A river, a bridge and a beer

Wow. 35+ years after honeymooning, and later sabatical taking in upstate NY, I have returned to a chain of little villages close to the best known, Lake Placid. (Yes, the Winter Olympics were held here in 1932 and 1980.)

Jay and Upper Jay, pop. 300 and 600 respectively, are quiet places off the beaten path with no restaurants but a handful of B&Bs to accommodate the winter skiing visitors and fall leaf peepers. The nearby town of Wilmington, home of Whiteface and Paleface Ski Mountains, has a casual, cool pub with a seating section for "Tourists" and "Locals."

Of course I sat with the locals and talked about some of the 46ers I once climbed. There are 46 peaks over 4000 feet throughout the park, and I remember doing about a Baker's Dozen when I lived here full time back in '75. The locally crafted beer called "46" is one of the best amber ales I have ever tasted, and I thank the brewery for honoring the hikers.

First thing before checking into Kathy & Fred's comfy Book & Blanket B&B was to take photos of the quaint post office, where the Farrell family has retained PO Box 111, Jay, NY for nearly 50 years since purchasing an A-Frame cabin in AuSable Acres. My favorite swimming hole is on the East Branch of the AuSable River, about 5 miles before it forks with the West Branch.

Not only is this a picturesque postcard town, but it boasts a covered bridge built in 1857 which spans the tame river just outside to town. It made the long Amtrak ordeal getting here worthwhile. Only 6 hours out of Manhattan, it seems like another planet. So quiet, I heard myself reminiscing about the wonderful times I spent here as a fledgling freelance magazine writer; I have been around the world since then, but I still remember the awe-inspiring drive between Jay, Upper Jay and Wilmington.

The weather and full moon are exquisite tonight as I write this, happy to be out of the Big Apple for a few restful days.