Frobisher vs. Columbus
Frobisher vs. Columbus
Photo / Various Sources
Two heavyweight contenders are battling it out every year, not to determine the Crowning of the North American Champion, but rather who will take the Fall!
October is the month of festivals, signaling the end of summer and the coming of “Autumn, the Season Before Christmas!” Even time will eventually succumb to Father and fall back as well. While spring is the sign of birth, autumn signifies the beginning of the end, a bad rap for the most beautiful, colorful and joyful time of the year. The fall is really about celebration, letting loose, and exploring your inner creativity as only this season alone can inspire!
October Fest, Fall Fest, Falling Leaves, are all different names for the time to enjoy the brews, the arts, the smells and sounds of the trails throughout the forest! As Sherlock tells Watson, “the game is afoot” and the hunters go in search for their prey and native cultures celebrate the arrival of the salmon.
The fall is the season to be thankful for all that we have around us - nature, family and friends! Canadians celebrate their Thanksgivings thanks to Martin Frobisher, while on the same day Americans celebrate Christopher Columbus Day - both signifying the discovery of this great continent.
The first Thanksgiving in North America was celebrated in 1578 by Frobisher, an Englishman and an Arctic Explorer. Frobisher and his crew were attempting to find the Northwest Passage; unsuccessful in their quest, they settled on only finding an entrance. Later, explorers eventually found a passage in 1854.
Frobisher celebrated their arrival in the New World with a feast of salt beef, biscuits and peas. The uniquely North American Thanksgiving Day meal of today was introduced in 1750 in Nova Scotia consisting of turkey, squash, my favorite, mashed potatoes with gravy and of course pumpkin pie! The official Canadian Thanksgiving Day wasn’t celebrated until November 6 in 1879. Not until 1957 was Thanksgiving proclaimed an annual event to occur as it does to this day on the second Monday of October.
Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer sailing under the Spanish flag, unfortunately has a more controversial history, deemed hero by some and villain by others. Nonetheless, in 1492 he did discover North America, making the Old-World countries aware that the world was indeed round and not flat! We truly have to be thankful for that! The superstitious crew of Columbus weren’t so certain at the time and grew increasingly mutinous for fear of sailing over the edge! It’s strange how myth and superstitious fear can have such a hold on people, even today, forgoing commonsense and logic! If nothing else, Columbus gave some of us hope and comfort with his round earth affirmation!
Columbus went ashore in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. Many countries in the Americas celebrate the anniversary of his arrival, not just the United States. Unlike the November Thanksgiving where the Pilgrims of 1621 invited the Native Americans, the Wampanoags, to their celebration of a good harvest and surviving their first year in North America, Columbus’ actions on the other hand, led to oppression.
History as we know can be controversial, but as we have a better understanding of events of the past, we can make a path forward for a brighter future! Now, after this history lesson, a cold beer or hot cider is in order. This Oktoberfest, just like TGIF, the work week is over and its time to let loose and forgot about being too serious! Time to soak in the culture around us.
The first thing to do is get in your car and visit all of the great craft brewers that surround this little village nestled in the foothills of some majestic mountains. The Ellicottville Brewing Co. in town, Southern Tier Brewing Co. in Lakewood, NY and Beer Justice in Arcade, NY to name a few, are all recommended stops! If you are into hard cider, try Three Falls Cider in Castile, NY as well.
Once you are stocked up, you should take in the fall colors and scenic vistas at Allegany State Park and Letchworth State Park. Allegany State Park has various areas accessible by car that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding hills and valleys. You can also access numerous foot paths all well defined and rated in difficulty and distance. Letchworth Park is considered to be the Grand Canyon of the East with the Genesee River running directly through it, offering serval majestic waterfalls. The trails are clearly marked with spectacular vantage points along the way.
Another great place to visit is Griffis Sculpture Park just north of town in the East Otto/Ashford Hollow area. The monolithic statues on your drive in from Route 219 from the town of Ashford Hollow are my favorite. Forget those plastic 12’ Tim Burton style skeletons that abound in everyone’s yard; the real things are in Griffis Park! Take a walk around their bases and truly feel small!
Once you are done exploring and drinking, sober up by taking in the Arts! The Allegany Artisans 36th Annual Studio Tour is coming up October 18-2th0. The small towns of Allegany County host numerous studio tours, almost 30 in total. You can visit www.alleganyartisans.com to get your map and studio list. What a great way to take in all the fall colors both on canvas and in nature!
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Indrek Kongats is an artist, traveler, outdoorsman, and business owner residing in Ellicottville. He operates River Dog Art Gallery in Houghton, NY, and his Breakaway Classic Adventures specializes in adventure travel destinations. Learn more about him at breakawayclassicadventures.com.