Well for all of you who passed geography you know that heading
west out of Vermont lands you smack dab in New York State. Now if I could only
remember back to those geography classes and recall from which empire it derived
the nickname "Empire State"?
Eastern New York State is home to Saratoga Springs, but for
those who prefer to stay dry and have an interest in history or warfare there
is the Saratoga National Historic Park. It, of course, commemorates the turning
point of the American Revolution. I don't have a burning interest in either war
or early American history per se, but I enjoyed the park and would recommend a visit if
you're in the area. You can walk, bike or drive around the battlefields and
listen to the historical recordings at the 10 different highlighted points. You
can even dial up further narrations on your cell phone while checking out the
revolutionary canons and studying the war tactics and battle lines as they were
actually formed back in those most critical times of 'these here United States
of America'. 
Additionally, there are the
various monuments to some civil war soldiers including the "Unknown Boot
Memorial" commemorating the bravery of Benedict Arnold who was shot in the
leg during the battle of Saratoga. That was prior to his infamous act of
treason when he conspired to turn over West Point to the British. Apparently monuments
are irrevocable.
(For more info.: http://www.nps.gov/sara/historyculture/index.htm)
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| National War Memorial |
Sticking with the theme of the day, war and its results, I
paid a visit to the National Cemetery of Saratoga which is always a somber
expedition. To complete the trifecta for the day I also visited the National
War Memorial located at a "Non-National" cemetery. As I was taken
some photos of an intriguing Vault built into a hill I was approached by the
current president of the cemetery and official grounds keeper who happened to
be mowing the lawns nearby. He asked if I would like to see the inside of the
vault which was used to hold caskets until such a time as they could be buried.
Sometimes holding the dead weeks or months until the weather allowed for their
burial. Although I knew it was no longer used I was none the less eager to have
a rare peek inside such an edifice. One can never know what to expect in such a
situation, but I half expected to enter and have my hairs stand up, sense
ghosts, or maybe be taken aback by an unusual smell or feel of the place.
Surprisingly the experience was more or less blasé, but I still felt privileged
to have been granted entrance and according to my host I'm one of very few to
capture the interior photographically.
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| Purgatory? |
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| An Ithaca Fall. |
My original plans from there were to head to Niagara Falls.
Although the weather there is always dodgy the next few days were shaping up to
be particularly unpleasant. Since I didn't feel like subjecting my cameras to
anymore downpours I decided to skip the falls to try and gain some momentum heading
west.
My momentum was curbed when I made a pit stop in Ithaca to
visit some friends I acquired while on the job. Matt and Marcy own a couple of
restaurants in Ithaca and I just happened to have married them on the yacht I
was captaining for the last few years. Well, I didn't actually "Marry
them", the minister did that. But they did get married on my watch and I
did happen to do double duty as their wedding photographer.
Fighting some insane traffic due to construction in the
small downtown area I started to stress about whether or not I would make it to
the gas station before the fumes ran out. Luckily I did make it and to my
surprise the gas station even had micro beers on tap!! Just in case I needed to
calm my nerves I guess. College towns!
I mainly popped in just thinking I'd say hello, get a bite
to eat at the "Mahogany Grill" and mosey on, but they wouldn't hear
of it. They insisted that I stay at least a few days if not a week or so until
my Ex-Boss got back into town. Well, I couldn't say no, so I did spend a few
days there having some nice dinners, checking out the various waterfalls of the
area, attending a couple of parties and getting introductions to some of
Ithaca's most eligible bachelorettes.
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| Another of Ithaca's Falls. |
Unfortunately rainy weather was marching back upon us again
so I made the decision to start out again in search of the sun. Once again I
managed to slip away unattached. Pointing Mage west I'm full of determination
and set my sites for the Heartland......
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