We had never been to Ithaca, so decided to make a day out of it while John had the week off from work.

We started at the Robert Treman park.  I’d read online that it was rated the best swimming hole in NYS.  $7 for the parking fee – good all day.

Our warmer than usual weather brought this fresh water basin to about 73 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The oldest four kids, John, and I took turns jumping off the diving board into the cold water at the base of these falls.  It was exhilarating. 

After a while we headed back to our van for lunch.

And then briefly to a playground.

We had more than a little trouble locating our next stop.  We drove around and around, listening to our GPS as she had us up and down serpentine one way hills that were not unlike the treacherous hills of Yellowstone sans snow.   We FINALLY found this little sign (we’d passed it twice) to designate the Cascadilla Gorge. 

Then there was the matter of parking.  I had to download an app in order to use the parking meter.  Really.

$1.85

Recent drought-like conditions made for very little water in the falls.  We had loads of great photo ops. 

On our way up the gorge a woman passed our large group on her way up.  Much later, as we were working our way down she passed us again as she also worked her way down.  At that point John and the younger girls had gone ahead as the older kids and I paused for some shots.  She hesitated as she came by me, then smiled and asked if that large grey van on the side street was ours, “The one that says, ‘Jesus loves you.’”  I smiled and told her that yes it was.  She beamed and said, “Thank you!  Oh, thank you.  That is a message Ithaca needs to hear!”  We chatted for a few more minutes.  She works locally and hikes up the gorge at lunch.  She was very friendly and said she’d prayed for our family on her way by.

When we finished this gorge we were parched.  It was a solid 90 degrees out and humid.  We had a hassle of a time finding a convenience store to buy drinks at.  GPS led us again and again down blocked off roads.  We soothed ourselves by acknowledging the increased driving meant  more people saw our car????

We finally got cold drinks for everyone – $22 – and headed to our next destination – a suspension bridge on Cornell University campus. $0

Finally, we found our way over to Buttermilk Falls.  It had initially been on our list, then bumped off.  Then the woman we met at Cascadilla re-recommended it.  So we went on our way.  I will pause here to remember that driving four miles in Ithaca takes 15 – 20 minutes for no GOOD reason.  I could not live here.

Buttermilk Falls was also really dry due to recent weather. 

We found this guy peeking.  (We’d seen a snake early in the day and ducks that blended in with the background later on.)

At the top of these falls, we found this area that the younger three girls called, “The Castle.”  We played up here a while and took some photos. 

Here are some Regal Faces.

We started our journey home around 4:30 P.M. so the boys could spend the night at Nan’s. 

The ladies all had dinner with John and I at Golden Corral.  I had very low expectations for Golden Corral, but we had a great dinner.

Han’s dinner.

Katriel ate like it was her job.