Day Seventy-One to Eighty-Seven - A Summer of Bluegrass, Camping and Friends - Sunday 7/07/2024 - Tuesday 7/23/2024

It's Sunday, July 7th. It is my 189th walk of 2024. I enjoyed my final walk at Darien Lakes State Park. I stayed off the wet grass and on the paved roads in the park, enjoyed my talk with God and my me time.

Everyone is departing today. Rob was ready to get home, so Rob, Sheila and Markey were the first to go! Next was Dawn & Dana with Walter. Next was Royce & Karen, followed by us. We had to be out by 11 am. We met Royce & Karen at the dump station about that time. We were lucky, there was no one there, besides them. We pulled right in! However, after we hooked up the tow car, the line for the dump station was up into the camping loops!

We arrived at "Cadyville Campground" to site 1A. It's the best site on the property! Some might say the spot tucked into the woods in better, but we will disagree! Before we could even finish setting up, we had visitors!

The Pease People showed up! It's been a couple years since we have seen them! We did not come to NY in 2023 and we did not connect with them while they were in FL either. It was great to spend some time visiting with them. Of course our camp host showed up and stole Mr. Pease for a job! 

A relaxing evening at our home for the next 18 days.

It's Monday July 8th and my 190th walk of 2024. I enjoyed my first walk back in 14487. For those from the area, my 4-mile square is Cadyville to Federal to Big Tree to Shelly back to Cadyville. It was an early walk, as I had a blood draw at the Bath VA. My VA doctor in Tampa wanted follow-up labs and she arranged for me to have them drawn while we ate on the road.

The Bath VA Medical Center was originally established in 1877 as the New York State Soldiers and Sailors Home. The Grand Army of the Republic built the original hospital, which was then transferred to the state in 1878 and expanded. In 1879 the facility housed disabled Civil War veterans, as well as becoming a geriatric facility. 

In 1907, the facility reached a peak population of 2,143, but by 1928, that number had dropped to 192 due to deaths and aging. In 1929, New York State sold the facility to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers Board of Managers, and it became known as the Bath Branch. In 1930, the Bath Branch and its associated cemetery became part of the Veterans Administration Medical Center. In 1973, the cemetery became part of the National Cemetery System after 82 national cemeteries were transferred from the Department of Army to the VA. Charlie's Dad and Mom are buried here.

After my appointment we stopped to see Donny & Donna in Cohocton. It's been two summers since we have been to their place in NY.

On our way back to Livonia we stopped and took a tour of the Hemlock Fairgrounds. Charlie and I volunteered at this fair for 25-years. There was a time where we camped at the fairgrounds all summer working the grounds.

The Hemlock Fairgrounds is a national historic district. The fairgrounds covers 35 acres. There are five contributing buildings and one contributing object that make up the historic district. The grandstand (constructed 1870) and the race track are two of the components of the historic district. The track is still used annually for the Sire Stakes on the first day of the fair.

It's Tuesday July 9th and its my 191st walk of 2024. I enjoyed my walk and positive affirmations. Lyn Swift passed me on Shelly Road and hollered good morning! The doe said hello from the winter wheat field across from our campsite too.

We did some laundry today in Geneseo. While we were in Geneseo, I did some shopping at Wegmans.

When we returned back to the camper, we had a visit from Meg & Floyd. 

We went to Honeoye Central School tonight to watch Connor in his baseball game. He played first base, just like his sister! You can tell that hockey is his first love and baseball just fills in the time in the summer. I guess you can't be on the ice all year long! 

On Wednesday July 10th it was a cooler 69° for my 192nd walk of 2024. I enjoyed my walk and positive affirmations. Charlie woke me up at 5:15 AM to finish the Jimmy Wingate 60th birthday surprise. So I stayed up and got my walk done between the rain bands from remnants of Beryl!

We wanted to do something special for Jimmy's 60th birthday. He is a helpful and caring friend and would give anyone the shirt off his back. We hung balloons on his driveway art and truck. Before he left for the farm, he took them all inside. It is never about him. But, he did enjoy the whiskey we got him!

After mowing the grass, Charlie was thirsty and a trip to No BS Brew Company was in order. 

The B and the S behind No BS Brew Company are Benjamin and Steve. No BS Brew Company is a brewer of craft beer with two locations. Their manufacturing facility, complete with a tasting room and beer garden is located near the North End of Conesus Lake. Their newest tasting room is located in the beautiful village of Victor, NY. We enjoyed our beers and seltzers at the Livonia location. They all have pizza that I have fallen in love with!

On Thursday July 11th, it was a beautiful 67° and my 193rd walk of 2024. My body and mind needed a good workout this morning, so I pushed my walk hard.

We had a leisurely day and met a friend that Charlie worked with and we have a mutual friend in Randy Fitzsimmons. IT has probably been 25-years or more, since we have seen Earl Milliken. We have stayed in touch on Facebook, but I almost did not recognize him!

We met Randy, Sheila & Earl at the Avondale Pub on the circle in Avon. The Avondale Pub offers American pub fare, daily homemade specials, homemade dressings, wing sauces, soups and half pound hand pressed burgers! We joke, it's Randy & Sheila's second home! They are regulars. I enjoyed a daily special of shrimp salad. It was delicious! Can you believe that I forgot to get a picture of this group?!

On Friday July 12th it was 68° and sunny for my 194th walk of 2024. I spent time on my walk reevaluating my daily positive affirmations. It's time to add to my daily focus. Everyday I pass this golf course on the back 9 and on the front 9. Established in 1989, Old Hickory Golf Club is located in this beautiful Finger Lakes region of Upstate NY.

It was the perfect day to unhook and take the RV to the local park that has a free dump station. When we returned to our semi-private "Cadyville Camp" we washed the rig while the slides were pulled in.

There has been a push to get all the winter wheat combined before the Hemlock Fair starts in 5 more days. Charlie helps Chris and Jimmy and shuttles them to various locations in the pick-up truck. He is kind of the farm's Uber. The combine that they use to separate the wheat from its stalk takes up both lanes on the rural road we are on.

Charlie and I enjoyed a true NY style Haddock fish fry dinner at Leisure's. We used to spend every morning there with many of our Hemlock Fair friends. Several of them are gone now, but we are getting together with a few of them next week.

On Saturday morning July 13th, it was 69° for my 195th walk of 2024. I believe there is no such thing as a coincidence. When I started my walk, the first song on my music shuffle this morning was 'Breaking Boundaries.' Just what I needed to hear. I think this deer wanted to listen to the music too!

This afternoon we are heading to Chili - Spencerport American Legion Post 1830 to see old friends! Since 1972, this American Legion Post has been welcoming VETERANS from all branches of the Armed Forces. They continue to welcome all military personnel serving our country.

The 134th Maintenance Company, the largest National Guard unit from Rochester NY to deploy in support of Desert Storm. After this deployment, Charlie and I went to different units. July 3, 1991 was the last time we have seen some of these soldiers.

This quilt was made while we were deployed to the Middle East. It is a reminder of all the love that our families and friends have for us. It also serves as a reminder of the soldiers we have lost since our deployment.

Here is my favorite picture from our deployment. All four of us were just young officers! Tony, was a Captain, and Stephanie, Bill and I were Lieutenants. Stephanie was the only one of these three people we got to see at the reunion. Ans I forgot to get a picture of the two of us! Our homecoming from our deployment was epic! The community turned out in mass to welcome us home. With an estimated crowd of about 3,000 people gathered inside and outside the Culver Road Armory. As the convoy of buses approached, the crowd erupted in cheers and waved from overpasses. 

The 98th Division band and the soldiers from the 134th Maintenance Company marched onto the drill floor of the Culver Road Armory, finally coming home after seven and a half months away from home. 

It was at the Armory, that my mother had my engagement ring and I was able to replace the O-ring that I wore on my left hand with the diamond Charlie had purchased in Fort Dix. 

At our reunion today, we got to see Billie Betts again. She is the one who helped Charlie pull off the best marriage proposal that a girls could get!

It was a great afternoon of seeing members of the old 134th Maintenance Company. It's been more than 30 years since this unit deployed to Desert Storm. WOW

What a difference a day makes, on Sunday July 14th it was only 59° for my 196th walk of 2024. I am in this journey of change for the long haul. 

I love to capture the flowers I see along my walks!

We enjoyed breakfast at Wanda's Restaurant in Livonia. It's a great local place that takes great care of their customers. Wanda and her crew are always glad to see old friends! Outside the block where the restaurant is located in downtown Livonia is a vibrant mural! Livonia's mural is the work of Rochester-based artist Justin Suarez and features a giant eagle. Suarez's creation is one of nine large murals developed during LivCo Walls Mural Festival in 2022.

Today is the northern Celebration of Life for Ruthie Nettnin. Ruthie is one of the many Mulvaney kids from this area of New York. They were a big family in this area. Sadly the Ruthie is the second child of the Mulvany's to pass away unexpectedly. Her brother, Dan was the first. She was also the mother of our daughter-in-law, Amy. Both Amy and her sister, Candy, did a great job putting the Celebration of Life together.

What a great idea our daughter-in-law and her sister had after their Mother's passing. Ruthie was an avid jewelry maker. At her Celebration of Life, the girls set out all the jewelry Ruthie had made. They invited everyone there to take a piece or two or three and celebrate Ruthie's love of everyone. Now a little piece or two of Ruthie will be traveling in the RV with us!

71° on Monday morning July 15th for my 197th walk of 2024. It was sunny, a bit hazy and breezy for my 4-mile trek.

We had appointments in Rochester and we got new sneakers on the car while we were up there!

Getting pretty windy here at Camp Cadyville! We pulled the slides in! The storm has passed! The high winds took down branches, but no damage to the RV! We are back sitting outside!

July 16th and it's 69° on Tuesday morning for my 198th walk of 2024. It was overcast for my 4-mile adventure. Some more beautiful flowers along Big Tree Street, near the golf course. 

Today's adventure... we had to replace our over the range microwave. Originally it was a microwave convection oven that died a few days ago. I have been doing some research on line and I can get just a microwave for under $200. The convection oven microwave is closer to $700. We replaced it with just the microwave. The best thing about the installation, was the new microwave was much lighter!! Plus, it looks great!

We planned a No BS night with "the gang." From left to right is Sheila, Karen, Royce, Dana and Rob. Sheila, Dawn, Charlie, me and Randy. It was the last time we will see some of these friends during this summer. It was pizza night and I had to have another one of their fantastic pizzas! I had a seltzer too!

Overcast and 71° on Wednesday July 17th for my 199th walk of 2024. There was an occasional breeze. There is always something to see on my 4-mile square.

On an overcast morning, you channel your friend, Sandie LaBonte, and bake Cranberry Bread! The funny thing about baking in the RV, is I left all my recipes at home. I had to search on line for a cranberry bread recipe. I had to hunt, until I found one that did not have the crazy ingredients and spices that I do not have in the RV. I did send my nephew Jake my Mom's Honey Bread recipe, so I could go into my sent texts and found that recipe! Ohhhhh, fun in the RV kitchen!

We love the wildlife we see on the farm! This morning after my walk, this fox ran from the wood line, but stopped for his picture as he passed by! The red foxes are often found in large parks, golf courses, and natural areas. Open, overgrown lots can provide good areas for their dens as well. That makes the area behind Jimmy's place perfect!

Heading into Penfield tonight to meet up with some girls from school. I always try and stop by to see my folks, while I am in Penfield. They are laid to rest at Oakwood Cemetery. In 1887 the cemetery consisted of six acres and by 1960 it had grown to 24 acres. In 2021, the cemetery covers almost 30 acres. A funny story about this special place. At my Mom's funeral in 2011, a friend from high school came to the viewing and mentioned that she talked to my Dad everyday. I thought to myself, she has me confused with someone else. She must have seen the look on my face, because she said she passes by his grave every day and says hello! It's nice to know he had a daily visitor!

Four girls that I went to school with met at Monte Alban Grill in Penfield.  The owners decided to name the restaurant after the most important archaeological site of the state of Oaxaca Mexico, which happens to be Monte Alban. The culinary science of Oaxaca is a mixture of pre-Hispanic and Spanish ingredients that create dishes with colorful cuisine; rich in flavors, aroma and textures.

Karen and Heidi dragged their mothers out to join us! It was great to see them too! It's been a few years since some of us got together and it's been even longer since I have seen Heidi! We grew up together since grade school! It was great seeing these friends! Lifetime friends since elementary/middle school.

A crisp 60° on Thursday July 18th for my 200th walk of 2024. 200, WOW. That is either a commitment or a habit! Maybe a bit of both! I love the farm life sights I see as I walk my oversized block!

We went to the fairgrounds to see the first night of Tractor Pulling. Our friend, Randy Fitzsimmons is the announcer. What started out many years ago with farmers bringing their favorite tractors out of the fields to the local fair and hopefully take home bragging rights by pulling the heaviest stone boat the furthest has progressed into the heaviest motor sport in the world!

We watched the Super Farm class. It is considered an entry-level class into sanctioned tractor pulling. This class came on the national scene only five years ago and is now the largest class in sanctioned pulling. These tractors are diesel powered, must retain a stock OEM engine block, cylinder head exhaust and intake manifold. This combination allows a lot of different colors to compete, and you might even see a limited pro tractor hook with the super farms at 8,500 lbs. 

A very crisp 55° on Friday July 19th for my 201st walk of 2024. There is so much to see on my 4-mile square each morning. I am loving all the sights of the roadside flower weeds!

Today, we head to east of Buffalo to Clarence Center to see a couple from our community in Zephyrhills, Marilyn & Tony.

We met Marilyn & Tony at their home in Clarence Center. Marilyn prepared a wonderful lunch. We even had lunchtime visitors as we enjoyed our lunch on their back patio. Marilyn loves these visitors that usually come everyday!

After lunch, we headed into the Buffalo harbor to the Naval & Military Park. It's a historic museum on the shore of Lake Erie. The Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park is the largest inland Naval Park in the US. Located on Buffalo’s Waterfront, it features four decommissioned Naval vessels: USS The Sullivans, USS Little Rock, USS Croaker, and PTF-17.

The decommissioned Fletcher-class Destroyer, DD-537, was the largest and most important class of US Destroyers used in World War II. Named after the five brothers from Waterloo, Iowa who died together aboard USS Juneau CL-52 in November 1942, USS The Sullivans was the only ship in the Navy to be named after more than one person.

When we came aboard we were greeted by a docent and he gave us some information on the ship. She was commissioned in 1943 and saw action in the Pacific theater, shooting down eight Japanese planes, bombarding Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as rescuing American pilots and crew from burning or sinking vessels. She also saw action during the Korean War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. USS The Sullivans was decommissioned in 1965 earning 11 battle stars for meritorious performances.

On board we could see what it was like to serve as a “Tin Can Sailor” along with 310 of your shipmates. We were lucky enough to see some reenactors conduct a battle stations drill. 

Tony talked to the "reporter" that was part of the reenactors. You can't see it in the picture, but her pantyhose even have the seem up the back! The ship is also a place for reflection and remembrance for the five Sullivan brothers who died together, an act which is borne out in her motto “We Stick Together!”

The second ship is the USS Little Rock CLG 4, a Cold War flagship of the US 2nd and 6th Fleet, is the last surviving vessel from the Cleveland-class of light cruisers in the world. Commissioned in 1945, it was launched too late to see action during WWII. Originally classified as CL 92, USS Little Rock was one of three ships to be converted to a Galveston-class guided missile cruiser and was recommissioned in 1960 as CLG 4. The ship patrolled the Atlantic from the Arctic Circle to South America and was a fixture in the Mediterranean Sea. USS Little Rock arrived in Buffalo for display in 1977 and is the largest vessel at the Buffalo Naval Park.

SSK-246 is on the National Register of Historic Places and represents the U.S. Navy’s “silent service.” One of 77 Gato-class submarines constructed, she was part of the most lethal submarine class of World War II. Commissioned in 1944, she conducted six war patrols in the Pacific theater. She sank 11 Japanese vessels, four of which were capital or military vessels, and seven auxiliary or support vessels.

USS Croaker is not in her original World War II configuration, as she was converted to a “hunter-killer” submarine with added sonar, radar, and quieting capabilities to combat the Russian threat during the Cold War. She was decommissioned in 1971 and brought to the Buffalo Naval & Military Park in 1988. I am not a fan of confined spaces, so we across this vessel and skipped what it would be like to be part of the 80-man crew.

On our way home, we took a tour of the marina. The Buffalo Light is a lighthouse at the mouth of Buffalo River/Erie Canal, directly across from the Erie Basin Marina. The new octagonal tower was constructed of hewn limestone blocks at the end of the pier over a thousand feet east of the original lighthouse. From a base with a twenty-foot diameter, the lighthouse gradually tapers to a diameter of twelve feet at its lantern room. Buffalo Lighthouse, a sloping conical tower, was erected in a mere 221 days. Near the lighthouse, a stone breakwater was extended into the lake to enlarge and protect the city’s harbor. Mother Nature opposed this extension with severe storms, and Buffalonians were often obliged to leave their beds in the middle of the night to repair storm damage to the incomplete pier.

It was a great day with Tony & Marilyn!

A much warmer 64° on Saturday July 20th for my 202nd walk of 2024. It was a good morning of reflection and positive affirmations. 

We went to the 2024 Hemlock Fair for the Saturday Night Demo Derby. It will feel strange to be walking around and not working!

We enjoyed visiting with people at the Horseshoe Bar managed by our friends, Rick & Lynn Swift! They do a great job volunteering for the Fair! The crew of volunteers they have are top notch! Very efficient and friendly too! Personally, I love the free peanuts on the counter!!!

A demolition derby is a motorsport event where drivers intentionally crash their cars into each other. Year after year, Hemlock Fair fans have watched local friends and neighbors make the ground tremble and their cars and bodies shake!

It’s a fact – Hemlock fans like the racing, but love the crashes.

You are on the edge of your seat as we unleash the hardest hitting, most feared, free-for-all Demolition Derby this side of insanity!!

Sunday morning July 21st was a late start at 8:15 am, so it was sunny and 71° for my 203rd walk of 2024. It was the perfect morning for positive affirmations and to talk to God.

Monday July 22nd was a muggy 66° at 7 AM for my 204th walk of 2024. It reminded me of summer weather in Florida! But you won't find good looking straw from winter wheat like this! #farmlife 

Charlie got the grass mowed for Jimmy one more time, today. I started some of the baking I am leaving for Jimmy in his freezer. He won't take any money for letting us stay here, so we have to "pay" him in creative ways!

Tuesday morning July 23rd it was 66° at 6:30 AM for my 205th walk of 2024. The overnight rain cut some of the humidity, for now.

We took the RV out today and dumped it, before we head to Donny and Donna's tomorrow. 

We went to Wanda's and enjoyed lunch with Bruce Beardsley. I spent part of the morning and some of the afternoon finishing the baking. I have 10 loaves of breakfast breads that we are leaving in Jimmy's freezer for him. If he can show some restraint and not eat the whole loaf in one sitting, it should last him a while!

Tomorrow we move to Cohocton to Charlie's brother and sister-in-laws house for a week.

Day Sixty-Six to Seventy - A Summer of Bluegrass, Camping and Friends - Tuesday 7/02/2024 - Saturday 7/06/2024

Tuesday July 2nd was our first full day at Darien Lakes State Park. Our "welcome to NY" was a crisp 57° at 8 am. I enjoyed my first walk this state park is a nice mix of hills, beautiful woodlands, ravines, streams and trails. Amenities include the 12-acre Harlow Lake, a beach, playgrounds, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, hiking and horseback riding trails, picnic areas and a rustic bridge over the lake channel to Picnic Island. I would not picnic on that island, Craig and I renamed it "Goose Poop" Island.

When you hear the name ''Darien Lake,'' we think of the sprawling Darien Lake Theme Park Resort on Route 77 or, to a lesser extent, scenic Darien Lakes State Park on Route 20. But before either of those places existed, there was another Darien Lake in Genesee County — a beach and picnic area billed as ''Western New York's Water Wonderland.'' The summer of 1955 was also one of the hottest and driest on record in Genesee County. So a new ''bathing area'' that offered swimming and picnicking was certainly welcome news. The newly created 25-acre lake was located on 100 acres of land on Route 77, about two miles south of Corfu. This land would be a part of what later became Darien Lake Theme Park, but for now, it would be used as a swimming and picnic area.

In 1963 a dairy farmer from the Town of Darien looked over his land and envisioned a dream. His dream was to have his land with a beautiful ravine, stream and woods, become a state park. Mr. Henry Kohlhagen’s dream came true on April 6, 1963 when the State of New York Announced its plan to purchase and acquire a 1,000 acre tract of land in the Town of Darien. Meanwhile, in the summer of 1963, developers opened another sandy beach with an artificially created lake in Genesee County. This one was located at Route 20 and Harlow roads, not far from the original Darien Lake beach. At first, it was called ''Harlow Lake and Park,'' but it eventually became Darien Lakes State Park. 

Since that day, the park has grown to 1,846 acres. Fifteen hundred acres is open for passive recreation and includes approximately 19 miles of multiple use trails for hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding. Approximately two miles of The Conservation Trail, which is part of the Finger Lakes Trail system, passes through the park as well. Big and small game hunting is allowed in the park during appropriate hunting seasons. The 12-acre Harlow Lake offers fishing, canoeing and kayaking for those who bring their own watercraft, and a sandy beach for swimming. There are playgrounds for children throughout the park. In 2011, a new attraction came to the park. The 18-hole Angry Apple Disc Golf Course is available for patrons to play year round. This technical course, named from the challenging play through the apple orchard woods. 

Craig & Tracy arrived today from Buffalo. They spent a week there visiting Tracy's family. They started their trip from their home in Indiana. This is our only chance to camp with them this summer. We will see Craig in Florida, as he can work remotely. However, we won't see Tracy until our February cruise, as she is still working for a brick and mortar company.

Sadie wanted to be close to Charlie tonight. She looks pretty comfortable! We enjoyed a quiet evening of catching up and a campfire!

What a difference a day makes, 70° at 8 am on July 3rd. It's Wednesday, my 185th walk of 2024. I felt the need to listen to my motivational jam on repeat this morning, 'Breaking Boundaries' by Sunday Drive. 

Dana & Dawn, Royce & Karen and Rob & Sheila arrived. We camped with these couples over Memorial Day weekend. So, it was great to get back together again! This is the last time we will camp with these guys! So, we will make the most of our time together. Marley loves to be with all of us. Sadie gets her own foot stool to sit on and Marley felt left out. But, he is the 100 pound lap dog and required two foot stools! Sometimes I believe he thinks he is a person too!

Today is Thursday July 4th, Happy Independence day! It was 74° at 7:30 am. It's my 186th walk of 2024. I walked hard and used some of the mowed trails in the park.

In the afternoon we enjoyed a bag of yard FARKLE. Don't ask me how to play it, I am still trying to process the rules! It was fun!

 

A few of the guys enjoyed the cigars that Charlie got when we were on our cruise with Jim & Debbie and Larry & Marcia!

We enjoyed a dinner of traditional garbage plates. Sorry, I forgot to get a picture! For those of you not from Rochester New York. 

The “Garbage Plate” is a thing of legend. This notorious local street food is often one of the first things visitors ask about.  A traditional plate is your choice of cheeseburger, hamburger, Italian sausages, white or red hots, served on top of any combination of home fries, baked beans, and/or macaroni salad. 

All that food is usually topped with hot sauce. Rochester's hot sauce is a spicy meat sauce. Thanks to Rob for the amazing hot sauce! Mustard and onions can be added on top, some might say that spoils it while others say its the heartburn garnish.  

Legend has it that Nick Tahou invented the plate late one night when some college students came in to the restaurant and requested a plate with “all the garbage on it”. The owner then made his new variation of the combination plate. Over time it has grown into a local favorite.

It's Friday, July 5th and its my 187th walk of 2024. I walked on the disc golf course at Darien Lakes State Park today. I saw a mama deer and her fawn heading into the wooded area. Look close and you can see why they are called "white tailed" deer.

Late in the morning, 6 of us headed to Fattey Beer Company in Lancaster. Founded in 2017, Fattey Beer Company is a bottle shop, tap room and a craft community experience. It has about 7 locations in New York and Ohio. 

Fattey Beer is dog friendly, people friendly and features a large selection of craft beers, wine, cider, seltzer, sodas, non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and a world famous chicken sandwich. Charlie was in rare form as he was knocking on the window waving at all the people walking by the venue! Most people smiled and waved back, but there was one sourpusses lady that passed by twice and just scowled!

 

Two years ago, Craig & Tracy went on the Yankee RV Tours Key West Rally with us, they had Tracy's Aunt Debbie with them. That was the first time we met her! She was great fun! They live very close to Darien Lakes State Park, so they came by for a visit and dinner. We got to meet Neal, Debbie's husband.

Royce helped start the fire tonight. This was just the start of his kindling pile. It was about 2 feet high of this crisscross pattern of kindling!

It's Saturday, July 6th and its my 188th walk of 2024. I woke up early, 5am, and walked the paved roads in the park and enjoyed the sunrise.

I have to share this with you... I saw this camper on a different spot earlier in the week and then it was gone. This morning it was back in a new spot. 

I know everyone needs somewhere to live, but I hope that they just really wanted to camp and they do not live full time in this camper. There was not a car near it in either camp site.

We headed out at 7:30 AM to go to Genesee Community College in Batavia to watch

Natalee's softball games. 

She plays on a Under 16 Fast Pitch Softball Travel team. Her team is sponsored by Smash It Sports. They are a family-owned business founded in 2013. They take great pride in delivering unparalleled customer service and providing top-of-the-line gear for athletes of all levels. At SIS, they are more than just a sports retailer, they are a passionate team dedicated to empowering athletes, young and old, to achieve their best on and off the field.

Natalee hit a double and a triple and scored once!

They were playing on a make-shift field on a turf football field, so their sliding did not always go as planned! Here it looks like she is just sitting on 3rd base! LOL

Score!!!

We stopped at Windy Brew in Batavia to meet Randy & Sheila and Dana & Dawn. The original location was established in 2017 in Strykersville NY. It is names Windy Brew, because it is near the wind turbines in that area.

It was founded on the love of home-brewing beer in the kitchen on a Sunday morning. After visiting a brewery in Ohio where patrons could brew their own creations, they wanted to bring this experience back to New York as a weekend hobby. They transformed their garage into a brewery with an addition for a taproom and opened in March 2017. Although our brew-on-premise did not stay as popular as it once was, they have continued to transform Windy Brew into a unique Western New York destination. After 6 years of operation and surviving the pandemic, Windy Brew was looking to start something new. 

An opportunity presented itself to open in the City of Batavia in the historic Harvester Center.  The Harvester Center was built back in the 1800s when it was named Johnson Harvester Co., where tractors were built. The name was later changed and became the Harvester where Massey Ferguson's were made. Since then the building currently has 65+ businesses open and operating, including a coffee shop, axe throwing, and a house of bounce for kids.  Windy Brew has transformed a 2500 square foot space into a brewpub, with 16 beers on tap made from their Strykersville location, along with wine and spirits, and food.

For our last night at Darien Lakes State Park we enjoyed homemade pizza dinner, thanks to Royce & Karen's pizza oven and a rip roaring campfire. None of us wanted to load up the wood we had out, so we burned it! Stay tuned for more #TwoLaneAdventures

Day Sixty-Four & Sixty-Five - A Summer of Bluegrass, Camping and Friends - Sunday 6/30/2024 - Monday 7/1/2024

I enjoyed my last walk on the grounds. They are so big that I never had an issue getting my 4-miles in and I could vary my route everyday!

The thunderstorm the night before, left a few things ruined. These are just a few things that did not survive the storm!

We departed the Grange Park in Centre Hall late morning. We had to take a different route, because the 2nd annual 70.3 Happy Valley Triathlon was using Mount Nitney as part of the bike course! We had a couple choices and decided to take PA 45 east to Route 15A. We took this route to see Jack & Jackie and Dwight & Marie, earlier in the week.

Charlie likes this route, he said it feels like he is driving on Route 20 in NY.

Woodward Camp is a sleep away summer camp. It was founded in 1970 by Edward Isabelle, who was an All-American gymnast, and head gymnastics coach at Penn State in State College, PA. However, in recent years the camp is attempting to become the global leader in action sports and axed the programs (gymnastics and cheer) because they are not complementary to the core of action sports. Notice that the sign has 4 black rectangles, but only 2 sports shown. At it's world-class facilities they are currently offering summer camps and weekend retreats for skateboarding, multisport, BMX, scooter, and parkour. It costs around $1,500 for a week at Camp Woodward!

 

It was Sunday, so no Amish working the fields or laundry hanging out, but we did see a few coming home from church!

How many times have you driven down the road and seen a roadside spring? Typically located along hillsides, low-lying areas or at the base of slopes. These springs, for generations, have served nearby residents or wayward travelers. Some have been prettied up with stone or concrete to give them a manicured look.

Hickernell Spring is one of several natural spring-fed water sources that people use to fill water bottles for free, likely assuming that water quality is sufficient because it comes from a mountain spring. Interestingly, at Hickernell a sign is posted that reads: “Warning: This water has not been tested. Drink at your own risk.” This natural spring along Route 45 near the Union-Centre County line tested positive for chloroform in 2013 and had a higher than average pH level.

We headed north on Route 15 in Lewisburg. This is a familiar route to us, as we have traveled north on it many times since moving to Florida almost 20 years ago. Once we got to the top of the hill near Harrisburg, you can see the rain off in the distance!

We spent out overnight in Ives Run in Tioga PA. On Monday morning, I enjoyed my last walk at Ives Run for this year. After some coffee and breakfast outside, we headed into Mansfield for haircuts and a bit of grocery shopping.

We decided to stay true to our desire for two lane roads and took PA 287 West to PA 249 North. PA 249 turns into NY 36 at the PA / NY border.

The small towns along this route are very patriotic! Normally you see these banners in the towns. These were along Route 36 for miles!

There were also several Amish farms and homes along this route!

It was a pretty drive, but also a walk down memory lane for Charlie.

We went through Jasper. Jasper was a town where Charlie's Grandpa lived. When his Grandmother passed away, Charlie and his family moved into Grandpa's house to help him.

Between Jasper and Canisteo is a local bar called the Kill Buck Inn. It is not a place Charlie frequented, but it is a marker for Charlie. 

About a quarter of a mile beyond this establishment is where as a young child, Charlie fell out of a car. HE went out of the car with such force, his buckle shoe was pulled off, but he did not break any bones. He spent several days in the hospital and was not released until he was able to run up and down the halls! He has a memory of the event, but the scar on his forehead is the biggest reminder!

We came into the town of Canisteo. Canisteo is the home to the World's Largest Living Sign. As noted by the Registry of Historic Places in 2004. It was a historic civic project built by Ed Childs and Harry Smith and donated to the Canisteo School District. The sign has an almost perfect north/south axis and is still used today as a navigational aid by the armed services to orient the true north when flying over it. The living sign was originally laid out in 1933, and Scotch Pine seeds were planted in 1934. Unfortunately, it had to be cleared in April of 2016 due to the number of dying trees, and replanting began a month later, in May 2016.

Charlie's Aunt Cora lived in Canisteo and he said he once dated a "wild girl" from Canisteo.

We traveled through Hornell. His Dad was in St James Hospital in Hornell when Charlie and a couple of his brothers and sisters got into a car a drove straight back from Colorado. Charlie's sister Mary has some great stories about this fast trip back to New York.

In Arkport Charlie used to buy his snowmobiles here. Between Arkport and Dansville are the muck fields. We always called them muck, now they call it "organic soil." Either way it is some of the best soil to grow vegetables and other crops.

On the right is acres of muck.

In Mt Morris there are several murals. There is a mural that honors first responders.

Another mural features two monarch butterflies, along with many brightly colored flowers.

We turned off Route 36 onto Route 20. We arrived at Darien Lakes State Park, our home for 6 nights. Again, Charlie got his shade!