Maine Trip 2026 - Part Four Cooperstown to Burlington, VT

 Day 12 - September 19, 2026 - 28020

After loading the car and partaking of the hotel breakfast, it was off to Cooperstown, NY and the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Along the way - a good portion of which was toll road (tollway) - we noticed that instead of rest areas, they had service area. The service area had a fuel station for both cars and trucks, restrooms, fast food (Burger King & Dunkin Donuts, or Starbucks) and a convenience store. An interesting concept, but it pretty much covered all your needs in one stop. Along the way we crossed the Erie Canal, which at the crossing point the canal was less than 50ft across. Then we saw a larger section of the canal, that had a business advertising cruises on the Erie Canal - if we had the time we probably would have stopped and done that.

Dinner tonight was at a little Bistro in a former hose in the downtown area of Cooperstown. Mel's at 22. The service, staff and food were all excellent. Several different brands of beer - I choose;

Day 13 - September 20, 2026

Today, after breakfast at the hotel (this a Hampton Inn, with a much better breakfast fare than the Comfort Inns so far) we were off to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This is located in a rather unassuming building on a narrow street with angle parking on one side of the street and parallel along the other side.

National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum

We were fortunate to find street parking about a block away. Parking on the street cost $5.25 for two  hours. 

The museum is divided into three floors. It is recommended that you start the tour on the second floor, which has the history of the sport and a section on the Negro League. The third floor covers the more current era of the sport, including a section on the Women’s Major League history. In the library area they even had a display giving the short history of Banana Ball. The first floor has a section on Hank Arron and the “Hall of Fame” gallery which features bronze plaques honoring each inductee. The first “class” was in 1932. The gallery is broken into sections based on the year of induction. It is very impressive. There were names I recognized, but more that I did not. We talked to a Museum Host and told him how impressed we were with the museum. He asked where we were from. We told him about Lubbock, TX. To our surprise, he stated that he lived in Lubbock for a year in 2012. He worked for Kent Hance, the Chancellor of Texas Tech. He had nothing but good say about Tech.

Hall of Fame

Wall of Fame

All the inductees in the Hall of Fame

Mound to Home Plate - In outdoor exhibit

On the wall of the Museum Gift Shop, made of baseball bats

Inside the Museum Gift Shop

Dinner was at the Cooley's Stone Tavern. The Tavern is located in a building constructed in 1839. The Tavern has been in business since 2004.

Outside of the Cooley's Stone Tavern - No smoking establishment

The interior was dark, wood , narrow and long. But, they had one of the best Rueben Sandwiches that we have had, along with homemade potato chips. 

Day 14 - September 21, 2026 

This morning we are off to Burlington, Vermont. We let the GPS choose the route. It might have been an error in judgement on our part, but it turned out to be an interesting adventure. Travelling north on NY 10, 7 & 8 and multiple County roads and lanes. The GPS seemed to have a sense of humor and was trying hard to get us the shortest route possible. We would turn off the main State Route onto a county road, travel a bit, make a turn left or right, travel 

A little further, turn right or left and end up on the State Route we were on several minutes before. Of course travelling like this we passed through many small little Villages, settlements and cross roads. None of which seem to have a restroom or coffee. Finally as we were getting desperate for both coffee and a restroom, we turned off a County Road onto a State Route and were greeted with a sign stating “Bakery”, then “Donuts” then “Fresh Picked Apples.” Down the road less than a mile we found Gunnison Family Farms. Family owned and operated since 1829.

We immediately stopped, went in, found a restroom, found donuts, coffee, fudge and T-Shirts. We also met two ladies from New Jersey on a girls trip. In talking about where they were going, where they were from, they asked where we were from. We told them Lubbock, TX and one of them stated that she had family that lived in Lubbock and had been there to visit them. 

Back on the road we continued on and arrived at our hotel in Burlington, VT. Driving through the Adirondacks of New York was not on the list of to do, but we have that to add to our experiences. Quite a day, that ended with filling up the car with fuel at $4.57 a gallon.

Day 15 - September 22, 2026

While at breakfast in the hotel, Deb saw an older gentleman wearing a T-shirt mentioning Seaside, OR. Deb asked him about it and found out that he lived in Seaside. The gentleman and his daughter were in Burlington, VT visiting family.

This morning it was off to Stowe/Waterbury, VT to the Ben & Jerry’s factory. Started in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s has produced many famous Ice Cream flavors over the years. Hard to believe that this International Company started when two guys took a $5 correspondence course from Princeton on Ice Cream making.

Main Entrance

Original "mobile" sales vehicle

The flavor graveyard is probably the highlight of the visit. This has a tombstone for every flavor that has been produced and then production stopped. Of course I have a photo of every tombstone.

Graveyard Entrance

There are 41 Tombstones in the Cemetery with room to churn

After having some Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream (non-dairy for me) it was back to Burlington to pick up a prescription at CVS and some water at Walmart.

Day 16 - September 23, 2026. 28590

Today we are off to Portsmouth, NH this was a nice 190+ drive through some gorgeous leaf changing areas.

Windshield photo of the changing leaves

Here for just one night, we got the laundry done and Deb got her haircut.

Maine Trip 2026 - Part Three - Erie to Niagara Falls

 Day Eight - September 15, 2026

After breakfast at a Perkins Restaurant, (we have not been to one in years) it was off on a short 112 mile drive to Niagara Falls, NY. Good roads and light to moderate traffic the entire trip. Getting into Niagara Falls (city of) the GPS told us to make a left turn. I was in the left turn lane when I realized we were still a couple blocks from the hotel. I looked in the mirror, it was clear, so I went through the intersection, moving into the right lane. About the time I went through the intersection, Deb said “you know the light was red.” I continued up the street, signaled to make a left turn into the hotel, when I noticed these red and blue lights flashing behind me.  I made the left turn and pulled to the right. Got my Driver’s License out, rolled down the window, and a nice female officer walked up, introduced herself and asked for my driver’s license. She asked if I knew why I had been stopped, and I told her yes, it was about the red light. She asked why I had done it, and I told her the GPS had told me not to turn there, and I did not see that the light was red. The officer asked what we were doing in town, asked if we had brought warm clothes as the temperature was supposed to get colder, and then sent us on our way with a warning that she did not want anything to happen to us while we were in the city. 

We checked into the hotel for our four night stay, and then decided to go wander. Wander it was, as I was using a “tourist” map to get us to Goat Island to see the water falls. We ended up at Niagara Falls State Park on the Mainland.

I got the camera out and off I went. The first place I came to was the north side of American Falls, located in Prospect Point. I spoke with a Park Ranger who gave me directions to Goat Island, then suggested that I walk down the steps to the Cataract Viewing Platform, which was located down about 75 steps (guessing, did not count). The platform had opened the week prior, and proved to be a popular attraction. The views were awesome and many photos were taken. I talked to another Park Ranger at the viewing platform, and she stated that the weekend that it opened, at one point there were more than four thousand people on the stairs.

Cataract Viewing Platform - American Falls

From The Cataract Platform - American Falls

Looking across top of American Falls - Niagara Falls, Canada in the background

Returning to the parking lot, it was off to Goat Island, which we found with ease. Crossing on to the Island, we went to Parking Lot 2, and started the expedition from there.  

 

Horseshoe Falls - aka Canadian Falls

Horseshoe Falls is very difficult tp photograph from Terrapin Point. because of the mist           created by the falling water. I did get better photos the next day.

 Dinner to night was at The Hard Rock Cafe, Niagara Falls, NY. Very good meal as always.

Day 9 - September 16, 2026

Slow start for today - Moving photos from SD Cards and phones to Hard Drive storage. Takes a while to move them from USB device to USB device.

Once completed it was off to Goat Island again to explore the other end of the Island and visit Three Sister Islands.. I have to say that I was a little directionally challenged here. The Niagara River, from the Falls flows north. The section of the river where Goat Island lies is east/west, at least according to the maps that I have looked at. So the Three Sister Islands were located on the south side of Goat Island. Needless to say, I started at Parking Area 3 and ended up on the opposite end of the Island at Terrapin Point, the NE end of Horseshoe Falls. Many photographs were taken along the way. 

One of the bridges going from Goat Island to the Three Sister Islands

Part of the Niagara River that created Three Sister Islands

Every where there were small water falls or rapids

Looking "up" the Niagara River from the outermost of the Three Sister Islands

Another of the bridges in the Three Sister Islands chain

Niagara River above Horseshoe Falls, misty obscuring the Canadian side

Skylon Tower - Niagara Falls, ON Canada

American Falls from Goat Island - Highway bridge to Canada in background

Horseshoe Falls from Terrapin Point on Goat Island

Bridal Veil Falls closest, then American Falls - from Goat Island

Then off to dinner at Carrabba’s Italian Restaurant. 

Day 10 - September 17, 2026

Today we headed to our Canadian friend's side of the river to visit the Skylon Tower and viewpoints on this side of the river. Our first stop was the Skylon Tower, which stands 520 feet tall, with an observation deck that is 775 feet above the Niagara Falls Canyon.

The exterior elevator ride is quick, and since it is a “daylight” car, it allows photos to be taken through the windows on the way up. The “UP” car is located on the northeast part of the tower and the “DOWN” car is located on the southeast side of the tower. You can spend as much time as you want on the observation deck, which has both an interior and exterior section. The exterior section is enclosed in large opening wire mesh. Large enough to stick your hand through, but not big enough to put your body through. The deck goes completely around the top of the tower. This allows you to walk completely around the tower to see the other sections of Niagara Falls, ON Canada. Views of the three falls from up here was tremendous. Probably the best place for photos of the falls. 

American Falls - from the elevator going up

American Falls with Bridal Veil Falls on the right side

Horseshoe Falls aka Canadian Falls

Horseshoe Falls with a Tour Boat headed for the base

Goat Island in the center. Horseshoe Falls on the right.

Once down to the car, we decided it was time for lunch. Driving down the street, I spied a Hard Rock Cafe. Those of you that have known me for a while, know that a Hard Rock Cafe is not to be passed up, until a souvenir magnet and T-Shirt is obtained. Since we were there, we had lunch. So far that made two Hard Rock Cafe’s in two different countries that we had been to in two days.

 After lunch we headed to a Parking Lot in the Niagara Falls Park, ON. It is located at Table Rock.

From the Parking Lot I crossed the five lanes of traffic on an overhead walkway that took me into a shopping plaza, then onto a walkway along the Niagara River. This walkway gave a different view of the falls, but being below the top of the falls, especially Horseshoe Falls, the mist generated by the water coming over the falls was incredible. The pictures show it as a fog, by the water it was like a rainstorm. Glad that I brought my rain jacket.

American Falls - Bridal Veil Falls on right side

Horseshoe Falls "ground" level

Entrance to the walkway to the Table Rock shopping Plaza

At Table Rock is also the Falls Incline Railway. This is a tram on rails that goes up a steep grade to the street above. Just an eyeball guess is that the tram travels up hill about a quarter mile.

Back to the US side of the Niagara River and off to Wal-Mart and to get the car washed.

Day 11 - September 18, 2026

Today started with doing a load of laundry in the Guest Laundry at the hotel. The weather was better today than yesterday. So, off to Goat Island. This time I got out of the car on the mainland and side of the bridge, walked across and photographed the rapids caused by the swift water running toward the falls.

Looking down the Niagara River toward the top of American Falls

Pedestrian Bridge to Goat Island in the distance

On the Island, I walked the west along the paved pathway. Headed toward the top of Bridal Veil Falls. Along the way I stopped and checked out the “Caves of the Wind.” This is an area where an elevator take you down to close to the bottom of the cliffs allowing you to walk along a wooden pathway toward the base of American Falls. They give you a disposable (recyclable) plastic poncho. I decided that I wanted to stay dry and the camera dry so I passed on that adventure.

Several more photos were taken of the falls and the surrounding area.

Horseshoe Falls

Top of the Falls Restaurant - sits above Horseshoe Falls

One of many Tour Boats plying the river

Bridal Veil Falls in foreground, American Falls behind

Bridal Veil Falls

There are many, many more photos of the Niagara Falls (Horseshoe, Bridal Veil and American) and of the Niagara River, but how many should be displayed before they become redundant. and people loose interest.

That ends the day and this part of the journey - Up next - National Baseball Hall of Fame.