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The romantic getaway
Armed
with the weekend frenzy, our friends from Hendricks Chapel at the
Syracuse University mobilised a group of 14 friends, all bundled in a
giant car, and decided to explore the wintry beauty of Syracuse on a
sunny weekend. From the Syracuse taking NYS route 5 east to
Chittenango and then on to route 13 and turning right, following it
for about four miles north of Cazenovia, we reached the entrance to
the park. From the parking area, we went down playing in the snow and
the steps took us to the base of the falls. My heart missed a beat as
one saw, crossing the bridge spanning the creek, the most sparkling
view of the frozen Chittenango Falls. Having seen the best known
falls like the Niagara and Taughannock falls, this spectacular scene
was as if life had frozen at its best moment. A picturesque 167-foot
waterfall. A frozen waterfall, decked in peaceful white, beckons one
and all. The falls are beyond the description of earthly beings. Water
cascades about halfway down the falls, with beautiful jumps and
sprays, before widening and continuing its course down the rock face.
The cascades leading from the falls to the bridge over the creek
provide the perfect foreground for the scene. Glacial sculpting over
40 million-year-old bedrock has largely contributed to this feature.
Syracuse lies near the edge of a shallow marine seaway in a desert
belt 20 degrees south of the equator. This seaway became isolated and
salinities mounted up over time, producing layers of salt that account
for the present day. Syracuse is where it is. An interesting variety
of both plants and wildlife is found along the trails. The view of the
falls from the top, walking along the winding trail into the gorge
view the falls from the footbridge and returning to the top along the
small trail on the opposite side of the gorge is a wholesome feast to
the eyes. When we were there, the sun was bright and this made the
falls acquire an extreme contrast. The falls seemed to be posing for
great shots that helped us to capture the essence and beauty of time.
Other activities that are popular with the visitors include camping,
fishing, hiking and picnicking. In the proximity is the Chittenango
Landing Canal Boat Museum, which is located within the Old Erie Canal
State Historic Park. The dry dock at Chittenango Landing was built in
1855. There the 96-foot long cargo boats, which speak volumes of the
skills of craftsmen. These were then used to carry grain, lumber,
coal, and the produce of the west to eastern markets. The museum
besides giving us a good peep into the social history of the canal era
also enlightens the visitors about the construction of these boats and
the workings of the restored dry docks. The delightful lakeside
village of Cazenovia was our next halt. Cazenovia, which lies
southeast of Manlius, has long been the place for Syracuse city
dwellers to have a summer cottage. Cazenovia village takes its name
after an agent of Holland Land Company Theophilus Cazenove and is
located in Madison County, New York. It has a meagre population of
2,614 as recorded in the 2000 census. In the summer there is the
Franklin Motor Car Festival and a variety of horse events, including
carriage driving. Cazenovia has its own hunt. A Cazenovia Sailing Club
sport has its own sandy beach for the children, while parents elect to
sail, motor boat or sun bathe. The village shops are charming and
attract a lot of summer visitors. Cazenovia’s private Ski Club is on
the border of this town. Soon we reached Skaneateles. Located at the
north end of Skaneateles Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, this is
another attractive lakeside village. Homes on the lake cost a small
fortune, especially the older, stately homes with huge acreage and
majestic columns dressing their facades. There are homes available
that are less expensive, and cottages can be found at the south end of
the lake for more affordable prices. New York’s natural lakes
number in thousands. Two of the Great Lakes —Lake Erie and Lake
Ontario — lie along the state’s western border. The largest lake
lying wholly within the state is Oneida Lake, covering 210 sq km (80
sq m) and located northeast of Syracuse. Lake Champlain, a much
larger and deeper lake, forms part of the boundary between New York
and Vermont. Just south of Lake Champlain is Lake George. Lake Placid,
Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, and many others on the northern rim of the
Adirondacks are popular resorts. Along the northern edge of the
Appalachian Plateaus are the well-known Finger Lakes, the largest of
which are Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake. Also of glacial origin in the
western portion of the state is Chautauqua Lake, well known as the
birthplace of the Chautauqua Institution, where summer lectures and
concerts are held. Among the largest reservoirs in New York are Great
Sacandaga Lake and Allegheny, Ashokan, Pepacton, and Cannonsville
reservoirs. Tired, exhausted yet twisting and curving along these
beautiful areas and an array of natural splendour were surely etched
in our heads and hearts.
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