Traipsing around Corning, New York, and The Finger Lakes
From Rhode Island to NY Across The Tappan Zee Bridge
We packed up our coaches after a lengthy stay in Rhode Island--which featured more than one lobster meal!--and headed for a rendezvous with the Ehlenbergs at Mohegan Casino in Wilkes-Barre, PA. We crossed over the Hudson River at the Tappan Zee Bridge where we were surprised by a huge construction project: a multi-year effort to build a new bridge! It is the largest bridge construction project ever in North America and it won't be completed for opening until 2018!
Bridge approach from the east--note the dark boxes on the tops of the new towers!
This is the existing bridge roadway west bound--getting pretty rough!
The river below the new towers is crammed full of barges and tugs moving them back and forth from shore. The concrete is mixed right on the barges and hoisted up by big cranes to the "forms boxes" on the top of the towers where the workmen maneuver the big buckets into place to add the concrete to the ever-growing towers. We really wanted to stop to watch this engineering feat, but of course, that would have tied up a lot of traffic! The project will cost $3.8 BILLION, so more likely than not, tolls will now be charged both ways instead of just east bound. Check out this website for more information: http://www.newnybridge.com/
We drove down through NJ and then west towards PA. Rather than connect to the PA Thruway Extension to get to Wilkes-Barre, we opted for the free route up PA Highway 115: oopps! That took us off through a detour across the backwoods PA country side on roads not all that friendly to big RV rigs! JJ led the way after we came to an abrupt halt at a junction which had signs in both possible directions which read "Load limit 10 tons"! It was marked as a truck route but the 10 ton limit stumped us for a moment. Some nice gentleman, seeing our predicament, came out of his house to give both the Murleys coach and our coach some much needed local knowledge and assistance. We were soon back on PA 115 and successfully into the Mohegan Casino where Jack and Betty were waiting for us!
A "fun" wander through the remote PA countryside!
Corning, New York
After one night in Wilkes-Barre reuniting with Jack and Betty, we put the three coach caravan on the road to New York's Finger Lakes area. Our first stop would be the Ferenbaugh Campground about 5 miles northeast of Corning. We had reservations for a few days and had planned to go to another destination in the Finger Lakes area. However, our efforts to locate available sites in other campgrounds proved futile, so we worked out arrangements to stay put at Ferenbaugh until July 19 when we are due to be in Syracuse for Monaco Travelers and Monaco International rallies.
Tucked into a lovely valley between Corning and Watkins Glen!
The view across from our campsites--note the late afternoon sun and the cornfield where the corn was definitely knee high on the 4th of July!
Market Street--the main downtown avenue--in Corning, NY
The headquarters of Corning Glass in downtown Corning--lots of glass in this building!
The main square in Corning.
Another view of Market Street--note the banner for the wine festival which we will take part in!
The Museum
We spent two days touring the Corning Glass Museum and probably could have spent more to see and digest it all--what an interesting place! Those of you who have been there know the experience!
Rich didn't want to block out the sign, so he tried to duck down!
Here is a photo of the original glass works factory from the early 1900s.
A beautiful chess set from blown glass.
Early glass pieces from the first days of "industrial" production.
Check out this huge candle labra--maybe 7 foot tall!
An outstanding example of early cut glass!
This was a demonstration of glass blowing: she made a lovely vase which featured two handles which she molded onto the vase with deft and practiced moves! The piece had to be put into the furnace quite often to keep the glass as a working temperature.
Betty and JJ getting ready to make their own pendants.
Here's Betty with help from one of the young folks as she works her glob of glass into a pendant!
Now it's JJ's turn to fashion her piece...she wasn't happy with it initially, but decided in retrospect that it wasn't all that bad!
JJ and Betty collect their glass projects after a day to cool and anneal in Corning's ovens!
With marked anticipation of what's to come out of the package, JJ is prepared to be unhappy with the result of her efforts--however, once reviewed by all of us, she decided it was just fine!!
Rich H.
We are reading your blog and wishing we were cruising with you! Still cannot believe our coach sold so fast - we thought it would take two years...
ReplyDeleteWe can remember watching the TappenZee bridge being built and we hope the new one is completed before the current one collapses!