Day 79 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Saturday July 19th, day 79 of our 2025 summer adventure. I enjoyed my morning walk, even though it was cooler,  there was no wind and warm sunshine. The roads were quieter this morning, since it was a Saturday morning. It was still chilly enough for my bright windbreaker, in addition to my bright sneakers!

We visited with Jimmy over coffee and banana bread this morning.  He headed to the fairgrounds and we ran a few errands before we headed over to the fair. Jimmy won't take any money for us staying here, so we got him a couple bottles of Old Smuggler Scotched Whiskey. Plus I have baked 12 loaves of sweet bread for him. They are vacuum sealed in his freezer! 

We made our daily delivery to the fairgrounds. The corn Hole Boards stay at the Horseshoe Bar until the time for the raffle, each night. So, today Charlie had a cheeseburger (from the Rotary stand) and a few beers while we were there today. I had Peanut Butter Cup ice cream from the Farm Bureau stand! It's a fair tradition!

We visited with Lynn and Swifty. We normally camp with them while we are in New York, but our schedules did not align this summer. They volunteer to run the Horseshoe Bar at the fair!

We ran into a young man that grew up with our sons, Paul Teed. Charlie has a real soft spot for this young man now. Paul reminded us that it was 15 years ago, to the day and date, of his accident. The short story is there was a serious water main leak on the fairgrounds. The "grounds crew" were working hard to get it fixed. Paul took a 4-wheeler out to the parking lot to get something. Charlie and his brother in-law Mike, were standing outside the office and heard the 4-wheeler and saw the headlight pointing in a strange direction. They went to investigate and found Paul underneath the 4-wheeler and he was not breathing. Charlie did some EMS work on Paul and got him breathing while they waited for the ambulance, which are always on the fairgrounds. Paul has made a full recovery and is now a grandfather! As a good friend often says... "there is no such thing as a coincidences." There was a reason that Mike and Charlie where there that night. 

Jimmy came home right after the derby ended. He needed to be near people that love him. He was visited by "the haters" today after the Demolition Derby... some people are not happy if they don't "get their way." It takes a great deal out of his always happy demeanor. He is better now. I am grateful, that we can be here for him. Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 78 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Friday July 18th, day 78 of our 2025 summer adventure. Each morning when I walk, I pass this historical marker. So, I did some research about Solomon Woodruff. Solomon and other Woodruffs came from Litchfield, South Farms, Connecticut. Solomon, Orange, Oliver and Andrew Woodruff were brothers who came at different times. Oliver was among the early settlers in 1804. He lived in Livonia until ninety years old and died in 1845. Solomon Woodruff has the distinction of being the first settler in the Livonia - Hemlock Lake area. He arrived, alone, in 1789 with a rifle and knapsack on his back. Next he proceeded to purchase lot number 32 (a total of one hundred fifty acres for $.50 per acre). Solomon wisely planted potatoes with the seed he brought from Connecticut. In the fall and with his potato harvest, Solomon trekked to Canandaigua and sold his crop. With the proceeds from the sale, he paid for the farm. During the growing season Solomon had constructed a log house for shelter. 

February is a cold month, and a wretched month to travel by sleigh. Solomon was determined to relocate at his newly purchased farm in Pittstown overlooking Hemlock Lake. After twenty-six days of bitter weather on a crude sled drawn by a pair of two year old oxen, an infant son died. The son was buried near a bleak hillside in Bristol. Finally, upon reaching the cabin, they were shocked to discover the cabin had been burned by Indians. They had no recourse but to go to the nearest neighbor, Peter Pitts, seven miles away at the foot of Honeoye Lake. Mrs. Woodruff and her son remained there until their own cabin could be erected. On February 19, 1794 the first child was born to the Solomon Woodruff family, a son named Philip. This was to be a good year for the Woodruffs, for they enlarged their home into a tavern to accommodate the stream of travelers coming into the region. Frank Woodruff later farmed his great-grandfather’s (Sol’s) land. Many Woodruffs held political office as supervisors, or school commissioner, and helped form the Town of Livonia as we know it. There are still Woodruff descendants in the Livonia area.

We went to the auto parts store and West Shurfine in Livonia. Charlie needed to return some parts for the motorhome and I was looking for ripe bananas. When you want ripe bananas, you can't find them! But, when you don't want them... it is all you can find! So, we needed to go to ESL (our credit union in NY) in Geneseo, so I went into Walmart to see if I could find ripe bananas. I found some that were close... but I will have to use the "oven method" to ripen them up. I am starting to make my payment to Jimmy for staying here. I fill his freezer with sweet bread! 

Only one trip to the fairgrounds today. We delivered the Corn Hole boards and the water. Today's boards were donated by an anonymous donor for Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston. They build communities that care for all people. They serve all people seeking help in a safe, welcoming and comforting environment that feels like being home. Their services empower people to enrich their quality of life from the foundations of: access to resources and opportunities; healthy family functioning; healthy child development, and freedom from substance dependency. A member of the fair board, Mary Jo, works for Catholic Charities.

I treated Charlie to 2 cheeseburgers and salt potatoes from the Rotary Stand. "Service Above Self" is the Rotary motto nationwide. No where is that statement more appropriate than here with the Livonia club. They run two food stands during the fair and offer many community programs throughout the year.

We had a quiet evening at the camper. We could hear the roar of the Truck and Tractor Pulls at the fairgrounds. We used to love to be there, but now there are just too many people there for me! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures.

Day 77 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Thursday July 17th, day 77 of our 2025 summer adventure. My morning walk was peaceful and a beautiful way to start the day.

Today was filled with a few runs to the fairgrounds and domestic chores. Even on the road, you have to do laundry and clean! 

One of our runs to the fairgrounds was.... "can you grab the cornhole boards and more water" and bring them over?" There is a free nightly raffle for a set of cornhole boards. Jimmy got various local businesses to sponsor the boards. They are built by a local company and the sponsor even gets their logo on them. Here are the boards and the winners from Tuesday night. Rise & Grind is a local gym and so much more. Rise and Grind Fitness is more than just a gym in Lakeville. They are a beacon of fitness excellence. They are a welcoming gym, dedicated to helping their members achieve their peak physical potential. They are committed to empowering individuals through personalized training programs tailored to their unique fitness goals. They have a passionate team of trainers and coaches that form the heartbeat of Rise and Grind Fitness, providing unwavering support and guidance on every step of your fitness journey. They have a deep-rooted commitment to promoting holistic health and wellness. They believe in fostering connections, creating a positive impact, and empowering individuals to lead healthier, happier lives.

I talk about our friend and "camp host" while we are in NY. Since he is not on social media, you can not "look him up." So, here is a picture of him at the fair. He is the smiling guy in the print shirt! He is the Operations Manager for the Fair. He used to split that duty with Charlie, when we worked the fair every year. Charlie took care of the "upper side" and Jimmy took care of the "lower side." Which includes all the Grandstand events and fire and EMS coverage. His "big" event is the two nights of Demolition Derby. He is a very special friend to us and so many.

While we were at the fairgrounds, the kids were getting ready to show their calves and cows. I love to watch the little kids tug at the reins to get the animals to move. They are just too cute! The 4-H youth in Livingston County share and showcase the projects they've been working on at the Hemlock Fair. You can enjoy animal shows, the 4-H Livestock Auction, plant science projects, photography displays, public presentations, and more!

Later it was... "In my shop at the farm, near the fork lift are 2 buckets of bolts and nuts." They needed them to do some bleacher repairs at the fairgrounds. It is amazing to me that Jimmy knows where all this stuff is in his farm shop and shop at the house.

Our final run was... "Go into the shop at the house. There are some buckets with electrical stuff in them. We need a 50-amp female outlet." Sorry, Jimmy... not here. "OK, go to the shop at the farm...." We looked in several places he suggested and had no luck. I believe this is the first time that he thought he knew where something was and it wasn't... amazing!

The wind was wicked all day today and we had some rain off and on today. This evening the wind is still blowing, but that will make it some great sleeping weather with the windows open! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 76 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Wednesday July 16th, day 76 of our 2025 summer adventure. My morning walk was a perfect time to reflect on how hard the farmers work. I walk by several big farms on my 4-mile square. The Cadyville Farm is closest to our RV. The equipment storage field is next to us. The hay barn and grain storage is kitty-corner to our camping site and one of their thousands of acres of fields are across from us. Chris Cicero owns and operates Cadyville Farm, established in 1950. He also has run the Farm Bureau ice cream booth at the Hemlock fair for many years.  In 2019, Chris was awarded the Gene “Father” Huff Agricultural Achievement Award by the Hemlock Fair. The Gene Huff Award is presented annually to a volunteer for his/her commitment to promoting agriculture through his/her volunteer work at the fair. Chris helped the local 4-H group by opening his barn doors to 15 children without agricultural backgrounds to allow them to raise show heifers for their 4-H fair projects.

We had a meeting with Sam, our financial guy, at Brighton Securities today. That is a 45-minute drive from where we are staying. On this drive we passed through Lima again, but going north instead of east. So, we are on Route 15A and I see vegetables, really large vegetables. These bright fruits and vegetables make up a mural painted in 2022 by Abigail Lee Penfold on the wall of The Normal in downtown Lima. Her creation is one of nine murals spread across nine villages in Livingston County as part of the LivCoWalls Mural Festival, an extraordinary effort on behalf of public art. The mural, which is titled The Farmers’ Spectrum, was painted as a way of honoring Lima’s deep connection to agriculture.

After Lima, we turn off Route 15A into Honeoye Falls, heading toward NY 65. Near the center of town, you come to the Vest Pocket Park. It is a small park located on W. Main Street. It is the home of the famous Honeoye Falls Totem Pole. A Totem Pole? Yes, in honor of the memory of the Village of Totiakton, David Maloney, a former Honeoye Falls Historian, built and presented to the Village of Honeoye Falls, this totem pole. The Seneca Village of Totiakton was founded in this area. The inhabitants were housed in longhouses, fashioned of logs held together by willow branches and twigs. The estimated population of the village was roughly 1,000. The Seneca of this area, members of the Iroquois Confederacy, were known as the "Keepers of the Western Door" and as such a most important segment of the Iroquois Six Nation League.

The Village of Honeoye Falls is rich with history. The Village was founded in 1791 by Zebulon Norton who purchased 1,820 acres of land for 12 1/2 cents per acre. Norton established the mode of life for the community by building a grist mill and later a saw mill to encourage settlers to this decidedly scenic and fruitful section of New York State. In 1827, Hiram Finch built a second mill which would come to be called the Lower Mill. The 3 to 4 1/2 story stone structure was built about 1829. The mill operated into the 1930s, and the structure was later used by a creamery, oil company, and for community use.

Our meeting went fine with Sam and we headed back to Livonia. We had the "farm truck" loaded with give-away items that were donated by Livonia Napa owner Matt Garzinski. This was trip #1 over to the fairgrounds. While we were there, I got Charlie a cheeseburger from the Rotary Stand and got to see Bethany, one of the owners of Leisures in Lakeville. We visited with Swifty and Lynn at the Horseshoe Bar and then headed back to the RV. We had a few requests from Jimmy to take care of back at the shop. We got all of them done and we enjoyed watching the wildlife across the drive! 

After the chores were done, we headed back to the fairgrounds with the package, trip #2. Charlie and I stopped at the Horseshoe Bar and he had a beer this time!

We came back to the RV and the rain finally chased us in for the night. No sunsets. Just another great day to be alive! Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 75 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Tuesday July 15th, day 75 of our 2025 summer adventure. My morning walk included some eerie fog. My pictures show a hazy or misty atmosphere with the sun breaking through the fog, casting a golden glow over the landscape. It was very beautiful.

After my walk, our day began with a phone call from Jimmy (our host) to head to the local hotel and show a friendly face to an act that is coming to the fair that had a difficult night. Our "job" was also to see if we could figure out what happened and provide him the info. So, off to Leisure's we headed. I did change my stinky walking shirt, but not my shorts or sneakers. While we were there we had breakfast, since we love the restaurant attached to the hotel, while waiting for the entertainers to get settled in their room. They decided they needed to rest a bit, since they slept in their truck the night before. So, we left them there and had more running to do.

We picked up Jimmy's "work truck" and picked up tables and chairs for the announcer's stand at the fairgrounds. We already had an assignment to deliver the "branded water" and corn hole boards that are being given away each night. So, Charlie in the Chevy (yes, Charlie drove a Chevy) and me in the car headed to the fairgrounds with our loads.

At the fairgrounds we hooked up with Jimmy and got everything delivered. We did all that work on the lower part of the fairgrounds, so we only saw a few people, Michelle Shero was the most important one we saw this trip! The New York State Sire Stake Races were just starting while we were there.

They even have a real bugler to call the start of the races! We headed back to our RV, returned the work truck to the farm. We rested a bit, then Charlie had a service appointment for the car. So he headed to Geneseo for that. I stayed at the camper doing some work for Gary. Good thing I did! Jimmy called and one of his volunteers was coming over to change out a work shirt for a different size. Jimmy called back later and said he left in such a hurry for the TV crews at the fairgrounds that he forgot to grab some tools.

So, I am in his shop as he is describing to me what tools he wants. I found most of them and gathered them up. I told him I could bring them over in the work truck, or we could run them over when Charlie got back. He did not need them right away, so I waited for Charlie. We took the bucket of tools over and met Jimmy. We decided to each "fair food" while we were there. We also got to see Mrs. Pease, Dawn Woodburn, Debbie Vallone, Jane Barnett and Dave Peck. While we were ordering food, we ran into his sister Molly, her 2 grandsons and her husband Mike. After our late lunch on the fairgrounds, I snapped a quick picture of the midway. The rides are not yet open, so it should fill in soon.

We came back to our base camp and got our chairs set up in the shade, when Jimmy called again. There were new banners for a sponsor in his house. Charlie grabbed them and took them over to Jimmy at the fairgrounds. It's a good thing our temporary homestead is only 3 miles from the fairgrounds.

We did enjoy a leisurely evening after our running ended at 5pm. As I type this the sun is just starting to go down, should be a beautiful picture in a bit!

The best part of staying at Jimmy's is when he gets home from the fair, whether it is 9pm or midnight, we sit outside and let him decompress with friends and without judgement. Living alone with no significant other to bounce stuff off of or just to listen when you need to talk. That is why I am grateful that we can be here for him, even if it is only for a few weeks a year. But, being here for him during this tough week is especially rewarding for us. 

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 74 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Monday July 14th, day 74 of our 2025 summer adventure.

This was the first morning that I got to walk my 4-mile square around Cadyville Road, Federal Road, Big Tree Street and Shelly Road. Ohhhh, that walk felt good! I love the farm setting sun rises!

When we lived here we drove past this cemetery thousands of times. But, I never explored its origins. On my four-mile loop, I pass this cemetery around my halfway point. 

The Union Cemetery was established in 1826. It is located near the intersection of Big Tree Street and Woodruff Road. The cemetery is notable for its historical significance as one of the oldest burial grounds in the area. 

Records from Union Cemetery in Livonia indicate that one of the earliest recorded burial dates is David Benton, who died on September 30, 1803. Another early burial is Solomon Woodruff, who died on January 18, 1811. However, the earliest survey of cemeteries in Livingston County included legible gravestones dating back to the 1790s. 

I like how the graves of Veterans are adorned with flags for the important holidays to Veterans. They have also placed stickers with the branch of service and an American Flag.

This recently replaced historic marker indicates that at least ten Revolutionary War Veterans are buried here.

We spent the rest of the day picking up the parts for the maintenance we need on the motorhome while we are here in New York. 

We also did some deliveries of Hemlock Fair tickets for our camping host, Jimmy Wingate. He is always juggling many tasks between the farm, the fair and anyone else who needs help. We are glad that we can help him! 

Speaking of the Hemlock Fair. For more than 20-years Charlie and I were very active with the Fair. We even used to camp on the fairgrounds all summer long, when we came up from Florida. We used sweat equity to cover the cost of our camping! The Hemlock Fair is a caretaker of agricultural history. It maintains historically significant documents, artifacts, traditions, buildings and grounds. 

Fair history was influenced dramatically by the horse, upon which local farmers depended to plow, plant, harvest, market and pull wagons for work and pleasure. Horses brought the doctor and the mail. Horses pulled "stone boats", sleds onto which farmers tossed rocks to clear farmland. Competitions were held to see which teams could haul the heaviest loads and these horse pulls continue today as a feature fair event. The Hemlock “Little World’s” Fair originated from horse races or meets. The meets evolved into exhibits of fine breeding of stallions, trotters, teams and carriages, machinery displays, sheep exhibits and agricultural equipment displays. In the mid 1840’s the Town of Livonia hosted a fair. Other fairs started in Honeoye, Richmond and surrounding towns. 

Hemlock's first fair in 1857 was on Clay Street and was then moved to the Hemlock Lake Park before being established at its present location on Water Street. In 1857, Railroad conductor Joe St. Denis gave his famous call to Rochester passengers, "All aboard for the Slab City World's Fair". Slab City was in reference to the plank roads and sawmills, and World's Fair was coined on the basis of no-geographic restrictions for exhibitors. By 1859, Hemlock Fair began including animals, produce, domestics and carpentry and within two years held the record of having the biggest livestock fair in the state. 

Consolidating as The Hemlock Lake Union Agricultural Society, in 1868, were the fairs of Hemlock, Livonia, Richmond and Honeoye. This was the beginning of what later became known as "The Slab City Fair", "The Little World's Fair", and just plain "Hemlock Fair", an event which has been held every year, except for the period during World War II. In 1871, The Hemlock Lake Union Agricultural Society was incorporated. In 1963, the fair began on July 17th, the third Tuesday in the month of July, it still begins on that same day each year. The Hemlock Fair started off the new century with a very prestigious award; the Hemlock Fairgrounds was placed on The National Register of Historic Places in July, 2000. The fair is now nationally recognized as contributing to, and preserving the nation's history and heritage. Since 1857, the Hemlock "Little World's" Fair has been educating and entertaining people of all ages, from all walks of life, and from literally all parts of the world. When you think about all the global changes the “Little World" Fair has seen since 1857, it is quite amazing the organization is not only still in existence, but has actually kept growing. Considering it, like most county fairs, consists mainly of volunteers, this is indeed, quite a feat. If you are in the area, check out the Hemlock Fair, July 15 - 19, 2025.

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 73 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Sunday July 13th, Day 73 of our 2025 summer adventure. I enjoyed my last morning walk at Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill. I never did get to see a deer while I was walking in the park this trip. But, the roadside flowers and wild berries were amazing!

I enjoyed a few blackberries each morning on my walk! Wild blackberries are often found growing in disturbed areas like roadsides and forest edges. They are closely related to cultivated blackberries and raspberries and are known for their tart, intense flavor. While they can be a delicious and nutritious wild food source, some species, like Himalayan blackberry, are considered invasive.

It was great to have my brother camping with us, but the weekend ended too quickly. Here he is pulling out from our weekend of fun!

Our drive was just over 20 miles from South Bristol to Livonia New York. So, we did not tow the car, I just drove separately. We moved from our camping with our friends, to camping at a friends. 

We are so very blessed to have a dear friend that allows us to hook-up to water and electric in front of his place any time we are in the area. Jimmy is the host with the most. He even cleaned our space this morning, before we went to work on the farm this morning.  

The weather called for severe rains later, so we wanted to get here and get set up before that happened! We did a good job, because this was the sky a few hours later!

This cloud bank skirted us, but the next one hit us head on and we took cover in the camper with Jimmy and EJ. It was windy and rainy, but it did not last long.

We took a few hours this afternoon to meet friends at No BS. It was great to see Randy & Shelia Fitzsimmons. We will catch up with them again while we are here. Today, was just a teaser of more fun to come!

We ended the night, sitting outside with Jimmy and catching up on all that has been happening in his life and ours! The sun gave us a simple sunset tonight. Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures. 

Day 72 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Saturday July 12th, day 72 of our 2025 summer adventure. My morning walk was cut short by Mother Nature and her rain. But, the sky was beautiful before she decided to rain on my parade, well... at least my full walk!

There are many reasons to visit the area surrounding Canandaigua Lake. There are gorgeous lakes, over 20 craft breweries, wineries, culinary highlights, and exceptional hiking and biking are just a few. We decided to make a run to a few breweries today. 

On our way to our first stop, we passed the Bristol Ski Slopes. They have been open since 1964. Their philosophy is to provide a fun, family environment for a memorable experience for all ages and many generations to come.

They have a 1200’ vertical rise that makes Bristol Mountain the highest vertical between the Adirondack/Laurentian Mountains of the east and the Rocky Mountains of the west. There are 138 acres of total skiable terrain, including Nordic trails. Views from the summit and the 39 slopes and trails are breathtaking and provide a variety of inclines for every skier and snowboarder from beginner to expert. In the winter, to provide the best possible snow conditions, Bristol Mountain has a state-of-the-art snowmaking system which covers 100% of the terrain.

 

Our first brewery was Noble Shepherd Craft Brewery. The most unique feature of Noble Shepard, was the Giraffe coming out of the top of the tasting room! I have to say, it is a distinct feature to their brand! It is owned and operated by husband and wife; Tony and Jessica Moringello. Tony is the Head brewer. His has previously as an executive chef, which has been his inspiration for beer recipes. Growing up in an Italian house, Tony’s parents also educated him in influential ingredients and cooking techniques which started his ability to be creative with flavor in many dishes at an early age.

Tony has been home-brewing since 2012, the idea to start Noble Shepherd Craft Brewery, came to him after a cooking competition fundraiser.  Tony was asked to create a dish representing ingredients from France. Using that as a guideline Tony created a champagne-infused beer to pair with his dish. The beer ended up being the hit of the competition and people were coming up asking where they could buy it. With a demand for his beer and his gift to create drinks with unique flavors the idea to open Noble Shepherd began.

  

The drinkers enjoyed a variety of IPA, Ales, and ciders. The girls had Peach Tea Hefeweizen. It is a wheat beer brewed with malt from Murmuration Malts in Bloomfield NY, and cascade and willamette hops from Drumlin Hop Farm in Bristol, NY. Conditioned on white peaches, yellow peaches & earl gray tea from Good Life Tea in Canandaigua. Dawn had a Pistachio Pudding Sour. It is kettle sour conditioned on pineapple, tangerine, orange zest, toasted coconut, pistachios, vanilla beans and rainbow marshmallows. Karen had a Blue Haze cider that really was more green than blue!

Everyone enjoyed sitting outside in the shade!

Birdhouse Brewing Company, located in Honeoye, NY, was founded in 2018 by childhood friends Scott Gillen and Greg Searles. They purchased a 1850s building with the initial plan to renovate specific areas, but ultimately undertook extensive renovations to revitalize the entire structure. The brewery opened with a one-barrel brewing system, producing small batches of craft beer, and has since expanded to include a separate brewhouse and a three-barrel system.

Over time, the brewery has steadily evolved from a small craft brewery into a beloved community hub and regional destination. The brewery, known for its welcoming atmosphere, eclectic beers, and strong ties to local culture, has become a cherished institution in the Finger Lakes. 

As Birdhouse Brewing has grown, it has undergone significant changes in its facilities, offerings, and community involvement, further solidifying its place as a cornerstone of the community. And Gillen and Searles are not done. They’re really pushing to connect all of Main Street to the neighboring lakefront.

We enjoyed a grill night dinner and of course, a fire.

It was great to have my brother camp with us for the weekend and get a little bit of a respite. 

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures.