ADIRONDACK MOUNTAINS - LAKE GEORGE, New York

Thursday, June 05 - We drove north from Rondout Valley Resort in Accord New York about 156 miles to ACI-Schroon River RV Park in the southern Adirondack Mountains, near Lake George, New York. Unfortunately, this park only has 30-amp service. It also has dusty, gravel/dirt roads and our site has no grass. We do not have satellite because of the trees. On top of that, we have no cell service or Wifi. One TV channel (CBS) is on local antenna. Oh, well, it is an ROD park, which means it is FREE due to our membership with Thousand Trails.

Ray’s Perspective: Our RV park is located just NORTH of Lake George, N.Y. in Schroon Valley. As we approached the area there was a considerable increase in motorcycle activity both coming and going, mostly touring bikes and many with two-up. Little did we know this was the annual Americade Motorcycle Rally that ended three days after we arrived. We tried to visit Lake George on our 2nd day & part of the city was blocked off for the venders and bikers. This rally was much more laid back than Daytona Beach in Florida, more family orientated. Mostly touring bikes, including a lot of wings, sidecars, trikes, and bike trailers. We heard there were over 50,OOO bikers attending. Of course, we hit the regions first heat wave of the season, temperatures from 90 to 100 for 3-4 days, and here we are in one of the few parks we have visited with 30-amp service. Marsha and I decided to head for the mountains, hoping for cooler temperatures. Although the highest peaks were over 4,000-ft, we only reached 2500 by road in the southern Adirondacks. Everything was green, but not many wild flowers. Marsha read there were 2800 lakes in the Adirondack Mountains. We did see many very pretty lakes surrounded by forest and the water appeared to be clean including the creeks running over the rapids along the roadsides. We visited the Adirondack Museum at Blue Mountain Lake describing the history of the area. Most of the roads were good. We also visited Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain, with its pointed stockade fence and mote surrounding the fort, it must have looked impenetrable on its high perch overlooking the lake.

Friday, we had rain and overcast skies. Regardless, we made plans to go into Lake George and see the area. When we went out to the truck to leave, it was dead. We called AAA and within an hour, we were on the road. The battery had drained from using the lift for the motorcycle without the motor on. Guess Ray will not do that again. As we drove, several areas had signs noting a steep grade and warned to use our low gear. Then we got near the town of Lake George and the traffic jams. We decided to forego visiting any more of the towns until Sunday or Monday when the Americade event was over. We loved seeing the homes with unique architecture with a lot of Victorian embellishment.

Just minutes away from the Village of Lake George, there are exciting towns to visit. Saratoga, Glens Falls, Diamond Point, Bolton Landing, Lake Luzerne and Warrensburg, are just a few of the many that deserve mentioning. Each town is unique and offers something for everyone. Saturday we drove to the middle of the Adirondack Park. We took Route 9 through Warrensburg MURAL PAINTED IN 1976 FOR BICENTENNIAL OF WARRENSBURG and saw a lot of bikers and vendors, but got through the one main street town within minutes so it was not as bad as it was near Lake George. It is warm already, but as we descend the mountains, the temperature cooled off and there was a nice breeze. We were on Hwy. 28 when we crossed over the Hudson River.

We stopped at Lake Durant, ate our lunch, and enjoyed the view NY 30 is a two-lane byway and a lovely drive. We stopped at the Adirondack Museum that gives the history of the region from long before the Europeans arrived. Since we took Mitzy with us, we took turns to view the exhibits. They have twenty-two exhibits, historic buildings, extensive collections, lovely gardens, and magnificent views that tell unique stories of life, work, and play in the place that is the Adirondack Park.

IDEM Class Racing Sloop "Water Witch" Built in 1900s in main lobby of museum.

The park was created in the late 19th century in order to preserve some of nature’s wonders from the ever-expanding population, and it now encompasses more than 6-million acres. At least two days are needed to traverse this beautiful, scenic area, making a loop on State Highways 30, 3 and 9 or 22. The Adirondacks are home to the largest black bear population in New York State (4,000 to 5,000 bears) and the Catskills contain the second largest population (1,500 to 2,000). Long before the first white man set foot on the American continent, Indians frequented what is now known as the Adirondack Mountains. In fact, the Indians gave the region its name. Abundant with wildlife, this region was known as the favorite hunting ground of two hostile groups, the Mohawks of the Iroquois Nation coming from the fertile area of the Mohawk Valley and the Alonquins from Canada. Whenever these two groups met, bloodshed resulted. Once the early settlers claimed the area, they established hotels and inns and summer visitors began arriving. It took about 26 hours to get from New York City to Blue Mountain Lake, but the trip was deemed worth it. They came, and what Mark Twain dubbed as “the Gilded Age” evolved. The rich and famous bought large tracks of land and built summer complexes known as The Adirondack Great Camps. Marsha & Mitzy - Hudson River - Adirondacks The Adirondack Mountains appeal to a certain kind of individual. People who value life off of the beaten path. People who enjoy the beauty of nature and the friendly welcome of coming back to a place where they remember you. People that want to get away from the hustle and bustle and crowds of daily life and come somewhere that is a lot slower and less crowded.

Monday we drove to the Lake George area to celebrate my birthday by dining at the historic Boathouse restaurant. We enjoyed splendid water's-edge views from the shores of the exceptional lakefront location. Originally built in 1876 as part of the Abenin estate – once owned by New York Times Publisher, Adolph Ochs – the restaurant offers dining with an atmosphere steeped in Adirondack history, with remarkable architecture, and unlimited Lake George views. The only problem was no air conditioning and it was well above 80 degrees and even with all the ceiling fans running, it was very warm and got to be uncomfortable before we left around 6:30 pm.

Bolton Landing is a family-friendly community just moments north of Lake George Village. For hundreds of years, travelers have proclaimed Bolton Landing a refuge from their hectic daily lives. 1876 DIAMOND POINT COMMUNITY CHURCH Ray rode the Gold Wing and took pictures of the Fort William Henry in Bolton Landing. Over 200 years ago, the fortress was built by British in order to defend the colonies from an anticipated French advance. Surviving two brutal years of French and Indian attacks, the Fort was finally destroyed in 1757. The Fortress has been faithfully restored and once again stands proudly overlooking Lake George. This history was a focal point in James Fennimore Cooper’s “The Last of the Mohican's”.

Tuesday- It was a beautiful day and we took a drive to visit Fort Ticonderoga, the town, and then the Fort Ticonderoga museum.

Sagamore Historic Hotel 1883 in Bolton Landing

We drove through Bolton Landing and saw the historic Sagamore Hotel built in 1883 and still catering to the desires of the rich and famous. The Sagamore is the perfect year-round getaway. Unwind at the spa, enjoy the Lake George waterfront with kayaking, sailing and swimming or take to the ski trails and explore the breathtaking Adirondack setting. They have a stunning professional golf course. Golf at The Sagamore is among the best in the country. The Sagamore is the most family-friendly resort in New York.

We think this vehicle may have been the first RV? We drove on Route 9N that had twists and turns and pristine scenery and passed through the small town of Hague where there are beautiful homes with the spectacular views of north Lake George for their back yards. Heavily treed and snow markers along the drive and the road was very smooth. We saw a lot of water trapped in valleys causing tree loss, beautiful pockets of ferns lined the roadside at 1,000 feet. Trout House Village Resort on the peaceful northern end of Lake George had beautiful buildings.

Monument to the Colonies in Downtown Ticonderoga Historical Society. The French and Indian War has turned 250, and the historic Fort Ticonderoga is planning on the reenactment of the actual conflict that lasted from 1754 to 1763. The French and Indian War was the North American theater of the broader Seven Years’ War between France and Britain, the final of four major conflicts between those nations. It is often called the first true world war, because skirmishes took place in North America, Europe, Africa, India and Southeast Asia. However, the North American campaign was fought over who would control the continent and its lucrative resources. In addition, we all know who won that war. Fort Ticonderoga opened since 1909 The fort was originally called Fort Carillon. Many books have been written about General Abercrombie’s defeat on July 7-8, 1758. Though out numbered 16,000 to 3,600, the French achieved this victory, it has been argued because of the inept leadership of the British forces. The drive up to the fort had many pull-offs with monuments. We were told at the fort the cost would be $15 per person as they have a full tour with many activities in the main fort area. It was a very warm day and the walk would have been long, so we opted to take pictures instead. The site where the fort is located was certainly chosen well as it is the highest point of land. French General Marquis De Montcalm Monument

THE FALLS OF CARILLON La Chute River, Ticonderoga, You are looking at the lower falls on the LaChute River, a tiny stream that runs only some two miles from the outlet of Lake George, through the Village of Ticonderoga, New York to Lake Champlain. As waterfalls go, they are not particularly impressive. The last in a series of cascades that fill the short length of the river, they are attractive and noisy but not especially dramatic in their vertical drop. The appeal of this waterfall is not in its aesthetic beauty but in its historical significance. The tiny river was well known to Native Americans, situated as it was at the base of a mountain at "the place between the waters". For generations they had taken their canoes to this spot and made the required portage or carry around the falls to continue their journey. Samuel de Champlain, the first European to visit the area, was told of the place before he visited it in 1609. He wrote in his Journal: "...The Indians told me that it was there we were to meet their enemies, that the mountains were thickly populated, and that we had to pass a rapid, which I saw afterwards. Thence they said we had to enter another lake which is some nine or ten leagues in length..." For the next 250 or so years, the falls of Carillon would hinder travelers on their journeys through the wilderness of the historic lakes. During that time, the area around the falls would bear witness to the conflicts and conquests of nations. The Carillon Bridge was built in 1755.

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