After settling our dog's nerves after an unnerving night, we settled our own by heading out on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. We quickly crossed paths with the Finger Lakes Beer Trail. The War Horse Brewing Company, part of Three Brothers Wineries, made us feel classy by putting our drinks in branded, red Solo-style cups (left). I opted for the Riesling Ale, which mixes Riesling grape juice into a wheat beer base; it was like the strangest wine cooler I ever tasted. At our lunch stop at Penguin Bay Winery, TJ took his turn with a Riesling (the wine, not beer) while I tried the white-blend Percussion to wash down leftover brats (right).
After looking at it for most of the morning, it was time to take a dip in Seneca Lake. TJ bravely soaked at Sampson State Park (left). The water temperature was quite cool -- 68 degrees, according to a sign posted at our state park -- and the air temperature was not much warmer -- mid-70s to low 80s, at best -- so I decided to watch people shiver from the shore instead. I popped a squat on a hill overlooking the lake, as Sage wasn't allowed on the swimming beach (right).
We sped through the city on the south end of the lake, Watkins Glen, because it was full of both foot and car traffic probably in town for the Sports Car Club of America Super Majors at nearby Watkins Glen International Speedway. Then we cut across some land for a while to get to the city on the south end of Cayuga Lake: Ithaca. By way of a hilly driving tour, we saw the highlights of Ithaca College and Cornell University.
But we focused our studies on the Ithaca Beer Company (left). Dogs weren't allowed in the relaxing outdoor area (right), so we quickly sampled White Gold, a pale white ale, and Ground Break, an American-style Saison, then picked up a six pack of Cayuga Cruiser, a Berliner-style Weisse. We should've tasted that one because upon having a bottle back at the campsite, it was hard to get down; the increased lactic acid made it too sour for my palette -- and that's coming from a girl who rarely turns her nose up at a beer.
Before we had left Watkins Glen, we did pull into Watkins Glen State Park (left), but we soon found out that the main Gorge Trail was off-limits to dogs. I wasn't too disappointed because there were so many people, seemingly bused in as part of tours, that hiking wouldn't have been very serene. There was a surprisingly smaller crowd, and therefore more sedate scene, at the overlook of Taughannock Falls State Park, which we stopped at before trying to find a spot for dinner.
First, we were turned away from O'Malley's Cabin on the Lake because they had two 10-plus parties coming in at once, and they already seemed strapped staff-wise. Then we arrived at the Copper Oven at the Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery, which is part of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, 10 minutes after its last seating. Just when I thought we'd be eating more leftovers, we stumbled upon Wolffy's Grill and Marina outside Seneca Falls. Not only did it have delicious clams on special (left), but the view wasn't too shabby either (right). When dusk hit, we could see amateur fireworks all around the lake.
TJ couldn't just stop running cold turkey after a 50-mile stint, so on our way home the next day, we stopped in the Finger Lakes National Forest, site of the Finger Lakes Fifties, so he could get in a short loop. After indulging him, he indulged me by making some stops in Elmira, hometown of Mark Twain's wife, where he spent many summers writing. First, we saw the memorial next to his grave in Woodlawn Cemetery, which is a "twain" -- 2 fathoms, or 12 feet -- high (top left and right). Then we saw his study on the grounds of Elmira College, where Olivia Langdon went to school (bottom left). The octagon structure was specially built by Twain's in-laws, the Cranes, on their Quarry Farm; inside, Twain wrote portions of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, other novels, and short stories (bottom right).
After refueling, we continued down the lakeshore to Two Goats Brewing, which had a bucolic atmosphere similar to Abandon Brewing Company (left). While we were enjoying an "ultra" IPA, brown ale, and great view from the deck (right), we noticed a guy wearing a Finger Lakes Fifties shirt. Upon striking up a conversation, we found out that he was already imbibing because he had done only one loop, or 50K. With more humility than I, TJ refrained from mentioning that he had run 50 miles, not just 50K, two days earlier. He also refrained from asking about no-shows at the race, so he wouldn't be disappointed about being shut out.
But we focused our studies on the Ithaca Beer Company (left). Dogs weren't allowed in the relaxing outdoor area (right), so we quickly sampled White Gold, a pale white ale, and Ground Break, an American-style Saison, then picked up a six pack of Cayuga Cruiser, a Berliner-style Weisse. We should've tasted that one because upon having a bottle back at the campsite, it was hard to get down; the increased lactic acid made it too sour for my palette -- and that's coming from a girl who rarely turns her nose up at a beer.
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