Friday, July 13, 2012

Watkins Glen

I had the day off from work on Wednesday, as did my brother, so I decided to drive up to Sayre to visit him. We met up around 11am and Nick drove us up to Watkins Glen State Park so that we could hike the Gorge Trail. It was an absolutely beautiful day for a hike that we both very much enjoyed. The cascades and the gorge were breathtaking and vibrant.
For lunch we drove to Seneca Lake to eat at the Village Marina, which is right on the lake. Our table was situated outside right along the water, which gave us a nice breeze. I opted for the Cornell Grilled Chicken sandwich while Nick ordered two dozen wings. After he finished, the waitress came over and explained how she never thought that it would be possible for him to finish all of them. We found out that she is also a certified scuba diver who is very much like Dory from Finding Nemo because she has a penchant for all things shiny. She explained that she has a tendency to just swim after sparkly things, occasionally forgetting to check her regulator. Nick paid with his credit card and asked if it was safe because the reflection of the sun made it all shiny. Luckily, she laughed and brought it back.
Following lunch we stopped by the Chamber of Commerce. Nick was interested in the old Grand Prix that used to be held on the streets of Watkins Glen, but is now held at Watkins Glen International Speedway.
Thankfully they had a map depicting the old course, so we hopped into the car and went for a drive. It was quite exhilarating driving around the sharp curves and down steep hills. Near Friar's Corner one is greeted with a splendid view of Seneca Lake and the town below. It was definitely a great bonding moment for us both.