Chimney Bluffs

Rarely does Charlie actually congratulate me on my selection of activities for entertaining out of town guests. But on the way home from Chimney Bluffs, I think he said “nice choice” at least three times!

We made a slight detour to the Pultneyville Deli for sandwiches on the way to Chimney Bluffs State Park, just east of Sodus Bay. Although our car’s GPS told us to keep going, we parked in the first lot we came to (that was almost filled to capacity), which put us at the western end of the Bluff Trail. We were lulled into a false sense of security with a wide, paved path, which fairly quickly turned to a narrow earthen path that climbed high above the rocky beach. 

Our friends Theresa and Ryan, visiting from the city, were as awed as we were, although Theresa’s awe was tempered by her fear of heights. Luckily, in many places there are two parallel paths – one that takes you right to the edge (we could hear another visitor caution someone that every year people die falling over – we weren’t sure if that was just to scare a child into behaving!), and another that stays a bit inland, protected from the edge by the trees. But near the edge is where you have to be for the best view of these majestic “chimneys” of earth.

According to the brochure, Chimney Bluffs are the tip of a drumlin – a hill “made of ‘glacial till,’ a mixture of sand, clay, silt, gravel, cobbles and boulder that were scraped, pulverized, pasted, smeared and dumped on the land beneath the passing mountain of ice.” The bluffs have eroded and continue to erode, in some places 3-5 feet annually.

Once we reached the beach at the eastern end of the Bluffs trail, we sat on a fallen tree to eat our picnic lunch and admire the beautiful colors of the rocky coastline. We returned to our car along the beach, frequently stopping to crane our necks up. Many times the chimneys looked almost two-dimensional against the cloudless blue sky, as if they could easily break off with just a little tap. 

We occasionally had to climb around or over large trunks, the result of the slow march the trees are doing over the fragile precipice.

I have to thank my friend Sue for recommending this amazing park. This is definitely a return-worthy destination, especially in the fall, for the colors, and again in the spring, for spotting migrating birds.

Ride It: Art and Bicycles in Rochester – Part II

Bleu Cease

When I visited the Rochester Contemporary Art Center this week to view the exhibit, Bleu Cease, the Executive Director, informed me that he was organizing a “Bicycle Tour of Little Known Public Artworks” on Sunday afternoon. Spring has finally come to Rochester, and what better way to explore some of Rochester's public art than on a bike, with photographer Richard Margolis and Bleu as our guides? I'd never biked downtown, and figured there was at least safety in numbers (although often the reverse is true!).

"Liberty Pole"

My friend Bernie joined me on this very slow ride. Even the one person in wheelchair had no trouble keeping up, but it was fun. About 100 people assembled outside RoCo for the tour, whose first stop was James Johnson's “The Liberty Pole.” Margolis explained his rationale for what he does and does not consider public art on his website (www.rochesterpublicart.com); the art must be permanent and have attribution (so the various downtown murals are out).

Wendell Castle & Richard Margolis
with "Twist"

Our second stop included a view of the Paley “Main Street Bridge Railings,” commissioned by Bausch & Lomb for Rochester's centennial, and Wendell Castle's “Twist.” We were honored by the appearance of Castle himself, who explained the fabrication of the sculpture – fiberglass, sealed to protect it from the sun, and filled at its base with concrete, to keep it from...disappearing. He admitted that bronze is more ideal for an outdoor sculpture, but the competition that he won to develop art for the site didn't have the budget for bronze. And he agreed with one biker that the piece, including its orange color, is “of it's time – the 1970s.” He is of “two frames of mind on public art.” On the one hand, he likes it because it is there for the public to enjoy. On the other hand, he feels it is sometimes too “site specific” (his is definitely not).

After we crossed the Genesee River, we were confronted by Richard Fleischner's “Rochester Project.” which was controversial when installed in 1986. Apparently, it “cost a fortune,” and most people don't recognize it as public art. It is difficult to photograph in its entirety, and there is no vantage point from which the seemingly unrelated sculptures all come together. As we assembled for a group photo in the amphitheatre, overlooking the river, I couldn't help but think this might be a fun space for an outdoor summer (Fringe Festival?) Jacob's Pillow-like dance concert...

Bleu telling us not to take pictures of "Equilateral Twist"

When we arrived at Duayne Hatchett's “Equilateral Six,” in front of the Federal Building, Bleu warned us that a security guard had warned him that the taking of photos of the building is frowned upon. So I took several, because a) it's not illegal, and b) a wrongful arrest lawsuit might have been fun and profitable! Bleu then explained this sculpture as an example of “plop art,” which began as a derogatory term for art that could be “plopped into space anywhere.” The term came to define modernist and minimalist sculpture, reignited the debate about whether public art should be integrated into its site, and has recently witnessed a revival in public art funding.

We also viewed the Times Square Building's dramatic Art Deco “Wings of Progress,” and bas-relief sculptures on both that building and the Gannett Building. Finally, we rode past Paley's 1996 sculpture, “Genesee Passage,” outside the B&L building. According to Bleu, it is Paley's “largest sculpture to date. It is composed of abstract forms symbolizing the growth of Bausch & Lomb as a major international corporation along the banks of the Genesee River.” Bausch & Lomb is gone, but the tribute to the company, and its continued contribution to our community, remains.

Paley's "Main Street Bridge Railings"
 with Times Square Building
and "Wings of Progress" in background

Sadly, many of these public art pieces are, as Castle bemoaned of his piece, “out of the way,” because when they were installed, it was expected that there would be more pedestrian traffic than actually exists. Perhaps if downtown Rochester experiences a revitalization, more people will come to experience these pieces in person.

Equicenter Equitrails Fundraiser

the route

The last time I did a charity bike ride was about 25 years ago, in New York City, to raise money for MS. I was less interested in the cause than the ability to bike through one of the tubes of the Lincoln Tunnel car-free. Charity runs and rides are a peculiarly American obsession, and I’ve never really caught that bug – I’d rather bike away from crowds than with them, or go on a nice walk with a few friends, rather than hundreds or thousands of strangers.  But I do usually support my friends in whatever causes they’re running/walking/biking for.  So now it was my turn again.

an Equicenter client put through his paces

My friend Daren introduced me to the Equicenter in Mendon several months ago.  I don’t love horses, although I probably like them more after reading several of Temple Grandin’s books about animals.  Luckily, I didn’t have to get that close to the horses at the Equicenter – the animals there have a special purpose.  Short story:  “Horseback riding is a progressive form of therapy serving as an effective tool for improving muscle stimulation, strength, coordination, flexibility, posture and balance for people with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, hypotonia, visual impairment, Down Syndrome, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, and spinal injuries. In addition to these physical benefits, equestrian activities increase communication, social and organizational skills, and enhance self-confidence, relationship building, teamwork and independence.” (From Equicenter’s website.  For more information about their programs and mission, visit:  www.equicenterny.org)

When Jonathan Friedlander, President & CEO, told me they would be hosting their “first annual” ride/run/etc. in June, I had no doubt I would register (and actually ride if it weren’t raining!).  When I was begging friends to support me, I was surprised how many people were aware of the organization (and one friend and fellow Concentus member, Julie, actually works there!), so it wasn’t a hard sell.  I even enticed my friend Susan to join me so I wouldn’t have to bike alone. 

Let's bike already!

missing an "L"...

The 5K run had already started as Susan and I registered (with 200-250 other participants in the day’s activities), and the 50-odd bikers set off at 10am under a clear blue sky.  The owner of the Park Ave Bike Shop had created a lovely route, and although it was only 23.8 miles per the Strava app on my iphone, it had enough hills to make up for the mileage deficiency!  There was a killer hill at the very end, which shouldn’t have been a surprise to me, given the vista one has from the Equicenter…  I struggled to keep up with Susan, even though she complained about suffering the effects of being overserved the prior night at the Jazz Festival.  Only towards the end of the ride did we notice that someone had periodically chalked the road with encouraging or funny phrases.

beautiful view, but what goes down must come up!

We both agreed that the Equicenter set the bar pretty high for future annual events because this one was so well organized, and there was such a great turnout of volunteers.  As we devoured our bag lunches we were treated to the fantastic music of Significant Other, a local band (including Perrin Yang, an RPO violinist) using this as a “warm up” for their performance on Tuesday at the Jazz Festival.

Significant Other

There weren’t many participants left by 1pm for the wrap-up, when the donors were formally thanked and highest fundraisers were announced.  Many thanks to all of my family (Peter, Bill, Maria, Charlie and Kathryn) and friends (Bernie S., Lisa R., Tansy, Anne F., Ann B., Lucy & Phil S., Sue S., Sarah B., Nanette C., Lisa M., Tim & Kathy W., Tobie C., Jenna F., Peggy B., Maryann W., Dinny S., Jan S., Skalny Travel & Tours, Linda B., Rachel & Kevin G., Kathy G., Anne R., Cleve K. & Daren C.) who together helped me raise $2775 of the $24,105 listed on Crowdrise and earn me the prize for top fundraiser!  While I accepted that gift, donated by Park Ave Bikes, I declined the separate 10% incentive gift certificate when I learned that those had not been donated, but would need to be purchased by the Equicenter…  Second place went to team “Bella Goff,” which raised $1155, and Bella was adorable as she ran to the stage for her applause.  I looked up her story on Crowdrise and found it so touching I’m including it below.

I guess I’ll be doing this again next year!

Bella's Story

Bella was born 11 weeks early and when she was 3 days old we found out she had a brain bleed and we had no idea what that would mean for her development. She spent almost 8 weeks in the NICU and then immediately started physical therapy.  Now that Bella is 4 ½, we know that the bleed caused a weakness to her right side and a delay in all of her gross and fine motor skills as well as her speech.  As parents, we try to do everything we can to help support or children in their development and for us, the EquiCenter helps us do that.  We are a big proponent of trying to find new therapies that go above and beyond the typicals. One of Bella's therapists recommended the EquiCenter about 2 years ago. We went for a visit and were extremely impressed with what they offer. Bella has been riding there since she turned 3.  It is weekly therapeutic riding that focuses on her core strength, bilateral skills and the strengthening of her right side.  Her horse’s name is Annie.  Annie and Bella enjoy going on trail rides, “trit-trotting” as Bella calls it, and playing games.  They have so much fun Bella doesn’t realize it is therapy. Bella is also able to work on her speech while giving Annie directions.  The EquiCenter team is amazing in all that they have done to support Bella and this is our opportunity to help give back. 

Rochester Ride of Silence

This week was the 12^th annual national and the 4^th or 5^th  (depending on who’s talking) annual Rochester Ride of Silence. The ride originated in Dallas, to honor a bicyclist who had recently been killed by a motorist.  One ride in one location turned into a widespread movement, to honor all bikers who have been injured or killed, and to raise awareness with drivers to share the road.  The national organization’s website has a too-long list of bikers who have been killed in car accidents, and it is obviously, unfortunately, incomplete – neither the woman killed by the bus in Rochester in January nor the woman killed in 2012 in Penfield by the racing motorcyclist is listed.

I’m not good at estimating numbers of people, but it looked like about 150 showed up.   Luckily, the threatened rain didn’t materialize.  As we signed in, we were instructed to buddy up, as we’d be riding in pairs, taking an entire lane.  Bikers are generally friendly people, and especially for an event such as this, so I quickly found a partner, Brent, whose spouse also decided not to participate.  After some riding instructions by one of the organizers (including the caution that the two most dangerous parts of the ride were leaving and returning to the parking lot!), he shared their “hope that our silence will be a loud statement to those drivers who continue to not pay attention to their responsibilities,” and someone read poem in honor of those who can no longer ride.  Then we set off, in respectful silence. 

Since I usually bike alone, I am used to silence, but this was different.  The pace was deliberately slow, and contemplative – around 9 mph – so we coasted almost as much as we pedaled. It was nice not to have to be alert for cars, and their potentially distracted drivers, or to be concerned about directions; motorcycles stopped traffic for us, and all Brent and I had to do was follow the 60+ people ahead of us.  Close enough that we didn’t create a mile-long string (but we probably did stretch to a quarter-mile), and far enough apart that we didn’t risk hitting one another.  There was only one mishap, when about 50 of the bikers ahead of us made a wrong turn.  I’m not sure how the couple a dozen pairs ahead of us knew not to follow, but I was thankful for where Brent and I were positioned in the pack… 

We rode on mostly country backroads, where, at our slow speed, we could really smell the lilacs, and people grilling dinner.  Dogs and kids greeted us occasionally, but otherwise, the only sounds were the motorcycles overtaking to position for an upcoming intersection, and the occasional changing of gears.  I thought about those two women, whom I hadn't known, and the many other bikers who've been hit by careless drivers.  I always worry, when I'm on a road ride, if I will join them.  No matter how cautious you are, there's no predicting when a driver might be disracted or drunk.

We completed the 9-mile loop in just under an hour. 

It would be great if drivers were always attentive and respectful of bicyclists.  It would also be helpful if bikers reciprocated that respect, and always obeyed traffic signs and signals.  Unfortunately, neither of those is likely to happen, so it’s best to be on the lookout and proceed defensively, no matter how many wheels you’re on.

Letchworth: Grand Canyon of the East

For years my sister-in-law Gay kept telling me I had to go to Letchworth with her.  It was supposed to be some amazing state park, blah blah blah.  Not being a real hiker or park-goer, I couldn't imagine why she would harp so much. The year my sister and her son visited, I let Zach go with Gay's son Yair and her nephew, Ham, but I stayed home. Since he's from Albuquerque, where geographic wonders abound (e.g., the Sandia Mountains and Tent Rocks), he didn't come back raving (well, he was also a teenager...).  So I still had no idea how spectacular the park was.  It wasn't until several years ago when Gay finally convinced me to go for a bike ride in the park that I caved (she'd said the right word:  bike!).  Even though it started to pour buckets and we had to abort the ride, I understood why she had wanted to share it with me all of those years, and I kicked myself for procrastinating.





Unfortunately, the next time I got to the park was with Charlie & Gay's family, but sadly without Gay herself.










Now I am the one who pushes the Letchworth option to guests when they visit, and so far, my sister, as well as Theresa, Mary Beth, and Ryan, have taken the bait.  They've all visited in summer, so perhaps I can convince them to return in a different season (I'm curious to see the park in a blanket of snow, but my friends from warmer climates might not be?!).


On a recent visit with Charlie and Gay's husband, Yehuda, we started out at the Glen Iris Inn, as usual, and climbed all the way to the top of the trail just under the railroad bridge, which I'd never done before.















The autumn colors were at their peak, and the scenery was incredible, as always.  While the falls aren't nearly as impressive as Niagara's, they are still a natural wonder (and I love the sound of them just as much as the sight!).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mC5nxA4uPKs
And since the park, because it borders the winding gorge, is enormous, and much less touristy, it's much more enjoyable.

We never seem to have enough time to explore more than one trail and a couple of scenic overlooks.  I would love to book one of the cabins sometime and stay overnight in the park (I'm still trying to convince someone else to stay in a tent with our dog so we can take him with us). And I might try another bike ride there sometime, although Gay hadn't warned me how hilly and narrow the roads are, so perhaps it was a good thing it rained all those years ago!

Biking around Conesus Lake

Sunrise

I like to bike around Conesus Lake in a clockwise direction - not just to be on the slightly shorter "inside" of the loop (about 18.5 miles), but also to avoid left turns.  Since West and East Lake Roads hug the shore most of the way around, you get some great peeks of the lake in between cottages, and there are even some decent expanses where you have some lovely unobstructed views.  The best time to ride is in the morning - traffic seems quieter both off and on the lake, and it usually isn't too windy.  The terrain is mostly flat, unlike around some of the other Finger Lakes.  There's only one real hill, and even that is only an elevation gain of 100 feet!

(I used to do the ride with Charlie's sister Gay.  Despite my having a real road bike, wearing proper bike attire (including a helmet, which she disdained), and being years younger, she still sailed past me, quite a sight on whatever 3- or 10-speed bike she had found abandoned on the road or in the woods, wearing her overalls and sandals.  Whether I'm riding alone or with friends (like Ted & Susan, or Theresa & Ryan) or family (like Maria & Mark), I still miss her and imagine her being just up ahead of me...)

Stella Maris

At the north end, there's a sign for the Conesuscam, which is fun to check in on at different times of day or year.  Near the north end on the east side, Camp Stella Maris overlooks the lake.  The camp is across the road from the lake, but they have a handy bridge so the kids can safely cross.  Word is it has improved since the summer poor Charlie was sent there as a kid.

Farther south is Shoreless Acres General Store - a great pit stop where locals can be found sitting outside with their coffees.

Shoreless Acres General Store

Just before you come to the bottom of the lake, there's an interesting farm - llamas and alpacas!

My favorite part of the ride is the garden across the road from Long Point.  Each year the garden expands, in both length and variety.  The man who tends the garden was mowing the grass on one of my rides and caught me admiring his handiwork, so I had a chance to chat with him about his garden versus his wife's, across the road, and his annoyance at people who help themselves to his flowers.  It's obviously a labor of love, and it makes me wish I had the patience to garden and a tolerance of bees and bugs and dirt.  Alas, I'd rather admire someone else's handiwork, preferably from a safe distance - say, on a bike!

Tuscany?...Provence?...Pittsford!

Reasons I hate biking on roads around Rochester:

Sunflowers on Clover Street in Pittsford

- careless drivers, or worse, dangerous drivers
- lack of shoulders on many roads
- obstructions on the shoulders of roads, where they do exist (for example, tree and bush trimmings in the spring and summer; piles of leaves in the fall; litter, like metal bits and broken glass; roadkill - ew!)
- chewed up gravel or depressed grates on shoulders, even those designated as 'bike routes'
- drivers who honk at you when you enter the lane to avoid any of these obstructions

But, oh, the reasons TO ride on the roads - just look at those sunflowers!  The rolling hills of the suburbs of Rochester provide some of the most wonderful views and varied scenery, from farms, like the one above (which reminds me of Provence or Tuscany), to housing developments, to parks.  My friend Susan rides with me occasionally (I'm slower and worse on hills than her normal biking buddies), and has shown me some beautiful, lightly-trafficked roads in Pittsford and Mendon.  On one ride in Mendon, we stopped to admire a gorgeous garden, while pretending to take a water break.  We were caught in the act by the owner - he emerged from his house, and when we complimented him on his landscaping, he invited us onto the property to admire his wife's fairy garden!  We were also welcomed to walk around the front yard, where I gathered more ideas for my own garden.

On another ride with Susan, she showed me the Mushroom House.  Too bad it's not a museum or B&B, because the photos of it on-line make you want to visit - it's very Gaudi-esque.  (It would be a difficult house to live in - not much room for your own furniture or artwork.)  I took Nanette by, when she visited recently, and we boldly walked up the driveway for a better view, since the property is currently for sale (for only $1.5 million?!).

I hope Susan hasn't tired of riding with me, because I haven't tired of discovering the beauty of suburban Rochester!

PGA at Oak Hill

If golf is a "good walk spoiled" then how do you characterize watching golf, in person?  It's certainly not as exciting as attending a football or hockey game. And with no assigned seats (and very few seats, to boot), and no central audience stadium, you need to have a strategy.  Do you (a) choose a player or two and follow him/them hole to hole?  Or do you (b) select one location and see all of the players as they pass by?  And if the latter, where do you position yourself - near a tee?  a green? wherever there are bleachers, so your heels and knees aren't killing you after an hour of standing?

Charlie and I had "clubhouse passes" to the PGA at Oak Hill for the week, and I was happy to go a few days, and let him invite people who would really enjoy it the remainder of the time.  We headed out Monday afternoon for the first day of practice rounds, to develop our strategy for the rest of the week (the answer appeared to me to be (c) wander aimlessly...  Every hole looked the same to me, even though Charlie patiently explained the differences).

Monday's other goal was to take advantage of the shopportunity in the enormous merchandise tent.  The projected economic impact of the PGA on Rochester is $78 million, and we certainly had to do our part!  I managed to find a couple of things to buy, despite the disconcerting dressing-room mirror that made me look 5'7" and 120 pounds, but Charlie was very successful.  Plus, we bought 2 folding tripod chairs, which should come in handy!

Given that some of the players (including Tiger) had just finished the Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio, we didn't see many 'stars.'  The only recognizable golfer we saw practicing was Vijay Singh.  Interestingly, he only had one caddy with him, and was alone on the hole, whereas most of the other players were in at least twosomes, and had whole entourages.

Phil's in the white pants waiting to tee off

Thursday was the first day of tournament play, and we started out at the green on the 13th hole, where we had some nice shade to sit in, but no one really famous to watch (we did see David Hearn, who was in the lead for quite a while in the morning).  Then  I convinced Charlie to move to where we would see Tiger, so we schlepped over to the green on the 5th hole in time to see Ernie Els, David Toms, and some others (none of whom I actually recognized) before Tiger, Davis Love III, and Keegan Bradley arrived.  Tiger didn't appear happy (but does he ever?) because he hadn't done well on the 4th, and he putted poorly under our watch.  Then we had a quick bite to eat in the Clubhouse (and the use of a proper ladies room) before catching some of the afternoon rounds.  Interestingly, the 1st and 14th hole shared a tee, so while we were standing there waiting for Phil Mickelson's group to appear at #1, we got to watch some other golfers who had started on the back 9 tee off - a 2fer!  It was fun being at the 1st tee, because an official announced each golfer, where he was from, and when he last won a PGA tournament.  We recognized Miguel Angel Jimenez (we'd seen him practice on Monday and remarked on his distinctive ponytail) who teed off just after Bubba Watson and Lee Westwood departed. The crowd erupted when Rory McIlroy (2012 winner), Vijay Singh (1998 & 2004), and Martin Kaymer (2010) arrived, and they were all very gracious.  Finally, at 1:45, enormous applause heralded the entrance of Phil Mickelson, and he waved to the crowd as he crossed over us.  He hit a solid drive, and as the crowd dispersed (mostly to follow him), we made our way upstream and back to the parking lot, hot and exhausted, but happy.

Charlie will go again on Friday and Sunday with friends, and on Saturday with me, but if I didn't get to go again, I'd be satisfied that I can now successfully cross 'attend major golf tournament' off my bucket list!

From Albany to Buffalo...

As I've grown older, I've also become more cautious about biking, and I feel safer on bike paths than on even moderately trafficked roads (especially with so many distracted drivers and unmaintained shoulders).  The Erie Canal path near Rochester is almost ideal for a leisurely ride - the biggest downsides are having to share the path with pedestrians, dogs, and rollerbladers, and the occasional frost heave on the paved parts.  (Biking on the outskirts, where the pavement ends and packed dirt is the norm, reduces these inconveniences.)

Because the trail is virtually flat, there aren't the challenges of hill climbs that you'd get biking on roads, and you can practically stay in one gear.  The upside, though, is that you have to pedal almost constantly - no uphills mean no coasting downhill!  (It also means fewer "saddle breaks.")  In the summer, you're likely to see pleasure boaters and kayakers enjoying the waterway.  If you bike through Genessee Valley Park, you can also take advantage of some decently maintained bathrooms.

The Erie Canal was completed in 1825, and provided a much needed transportation route between New York City and the Great Lakes.  Unfortunately, competition soon emerged from the railroads, and later highways, and by the early 1900s, commercial traffic on the canal declined.  At times the canal path around Rochester crosses over the railroad tracks and under highways, and at other times it runs parallel to one or the other - a reminder of the progress of technology.  If you're from Rochester, it's easy to take the Canal Path for granted.  But as a recent transplant to the area, I am grateful for such a wonderful resource so close to home!

Henpeck Park in Greece

Fairport

(near the U of R River Campus)

The path is especially peaceful once you leave the Rochester/ Pittsford area and bike west towards Greece or east towards Fairport.  At times, as you bike alongside rolling farmland, you could imagine you were in the countryside, rather than the suburbs.






I'd love to bike the entire Erie Canal, but the annual organized ride, to cover the 400 miles over 8 days, involves... camping?!  No thank you.