Finger Lakes Summer Goes “Dutch”

Dutch Hollow is a charming public course located between Skaneateles and Owasco Lakes, about 5 or 6 miles south of Route 20. I’ve been playing there for about 20 years and it remains fun with every round. It is located right in the middle of farm country, so don’t be surprised if you see a family of foxes, or a red-tailed hawk or a family of turtles.

Finger Lakes Summer “Bike or Die 2”

One HOT Saturday in July, I started a ride south on 41A, on the west side of Skaneatleles Lake. South past Anyela’s Vinyard, right on Hencoop, (a fabulous starter hill if you chase it all the way up to Benson Rd) then a left at Weeks Rd. Follow the great the view down to HWY 359. Stay straight on it and it quickly turns into 38A. This road provides nice access to several other great routes — either south to Moravia or through New Hope and around the southern tip of Skaneateles Lake.

Finger Lakes Summer: Kudos to the City of Rochester

The shoreline of Hemlock is beautiful.

Which Finger Lakes are really the Finger Lakes? I have not been able to get anyone to agree on that question. Are there 5 or are all the skinny lakes that run north/south across Upstate New York to be considered “Finger Lakes”? For this post I am including ALL the lakes because The City of Rochester has done a great thing and it’s worth mentioning. A press release states:

“(Thursday, July 1, 2010) – Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy and State Environmental Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today that New York State has completed the purchase of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes from the City of Rochester for $13.7 million. The transaction, which has been in the works for over two years, will preserve and protect the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes – which have supplied water to Rochester for more than 130 years.

The release also states that “Of New York’s 11 Finger Lakes, (Someone has an opinion) Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake are the only two with undeveloped shorelines.” Rochester has been purchasing watershed property next to the lakes since 1895. They owned 7,000 acres of shoreline by 1950 that was reforested. This has also benefitted the fish and wildlife. Two pairs of bald eagles nest in the watershed.

Fall color on the shore of Canadice

The State of New York’s Environmental Protection Fund and The Nature Conservancy’s Central and Western New York Chapter also helped to facilitate the transaction.

The City of Rochester maintains a wonderful trail system at Hemlock and Canadice lakes and allows canoes, kayaks, and small motorboats (less than 10 horsepower) to use the lakes.

For more information about access to these lakes:

Visitor permits are required for visitors to the watershed area. Visitor permits, which help to insure protection of the area, are required of persons 16 years or older who visit City watershed property. Permit holders are welcome to bring guests, and to pursue licensed sporting activities such as fishing and hunting as well as boating, hiking, and nature study.

 

How to Get a Permit

Permits are free and valid for one calendar year. For your convenience, Watershed Visitor Permits can be obtained in the following ways:

• Download it
• From the Water Bureau’s headquarters: 10 Felix St., Rochester NY 14608
• From the Office of the Commissioner in the Department of Environmental Services: City Hall, Room 300B, 30 Church Street, Rochester NY 14614
• By mail: send a request along with a legal-size self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Water Conservationist, 7412 Rix Hill Road, Hemlock, NY 14466
• From a self-service booth located just outside Hemlock Park: 7412 Rix Hill Road, Hemlock, NY 14466

 

Enjoy!

Finger Lakes Summer 4th of July

Front seat for fireworks

There is no better way to watch fireworks than in a motorboat— preferably with squishy seats. The Skaneateles Country Club hosted a great show. There was a flotilla of boats parked around the point where they launched them out over the water.  The finale burst right over our heads and boat horns honked madly once the show was silent.

Front row view

What makes fireworks on the lake so special is that you don’t see one show, you see ALL the fireworks on the lake. While we sat under off shore of the country club, I could see colored lights exploding in every direction, the lake providing a big sky canvas with visual access to every cottage’s light show.

The other thing that is great is that you don’t wait in line with hundreds of other cars to exit the parking lot via it’s one road. Everyone quietly turns their boat around and motors home, kids cheering, wearing glow sticks like crowns and my teenage son with his girlfriend snuggled in the bow.