way these locks open on demand not on the hour system as we have with our draw bridges in the South. They do close at night and boaters as well as barges find a place to wait for the morning. What else is interesting is that they will ask you where you are going and then communicate that information to the next lock and if you don't arrive begin to send out messages that a particular vessel has not reached there. A little check and balance and safety too. There is a charge to go through the locks and you can purchase a 2 day pass for $5.00 or a yearly pass for $100.00.
We next followed the wine trail along Cayuga Lake 16 wineries at 6 taste each guess who didn't get to taste all the samples? And that is just one wine trail we did. We found a couple of out of the way places (marina's) and took a couple of interesting pictures of wood boats, storage areas and a train trestle that went out on the lake. Nice to see that these small towns turned the old train stations into government offices. Nice park areas, restrooms and access to the lake. We found a nice little Bistro to have lunch, called Pumpkin Hill. It was an old building taken down and moved to this site. Old chairs and tables, pie tins for plates, collenders for salads and mason jars for your drinks. It had a great view of Lake Cayuga and one could have sat outside and enjoy a glass of wine and taken it all in. Reminded me of a place in California along the Big Sur River where you could just spend the day sitting in the water. Just down the street we discovered a fruit stand and the apples are just starting to ripen. Oh so good when they go "crunch" as you bite into one. The wine vineyards are everywhere on the hillsides and there are still plenty of grapes to be harvested in a couple of weeks. One must pace themselves with all the sampling, so as a side distraction you find a waterfall or two to fill in and help you navigate the rest of the route, This one is Taughannock Falls State Park on the southwestern side of Cayuga Lake. Many waterfall are in this area, there is just not a lot of water coming over to really appreciate the force and beauty of it all. It still is worth the side trip just to see them. One must not forget the Cheese makers as well on these wine trails. Just like wine, some is good some is not. An ice cream shop is always a good place to stop too. The only down side is that if you take all the side trips the wineries close before you get to them all. Okay another day to do some.