Lake Otsego: Glimmerglass State Park, The Susquehanna River And The Baseball Hall Of Frame.

I  awoke early in my room at the Lake’ N Pines hotel overlooking Lake Otsego  in New York.  I  had hoped to watch the sunrise over “Glimmerglass Lake” the name given to this beautiful lake by the famous novelist James Fenimore Cooper. However, the skies were cloudy, but I still enjoyed a beautiful sky as the sun rose behind the clouds.

I had planned to again hike in Glimmerglass Lake State Park but it started to rain and continued  for a couple of hour.  I spent the time  in the room editing some photos working on my blog and drinking a lot of coffee. Around 9 a.m. the rain slowed and was predicated to end in 15 minutes so I drove to Glimmerglass State Park, located about 7 miles from my hotel . It was still raining when I arrived at the park and I had to sit in my Jeep  for about another 15 minutes until he rain finally began  end.

  I left my Jeep walked  the beach on the northern shore of Otsego Lake in the  Glimmerglass State Park.  The beach was deserted and quiet, so unlike and noisy and crowded beach I experienced the previous afternoon.

I walked along the shore of the lake through a grove of ancient willow trees.

In the distance I saw the historic Hyde Hall overlooking the lake and reflected on the influential Clark family that lived in this magnificent mansion with a spectacular view of pristine  Otsego Lake, the source of the Susquehanna River, my favorite river on this planet, and one of the oldest too.

I followed a path along the lake and under the ancient willow trees,

seeing this  white breasted nuthatch with it’s feather drenched from the rains.

The path ended at one of `fithe many pavilions in the park.

I  followed another path that took me to the Covered Bridge Trail. This trail took me to the Hyde Hall Bridge.

 A sign near the bridge claims that this wooden bridge,

that spans the Shadow Brook stream and built in 1825 is the oldest covered bridge in the United States.

It is a beautiful structure, in remarkable condition after 200 years, but the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania claims a bridge that is older. Regardless of which is the older bridge I still enjoyed seeing the bridge and reflected on the many people who crossed in almost 200 years ago to visit the residents of the Hyde Hall in this remote part of the State. It is still in a remote area today and must have been a wonderful wildness in 1825.

There were many wildflowers blooming near the bridge including brown-eyed Susan coneflowers, 

purple coneflowers

and cutleaf coneflowers , all native wildflowers ,

and  some pretty, but invasive brown knapweed flowers.

I followed the Covered Bridge Trail which was once the main road to the Hyde Hall. It was lined with ancient oak trees, some of them dead and decaying.

Most of the oaks were still healthy and continued to provide a canopy of leaves over the trail.

I saw these pretty mushrooms growing along the trail. I believe they are a species if agaricus mushroom.

I also saw this tufted titmouse and

 this magnolia warbler in the woodlands along the trail.

I hiked out Highway 31 and then walked back to the covered bridge and then on to the Blue Bird Trail which took me through some open meadows. The skies began to clear and some sun broke through the clouds. The trail took me through a wide meadow of goldenrod flowers with some gray alder,  gray dogwoods, birch and other small trees and shrubs.

In the meadow I saw a few song sparrows,

chipping sparrows,

American goldfinches and

common yellowthroats

I also saw a few ring-billed gulls fly overhead. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos of the birds I saw on my morning hike at Glimmerglass State Park. Lake Otsego. New York morning hike birds August 17 2024.

The trail took me back to the Beaver Pond trail where I hiked the previous afternoon. I followed the trail through the primitive campsites where I enjoyed the smell of the smoke from the morning campfires and the pleasant sound of conversations and laughter coming from the campers.

I walked past the  beaver pond. I didn’t see and beavers,

but did see this frog and

 snapping turtle in the pond,

and this red squirrel surrounding woodlands. .

It was now after 11 a.m.  I had hiked 3 1/2 miles and was hungry. I  was going to hike on the Lonely Lion Trail at Glimmerglass State Park  again but I decided to drive into Cooperstown for breakfast and to look for the beginning of the Susquehanna River, the reason I came to Lake Otsego, Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos from  my morning hike at Glimmerglass State Park. Lake Otsego. New York morning hike  August 17 2024.

I drove on Highway 31 along the wooded eastern side of Otsego Lake below a  mountain ridge. It was a scenic 7 mile ride. I drove into the  Cooperstown and parked near the lake.

I walked down to the scenic Glimmerglass lake, where I found crowds of people sitting on benches along it’s shore,

at a busy marina,

and a  even busier restaurant. 

I followed Lake Street  through a residential neighborhood to Council Rock Park. This  quiet wooded park is where the Susquehanna River begins.

I splashed my hands in the waters of the lake at the start of the river,

and  stood and enjoyed the view of the lake and reflected on the North Branch of  Susquehanna River and it’s 444  mile journey to the Chesapeake Bay, joining the West Branch of the river near Williamsport. I hike along it’s banks almost every week in the Susquehanna Wetlands and River Lands in Luzerne County.

I left the headwaters of the Susquehanna  River,

and walked through the busy center of this famous town, stopping in to visit the beautiful library building.,

donated by the Clark family.

My walk on the busy Main Street took past the Baseball Hall Of Fame.  I had dreamed of visiting this shrine to baseball’s best players since I was in Little League.  However, the purpose of this trip was to explore and hike in the woodlands where the Susquehanna River begins so I wasn’t planning on visiting the Hall Of Fame on this visit to the area.

So I walked past  Hall of Fame,  the many small shops,

selling all types of baseball merchandise, and

busy restaurants.

The streets were crowded with  folks of all ages. There were many youngsters in Little League uniforms, elderly folks with  outdated  hats and shirts of their favorite teams, families and groups of friends all enjoying the small town and historic atmosphere of this quaint little town. 

I had a delicious breakfast  at the Cooperstown Dinner then walked over to the Otesaga Resort, a famous resort on the lake,

walking through a neighborhood with well maintained house, most with beautiful flowers blooming in the yards. 

I walked  into the Resort and it’s lavishly furnished rooms, and

took a peek of the lake from the deck of the resort.

I returned to the Main Street and decided,  that since I was this close, I would visit the Hall of Fame and cross off another item on my bucket list.  I knew I wouldn’t have the time to take in the many exhibits at this museum of our Nation’s greatest pass time, but I would try my best to see as much as I could.

I decided I would just try visit my exhibits of my  favorite team, the Philadelphia Phillies. I have been an avid fan since I watched Jim Bunning’s perfect game on television Father’s Day  when I was a child.  i was told by one of the many attendants and guides  to start with the Phillies “Locker” on the third floor.  On the way I walked past our mascot the Phillies Phanatic.  I remember that April day in 1978 when the Phanatic  made it’s  first appearance at Veteran’s Stadium  like it was  yesterday. 

As I walked through the crowded room it soon became apparent a  “short” visit to this museum would be impossible. There was so much to see, and if you are a baseball fan, every step has something to immediately grab your attention.  from displays of baseball trading cards, 

to displays on old uniforms and baseball equipment,

comic books,

ball park snacks,

stadiums and tributers to baseball’s greatest stars, from Babe Ruth,

to Hank Aaron I soon realized I could spend not only hours but possibly days here.

I strolled  past all of the exhibits on the third and second floor spending a few hours doings so.

And I ended my “short” visit in the Hall of Fame where I visited the plaques of my childhood heroes, Jim Bunning,

Steve Carlton,

and my all time favorite Phillies player  Michael Jack Schmidt.

It was now late afternoon, and I had walked over 7 miles,  and was hungry again,  so reluctantly I knew I had to leave the Hall of Fame. . It was a wonderful experience and I knew I would be back. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos from my walk through Cooperstown and visit to the Hall of Fame. . Lake Otsego. New York Cooperstown  August 17 2024.

I drove back to my hotel, edited some photos,  and was soon driving back into Cooperstown early in the evening . I decided to eat at the Norbu Indian restaurant. It as a good choice. I had a delicious appetizer to start, papri chaat, an Indian street food,

and for my main course  wonderfully seasoned haddock marinated with so many different and flavorful spices including  ginger, garlic , cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, baked with five foreign sauces with onions , peppers and tomatoes and served with garlic naan and rice. It was a delicious and filling meal leaving me with no room for desert.

I drove back to my hotel as the sun was setting. However it was on the other side of the mountain and not visible from my hotel. I edited photos and then walked down to the lake to enjoy the rising Full Surgeon Moon over the Glimmerglass Lake. . I reflected on the Native Americans, the early colonist and all of the folks who also saw this breathtaking scene on the Lake where my favorite river, the mighty Susquehanna begins. I hope to return to this wonderful and historic area soon.

Baseball was, is and always will be to me the best game in the world. Babe Ruth

“Those are the same stars, and that is the same moon, that look down upon your brothers and sisters, and which they see as they look up to them, though they are ever so far away from us, and each other.” —Sojourner Truth

fskokoski@gmail.com

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