Bottcher's Landing River Access Site

Visiting a friend in Corning, New York, takes me past the sign for a river access site that is just out of sight from the road. One day in late December, I took the opportunity to stop down there and take pictures. Usually there is a truck or something there, and most likely a fisherman. The day I finally drove down the winding road, I was lucky enough to have it to myself.
This is a nice little parklike access, halfway between Elmira and Corning, New York, in Big Flats.

The view downriver looks to Elmira, New York, and follows Route 352.

Immediately upriver is the Bottcher's Landing Bridge, crossing the Chemung. About three miles up is another access site for fishing only, and can be viewed by scrolling down a few frames.
There are houses perched on the bluffs across from the site. Now they have a tamer view from their windows, although I can't imagine that would be a good thing.
I love this sort of thing. The hillsides are full of these waterfalls. In the winter they look quite fanatastic when they freeze. In the summer it's wonderfully refreshing just to look at them, and even more so if you're lucky enough to play in them.Here is a sight common to the Twin Tiers area. Abandoned bridge abutment. There used to be railroad bridges, foot bridges and roadway bridges all through these parts. These old relics are everywhere one goes.

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Little Pond

Rte 352 Fishing Access Site, So. Corning, NY

I finally found the Fishing Access site on Rte 352 just below South Corning. We call it the River Road, because it follows the Chemung all the way from Elmira to Corning.

It's a miserably cold and dark day in December. There isn't even enough snow this year to brighten things. Everything is mud, mud, mud.Not much of a fishing spot when the water is high. Just some stairs to the bank. Behind me is a tiny turn-around area for cars, but no real parking lot.
The view upriver towards Corning, New York proper. A pretty bleak view, considering the parks and waterfront district to be found in that town. But then, fishing loves solitude.

Downriver towards Elmira, New York. The water is very high and very swift. One could easily lose a fisherman here.


And this is my reaction to such desolation.



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Little Pond

At Some Point

I may eventually post a photo of myself, the River Hag.

Generally, you can find fairly up to date Chemung River Visits here. There are tons of links you can follow that may eventually take you to some outdated picture of the author.

I change a lot, so don't expect me to look that way if you meet me on the streets of Elmira, New York, USA. Especially down on the banks of the Chemung River, where I will be dressed for slogging through underbrush and messy creeks.

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Little Pond

Why Hag?

Why not?

Husband RJ was a bit taken aback by my choice of words. He thought "nymph" would be more like it.

Well, that's why I keep him around. Nymph never occurred to me.

Remember Sea Hag from Popeye? That's more or less what I have in mind.

And I don't really fancy myself a nymph.

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Little Pond