New York State of Mind

My cousin is quite possibly the only person I've ever met who actually feeds the squirrels. Yes, angels, his squirrels rate their very own food dish. He says it's the only way they will leave the birds' food alone. Makes sense to me.

We managed to sneak in a trip to Letchworth State Park on Sunday, the day after the big party. Letchworth Park is seventeen miles long and follows the path of the gorge carved the Genessee River. This is a shot of the Upper Falls with the railroad trestle in the background. The falls were tumultuous cascades of muddy water after the recent rains.

The mightly Middle Falls. There was a stone platform overlooking it and another one facing it. Standing on the facing platform was like being out on the Maid of the Mist under Niagara. Minus the rain coats.

The sun broke through just long enough to coax out the intense colors of a magnificent rainbow in the mist of the Middle Falls. To the right you can see the shear gorge walls which rise up to 550 feet.

From Wikipedia:

The three major waterfalls — called the Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls — are located in Portage Canyon, the southern section of the park. The Seneca called the land around this canyon "Seh-ga-hun-da", the "Vale of the three falls"; the Middle Falls ("Ska-ga-dee") was believed to be so wondrous it made the sun stop at midday.

Looking back you can see the Middle Falls and the mist rising from the Upper Falls behind it. You do NOT want to get to close to the edge of the gorge walls. I found out yesterday that my cousin and her friends saw a car fly off the the high road (they were in a car on the lower road) in to the gorge a la Thelma and Louise. Only this was for real and not a movie.

And finally, here is a shot of the happy couple after they reaffirmed their vows for their 30th wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary, Steve and Nancy. And thanks for being such great hosts. As always. I love you both!

~Olivia J. Herrell