There Is A God (He Hangs Out At Letchworth State Park)

Lower Falls

One Hundred and Twenty Seven Steps

Gorge

It's 3:30 in the afternoon we are sitting in Katy's Internet Cafe in Ellicottville, NY, our first chance to get on the Internet in 36 hours. It's been hell for both of us, no gadgets, just the two of us, a couple of books, and a TV that rarely works. Fortunately, we had Letchworth State Park yesterday and most of today...an amazing State Park.  So I am getting my blog from this morning ready to post, about our first day at the park.

Well, we are staying at the cabins at Glen Iris Inn, just behind the Inn proper.  It’s early morning, 6:15, and I am sitting in the cabin, sipping my coffee along with Evie watching Morning Joe but no WIFI, which is why this blog is so late in posting.

Yesterday, Monday, was a miserable day when we got up and we wondered why we were going off to stay at Letchworth State Park, a two hour drive through driving rain, cloudy skies, with no end in sight.  But we went, stopped at Nellie’s in Arcade, for breakfast, to break the monotony of the rain and clouds before driving the last forty-five minutes to the park.  We stopped in at the Welcome Station, then, drove down to the Glen Iris Inn to see if our rooms were ready, even though it was only 12:15.  Fortunately, they were ready, a relief, so we relaxed and just browsed in the gift shop, actually picking up some Xmas gifts, three down, and many more to go.

 

Genesee River Gorge

Big Bend

We then went back to our room , unpacked, and decided to go off to the Lower Falls, then work our way back south along the Gorge.  And like a miracle, THE SUN APPEARETH and stayed out, playing hide and seek for the next three hours.  Our starting with the Lower Falls was a good choice, even though we had to walk down a stone stairway of steps, 127 of them to be exact, to a great view of the falls and we were able to cross over a stone bridge spanning the Genesee River taking us to the other side of the Gorge, the only bridge on this span of the Gorge.  After walking there, we went off to Wolf Creek, another cool area where we sat on benches, and ate a lunch of eggplant sandwiches on stone tables, wet from the mist from the waterfalls, amazing views the entire way. We then hiked along the trail following the Gorge’s edge till we came to the road, and then headed back to our car.  We drove north through the park , stopping at various vistas,  arriving back at our cabin about 3:30, and relaxed there till dinner.  I did take a walk down to the Middle Falls and beyond before we ate, to wake up from my nap.  It was misty, with few visitors but still, it was great to be outside, despite the wind and mist, as the sun set.

 

Lower Falls Bend

Wolf Creek Falls

Glen Iris Inn

We left for dinner at the Glen Iris Inn at 6:30, and it was a good decision.  We had a great waiter, Joe, who works at the Inn during season, takes Unemployment in the off-season, and is the process of buying a new home.  He liked to talk.  The dining room is hard to describe, not as atmospheric at I would have thought for an old Inn but pleasant, like a hotel restaurant in the 1980’s, dropped ceiling, pictures on the walls but well lit.  Evie had tilapia, with a honey ginger glaze, and I had a New York strip, with onion rings.  Both of our meals were average, nothing to rave about but we had a good time, perhaps because of the bottle of wine.  Mid way through our meal, a busload of retirees descended upon the restaurant, paraded by our table, to the far end of the dining room, all white haired, looking alike.  I would have fit in.

We got back to the room around 8:30, read because the Direct TV was not working, and Evie fell asleep by 9:15, me following soon after.  We were fortunate to have such a good day.