Trip to NY

I recently took a trip up to New York State, that included some new and old experiences. This is the journal of how it went.

Quick Tips:

Look at a map of New York State, there are many different ways to get to where you want to go by avoiding the Thruway. Granted, it may take more time, and you may get lost; but it adds to the adventure and you get to see some great country settings.

Best Way To Get Around:

I drove, as far as I know that's the only way to go. You can take a train, but then you need a way to get to your ultimate destination. As I said, I took some county and state roads as opposed to the interstate, which added to the enjoyment of the trip.

I had seen Brooks on an episode of $40 A Day with Rachel Ray on the Food Network and decided to give it a try. Getting there was easy, drive south out of Cooperstown and take Interstate 88 West toward Oneonta. It took me about 1/2 hour to get there, but it's right off the highway and there are signs directing you--besides, it was impossible to miss a huge plume of smoke rising from the site. According to them, Brooks has the biggest indoor charcoal pit in the east. My heart sank a little when I saw how packed the place was, I didn't feel like waiting an eternity just for some BBQ chicken. Luckily, although the line to get in to sit at a table practically went out the door, there was a take-out counter which was easily accessible.

The menu was simple, regular BBQ fare with chicken, ribs, and sides. I got a quarter chicken and ribs combo, with sides for a little under $10. The service was quick and friendly, and the other people waiting were their usual mid-state NY selves, talking up the place and how the journey to Brooks is always rewarding. I took my dinner back to my motel room in Cooperstown, as I like to eat by myself. The portions were huge, I got a well-cooked quarter chicken, two huge ribs, a "healthy" portion of fries, and coleslaw, as well as a dinner roll, all for the price of just under $10. Along with a nice bottle of beer I got from Brewery Ommegang earlier in the day, the meal was satisfying to say the least. Eating ribs and chicken with a great beer, baseball on the TV, overlooking Ostego Lake in Cooperstown--there are few things which make a life feel complete, that was one of them.

I had researched where to buy a good hiking stick on the net and found this shop in my research. It was along the way on my trip, so I decided to stop in. The shop was as I imagined it, with walls covered with packs, gear, tents, and assorted supplies. The woman in the shop was very helpful in selecting a good stick, as it turned out it was cheaper to buy a pair-so I did. I am very satisfied with my purchase. The woman was very kind and helpful, giving me brochures, showing me pictures, and giving me recommendations about future trips.

This was my first real hike. I decided to take up hiking as a way to get into better shape, and the trails I had been walking in the parks and reserves around my area in NJ did nothing to prepare me for my hike up Overlook Mountain. The hike is up an old carriage road they used to cart people up to the Overlook Mountain House. The trail is wide and well-maintained. The ascent is about 1500 feet in 2½ miles, 2 miles to the ruins of the Mountain House, and another ½ mile to the summit. I had brought what I thought were enough supplies but halfway up realized should have brought more water and Gatorade because the hot midday sun made the trek slightly more exhausting than I anticipated. Luckily, there are many places to stop, rest, and catch your breath. The Mountain House ruins are 2 miles up the trail and serves as an imposing marker to the near end of the journey. Built and rebuilt three times, the Mountain House stands as a reminder of the Guilded Age vacationers who came to the Catskills before the advent of the automobile.

The summit is another ½ mile up the trail and the trek is definitely worth it as the views are spectacular. There is a fire tower that seems safe enough until halfway up and the boards feel a little loose and the wind buffets the structure causing it to move ever so slightly. The scenic overlook down the trail a little bit is gorgeous. You can see the Hudson River Valley and other peaks of the Catskill Mountain Range. The trip back down the mountain wasn't nearly as strenuous as the ascent, but the extreme angle makes it a little rough on the knees. If you go, go prepared, buy comfortable hiking shoes, a good hiking stick, and bring plenty of water and Gatorade. Take your time, it's not a race, when you finish you finish. The hike is very popular, you will encounter many people as I did, and is rated as moderate in the guide book I bought before my trip.

I wanted to kill time on my way up to Cooperstown and found a short hike along the way. If you follow 23A you will come to Kaaterskill Falls somewhere near Hunter, NY. The parking is after a bend in the road and you have to walk the shoulder of the road, trying not to get hit by trucks and such. The trailhead is at the extreme of a hairpin turn. To the falls is ½ miles. You climb up rocks and tree roots and placed logs to get to the ultimate destination, all the time Kaaterskill Creek flows and rolls passed you to the left. Many glacial erratics sit imposingly to the sides, a testament to the power of the great ice sheets that once covered the land. The trail is relatively easy, with few tough spots; it ends with the actual falls which ascend 260 feet. The main falls are basically three tiered and you can scramble across some precarious rocks to get to the second tier, but having hiked some 5 or 6 miles the day before, I just didn't feel like it.

The scene is very serene and you can see why people have been coming here for a good century and a half as this has been a popular destination since the time of Thoreau and Emerson. You can reach the top of the falls by driving down the road a bit, I got directions from a Tourist Kiosk by the motel I stayed at. The trail to the top of the falls is easy, only about a ¼ mile downhill. The top gives you some great views, but it is unadvisable to try to get to the creek itself as the angle is wet, slippery and steep. There are several trails which lead to and from the top of the falls, but as a thunderstorm was rolling in, and I was at the top of a mountain, holding an aluminum hiking stick I decided to go back to my car and continue to Cooperstown. The falls were great, just be careful on the road, as they are doing construction and there really isn't a shoulder for most of the walk to and from the trailhead.

I went to Brewery Ommegang for a couple reasons. A) I like beer. B) It was close to where I was. Where else can you see the art of Belgian style beer making? Brewery Ommegang is situated in the countryside between Milford and Cooperstown, NY. There are easy to follow signs on Route 28 that will direct you to the brewery. The tour is free and runs about 20 to 25 minutes, and there are free samples at the end. There is also a modest shop where you can buy the finished product as well as the standard fare of souvenirs. I was a little amazed about how small the whole operation was, but it made sense because they only brew one batch at a time and really take their time doing it. They were having a music festival while I was there, complete with food, and of course more beer. I didn't stick around but the celebrants seemed to be having a good time. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable so if you like beer and are in the Cooperstown area definitely check out Brewery Ommegang. Oh, the beer was very good too.

I'd like to start off by saying I love Cooperstown. The people are laid back and friendly, the scenery by Otsego Lake is fantastic, and the overall vibe of the town is very positive and fun. That being said, if you don't like crowds, being jostled, having people walk in front of you when you are trying to take pictures, or just want to avoid lines and the hassles that come with having a large amount of people in a small place, avoid the Baseball Hall of Fame on major holiday weekends. I look at the Hall of Fame (HOF) as a testament to the abilities of the greatest baseball players ever. I love the sanctity of the place, like any museum, and look at the HOF as a place where I can (usually) take my time and see the things I want to see. But with a large crowd it was impossible. There was a line before the line to buy tickets, I had been comped a free ticket so I got past that, but I still had to contend with everybody else there. The HOF gallery of plaques echoed with the wails of crying children, and the parents who refused to discipline them. Upstairs in the exhibit area, children ran and played tag while other patrons repeatedly bumped into me and ignored me as I tried to take pictures of certain exhibits. Normally, I love the HOF and could spend hours there, but that Saturday I spent about an hour there before I got tired of it. The only solace I got was when I walked out, and down the street, and came upon Doubleday Field and watched part of a local high school baseball game. Normally I would highly recommend the HOF but avoid it on Memorial Day.