For my ‘big city’ friends, not familiar with Upstate New York… I may not have described our area accurately. Upstate New York is amazing and beautiful!
Amazing hamlets, villages, towns, and cities abound across the region. They have survived, in spite of the loss of factories and mills. Yes, many people moved away. Yes, there are clear signs of abandonment; but there are also signs of the determination to stay… to maintain homes… and, to thrive… one house may be almost falling down, but next door stands a stately home. A thriving business exists next to vacant store. Those who remained have not relinquished their determination to thrive… in spite of those who gave up… Homes centuries old stand next to new construction…
One of the most amazing aspects of this part of the country is, you can be in a hamlet, village, town, or city and in the blink of an eye, you are in the country. Really country… miles of forest, fields, creeks, and rivers…
The roads have a few more bumps than you might be used to, but remember we have cold snaps that take a toll on the roads. Extreme cold damages roads. Personally, we think the State does a fabulous job of keeping the roads in good repair. But, can you fly down them as if on a Freeway? Some people do, but we would not recommend it. When you see ten cars on the road you feel as if you are in a traffic jam.
Speaking of roads, we are becoming familiar with some of our area byways. Tomorrow I will share some of the adorable names we are privileged to traverse…
