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| 160 miles - 2 hrs 45 min |
Before arriving at the KOA, I set my GPS for a detour to travel further north to 5560 State Highway 7, Oneonta, NY, home of the famous Brooks' BBQ restaurant. The SUNY campus is just 9 minutes away. I got a very late start (getting to bed around 2:30 am the morning before.) Friday morning, so I arrived for a late lunch at Brooks' House of BBQ. (If you follow this highlighted link, don't forget to use your browser's "back" arrow to return to the blog.) I wanted to satisfy my curiosity and follow up on the suggestion from long time friend, Barbara, now living in Hawaii. As an alumna of Oneonta some 40+ years prior, she says this was the place to go. Another friend, Kathy, living in Florida is from the area and worked in the SUNY system for over 20 years will be delighted I've visited her hometown. It was worth the trip for lunch and the take out that would be provide me meals for the next couple of days (BBQ ribs, pulled pork, baked potato, potato salad and the sauces to go with them). You don't leave this place hungry. If you check the menu items on their website, you'll see there was plenty to choose from. For a Friday afternoon, the place was not crowded at all. It was overcast and chilly and I'm sure early in the season but in the evenings during the weekend I'm sure they pack this place. I hope you caught the video clip in my last blog featuring Rachel Ray telling folks about this place.
Winnie and I had no problem finding a parking spot that allowed me easy in and easy out. And, by the way, don't think I didn't notice Tokyo Tavern Japanese Restaurant, Mt. Fuji Japanese Restaurant and the Asian Temptation Modern Asian Cuisine restaurants on the way.
More than half way along my trip to this KOA, I was hit with the realization that I did not pack the power supply I needed for my laptop. Again, as with the last trip, (remember the mouse?) the cursing should have reached your ears. This forced me, after lunch to make a detour to an Office Max in the Southside Mall on my return 40 mile detour trip back south toward KOA. They had what I needed and now, all is right with the world....lucky you, you get to read another blog.
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| Ouleout Creek looking south |
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| Ouleout Creek looking north |
Oneonta, "The City of Hills" is about 20 miles to the northeast of the campground and popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Mohawk language but its origin is "undetermined." This KOA is located in Franklin, NY. The 3 hour ride took me through the Catskill Park region and was beautiful although the low cloud cover and drizzle took away the vibrant greens of new spring. What made up for it were the picturesque postcard scenes of fly fisherman dotting the meandering creeks and rivers as I passed above on Route 7 or I-88. With the recent rains, these rivers and creeks were swiftly flowing creating rapids here and there. What I was viewing were both the Susquehanna and Unadilla Rivers that flow through the region and right here in the campground, is the Ouleout (Indian word for "rapid waters") Creek, one of the tributaries of the Susquehanna. It too lived up to its name as it rapidly flowed toward its junction.
Although this KOA opened the first of May, things are not hopping at all. The rigs on either side of me when I arrived were gone by morning and by late afternoon their spots have been taken up by a huge Class A Allegro on one side and a Coachman Class C (similar to my Class B but with a sleeping/storage area above the cab). Most rigs I've seen are set up and seem to be seasonal and so far unoccupied. There are no sewers on site but there is a dump station as well as a "honey wagon" service for a fee--which I'll take advantage of should the need arise. Below are some shots of the area.
Well, that's it from Unadilla/Franklin KOA. If any new arrivals make themselves known and are sociable AND the weather encourages outdoor activity so I can get to meet and greet them, you'll be the first to know about it with another blog. Below is the forecast out of Binghamton, NY. If you're concerned about such things, it'll be depressing for you. There is a patch of blue however Wednesday through Thursday. Anyone who knows me will tell you that as long as I'm around to witness weather of any kind, I'm a happy guy.
And so, with the pitter patter of the light rain on my roof, a cocktail in hand before dinner, enter Charlie Chan. Author, Earl Derr Biggers, wrote only 6 novels featuring the famous Honolulu detective. When I read that tidbit and realized there were over four dozen movies made between 1926 and 1949 with nine actors playing the role, I decided to read the originals. Notable for me were Sidney Toler, who played in 22 and Warren Orland, who played in 16. With each novel averaging about 180 pages, I found the complete, unabridged work and will spend my rainy day reading the 6 adventures:
The House Without a Key
The Chinese ParrotBehind That Curtain
The Black Camel
Charlie Chan Carries On
Keeper of the Keys
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1,069 pages; it's heavy too. Don't know who the model is that they
used for the cover.
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Earl Derr Biggers
Created Charlie Chan because he didn't like the way the
Chinese were depicted in his day (1920's) . It is said the character
was based on the then real Honolulu detective named Chang Apana.
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Sidney Toler
The second non-Asian actor
to play Charlie Chan;
born in Beverly Hills, CA
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Werner Orland
The Swedish-American actor to
play Charlie Chan;
born in Warrensburg, MO
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I'll now sign off and begin the adventures. Till next time, stay well, stay dry.
Aloha....and hooray ! You got to see "The Land of Oz" as we called Oneonta ! hahahah...Glad you enjoyed your bar-b-que lunch & that Brooks is still worthy of my memories ! hahaha
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you out there on Rte. 9 ! laters, Honolulu Barbara
Snow? I guess Oneonta is known for that. Enjoy the book.
ReplyDeleteNice blog entry. Sorry to see your weather forecast. I'm heading back to Florida today from Denver. Feeling sad, but glad to return to warmer weather. I landed after an 8" snowstorm (wearing flip flops) and experienced snow showers two other days during my 1 week stay. Crazy weather.
ReplyDeleteWhen I moved to Oneonta about 45 years ago I read an article in the U.S. News and World Report listing the most overcast cities in the country. Sorry to say, but Binghamton (45 min away) was number 2. Too late. My husband was a N.Y.State Trooper and was now stationed there. No regrets, though. I was told that Oneonta was an Indian name meaning "City of the Hills" and advertisements for the city usually had that in the info, but who really knows. It was a great atmosphere to raise my son in a town with 2 colleges. So glad you made it there and look forward to your next destination.
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