CANYCA: California to New York (and back) pg. 3 "Leaving for California"
From the Oneonta/Morris area to the Buffalo area, Niagara Falls
Just in case you were wondering about the bat on my foot, it was due to a little fun with getting the bats out of the garage before it was closed up for a couple months, which would have made them very hungry....one of them flew off my gloved hand, another refused to leave the garage, and this one seemed so sleepy as to not care what went on.....even when it landed on my foot and accompanied me as I carefully walked around....
The previous days were spent dealing with countless issues with the bus, packing for the moving truck, and running around in Oneonta getting needed materials (including food and coffee), and taking pictures. Just in case anyone was wondering why there seem to be pictures missing, that's just because I can't put them ALL up! Many many pics of the fields, for instance... with the trees turning color slowly and the sky providing an ever-changing montage of lighting and contrasts.....I took too many, but never enough. But I'll just post the ones that seem to make sense. After a lot of dirt in my eyes, grease all over, tiring late nights, and discouraging setbacks (thankfully I didn't give up!) we were ready to depart.
The morning following the last post to the buslists dawned to the accompaniment of several ravens and a chattering chipmunk. I snoozed, and about the same time I decided to set up my microphone to record the little twerp, he stopped. Figures! Tim had fun moving the tractor into the garage, and we were finally on our way! The roads from our location were good, but fairly narrow, and winding, so it was challenging driving for Tim, who was piloting a 14' Penske truck with the beetle on a trailer in tow. He did well, though, and no-one's insurance company got called. It was easy driving for me, though, as I was thoroughly enjoying the ease with which this bus was handling the hills, the smooth swooping corners, and the fact that half the time I was playing with my camera, taking shots of passing farmsteads, stone churches, and other pastoral scenes of New York backroads.
The rolling hills, secluded farmhouses and picturesque barns set against an energetic sky faded away eventually, and the drab veil of commerce and linear thinking once again became a part of our existance.....the trip was finally and truly under way!
Before I tell you about Syracuse, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls, I'd like to take a brief moment to clarify my approach with regard to this trip report. Since the actual voyage had a purpose, which was to safely transport a bus, a beetle, and a moving truck of family items across the States, and I am writing the report on said voyage in past tense, you would not be incorrect or presumptuous to have already come to the conclusion that the trip was a success.
In itself, the experience was not so much an unusual event. Lots of people drive or have driven across the country. But I've never done it, especially in a vehicle that had not so much as moved in eighteen years. I did have my doubts at one point, but as it turned out, the bus was definitely worth trusting!
Anyway, what I'm trying to tell you is that everything turned out alright, and there were some cool adventures to relate, and I'll be doing that relating in a somewhat haphazard style which includes telling you about things in a non-linear fashion. Like when I feel like telling you about Nevada, I will, and later, maybe I'll tell you about the time we got lost in a giant corn maze (so to speak) in northern Illinois. In general, just expect to see some pics, sometimes explained, sometimes not. I have many more of most scenes, so if you are curious, I can send you more but for now..... (for instance, I have tons of pictures of the '57 beetle, which is in a strange combination state of being beautifully preserved (a white headliner?) and rusting to death.)
I did mention Niagara Falls at one point....I suppose I should show you a few of the shots from that experience. Contrary to the info I had at the time of my post before we left, we actually spent around seven instead of four hours to get from Oneonta to the greater Buffalo area, where we obtained a room and then headed for the Falls. Part of the reason for such a long first day was that we had to spend the better part of one hour enjoying an impromptu neighborhood tour of Syracuse (which was really neat), and also a fueling stop for both ourselves and the vehicles, the former fueling taking place at a little cafe in which was created the best tuna melt I've ever had.
Jeez....I can't seem to get to the Falls. It's probably just that those pics don't want to be on this page, so I will put them on the next:
CANYCA pg.4
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