More Saratoga and Lake George

Thursday, I did some work around the coach and then after lunch Suz and I headed to Saratoga to visit the many mineral springs that dot the town. There are 14 mineral springs in Saratoga. The first four discovered are right in the downtown area in what is now Congress Park. As it happens, there is also a carousel in the park, and Suzanne had never ridden on one - well, that would never do! So we paid the $1 each and took a ride. From there, we visited the first four springs. the first was Congress Spring - the original. The water definitely has a mineral taste and is supposed to cure a range of maladies. The Hawthorne Spring has a very definite mineral taste and is highly carbonated as well. Tastes like mineral soda water.

Since Suzanne's foot is still acting up (the blisters) we decided that four mineral springs were enough and headed back to the coach. Around 3:30 we headed back to Saratoga for happy hour. We tried two different pubs on Phila Street; Peabody's Sports Bar & Grill, the original sports bar in Saratoga and not really that nice; and The Irish Times, which is very nice and has a great Irish menu to boot - including corn beef and cabbage and "bangers and mash." Charlie Belton would love the place!

On Friday, I decided to take an early trip to Saratoga to visit the race track. So after walking Dixie, I headed out about 7:00 am for the track. They serve a great buffet breakfast on "The Porch" at the track between 7:30 am and 9:00 am, and there is free track-side parking if you leave before 10:00 am. The breakfast was excellent. Later, I took the free "backstretch" tour, which lasted 45 minutes and gives you a first-hand look at what goes on behind the scenes at a race track. There are 1800 race horses at Saratoga. The race season lasts 6 weeks, between July 22 and Labor Day and the races run every day except Tuesday. the tour informed us of the difference between "horses" and "ponies" (not at all related to age). Ponies are the horses that lead the race horses onto the track. They are very stable and unflappable. It is their job to keep the high strung race horses from getting out of control before a race. We also were informed of all the jobs performed by the myriad handlers of the horses, and were told how the horses are trained to accept the starting gate and how it operates. All very interesting. I think a day at the track would be quite enjoyable.

In the afternoon, Suz and I headed North to Lake George for a cruise on the lake. On the way, we passed through Glens Falls for a look and got lost for a short time on all the back roads. Ultimately, we found our way back to Route 9 and Lake George. We took the 3 pm one hour cruise in the Horicon ("silver waters" in Iroquois). The captain is an archaeologist and passed on a wealth of information about the lake (32 miles long, 196 feet deep at its deepest spot and totally spring fed) and its geology (it was formed in the last ice age). Then it was on to history and the role played by thelake and its forts in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. At the end of the cruise, Suz and I headed back to Saratoga and The Irish Times for happy hour. Then it was home to barbecue a steak and relax.

Saturday is being spent getting the coach in order for our departure tomorrow and the trip to Pine Acres Campground in Raymond, NH. Until then, Cheers!

John, Suz and Dixie the Wonderdog