The Beauty Around Us

Our Maine vacation officially began at 5:30 am this morning, when we departed home.  We programmed the GPS to not avoid highways (and to avoid tolls) between our home in North Warren, PA and Amsterdam, NY.  The predominant routes (all Interstate) that we followed were I-86, I-81, and I-88.

The only deviations from our drive to Amsterdam happened when we went in search of a Mobil Fuel Station.  The most notable out-of-the-way drive for fuel happened in Oneonta, NY.  We passed Cooperstown All Star Village.

Cooperstown All Star Village

Cooperstown All Star Village Ball Fields

This out-of-the-way drive for fuel took us 6 miles out of our way.  When we reached the Mobil station, it wasn’t even a Mobil station.  It was a Mirabito station, as was the previous out-of-the-way fuel station.  Bob has $40.00 in his Exxon Mobil Rewards+ program account that he wants to use to pay for gas.  

The last 20 miles to Amsterdam were via NY State Route 30.  We arrived in the City of Amsterdam around 12:30 pm and spent an hour walking on the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook Bridge and in Riverlink Park.

Amsterdam, NY
Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) Bridge Artwork

Amsterdam, NY
Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) Bridge
“Mother and Child at the Mohawk River” by Sculptur Dimitar Lukanov

Amsterdam, NY
Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) Bridge

There were flower beds all along both sides of the bridge, which was very pleasant to see and smell.

Amsterdam, NY
Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) Bridge
Wheel of Life

Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) Bridge
The beautiful Wheel of Life

Amsterdam, NY
Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) Bridge
More flowers

Amsterdam, NY
Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook (MVGO) Bridge (as seen from Riverlink Park)

There were two imposing sights to see at Riverlink Park: the Painted Rocks of Amsterdam and the 9-11 Memorial.

Amsterdam, NY
Riverlink Park: Painted Rocks

The Painted Rocks of Amsterdam are Alice Manzi’s re-creation of a famous Mohawk Indian rock painting.

Amsterdam, NY
Riverlink Park: 9-11 Memorial

The 9-11 Memorial tells the narrative of that day, and Amsterdam’s connection to it.

Amsterdam, NY
Riverlink Park: 9-11 Memorial

This concrete and steel column from the P3 parking level of the North Tower survived mainly intact from the 2001 attack of the World Trade Center.  On the edging of the base are escribed two dates and two times: the date of the attack (September 11, 2001), date of dedication (September 11, 2015), the time that American Airlines Flight 11 turned south over Amsterdam (8:26 am), and the time it struck the North Tower (8:46 am).

– TO BE CONTINUED –