Saranac - It's Not Just A Beer Anymore

Miles driven: 4,318

Greetings from Lake Saranac in upstate New York. We've had a wonderful 9 days up this way, seeing lots of places I have been meaning to get to for years. After a night near Buffalo (including a night out at Duff's, a buffalo wing institution), we headed to the Finger Lakes. It's a beautiful 60 miles lazy loop around Seneca Lake (where we stayed), and we enjoyed a few of the many wineries along the way. This stuff won't be winning any awards, but it's drinkable and the winery settings more than made up for it. We then spent a couple of nights in a cottage in the Green Mountains of Vermont...small towns, covered bridges, farmers markets, lots of fresh produce....bliss. Next up was Burlington, which has an enviable location on Lake Champlain...more good eats and great scenery. Finally we took the ferry across the lake and are now in Saranac. We rented a boat today for a couple of hours and cruised the lake (my favorite), followed by some kayaking (Andrea's favorite). There is nothing better than being on the water.

It's a slower pace up this way, and the other night at the pub I started making some notes on what I've observed about being back in America. Please forgive my sweeping stereotypes, but here are 12 brief things I scrawled down:

- The good beer is unbelievably high in alcohol
- Gas in unbelievably cheap
- I don't get carded anymore
- People don't drive small American cars because they all suck
- Service is really, really good
- People are really, really friendly
- There are a lot of Jesus radio stations
- Food portions are 50-70% too large
- Tipping has just gone way too far
- This country doesn't feel that big if take your time crossing it
- America still farms – a lot!
- Saying you have been living in England can end a conversation (people fear what they can't find on a map)

So there you have it – America, summarized on one beer coaster.

Tomorrow it's off to indulge in one of my favorite guilty American pleasures – a day at Saratoga, betting on the ponies!!