56 Years on this Earth

 It's my birthday month - let's celebrate it from start to finish and beyond!! 

Hey, I'm full of it!! 

4/1 - Bachelor day # 3 - It was a windy, but sunny and warm Saturday, and there was no way I wasn't spending my last full day with my rented convertible without the top down cruising and in search of waterfalls and craft beer! 

The waterfall scouting around the Spencer area didn't go too well with two on private property and not readily accessible.  I did find this possible honey hole for red-eye (rock bass) in the Calfkiller River near Sparta that I have made note of in case I start stream fishing again which I've been kicking around as a spring activity.   I also found the trailhead for Wheeler Farm Loop (again? I think I've been here before) near Fall Creek Falls State Park.  It's supposed to have a waterfall on the trail, but looked a little dry today, so I need to hold out for more rain and go afterward looks like. 

I dropped off the plateau and stopped in for my first-ever visit to the fairly new Sequatchie Valley Brewing Company in Dunlap.  Finally, some fresh craft beer in The Valley!!  The place is small, but very cool.  I started with their Big Orange Wheat Ale which was enjoyable.  I finished with their Action Jack's Irish Stout that I thought was very well made.  They only have a few of their own brews on the menu, but the two I had were solid, so I will be back any chance I get!  

I can't give SVBC credit for actually being the first craft beer in The Valley however.  The folks at Creekside Brewing Company in southern Crossville (love the old repurposed rusty tin on their ceiling in the photo above) have been doing it longer and while the city of Crossville is not in The Valley per se, CBC has a Hwy. 127 (Valley Road) address that is at the head of the valley.  There's also Top o' the Rock Restaurant/Brewing down in Jasper, but technically they aren't IN the valley, but on a mountain overlooking it.  There's even one in Pikeville now (Bankwalker Brewing - didn't open til late in the afternoon...on a pretty Saturday?  Dumb.) 
I stopped for one at Creekside since it has been a while since I have been there, and I was going right by it.  I had their decent cream ale called Homestead Tower.  More impressive was the BBQ brisket I had!  Yummers!!  This was my first time having their food and it was fantastic!  I will be back for that as well!   A Valley Beer Crawl is coming together nicely!  

I did get one waterfall in today even if was roadside.  Hey, I did have to scramble up a ways to get this shot of wind-blown Wildcat (Creek) Falls a little over five miles east of Sparta as I completed my loop back towards home. 

4/2 - It was my last bachelor day and I had to drop the convertible off (sad face) at 11 A.M. back in Murfreesboro.   So, while I was in the area, I stopped by Panther Creek Brews and enjoyed their Porchlyfe IPA out on their patio watching the big CSX locomotive next-door prep for a trip.

Later in the afternoon, I stopped by The Cedar Tap on my way to pick up Sunny at the doggy daycare and Ashlee at the airport, and had a couple pints with my pal, Curtis.  I started with a repeat, but a dandy:  the Scorned Hooker red IPA from Calfkiller Brewing over in Sparta.  I finished with the excellent White Ale from Blackberry Farm Brewing over in Maryville. 

4/3 - I had to go for a Covid test for my movie background work tomorrow at Skyway Studios over in north Nashville.  Just up the road is the Rock and Dough Pizza, so I had lunch there with a couple of tasty pie slices and their OK Scottish ale called Highland Campfire.  
(Editor's note:  I found out later the same day that tomorrow's filming had been cancelled due to a major schedule change.  A new date is TBD.  That's showbiz, folks!) 

4/5 - I attended the monthly-scheduled Euchre Night at Prost and Riot in Mt. Juliet with my friend, Tom, tonight.  It was a whole lot of fun.  We did blind draws for partners, and I got three dandies as we went 6-0 playing two games each round.   It was a lot of transplanted Yankees since the game is very popular up north, but a lot of nice folks.  This was their largest turnout so far with 44 players.  I hope to make it again next month! I also had a couple of pretty good pints during play including the very good Pineapple IPA from New Heights Brewing here in Nashville, and the decent Aldersbacher (Brewing) Kloster Weisse Hell hefeweizen from Germany.  

4/7 - I attended yet another free taping of the live WMOT weekly radio show, "Finally Friday" today at 3rd and Lindsley with this week's performers being Lauren Morrow; Jake Ybarra; and Eddie 9V(olt).   While I didn't know about any of these folks before today, I liked what I heard on my YouTube research from each of them. This was the best overall group of artists I've seen so far.  I enjoyed all of them and even got to briefly meet Lauren and Jake.   I loved Lauren's voice.  And Jake's songs tell great stories which I always really enjoy.  And Eddie 9V and his band basically tore the roof off the place.  I would travel to see those guys again!  Wow! 

This evening I went by The Cedar Tap and had a couple of pints including the really good Scottish Ale from Mill Creek Brewing over in Nolensville, and the solid Stones River American Lager from Mayday Brewing down in Murfreesboro. 

I came home and promptly won a small tournament on PokerStars vs. 7 other players (photo above) from the local home-game bunch clearing $40 in profit after agreeing to a 4-way chop for everything but $20 for the winner (my idea, glad I won it!).  I already gave my 10% contribution of poker winnings (and then some) to WMOT who puts on the Finally Friday shows as an independent radio station.  I agreed to $10 a month for a year.  It's the least I could do for these great free shows they put on (and a logo hat!).  

4/8 - I went with my pal, Danny, tonight to the NSC game hosting Toronto.  The game ended in a scoreless, frustrating tie, so the real highlight to me of the game was seeing recoding artist, Marc Scibilia, open the game with a great guitar riff as well as play a rocking halftime set that sounded great.  We saw Marc as an opener a while back and I have been a fan ever since.   I parked at Fait La Force Brewing, for free as usual, and had a few pints there too, as usual.  They were their top-notch Bending Corners pilsner and their very good IPA called Bespoke Dreams. 

Earlier in the day I was back at The Cedar Tap again to check out the Down N the Bayou food truck they had on site.  With my excellent Cajun food, I had a pint of the surprisingly good (tart, not sour) Margarita Sour from Hi-Wire Brewing over in Asheville, NC. 

4/9- I enjoyed a repeat craft brew at brunch today at Geist Restaurant in the Germantown area of Nashville.  It was the tasty Tank 7 saison from Boulevard Brewing (Kansas City).  When we got home, we blew up our first pool float of the season (photo above) and I toasted the nice weather with a pint can of the excellent Key Lime Thinking lager from Pollyanna Brewing (IL). 

4/10 - My wife makes THE BEST shrimp scampi!  I enjoyed a big Jethro-sized bowl of it for dinner out in the mild weather on the patio along with a pint can of the excellent Thirteen Pils, my last of the variety six-pack from Soul and Spirits Brewing out in Memphis (time for another road trip!!).  

4/11 - I got off a long skid on Global Poker tonight with a win over 38 others in a turbo progressive bounty crazy pineapple tournament with 13 KO's and $77 in profit.

4/12 -We attended another SOLD OUT Comedy Showcase at Cedar City Brewing tonight.  During the show I enjoyed their tasty Bubba Bock.  Beforehand, I also crawled by Tenn Lakes Brewing and had their decent Tenn Lakes Stout. I crawled on to The Cedar Tap next and had the surprisingly good Sour SZN from East Nashville Beer Works.  It was a handful of Starburst in a glass! 

4/13 - I went to a showing tonight of the 20th Anniversary of the Best Picture winner, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.  It was also an extended addition along with special intro (4 hours plus total) at the Green Hills Theaters (recliners! thank goodness!).  

Beforehand, I finished up work (and avoided rush hour) at Game Terminal and then on to Jackalope Brewing where I had dinner as well with some awesome tacos from the Birria Babe Food Truck.  With my food I enjoyed their excellent NEIPA called Mist of Chaos and their equally strong Polar Bears and Penguins Cold IPA.

The movie is still the great epic it's always been, but the "special intro" turned out to be about 45 minutes of ads.... what a crock!   
 

4/15 - We got our first pool float of the season in today with temps up near 80.  The water wasn't ready to swim in yet, but it wasn't bad to dip toes (or ass) in a little.    Our friend, Curtis, came over to join us as well (photo above - thanks, Ashlee for the pic).  I started clearing out my beer drawer in the fridge with three pool libations today that included the excellent Pompeii IPA from Toppling Giant Brewing (IA) which I had actually had before (on draft) up in Nantucket a few years back.  Next up was the light and crisp Food Truck Pils from Ravinia Brewing (IL).  I concluded with the solid and smooth Stone Tangerine Express Hazy IPA (2022) from the folks out in Cali.  

At dinner later on at Emmy Squared Pizza in the Germantown area of Nashville, I had a can of the nice Montucky Cold Snack 2022 lager out of Montana.

4/16 - I got a nice score on Global Poker tonight with a 2nd place finish vs. 33 others in a No Limit Crazy Pineapple Progressive Bounty nightly tournament called "The Diesel."   I made right at $100 in profit with only 2 knockouts.   I cashed out $100 which will be helpful on my trip coming up at the end of the week.   I am still good on my 10% donation to charity with my monthly $10 going to WNOT for at least a year. 

4/19 - I toasted the start of the NBA playoffs for our Memphis Grizzlies today with another raid into the fridge beer drawer.  I had a bottle of the excellent Dad's Oatmeal Cookie Stout from O'Fallon Brewing (MD).  The Grizzlies had the best home record in the entire league this year and landed a # 2 Seed in Western bracket.  They opened with the #7 seed LA Lakers who had to play their way in to this point, but then got a commanding win in Game 1.   The Grizzlies bounced back tonight with a 103-93 win. 

4/20 - Happy 56 to me!!  I flew up to Rochester, New York, today to start a very long weekend of waterfall (and craft brewery) chasing in the Finger Lakes area.   This beautiful area has been on my radar for a long time due to the numerous waterfalls and scenic lake vistas available.  I was fortunate enough to mention my trip to my pal, Chris, who recently early retired. and said he could meet me in the area for a couple days since it wasn't too long a drive for him and that his wife, and my friend too, Tarryn, had a brother living near Rochester in Honeoye Falls, NY.   Guess what town name near Rochester had already attracted my attention so much that I booked an AirBnb there for a couple nights?! But not tonight, so Chris arranged to actually pick me up at the airport saving me a couple days car rental and also got his brother-in-law, Kip, and his wife, Melissa, to let us stay at his place tonight, saving me a hotel room cost.  Nice!! 

I just hope I can find a craft brewery or two in this area during my trip!

I had a long layover at Midway airport in Chicago, so I took advantage of a pretty cool sports bar near my gate called Harry Caray's Shortstop.  I lifted my first one, the nice Here's to Harry IPA, to the Cubbies man himself, RIP!  It's made by Moody Tongue Brewing here in Chicago.  I earned my ninth birthday badge on UNTAPPD as well with it.   My next one was the excellent Son of Juice NEIPA from Maplewood Brewing also here in Chicago.  I finished with the legendary Zombie Dust (2023) IPA from 3 Floyds Brewing just down the road and across the state line in Munster, IN.  

Thanks, Kip and Melissa for the beer and the lodging!  Chris picked me up at the ROC Airport and I was feeling pretty buzzed with a double screwdriver on my flight to Chicago, then a double Jack and Coke on the flght, plus the three IPAs at Midway.  Kip immediately offered me a nice and light Ruby Red Kolsch from Genesse Brewing, the grandfather macro-brewery in Rochester (more on them later).  They also gifted me a nice can of the IPA Aurora Orangealis from Clown Shoes Brewing (Boston).  What great folks! 

Our hosts had planned a little local microbrewery crawling before dinner, so our first stop was Noble Shepherd Brewing in nearby Bloomfield, NY, where I had a flight that included:
the excellent Goat Impressions NEIPA
the equally great Cravings NEIPA
their very good There and Bock
their unique and tasty Fancy Pils w/ Wildflower Honey

It was on to Birdhouse Brewing next back in Honeoye where I had their very interesting and flavorful Early Bird Tea Wheat.  I love their logo, so I had to get me a hat here (thanks recent poker winnings!). 
We closed out the night with dinner at Flaherty's Honeoye Falls restaurant where I had the solid Scotch Ale from Rohrbach Brewing up in Rochester.   There was some bourbon tasting when we got back to the house and the rest of the night went pretty fuzzy for me from then on! 

4/21 - Chris and I were out pretty early to let Kip and Melissa start their workday (sorry, kids), and we headed south to Watkins Glen State Park.  This place was on the top of my list to visit, and it was a bit crushing to pull in an see the park was technically still closed for the season.  The amazing-looking Gorge Trail was completely closed until late May for repairs (Reason # 1 to come back here!!).  We were fortunate enough to observe that a lot of the Rim Trail was open, so we climbed A LOT OF STAIRS and got some pretty darn good views down into the amazing little canyon (photo above).  The weather was perfect as well, so you take what you can get. 

Now that, is a downtown waterfall! Our next stop was the small village of Montour Falls which has a huge waterfall right downtown that is actually called Shequaga Falls.  There is no actual Montour Falls although this one is referred to by the name sometimes.  The town is quaint and quiet.  I could definitely live here...except for the winter. 
It was time for a beer, so we headed to the other side of town (and the valley) to Hop Notch Brewing Company which turns out to be one of those places that calls itself a brewery but is really just a tap room.   Nice place, nice owner, but the name just bugs me.  I enjoyed a couple of drafts from Diversion Brewing down in Chemung, NY.  First up which I sipped with a distant view of Shequaga Falls still present across the valley, was the Evil Rye that I thought was pretty good.  I finished with their very nice session IPA they call Sunny Side Up.

Nearby was Eagle Cliff Falls as well.  This pretty one is in the back of a county park with a Montour Falls address.  We technically had to sneak in to see this one since the park was still closed for the season.  But we weren't the only ones there, so we were probably just bending the law a little.  In hindsight, this is probably my favorite waterfall of the trip.  Very unique, delicate and beautiful.  

Bonus waterfalls!  We saw the sign to Deckertown Creek Falls on our way to Eagle Cliff Falls, so we doubled back to check them out next and were pleasantly surprised at the free parking and ease of getting to these pretty little tumbles.  Chris even saw a snake on the walk back out attributing to the very warm temps today. 

We headed back to the quaint town of Honeoye Falls to check in to our AirBnb on the falls that give the town its name at The Red Mill.  On the way we stopped at the swanky new Finger Lakes location for Other Half Brewing out of Brooklyn, NY, and picked up some pint cans to enjoy while relaxing back at The Red Mill.  
The Mill is amazing as are the owners, Joan and Richard, who live downstairs.  We had the whole upstairs to ourselves with two bedrooms, a full bath, full kitchen and plenty of overlooks of the falls themselves.  We cracked open some of Other Half beers and sat outside on the banks above the falls just taking it all in.  What a tremendous find!  Joan even made us cookies!! (Reason # 2 to come back!!).  

Beer-wise I had OHBC's terrific triple IPA called Shroomies and their very good double IPA called Space Diamonds. 

Dinner was just a pleasant 20-minute walk away at OKAY Beer Company at West Main Lanes where these guys have saved a retro bowling alley and added a restaurant and craft brewery.   We decided to bowl two games before eating while enjoying a couple brews as well.  Chris kicked my butt in both games, but I had a respectable score in both at least.  Brew-wise, I started with the dopplebock they call Bock Bock Goose which I really enjoyed.  With my tasty dinner afterwards, I had their light and refreshing cold IPA they called Set Change.  

On the walk back from dinner, I got this awesome reflection shot of The Red Mill even though it was near dark.  We enjoyed a few more Other Half brews to finish off this great day.  I had their excellent IPA called Mosaic Dreams, followed by another solid IPA they simply call Oh...

I closed out the night with a nice and light Japanese rice lager OHBC calls Poetry Snaps.  Thanks to Joan and Richard for the hilarious big sipping glass I found in their china cabinet!!   Thanks to Honeoye Falls for all the great background music throughout our visit. 

4/22 - Chris dropped me off back at the Rochester Airport this morning so I could get my rental car as he was heading back home.  The weather was a little iffy in terms of the forecast for the next couple of days, so this seemed like my best chance to check out a few places in Rochester since I was back here anyway.  My first stop was the amazing High Falls of the Genesee River right downtown.  They had easy, free parking nearby for access to several overlooks of this giant waterfall.  I thought a black and white version looked pretty good similar to the downtown waterfall in Paterson, New Jersey, that I visited last year. 

Looking more like Iceland than downtown Rochester, New York, the Lower Falls of the Genesse River was my next stop and the weather cooperated nicely. There is also a Middle Falls just upstream that I visited, but it's pretty much been submerged by a dam built there. 

I headed back upstream to High Falls again since I spied the Genesse Brewhouse nearby earlier and it was time for lunch and a brew.  While Genesse Brewing is considered a macro-producer, their brewhouse has some smaller-batch productions only found there (and a kick-ass view of High Falls).  So, I enjoyed their Brew House Scotch Ale along with my lunch of very tasty buffalo chicken perogies. 

Before leaving Rochester and since the weather was still cooperating, I also checked out the Charlotte-Genesse Lighthouse up at the harbor on Lake Ontario.  To have the honor of being the oldest(1822) surviving lighthouse on Lake Ontario, they sure aren't giving it a lot of TLC.   Where can I chip in for some paint?  Sheez. 

This is probably the best picture of the trip - the awesome Taughannock Falls under some perfect lighting.  I got to it after a couple hours' drive SE of Rochester.  What a monster!  While it does look a lot like Fall Creek Falls here in Tennessee, the canyon here is much older and deeper.  This shot is from easily a half mile away.  What an awesome state park they have here. 

I moved on to nearby Ithaca Falls next which is smack-dab in the middle of town and is another large drop and a real beauty.

Also on the outskirts of Ithaca is Six Mile Creek Falls and Mill.  Traffic was busy in this area, so I didn't get a lot of time here, but oh, the potential!!  Wish I could buy this baby and restore it similar to where I am staying.  This one's even bigger than Honeoye Falls with a two-tier drop.   I need to come back and try and get a better picture from the base of the falls (reason # 3 to return!). 

Not far out of Ithaca is pretty Buttermilk Falls State Park.  This was the only New York state park that I visited that charged a daily fee. I didn't mind paying the ten bucks, but it was almost sunset, so not much value left in the day.   But still a cascading beauty of a slide.  

It was getting dark, and the rain was settling in, so it was time for a beer.  The Brewery of Broken Dreams was on the way back to where I was staying and I liked the name, so it got my vote.  Turned out to be a good choice.  First, it's housed in a cool, old historic (circa 1889) building in the quaint lake town of Hammondsport.  Second, the badge I earned from UNTAPPD here is one of the coolest I've seen in a while ("Loonatik Fringe" - that is awesome!).  Third, the beer I had, the Bine and D'vine session IPA was very good. 

I got really fortunate on the long drive back to Honeoye Falls to have the rainy weather break enough for me to catch a brilliant sunset to show off my excellent rental Jeep Compass. 

I also got some nice views along the drive in the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest including another small unnamed waterfall.  The natural beauty and lack of development in this area is so refreshing. 

Who knew I even have a Nature Conservancy trail named after me here??  I wanted to hike it, but darkness was coming on fast.  (Reason # 4 to come back!) 

I got back to Honeoye Falls starving and noticing that fast food places here are few and far between (and that's really a good thing), so I found a Chinese place within walking distance of The Red Mill and the pepper steak was fantastic!  No wonder there was a line at 8 o'clock at night!  Thanks, Four Seasons # 3!! 

4/23 - Look, I've stayed at a lot of AirBnBs - even others on or near waterfalls, but The Red Mill has been my favorite place, hands down.  Joan is maybe the sweetest lady on Earth.  Not only did she pack me a snack bag to go this morning (a banana and cheese and crackers!), but I got not one, but TWO HUGS.  Top that, Ritz-Carlton!!  (Reason # 5 to come back!!) 

I would have loved to stay another night, but I was equally excited about staying overnight at The Lodge at Grist Iron Brewing Company on Seneca Lake for a really great price.  So, I headed out this morning straight to Letchworth State Park - the pride of the New York park system.  Jaw-dropping isn't a good enough description for this place.  Above was one of my first glimpses into the amazing Genesee River Gorge and that's Wolf Creek Bottom Cascade tumbling in on the far right.   Actually, I came in from the north end where there is a dam on the river and no water visible upstream?  I have yet to find an answer as to why that is.  I am just glad there was water where it's really needed (at the waterfalls for my pictures!). 

This is the Top Cascade of Wolf Creek and there are evidently two other cascades upstream. (Reason # 6 to come back!) 

Mind-blowing overlooks throughout Letchworth State Park. 

I was on that bridge about 20 minutes (and a lot of steps - 149 by my count, even though the sign says 127) - later.  It's the Lower Falls Arch Bridge completed in 1935 and is probably the coolest CCC project I've ever seen.

This is just some of the very wide and powerful Lower Letchworth Falls.  I met a really nice couple from Ohio coming out of the canyon who I would also see again at the next two waterfalls upstream. 

This one gave me Icleand vibes as well.  This is Middle Letchworth Falls.  The early landowner of this amazing area, Wiliam Pryor Letchworth, had his home overlooking this falls and canyon.  He bequeathed this area and around 1,000 more acres to the state of New York which was the seed of this amazing state park's existence.  Thanks so much, WPL!!  RIP, good sir!! 

Upper Letchworth Falls was covered in mist, but still incredible. What a day! What a park!! 

As I headed toward my hotel for the night at a brewery - so excited - I saw a town name and a craft brewery that caught my eye. 
"Hell, you know you're the best-looking woman in Bath."  - Sully Sullivan from Nobody's Fool

One of my favorite movies takes place in Bath, NY (yet, sadly, I came to find out that it was filmed in a small town over in the Hudson River Valley instead), but I still had to stop and check out Tub City Brewing (great name, get it?).  
On the way into town, I wanted a picture of the city name to send to Ashlee, who also loves the movie, and my writer friend, Joe, who is also a big fan.  I got a shot of the town sign that was OK, but then I spied two police cruisers sitting by a red light and I knew I had my shot.  Well, evidently the officers saw me take the picture and then park a little farther down (across from the brewery), and pulled up beside me (no lights, no siren).  I rolled the window down with a smile and said, "You wanna know why I took your picture, right?"  He was a young guy and never heard of the movie (not surprising) but seemed to believe me and moved on with a smile and a wave goodbye.  
OK, so inside the very small brewery I had their interesting IPA 34 (Guava) and asked the older brewer and barkeep if they had seen the movie...and they had not??? WTF??   Time to move on. 

Wow!  All I can say is wow!!  Grist Iron Brewing and Lodge are amazing!!  How is this beautiful room only a $100 a night??  I loved my visit to The Doghouse in Columbus, OH, but it was pricier...and in Columbus.  This has lake views, a huge waterfall just down the road (see below) and lots of great beer! (Reason # 7 to come back!!) 

Before I set in for some proper drinking at the brewery and my lodge room, I had enough daylight left to check out the beautiful upper section of Hector Falls just down the road.  

The lower section of Hector Falls tumbles toward Seneca Lake - Finally!  A waterfall into a Finger Lake pic!  And check out that awesome sky!  

After dinner at the Grist Iron Brewery (two orders of awesome Polish sausage bites) and a couple of brews - their excellent MaXXimus Brown ale and their top-notch Juicy Way NEIPA - I got another surprise sunset to close another excellent day in the wonderful Finger Lakes.  I also got me a hat with some past poker winnings.
I wanted to go see Shenaqua Falls lit up at night, but I was just too comfortable/tipsy to go see it (reason to come back # 8!).  So instead, I enjoyed my crowler of Lake Life IPA that I had pre-ordered to be waiting in the room, played (and won) a small S1 tournament on Global Poker (vs. 19 others, 1000% profit) and counted my blessings! 

4/24 - I guess Jim Morrison and The Doors said it best..."I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer!"  in the shower no less!  I enjoyed their light and tasty Campfire Life Lager (they have a breakfast stout, but it wasn't available in my room fridge).  I set out for an almost full day in the area before flying back home late tonight.  Definitely coming back here!!  (Reason # 9). 

I made an impromptu stop on my way north at Caywood Point, a part of The Finger Lakes National Forest.   Thinking it was going to be an easy-access lake overlook, it was instead a pretty steep hike down to Seneca Lake itself.  But well worth it as I had nice weather and the place all to myself on this Monday morning. 

Another of my favorite shots of the trip was the close-up look at stones in the lake water.   

Another impromptu stop was at Wagner Valley Brewing where I had their decent Helles Bock Spring Lager.  I was just happy they were open on a Monday.  The better impromptu stop was War Horse Brewing - a really nice brewery/winery that I enjoyed checking out despite the spotty rainy weather.  Here I had their excellent Lieutenant Dan - India Pale Ale and got a cool T-shirt with some poker winnings. 

My main planned visit was Sodus Point Lighthouse back up on Lake Ontario and she is a beauty (hey, Rochester, this is how you keep up a historic [1871] lighthouse!).  I had this beautiful spot all to myself as well on a quiet Monday early afternoon. 

I had to have a "garbage plate" before I left Rochester and the little hole in the wall, DogTown, is known for them.  I enjoyed my "split plate" (a hot dog and a hamburger) and it was dirt cheap for a lot of food but was a little underwhelming in flavor to be honest.  

My last stop before the airport was the historic (1964) House of Guitars in Rochester.  This famous place has had many the famous musician step through its doors and the place is a wild cavernous structure filled with musical equipment and such throughout.  Thanks AtlasObscura.com for the tip! 

My flight was a bit delayed out of the smallish Rochester Airport, so I enjoyed a can of The Kind India Pale Ale from Three Heads Brewing here in town.  But I made my connection in Chicago and was home before midnight.  I have at least 9 reasons to come back to The Finger Lakes area and I hope to do so ASAP.  

4/26 - I watched the Grizzlies take a win at home tonight in their series with the Lakers (too bad they got woefully bounced from the playoffs in the next game in L.A.) at The Cedar Tap tonight.  This was the end of a small crawl from Cedar City Brewing where I had their always-awesome dry rub wings and their new tasty Barney's Bock and equally nice Hefeweizen.  At The Tap I had the very nice session IPA from Wiseacre Brewing out in Memphis called Air Bath (photo above) and the tasty high-ABV Sumco Tripel from Briarscratch Brewing up in Gallatin 

4/28 - How is this little girl going to junior prom already!!   We went down to Chattanooga tonight to see our beautiful niece, Ella, rock her prom gown.  Thanks to Ella's mom, Paige, for the great picture above.  Afterwards, we had dinner at the always-great Tony's Pasta where I had surprisingly good Blackberry Hug fruited sour from WanderLinger Brewing here in town while we waited for our table.  At dinner, I had the great flagship IPA from Hutton and Smith Brewing here in town called The Promenade 2022.  

4/29 - After almost 30 years, I finally made it back to Lula Lake and Falls up on Lookout Mountain just outside Chattanooga, but technically in Georgia.  I also went legally this time by paying for admission during one of their Open Gate Days.  This beautiful area is now under a land trust and made open to the public a few times each month.  The $16 admission fee goes to their non-profit organization to help with upkeep of the large expanse of property.  Lula Lake and Cascade were shining like jewels today! 

I took my first picture of this beauty from this very spot almost 30 years ago. (note the rainbow!) 

I also finally got to the base of Lula Falls.  It was a tough climb out of the gorge, but so worth it!

I
 I was rewarded for my 6 miles of hiking today with some craft beer a short time later at Play. Wash. Pint. back down in Chattanooga - a dog park with craft beer! What a great idea!   While Sunny romped around, I had a pint of the decent Outlaw lager from Tivoli Brewing Company (Denver), and a pint of the very good Quite Brite wheat beer from Bell's Brewing (MI), and a few sips of Ashlee's quite nice Lookouts Blood Orange Ale from Big River Brewing and Grille here in Chattanooga. 

4/30 - I walked up for dollar pours at The Cedar Tap for Mug Club Members today.  I started with the very nice pale lager from Living Waters Brewing here in Nashville called Misol.  Next up was the solid Hefeweizen called Slow Paddle from Marrowbone Brewing over in Ashland City.  And I finished with the bright and tasty Springling Lager from BriarScratch Brewing up in Gallatin.