Fall Colour Outing to Rochester / Finger Lake / Walkin Glen State |
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As many of you may have recalled that we organized a group tour to Finger Lakes / Walkin Glen State Park over the October 5 & 6, 2002 weekend. The following is a report for those who missed. Before I begin, I must apologize to those members whom we had to turn down because the tour was sold out before they expressed their interest. While, obviously, we would like as many as our members and their guests to join us, we were absolutely constrained by the number of bus seats available. Sorry. On Oct. 5, we departed from Times Square, Richmond Hill early in the morning. The journey to the U.S. border was somewhat uneventful but it gave us a chance to know our guide, Jim, and each other better. Jim was humorous, friendly and knowledgeable. This reassured us that the trip would be very enjoyable and worry-free. Even though security has been beefed up at the U.S. border significantly, we encountered no hassle whatsoever. While we breezed through the border, we saw some other bus passengers go through detailed inspections! Please do not ask me why because the answers I got from Jim and the driver were: “I don’ t know” and “beats me”. To them, a busload of passengers going through U.S. border in 10 minutes was a rarity. Soon after the border, we hit our first stop: George Eastman House. As the name suggests, this 50-room mansion was once occupied by George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak Co. The house has been restored to its early 1900s appearance. We were surprised by Eastman’s taste for expensive furniture and décor. The most eye-catching décor was his hunting trophies displayed throughout the house. Environmentalist, he wasn't. Walking in his house enabled us to have a glimpse of the life, and death, of the father of modern day cameras. Amazing! After everybody has taken enough pictures insider his house and in his formal gardens, we proceeded to support the U.S. economy at an outlet mall. You would be surprised at how efficient we were in scooping up grub and bargains! Then, along the scenic shore of the Seneca Lake, we came to the high point of the day: Watkin Glen State Park. The weather that day was very co- operating. There was sunshine but it was not hot at all. It was very suitable for hiking. This scenic glen is famous for its rock formations and waterfalls. Admiring the cliff and the waterfalls from the bridge spanning the glen and along the path was simply unforgettable. It seemed that we all learned our geography well as we could remember our Form 1 lessons vividly. After supper, we checked in to the hotel. Understandably, most members called it a day and hit the bed. Some of us checked out the gym instead as if walking in the glen was not enough exercise! After spending some time in the gym, I decided to venture out of the hotel and experience the City of Rochester first hand. Our hotel, Four Points by Sheraton, was located right downtown. All the office buildings in the area were obviously deserted. I knew I could not find Yorkville near the hotel. I was still a little surprised that there was not one pub, coffee shop or anything like that. I was even more surprised that I did not bump into any panhandler or homeless people during my 40-minute walking venture. Very different from downtown Toronto indeed! So that was day 1. After having breakfast in the hotel, we began our bus ride to our boat. Remembering the picturesque Seneca Lake yesterday, we were all looking forward to the cruise around the lake that morning. Once on board the boat, we all got excited at the fact that we would be cruising on the lake in minutes. Or so we thought! Some 30 minutes and apologies later, we were told that the boat was not going anywhere due to mechanical problems! What!! Needless to say, we were very disappointed. Alternative arrangements were made soon enough. We finally got on another boat and began our cruise. Lake Canandaigua, considered one of the most beautiful of the Finger Lakes, was simply gorgeous. Especially when were enjoying it under a breeze. Some of us were so impressed that they were considering a bid on the few cottages on sale for a mere US$650,000. Bargains of the day! Later that afternoon, we came back to Niagara-On-The-Lake to visit a winery. We tasted some of the VQA wines as well as icewine. Many of us picked up souvenirs from the winery before we headed back to the city. We came back to Times Square right on schedule. After saying goodbye to each other, we all rushed home to check out the souvenirs! See you next time. Until then, take care. Reported by : Terence Kwan Secretary, OAASPC |
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