Southeast Levee Walk

Apples for Animals

2008-09-25T11:50:00.000-04:00

Hey all you horsey people and deer lovers.!!

You've probably noticed our apple trees, at the corner of Guinnip and First on the city/town line. Those apples are for the taking. We use no pesticides and they are generally not fit for humans. But they are great for feeding stations and snacking horses.

2005-09-25T10:50:00.000-04:00

Feel free to pick from the trees and please, please, grab any bagged ones you may see. I'll come to the door and wave. And the GrandDog will bark her butt off at you.

You're welcome. And thank you.

pb
Little Pond

Welcome to The Southeast Levee of Elmira, NY!

2005-09-05T15:13:00.000-04:00

Labor Day I couldn't blog, so I grabbed a camera, a mutt (sorry Ellie), some dog yummies and headed to Brand Park, to search for the original Chemung River Fishing Access Site. It was cool and foggy, making it perfect weather for a shutterbug with Multiple Sclerosis. We went down to the riverfront and took plenty of time.

This walk can be approached from either Brand Park on Walnut Street, or Dunn Field on Luce Street. There are even a few place in between where a person can come from the dead-end roads and off-street accesses. So there is no need to overdo it, if you are disabled or elderly. Take your car and some walking shoes. Stay on the levee, and you'll be fine. The fishing access will let you drive right to the river itself.

Brand Park has been recently renovated in many ways and is clean and highly accessible. GrandDog fell in love immediately, rewarding me with a small packet to toss in the wastebin. Oh, yeah. Remember: Please pick up after your pup!

pb
Little Pond

2005-09-05T14:58:00.000-04:00

The walkway is new, clean and has many benches and some pottery-based trashbins. Terra Cotta is the color scheme, and it works very well, indeed.

Peeking over the levee

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Looking back over the levee to Brand Park. The gazebo is new, too.

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The Lake Street Bridge. The path through the park goes straight up it and over the river.

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If you're walking the riverbank from the levee, watch for these huge holes. Guess it would be woodchuck or riverrats. All rather huge around here, and kinda cute when they sit in the sun munching. Not so nice are the riverrats in the nighttime, when I return from putting the Star-Gazette to bed.

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"A misty, moisty morning." Can't remember what poem that was. Most summer mornings at the river are fogged in.

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Can't see it here, but there's a childrens' playground among these trees. Looks nearly idyllic from the levee. Labor Day is silent in the morning.

Silent Public Pool

2005-09-05T14:49:00.000-04:00

Here's the Brand Park pool. This summer was very short, due to construction and personnel problems. Let's hope we get our money's worth next summer.

Levee walkway

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This striking colonnade must surely have survived the Flood of 1972. The trees are ancient and huge along the riverfront, more manicured inside the park itself.

Parkside homes

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Lucky neighborhood touches on the park on the one side.

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And on this side are the towers of various housing and health establishments.

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Doesn't look like it, but the fog is finally lifting. My friends in the hills tell me the sun shines nearly every day over a densely fogged City of Elmira.

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We took at least seven shots of these geese, but each step closer to them sent them farther and farther away. Guess they're just used to ruling the roost here, is all.

2005-09-05T14:42:00.000-04:00

What is a cornfield doing in the middle of the City of Elmira?? Elmira Southside, that is. Well, that's the country sort of city she is.

Struck Gold

2005-09-05T14:40:00.000-04:00

Finally!!! We came looking for this. I believe it's the first Fishing Access Site made available to the Elmira public. Go to RiverFest2005 to see some of the other sites.

2005-09-05T14:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Dunn Field, home of the Elmira Pioneers. They are a bush league baseball team with a small, rabidly loyal, and hugely vocal, fanbase. Come visit with Stitches and eat hot dogs!

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A family of fishermen are enjoying the Labor Day lull. Note the over-look parking area.

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This is Ellie's second dip this morning. We are away from the fishermen and in our own little world.

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This lovely greenery is actually an island. We could wade over with no problem today. Drought conditions are normal at the end of the Elmira summer.

Flood control basin

2005-09-05T14:33:00.000-04:00

We head upriver to walk on the exposed rocks. If you come around in the spring, you won't see these rocks. Don't come on a rainy day: this is an active flood control area!

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C'mon, Ellie, jump in! No go. She doesn't like the deep water here. GrandDog wants things laid out and safe when she's with me.

2005-09-05T14:31:00.000-04:00

The electrical wires are our first return to reality. We are, after all, still within city limits.

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It's startling to see the neighborhood so close after being so remote.

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We are now headed home. It's amazing how unspoiled the view is from the levee. Not a sign of humanity.

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From the one side we can see a very fertile flood plain. Lovely for growing crops, not so wonderful for our houses here.

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And back to the City of Elmira. Now we are in full sun, and Ellie wants her snacks. Time to go home and feed her.

Visit our other tours!

2005-09-05T14:15:00.000-04:00

This doesn't have to be the end. If you like touring small towns through the Internet, then you'll like our other sites:

Walk Elmira through the neighborhoods of West Elmira, New York, USA. Suburbia, America. Just folks and their yards.

Riverfest 2005 goes on all year. There's just too much to stop at one day.

Elmira Downtown shows the sights we take for granted, but others pay good money to come and see.

Harris Hill is the Soaring Capital of Eastern United States, and just a nice spot for a daytrip.

All these sites are linked to Pat's Pond, where there are other links, and more opinions, no doubt, than you care to hear. You're welcome.

pb
Little Pond