Tuesday, October 30, 2012

There’s Always Room For Jell-O; And Beef On Weck?

Just hanging  around and talking to local people many times gives us ideas of places to see.  The other day in New York we found out about the Jell-O Museum just 40 miles from our spot in Lockport.. Well, what better for a rainy day activity, right?  So, here we go to explore LeRoy, N.Y. This is a small town southeast of Lockport, where Jell-O thrived  and many local families were employed for over 70 years, until the company moved to Delaware in 1965. As usual, we found a few unexpected ingredients.
We learned from a very knowledgeable and pleasant historian at the museum that the man that actually invented Jell-O, Pearle Wait, couldn’t find a way to get people to buy it and sold for $40. Frank Woodward, who bought Jell-O, became very wealthy after trying several marketing ideas.  He finally put together a fleet of salesmen who traveled the state giving away samples; and the idea took off.  He eventually sold the business for $66 million. Oh the marvels of marketing!
This is a fun museum to take you back to the recipes of layered salads, bananas or Cool Whip and Jell-O that2012-10-27 11.33.31 your family has made for years.   There are all sorts of advertising pieces, examples of the development of the various flavors and the ad campaigns, such as, Jack Benny and Bill Cosby. 
And, there’s a bonus that you wouldn’t ever expect in the basement.  They have created a Transportation Museum that takes you through the history of the carriages used over time.  There are sleighs, horse-drawn wagons and carriages, all the way up to a 1908 Cadillac. Just another one of those surprises!
As we were walking out to our car, we paid more attention to the bricks lining the way.  As you’ve seen in other fund-raising situations, they were marked with names of the donors.  But in this case, many of them had some indication of the person’s connection to the Jell-O manufacturing facility. My favorite is the “taster.” Take a look:
2012-10-27 12.35.44
After all this history and jiggly thinking, we were ready to find a good meal. We remembered a recommendation that a lady in Lockport gave us the other day.  She said “Do you like Beef On Weck? We eat at Wagner's at least once a week. “   Well, we didn’t tell her that we didn’t know what in the world Beef On Weck is, but we looked it up on the Internet later. This is a sandwich of thinly sliced roast beef on a German-style bun, lightly dipped in au jus, that is popular in Western New York. Did I say that the bun is generously sprinkled with Kosher salt?  Sounds good to us!   We found Wagner’s Restaurant, located in an old house as we had noticed several other restaurants were in Lockport.  The locals were obviously coming in for their favorites.  Some were enjoying what we call a Beef Manhattan, as well as those of us enjoying the Beef On Weck. The beef was just right, with a nice-dipped-buttery bun. Add to that a nose-tingling horseradish.  There are definitely two new fans of this NY favorite. Yummy!
Here’s a link if you would like to learn more about the Jell-O Museum or LeRoy.
Thanks for visiting Hurley Travels.  Stay safe.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Lockport, N.Y.- The Flight of Five and Our Flight Southwest

Did I say we were glad we chose Lockport as our home base for this New York trip?  Not only is the Elks lodge a $10 bargain, with 30-amp electric, water and nice, quiet surroundings, but we found several great restaurants and interesting places to investigate.  We were pleasantly surprised to find the Erie Canal with walking path is just across the road from our spot.  And Lockport, it turns out, is the largest lock site on the 363-mile Erie Canal system. This was the first transportation system connecting New York City with the Great Lakes.
The other day we decided to allot our day for exploring the history of the locks, taking the boat ride on the canal to experience the locks first hand and discovering a local restaurant.  We were successful, almost.  Guess what?  The canal boat ride ceased operating for the season a few days before we arrived.  Just our luck…again.  That would have been a nice addition to our visit.   But okay, there’s still a lot to see. The locks have their own history tour, etc.   We learned at the history center of the arduous work of building the canal, through the Niagara Escarpment.  The Flight of FiveLockport, N.Y., Lock System is the system of five locks that were built in Lockport to let boats travel from Buffalo all the way to Albany, across New York State.  In fact, the day that we chose to take in this history was the 187th anniversary of the opening of the Erie Canal that took place in Lockport in 1825.  The history center outlines in detail, including a simulated ride on a canal boat, the process of controlling the water so that boats can make the journey through 36 locks in the canal system, navigating a change in elevation of a total of 565 feet from beginning to end.  
The Lockport locks are still in use, but in the early 1900s the system of five locks was modified into two.  Now, Lockport is the only site on the western end of the Erie Canal that has an 1859 flights of locks parallel to a 1918 flight. You are able to see where the old locks were originally used with the tow-path for the mules to pull the canal boats along.
We learned that families lived on the boats in the summer season when they were operating their businesses up and down the canal.  The young people who  ran the mules that towed the boats or did other jobs were called “hoggees.”    Of course, tourist trade and recreational activities are the main use of these canals today in our day of trains, planes and trucks.  It’s interesting to reflect on this canal system and what part it played in developing industry and cities.  And, especially, to think of the people that played a role in each and every segment of these developments that impacted the entire country. 
But, so much for history.  Now it’s time as I am writing this for us to concentrate on current developments. Of all things that might occur in New York in October, we are watching the approaching Hurricane Sandy!  Our family is calling us with warnings and inquiries about the “frankenstorm” coming our way.  There could be 60 mph wind gusts near Lake Erie.  Okay! Forget the mail we ordered if it doesn’t arrive tomorrow morning.  Our wheels are turning southwest by noon.  By the time you are reading this we should be somewhere in Pennsylvania or Ohio, making our way to Indianapolis.
Thanks for visiting us at Hurley Travels.  Stay safe.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Niagara Falls Is Just as Awesome as Ever

Our time at The Falls could have gone either way.  We knew that October might bring cold and rain in upstate New York.  But, we can take it, right? We arrived in Lockport, NY, 20 miles east of Niagara Falls,Jerry at Horseshoe Falls and found this very accommodating Elks lodge to make our new home place.  Plus, our WeatherBug app said that the next day was to be sunny and 80 degrees. How great is that! In fact, after several delays in our trip, we were feeling fortunate.  We were all set for our Niagara Falls visit. The plan was to take the Maid of the Mist ride that we both wanted to add to our Niagara Falls experiences from our youth. 

Then, the next morning we called to check on a  possible late afternoon reservation for the boat ride.  Wellllllll, no way. The Maid of the Mist and other types of seasonal activities ended yesterday.  LOL.  And so it goes. Can’t be helped.

But wait!  After all was said and done, we couldn’t have asked for a nicer day at the Falls, taking in the powers of nature from several viewpoints.  Actually. we are thinking that we had minimal crowds, more access and less hassles. 

For us, recalling our own individual Nancy Hurley, Oct 27, 2012, Niagara Falls.40 to 60-year-old impressions of these same sights was a fun ingredient.  Of course, neither one of us have a crisp memory of what or how we saw the various falls…. American, Bridal Veil or Horseshoe Falls….views from Terrapin Point, Observation Deck, Luna Island, Goat Island...  We did some comparing of our separate memories and what the current visit was like.  It seemed there are many more “attractions” than when we were kids.  But, we agreed that the wonder of it all is the same.

We enjoyed the convenience of the trolley that travels around the state park and over to Goat Island. There were no lines of people waiting. We had lots of room on the paths, the park benches and at the railings to take in the amazing natural beauty and the power of it all.  The Observation Deck extending out over the Niagara River, viewing the American Falls,Observation Deck at Niagara Falls, NY is outstanding just for the feeling of being out there.  In the photo below you can see the deck at the left  jutting out where we enjoyed the experience. 

When we approached Terrapin Point to get a closer view of Horseshoe Falls we got to feel that special spray of the mist emanating from the pounding of 600,000 gallons per second pitching over the 173-foot plunge.  We took extra time to just drink in the sound and feel the spray.

To add to our list of events for the Falls Day, we ventured over to the other side. Crossing the border into  Canada was uneventful as we showed our passports and had no fruits or vegetables or firearms to declare. Although getting back into the U.S. was an hour-long wait, I’d say it was well worth it. The Canadian view is more expansive since the American Falls are in your sights head-on.  It is definitely a fantastic experience there, also.   Each side has strong points. The sound, the Niagara River rapids, the mist and the close up, pure power of it all are on the American side.  While,  the viewing of the spectacular expansive scene all at once is the advantage from Canada.View of American Falls (Below photo)

Even though we were post-season and denied a few of the amenities where we could spend more money, this day-late group of Falls viewers had a gorgeous sunny day of drinking in the sights and sounds to our hearts’ content.  Of course, photos of everyone with the Falls were necessary, including helping each other with snapshots. Then Mother Nature provided a double rainbow to complete the scene.  No complaints from these two tourists.

Now we’ve had our second visit to Niagara Falls, this one together.  Young or old, they are still awesome! 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

A Moment in Canton,Ohio

Not planning can sometimes be the best plan. Don’t you think?  Often that seems to be the case on our travels. It happened again to us the other day. On our way across Ohio, with our destination as Niagara Falls, our mileage put us at Canton, Ohio, overnight.  Just for fun, I plugged our location into an app on the iPad called History Here that pinpoints historical locations in the area.  There we were…parked about four miles from the President Wm. McKinley Tomb and Museum.  Why not investigate before we hit the road again?

After coffee in the morning, we unhooked ole Yeller and made the short trip to the memorial.  We were immediately impressed.  William McKinley Tomb When you drive into the grounds along the entry road, the tomb of President McKinley, assassinated in 1901, is perched on a towering hill. We learned later that this is the largest presidential memorial in the country, including the 26 acres surrounding it.  The grounds include a 1/4-mile, tree-lined walkway along the road leading to the tomb.  People were using the huge stairway and the walking path for exercising, giving the memorial a warm feeling.   

Then, there was the museum located next to the memorial. We noticed very quickly that there was more there than we expected.  Instead of McKinley exhibits, we first found a planetarium, a science center and several rooms of displaysNancy Hurley in Stark County Ohio museum. centered on the people, the industry and other history of the area, Starke County.  As we browsed we found several fun, interactive exhibits. For instance, the Hoover vacuum display demonstrated the vacuum power by lifting you in this chair that you see me in at the right.  A separate section of the museum is a Street of Shops that depicts the late 1800s, including a fire station of the era complete with an engine. And, did you know that the Diebold Safe Company originates from this area also?  We found Mr. Diebold’s invention story, along with those of local watchmakers, bearing manufacturers, etc. Interspersed with interesting objects were details of the people involved that captured our attention.  

We enjoyed perusing the McKinley memorabilia and were reminded of this president’s popularity and international policy influences.  But besides the presidential reminder, the bonus was  our  acquaintance with Starke County, Ohio. You’ll have to stop in to see if you agree with our impressions.

Oh, by the way, do you know what a Betty lamp is? There was one displayed in this museum. Here it is:Exhibit of a Betty lamp.

Betty lamp is a type of oil burning lamp that was used primarily by American colonists during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its name comes from the German word besser , translated to mean “to make better.” The lamp was made with a covered, shallow bowl containing an inner spout that holds a wick. The bowl holds the oil or fat used to fuel the lamp. Betty lamps often had chains or hooks so the light could be elevated.  (Information from www.wisegeek.com)

Thanks for visiting Hurley Travels.  Stay safe.  See you down the road.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

On The Road Again

We are finally on the way! The departure on our "Niagara Falls" trip had a few delays, at least two weeks worth.  From transmission to toilet, from water faucet to water pump, the motorhome repairs and requirements had accumulated beyond our estimation during our hiatus of more than a year.  But thanks to lots of generous help from Tim, we are on the road again.

First stop...just 100 miles north in Fort Wayne, IN, at the Johnny Appleseed Campground where we met up with two special rving friends, Chuck and Jan Moore.
 We've been enjoying some lively and fun catching-up conversations.  And today we hung out at the Allen County Genealogy Library sharing a pastime that we have in common, family history research.  The resources are outstanding here.

One of the highlights of our library visit today was finding the published version of Jerry's Indianapolis Firefighters Roster on the shelves. He put this historical database together from various information collected over the years and donated the information so that others could have access through the genealogy library. They published his work online and in printed version.  We have a published author in the family!

All in all, our rving restart is going very well.  We are recalling how everything works, where to put what and which buttons to push.  Having Jan and Chuck to chat with as we get back into the routines has been a bonus.


Friday, October 12, 2012

Thai Food - My First

Tonight was fun and tasty! Hubby and I had our first Thai food.  Wow! I’m sure we’ll have more.Thai dishes at Sawasdee Thai Restaurant, Indy.

Krissy suggested the Sawasdee Thai Restaurant (86th and Ditch Rd., Indy), since she knows we’ve been into more spicy tastes lately.  Also, the place is one of her favorites.  So, why not Thai? 

We decided to share three different types of dishes. Don’t know the Nancy and Krissy at Thai Restaurant, Indynames for sure.  One was Tilapia with triple sauce (mild).  One was a curry dish with beef (medium heat).  One was pork Padd Thai, traditional noodle dish (medium heat).  We enjoyed everything.  In fact, we agreed that the medium temperature was just right for us.  The mild Tilapia was really nice, yummy sauce and crispy fish, but we could have ordered it medium, too.

Even the Thai beer pleased us all.  I guess we were a happy crew!

Now we’ll have to find some Thai places as we travel. Ferd is getting spruced up and ready.  We’ll be moving down the road soon.

Thanks for visiting Hurley Travels.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Our Little Celebration, State-Park Style

We were trying to come up with a different way to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary on Sept 30….something low-key, take-it-easy, not a big deal.  You know what I mean.  Well anyway,Nancy and Jerry, 12th Wedding Anniversary we both like reminiscing. Really.  And we enjoy parks.  So, we chose to to take a short ride to McCormick’s Creek State Park, 60 miles from Indy. It’s a beautiful spot in southern Indiana that we both have fond memories of from childhood. Besides, we hadn’t been there together. 

The preparations were quick, a bottle of wine and plastic cups, a couple of old towels in case it was wet, camera and cell phones. Before we knew it we were in Spencer.

Couldn’t have Nancy Hurley at McCormick's Creek State Pk., Indianaasked for a nicer setting. The leaves are just barely starting to turn  and the day was sunny and 60s.  We visited the horses grazing at the stable, walked to the falls and had a leisurely tour of the rest of the park.  The caves are closed due to a threat to a certain bat.  So, Jerry’s trip down memory lane was a little curtailed. But we explored a little until we found the group camping Remembering those old days.site where my girl scout troop spent our summer trips.   I slept in one of the bunks inside this same building ages ago. The campsite was unoccupied and private so we enjoyed our wine on one of the picnic tables around the fire pit where we girls used to tell stories and roast marshmallows. Seems like yesterday. Winking smile

Our dinner at the Canyon Inn wasn’t outstanding.  But that was okay since we had already had a super day.