Arts and Entertainment

Ok, the Herkimer Home, home of Gen. Nickolas Herkimer, is not in Herkimer. It’s in Little Falls; however, it is where I started my day trip. It has been on my list for years. General Herkimer played a critical part in the American Revolution and was, in part, instrumental is thwarting the three-point British plan to win the war. When the British were marching on Fort Stanwix in Rome, he and the Tryon County militia, marched to reinforce the colonists in Fort Stanwix.

I love small towns and am always amazed at the things I find in them. It is where the “gems” are. Recently I visited Palmyra, a small town that supplied those who traveled the Erie Canal during its heyday. The William Phelps General Store was built in 1826 to supply boats traveling the canal.

In March I needed to get away from the cold and snow of so I flew to Jamaica using my frequent flyer miles and stayed at Samsara Cliff Hotel in Negril. The hotel is a couple hours from Montego Bay airport, but the hotel provided transportation for $87. The hotel is located on the cliffs with steps down to the water.

There are seven mail boat contracts in New York, but not all carry passengers and deliver to personal mail boxes. When I was a teenager summering in Raquette Lake I worked in the soda fountain of the General Store and each morning the mailman who delivered mail by boat to the camps on the lake would stop by for ice cream. One day he invited me to go with him on the mail run.

Kudos to the people who decided to turn unused railroad bridges into pedestrian walkways. I love the Rail Trail River Walk in Oswego. The view from the bridge of the river, canal and Lake Ontario is wonderful. Even on the hottest day there is a refreshing breeze.