Warrensburg Garage Sale
We spent the day at the Warrensburg Garage Sale. You cannot possibly imagine how big this is. We spent about 6 hours there and didn’t even see half of it. This thing literally goes for miles! No wonder it is called the “World’s Largest Garage Sale”.
If your coming from Saratoga Springs, take I-87 north. You don’t want to get off the northway at the Warrensburg exit because it will be backed up. So get off at the Lake George exit and take 9 going North. This will still be slow going, but not nearly as bad.
We found some great parking in the middle of town. Once you get to Warrensburg, there will be a small bridge that you cross. Just a few blocks later, there is a left turn with another small bridge. Beyond the intersection after this second bridge is where the parking is. You take a gravel round up a hill to the Kit N Kin ranch. People on horses show you where to park. It costs just $5.
There was just about anything and everything here. We found some great deals on restaurant quality cooking utensils for a fraction of the cost. Even the wool socks were cheap at 2 pairs for $3!
One booth we really liked was for South Mountain Photos. Ed started taking photos as “therapy” after a life changing accident in 2001. He definitely turned an unfortunate event into something great. The photos are fantastic. Check some of them out on his website.
Another booth we really enjoyed was the J.R. Watkins Apothecary. They have been around since 1868. They were one of the first companies to offer natural remedies. They were far ahead of their time offering herb and vitamin supplements back in 1922! In 1928 at the Paris International Exposition, their vanilla and black pepper products were judged to the best in the world. Jennifer, being the baker, picked up the double strength vanilla and cinnamon still packaged in an old style tin. I got some of the red Liniment. It was the very first product sold. All their products are of the highest quality. In fact, they were the first company in America to offer a money back guarantee. None of their products have changed since then. Check out the CNBC video on the Watkins story.
After getting a bite to eat at one of the hundreds of food vendors, we needed a little coffee. We found a place called “The Coffee Room”. It was a small little coffee shop with a lot of character.
There are hundreds if not thousands of booths, but don’t forget to check out some of the local businesses. Some of our favorites featured authentic Adirondack furniture like the Adirondack Pack Basket.
The garage sale last for two days. So if you missed it today, check it out Sunday. Make sure to wear some comfortable shoes and bring lots of cash.
Delicate Arch
I took this photo of Delicate Arch at Arches National Park in Moab, Utah. We hiked up the trail in the late afternoon. The sandstone the arch is made of appears light brown under a hot sun, but for a few minutes while the sun is at the horizon during a good sunset, the arch turns a fantastic red. When the sun took its place for the sunset, all 50 or so of us out there were completely quiet. All you could hear was the clicking and beeping of the dozens of cameras.
Moab is nestled between two great national parks: Arches and Canyonlands.This town is for outdoor enthusiasts. On the main street in town, you can rent 4×4’s, mountain bikes, or just browse through some hiking shops. People from all over the world come to the famous Slickrock to test their mountain bike skills or see how good their 4×4 really is. I’m no off road expert so we rented a Hummer, complete with a driver, to take us on some of those class 5 trails. We rented from the Moab Adventure Center. They do all sorts of stuff like horseback riding tours, skydiving, flight tours, rafting, rock climbing, and they just add tomcars. The tomcars you can drive yourself!
If you are ever in Moab, you have to go to the Moab Diner. We actually heard about it from some of the local residents. They kept raving about the diner’s famous “green chili.” They can put it on everything from hamburgers to omelettes. So we had to give it a try. It was incredible. Too bad they don’t ship it out!
Liberty Ridge Farm
We spent the afternoon at Liberty Ridge Farm. They have the largest corn maze in the area at over 12 acres! After you pay the entrance fee inside the large house, head down towards the cornfield. There is a little shed with an animatronic grandfather. He will tell you a little about the maze. Pick up a “passport” here. It’s a small piece of paper with 10 questions on it. You can use it in the maze. When you come to a sign with a number on it, guess the answer to the the question corresponding to the number. If you guess correctly, it will tell you which way to go at that particular fork. Even with this, it will still take you awhile! For an even bigger challenge, try the maze at night.
After you complete the maze, head over to the barnyard area. They have rabbits, goats, sheep, donkeys and pigs. The rabbit area, called “Rabbit Town”, was one of our favorites. There is a ton of stuff to do here. There is a human powered go cart track, an underground slide, and side by side giant hamster wheels that you can race down a small track. There is also an area where you can practice your roping skills.
Every Friday and Saturday night starting the last weekend in September and running through the last weekend in October, the cornfield maze turns into the “Field of Screams”. This year they hired a production group to run the show. It should be a good one. Check out this animated video preview.
Pick Your Own Apples At Saratoga Apple
It’s that time of year… there are many orchids in the area to go apple picking. This week we chose “Saratoga Apple”. It’s a short drive outside Saratoga Springs on Route 29. You start in the parking lot next to the shop. Here you buy the bags you are going to fill up with apples. Take a look around. They have a assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables and many local products including honey and maple syrup. They also have a great selection of odd gourds, squash and pumpkins. Be sure to grab a fresh baked cider donut and some warm apple cider to take with you.
After purchasing the bags, you cross the street for the orchard. It contains a wide variety of apples including Cortland, Macoun, McIntosh and Empire to name a few. The Empires are somewhat hidden so there are plenty of them. Don’t tell too many people. They are located at the top of the hill in the orchard.
9 Maple Ave
If I am going out for a good drink, I head to 9 Maple Ave. This is definitely my favorite bar in Saratoga Springs. It has been voted the best scotch joint in a variety of local newspapers. They have a huge selection of single malt scotch, 158 to be exact. Ask to see the scotch book when you go. It contains all the scotch they carry divided by regions. Most of my favorites come from the islay region. They aslo have a nice selection of bourbon and Irish whisky. If you want to try something a bit different, ask to see the martini book. This has descriptions for over 250 different martinis.
The first wednesday of the month starting at 7pm, they host a small gathering for people who really enjoy whisky. For $20, you can get a glass of Irish whisky, a single malt scotch, and a bourbon. Before each glass, they explain a little about the particular whisky you are about to try. They give you about 20 or 30 minutes to enjoy the drink before they hand out the next one. Plus they have a drink demonstration where they show you how to make a particular mixed drink. Of course everyone there gets a glass. Sometimes, the event becomes a “smoker”. So for an extra $5, you also get a high quality cigar, worth well over $5, to go along with the great drinks. This is one of the very few times you can actually smoke inside. This event starts in October and runs until the beginning of Summer. I’ll see you there.
Long Day
It’s been a long day. He’s tired and worn out, but he still manages to muster up a bit of a smile letting everyone know its all been worth it. Congratulations to all the 2006 CPO’s.
A Day at the Diamond D Farm
We spent the Sunday afternoon over at Ray’s, Jennifer’s father, before Kurt, Wendy and Adele went back to Seattle. After a great dinner, Ray put on a little show.
Saratoga Wine Exchange
When I want to pick up a good bottle of Scotch, I go to the Saratoga Wine Exchange. They are located downtown Saratoga Springs. Their address is listed on Phila Street, but I always use the entrance in the picture above located in the parking lot next to Ben & Jerry’s. As the name implies, they have a great selection of wines including a huge selection from the New York state wineries. They also have one of the best selections of single malt Scotch in the area. They carry some of the best Bourbons and Cognacs too. They have some rare items you can’t find anywhere else like the Laphroaig Quarter Cask or one of my favorite tequilas, Tequila Espolon Anejo. This tequila is 100% blue agave aged for twelve months in white oak casks. It just sounds good doesn’t it. I know what your thinking, tequila? Give it a try, it is unlike no other.
Clearwater Falls
I took this picture on the way the Crater Lake National Park. This waterfall was just off the main road. Earlier that day, I bought a new tripod. I thought some waterfall pictures would be a good test.
Highland Park 12 Year Old
I picked up a bottle of this on the way home today. Jackson once called Highland Park “the greatest all-rounder in the world of malt whisky.” I had to give it a try. Established by Magnus Eunson in 1798 on Orkney, it is the most northerly Scotch whisky distillery in the world. The name comes from Kirkwall, above Orkney’s capital. It is a rise with great views of the northern isles known back then as “High Park”. This was a great spot with fresh water and plenty of peat. Plus it was an excellent spot to watch out for the excisemen, for in 1798 most distilleries operated outside the law. When the distillery became legal in 1826, the site had already become known as “Highland Park”.
From Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch: “Colour: Amber. Nose: Smoky, ‘garden bonfire’ sweetness, heathery, malty, hint of sherry. Body: Medium, exceptionally smooth. Palate: Succulent, with smoky dryness, heather-honey sweetness, and maltiness. Finish: Teasing, heathery, delicious.”
Rated 90 by Jackson.
