June 11th, Day 5. The rains continue as
we head to yes, another lake; this one being Raquette Lake, the location of
Great Camp Sagamore. Timing and not being forewarned would have helped as I was
attacked by small black flies the moment I got out of the car. Had I known I
would have waited for our tour guide to greet us with a net hat! Part of the tour takes you to the work
buildings, such as where they make items that relate more toward the needs of
the “resort” vs. a silversmith that might be making horse shoes…there are no
horses here. You can then get a tour of
the buildings that house the accommodations along with the recreation
areas.
The furniture known to us as Adirondack Chairs are
said to have been created to ease the suffering of those who had
tuberculosis. I wonder if the makers of
that penal code are aware.
As this is a “great camp”, don’t expect to be
staying at a hotel with all of the amenities.
No smoking, no pets, no maid service, no telephones in the rooms or cell
service, no tv and no hard liquor. Most
of the accommodations have shared baths and bunk beds. Hey, this is what sleep-away camp was like
several years ago! All meals are served
buffet style.
Part of the Sagamore Institute of the Adirondacks,
educational programs are the happening. One of them, the Intergenerational
Programs is restricted to Grandparents and Grandchildren. Seniors may also take advantage of Road
Scholar, a former travel program that seemed to be restricted to staying at
hostels. www.greatcampsagamore.org
To get an even better perspective of Raquette Lake, we
scheduled a cruise on the W. W. Durant.
Arriving early we first took a tour of the town. There was the following: one general store;
on hotel that housed the one restaurant; one gas station (pretty much for
boating); the library; post office location in the hotel. Let’s not forget the gift shop located just
across the way from the W.W. Durant.
The boat cruise is a family owned and run company known
as Raquette Lake Navigation, with dad as the captain, son as a bona fide CIA
graduate chef, daughters and mom (Donna Pohl) handling everything else. You are
given a map to follow the sites (many of which are camps) pointed out by the
captain, which were still quite visible from the main deck windows despite the
rain. Food is served buffet style with
“table calling” so as not to make it that “one long line”. Enjoyed the food. www.raquettelakenavigation.com.
On the way to Wilmington, we stop off to check out
Hoss Country Corner in the town of…Long Lake!
Lots of animal things, books, Adirondack jarred food and gifts, a tree
growing in the middle of the store, and fishing supplies to include worms. www.hossscountrycorner.com
Next destination is Tupper Lake to visit the Wild
Center. I heard about the otter exhibit.
This was a must for me…oh. if only I can pet one. As it turns out these particular creatures are
sea otters different from the ones that you see lying on their backs and
pulling their food apart. Just as cute! Time
was spent inside the center with films, a pond with turtles and ducks, a series
of fish, and a look at some “wild” history representing that Adirondacks. Outside are a number of walking trails that
are well worth exploring. The website allows you to preview with short movies
and cams that link to other areas of the Adirondacks as well. www.wildcenter.org
It is still raining as we check into the Ledge Rock
Inn in at Whiteface Mountain. The appearance gives it a two story motel, but
there is a lot more to it. A “Great
Room” is a gathering place with amenities that include a big screen tv, movies,
board games, and pool table. Outdoors is
a pool, bbq areas and some fabulous views of Whiteface Mountain. Rooms are cozy, comfortable and clean with a
small frig and microwave. Needless to
say, the weather did not allow us to take advantage of the outdoor
facilities. www.ledgerockatwhiteface.com
Dinner was at the Hungry Trout in Wilmington a short drive from Ledge Rock and on Route 86. It is actually a resort with various lodging
and a separate restaurant. Although it overlooks the Flume Falls section of the
West Branch of the Ausable River, a clear day would have given me a better
view. We did love the “lodge looking” atmosphere. I dined on an appetizer of smoked trout (made
on the premises), a soup of brie and wild mushrooms, and a platter with broiled
trout, roasted farm quail and a venison chop.
Loved the soup, trout and quail but for some reason I couldn’t get them
to cook the chop pink in the middle vs. raw!
www.hungrytrout.com
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