ADIRONDACK PARK DAY 5

June 11^th, 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

 

ADIRONDACK PARK DAY 6

June 12^th, Day 6.  Overcast but the rain will come! We head for Ausable Chasm, but not for the chasm itself.  It is the location of the North Star Underground Railroad Museum, said to be a former horse nail factory (although not obvious), relating history of Northeastern New York’s UGRR. 

An introductory to the tour commences with a film called, “The Forgotten Story of John Thomas” and not to be missed. It recounts this former slave with an escape that begins in Maryland. There is a section of glass encased ceiling from which one “escapee” appears to be looking down on us.

Boards with written displays relate the history of this North Eastern movement.  According to the museum, “The Champlain Line of the Underground Railroad encompassed the Upper Hudson River, the Champlain Canal, and Lake Champlain. Runaway slaves who reached these waterways took steamboats, barges and canal boats as part of their northward journey. Stagecoach and railroad lines from New York City and New England provided land routes into the region. Lake Champlain was a Gateway to Freedom.” 

I was able to learn through several recount stories of those using the Champlain Line from 1830-1861 as well as taking in characters such as members of the anti-slavery society, and abolitionists. This museum has newly researched data of those that contributed but not well-known. Great DVD to buy at the gift shop: “Northward to Freedom, stories of the North Country Underground Railroad.  www.northcountryundergroundrailroad.com.

We stayed long enough to get a photo of the chasm.  There would be no way that I would go rafting on the river in this area. However, I do understand that there is an easier and calmer part. I skip it all as we on now on our way to Lake Placid with first a brief check-in at Whiteface Chalet located in Wilmington. More about the chalet when we return.

On to Lake Placid Pub and Brewery located at 813 Mirror Lake Drive.  Note the name of yet another two lakes. There are three floors, the first housing a bar. With an expansion it appears that the restaurant, or pub, is now on the second floor and to where they had moved the kitchen.  The third floor of the building was completely renovated into a new bar and dining area and called The Hop Loft.  I’m told that this space has a great view and the additional space has decreased the wait list times dramatically.”

Due to time constraints I was unable to take a tour of the brewery itself but did order one of the beers.  Their signature is “UBU”, an English style strong Ale.  That’s not for me as I tend to choose a beer such as Blue Moon.  Our server recommended the Moose Island Ale, a light golden ale that is low in bitterness, with a clean, crisp and thirst-quenching taste.  Boy, would I love to have one now! 

My lunch began with a Chicken Wild Mushroom soup, no explanation needed.   It was followed by “the schulzy burger”, which was named after some guy named Shulzy.  Angus sirloin burger with melted cheddar and American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, mayo and ketchup.  Served with fries that are worth a side order itself.   I read that they have a homemade bbq sauce using locally produced maple syrup and their flagship UBU Ale.  I asked for a sample to dip my fries into.  www.ubuale.com

Since it was the last day of the trip we decided to “chill out” a bit and check out the “downtown” area commonly known as “Main Street”.  Eateries, boutique shops, chachka stores…the usual tourist street.  Here we are looking on Mirror Lake.  There is great spot halfway down the block with some Adirondack chairs facing the lake.  One level down on each side is access to another sitting area which seemed to emanate from stores.  The level below is a grassy area with a stage. We watched one man building up a set to watch a movie, which was to be shown at about 9 p.m.  The subject had to do with the Adirondacks.  Surprise! It rained this night.

Being that dinner time was approaching, we chose to eat at Generations, 2543 Main Street.  The restaurant is part of a resort called Golden Arrow. Given a seat by the window there was a great view of Mirror Lake as well as their herb garden. Décor is lots of wood. Food is cooked with as much local products as possible.  I had a baby spinach salad with julienne vegetables, avocado, grape tomatoes, and roasted red peppers with a cilantro dressing.  That was followed with Ceviche of yellow fin tuna, and avocado with fresh lime, cilantro, ginger and scallions with grilled flatbread and micro greens. A yummy chicken breast special caught my attention on the entrée.  Dessert was a chocolate ganache mousse.  It wasn’t the Last Supper, but it was the last supper here in the Adirondacks.  www.golden-arrow.com  

It was early enough to take a ride around the lake, especially since we had the GPS.  Lake Placid itself is across the way from Mirror Lake.  Back to Wilmington and the chalet about nine miles from Lake Placid. Large and cozy room decorated ala Adirondack style (wood).  View of Whiteface Mountain. Aside from the bed, there was also a pull out futon and a hickory rocker.  It appeared that I had company as I was off of mine. Wet bar, too. 

I didn’t have to leave the building to get to the “common area”, where among other things, the more than continental breakfast is served.  Laurie took advantage of it the next morning.  Once more, I skipped breakfast as I had been munching on the cheese curds and chocolate that I had been toting.  www.whitefacechalet.com  It’s now homeward bound!

COMMUNITY? SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK THE DEFINITION

Prior to the year 2001, Joseph Ruggiere was on the board of a bank in Woodhaven, known then by Columbia Savings. Not a huge amount of branches.  I’m not certain when it became Queens County Savings Bank with all the expansions and less personal.   Joseph Ruggiere wasn’t happy with that.  What do you do about it?  How about opening up your own bank.  It was in July of 2001 that Community Federal Savings Bank became a one bank deal (expanding only to two in Queens).

It had all the amenities of the big guys when it came to mortgage, various types of accounts, and even gave just a bit more rates for your banking.   More important to me was that they not only knew their customers, a signature was enough to vouch for any time you dealt with your banking.   Personally, I can never remember any of my bank account numbers. No lines and if you had to go to an ATM other than these two branches, Community didn’t add a charge. 

What was missing?  Online banking wasn’t available nor did they have safety deposit boxes.   The answer for me was to open an account in one of the biggies just for those amenities and basically enough to pay bills. 

Some weeks ago, I popped into Community and was told that online banking was now available.   I figured in that case I might as well just use this bank, so I proceeded to sign up.   The person at the desk said that it had to get approved by “the people in the back”.   I first found it odd since knowing Ruggiere for the many years that I have lived in this community.  

A few days later I went online to see that there was an account listed…a CD…and it said that I could not pay bills with that…no shoot!   I called and was told it would be taken care of by “the people in the back”.  Nothing changed.  I went to the bank and asked to speak with the manager.    Only a few of the tellers, etc. looked familiar and it appeared that there was a new staff.

Ruggiere sold the bank.  I never did get anything in the mail.  I questioned the manager asking who owns the bank?  Who is the holding company?   She did not want to give me an answer but did communicate that the company itself is located in Manhattan.   This situation with my account could not be corrected as “it has to be handled by a third party”.   So how is this a “Community Bank?” The manager also informed me that the second bank that was located in Queens Village is closed and that they expect to expand first with a branch in Manhattan.

It still doesn’t ring right with word “Community”.  Most important, why can’t they simply hand me some paper work about the holding company?  What are they hiding?  By the time you read this, my accounts will be closed and brought over to the other bank.  I might as well.