Tony M Trawler: Seneca Lake - the largest of the Finger Lakes

Cayuga Seneca Canal

Cattle along the Canal

After leaving Seneca Falls, one of our favorite towns, we continued eight miles and one more lock to the end of the Cayuga Seneca Canal, arriving at the 38 mile long Lake Seneca. This lake is deep, 605 feet at its deepest part which is so extremely different from our travels through shallow Florida and the ICW. The water is crystal clear, twenty feet looks like three feet. Over forty wineries line the shores and make for a very picturesque journey.

We decided to go to Geneva on the northwestern shore of Seneca Lake as they offered a free dock with power and you know we like free. We were the only ones there for the night and enjoyed the walking trails along the lake. The city of 13,000 has interesting architecture, colleges, shops and good restaurants. We were glad we stopped there.

Geneva business district

Geneva architecture

more Geneva architecture

Love those murals!

Tony M in Geneva-just us and a fisherman

Modest Lake Seneca homes

Wineries line the shores

Waterfalls along the lake

Long walk back up those stairs when you forget the ketchup!

Car murals are ALL over Watkins Glen

There are no towns to tie up in and anchoring in 605 feet of water is impossible so our destination in Lake Seneca was Watkins Glen which lies at the southern point of Lake Seneca. This was the first marina we had to pay for since we left CT and were very critical of it - we are getting spoiled by better town facilities that don't charge- but they were the only game in town so we bit the bullet and paid our cash $40. We walked around on some of the same streets that the original Watkins Glen Grand Prix took place on. It began in 1948 on a 6.6 mile track over local public roads. For the first few years, the races passed through the heart of the town with spectators lining the sidewalks, but after a car left the road in the 1952 race, killing one spectator and injuring several others, the race was moved to a new location on a wooded hilltop southwest of town. The sidewalks have plaques of all the winners embedded in them. Kind of cool recognizing some of the winners we've heard of over the years (including Paul Newman!)

More murals

And more murals

I've heard of this guy!

An Indian presencehere

We walked to Watkins Falls in hopes of spending an enjoyable morning exploring the Falls. We did not expect the "No Pets" policy. A worker who was leaving felt sorry for us and drove all three of us up the back way where dogs are allowed. We thanked her up and down and began the trek down to the falls. The walkways and bridges were built in the 30's as part of a public works project. We observed the combination of natural beauty and man made stone work, resulting in an amazing fantasyland setting. It was worth the walk -everyone should visit this beauty.