Day 71, 72, 73 and 74 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Thursday July 16th is day 71. We packed up and left Livonia for a weekend on the hill! We are meeting our FRamily at Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill. It is a great county park with a camping loop of about 30 sites. As one of the highest points in Ontario County, located in the beautiful, scenic Bristol Hills, Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill is the perfect landing spot for all things outdoors. The park includes 410 acres of woods and open lands, and 13 miles of hiking and biking trails including a portion of the Bristol Hills branch of the Finger Lakes Trail system. There is also an ADA-accessible fishing pond.

Naturally, we had to check out a local brewery, Engine 14. Engine 14 Brewery began operations in 2021, but its roots run deeper than that. The founder Greg Borden has lived in the Naples area his entire life, and has always had a passion for craft beer and home brewing. After retiring from the Rochester Fire Department in 2019, Greg set his sights on opening a brewery. The vision was to build a brewery that felt like an old firehouse. He found and purchased an old fire truck decommissioned back in the ‘60s that ran out of the same firehouse he worked at. 

Over the next two years, Greg and Kate poured thousands of hours into the idea. A fantastic location was found, equipment was acquired, and a plan was on fire. The first batch of beer, a pilsner dubbed “Golden Arm”, was brewed on November 11th, 2021. All three ladies enjoyed Rekindled, a Raspberry Wheat. Charlie had Rick Head, an American Pale Ale. You could see the haze in the air from the Canadian wildfires. 

We came back and had a great time around the fire. Yes, we had "special wood" to get those beautiful colors!

Today is day 72, Friday July 17th, the skies were blue and the views on my walk this morning were exceptional. At an elevation of 2,256 feet above sea level, we enjoy the expansive views to the East and view portions of Ontario County and the hills behind Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. 

The must see spot in the park includes a spectacular panorama, the locals call this vantage point "The Jump-Off" and you can see the amazing view of the Bristol Hills.

I met a local on my walk too! She was not bothered by me passing her at all.

It would not be a Friday morning camping, without some of Karen's Espresso Martini's ... cheers!

Charlie and I had tickets to see the Infamous Stringdusters at Concerts at Point of Bluff. Point of Bluff is a vineyard in Hammondsport, NY. Established in 2008, Point of the Bluff Vineyards offers award-winning wines in a beautiful setting overlooking Keuka Lake. Sometimes the best things in life are the result of all the right variables falling into place at the right time. Take Point of the Bluff Vineyards for example. What started out as a landscaping project on a steep slope overlooking Keuka Lake has turned into an award-winning winery.

The backstories for Point of the Bluff, which has been called an "accidental winery," and for winemaker Mike Countryman, who has been winning awards for his wines for over two decades, are interesting for a number of reasons including the fact that the owner of Point of the Bluff originally brought Mike in to help him make his vineyard more aesthetically pleasing. The rest, as they say, is history. Or, in this case, the present and the future! The vineyard has evolved beyond wine production into a regional cultural hub, winning awards for its outdoor live concert series hosted directly on the bluff. 

We planned on meeting a high school friend here, Nancy Paladino. We met her and Dave and spent so much time chatting, we never got food or wine before the first band was getting ready to start! 

Driftwood, a local band from the Binghamton area, was the opening act. They are an Americana/Folk-Rock band that was formed in 2005. The group consists of Dan Forsyth, Joe Kollar, Claire Byrne, Joey Arcuri and Sam Fishman. Their music has been described as "fusing traditional Americana and with contemporary influences. I would call them more rock than Americana. 

They played many original numbers. Each song was like a journal entry: cathartic to create, yes, but capable of unlocking new lessons—and when shared—forging new bonds. “We're communal, right? Humans need to be connected,” Joe says. “And we get to have this special thing.”

They were a bit loud for our tastes, but Sheryl's ear plug trick worked just fine! I always carry two sets in my purse now! 

During intermission we met up with Nancy and Dave again, because she found Kat or Kat found her. Kat is another Penfield High School Class of '83 graduate. She was there with her husband, Andy. We caught up for a few minutes and snapped a picture!

The Infamous Stringdusters were the reason we came to the concert. They play progressive bluegrass and jamgrass. Their sound blends traditional acoustic bluegrass with rock, country, jazz, and improvisational jam band sensibilities. They are famous for their high-energy, groove-friendly live shows and ability to cover artists ranging from Daft Punk to Phish. 

The band first emerged in 2006. Their first album, Fork in the Road, was released in 2007. The band has become known for a complex, distinctive, and groove-friendly sound along with a bluegrass theme. The five band members – Travis Book (bass), Andy Falco (guitar), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), Andy Hall (Dobro), and Chris Pandolfi (banjo). Fueled by friendship and a mastery of their instruments, the stage feels like it is alive! The synergy that’s developed over the last 16 years of playing sheds, clubs, and festival stages across the country is evident in every song!

One of the awesome things about listening to this band is that everybody is always working on their instrumental game. When they show up for a new tour or a new album, they all get a chance to dig even a little deeper -- and you can hear that part of it. Extended instrumental jamming during a show is not one of Charlie's favorite things, but these guys were just masters of it!

The banjo player played a polka. That was interesting! We got back to our campsite and the campfire was out and everyone was tucked into their campers. 

Day 73 was Saturday July 18th. It was an overcast and rainy day at Gannett Hill. 

So Sheila, Karen and I (with Charlie as our DD) took a trip into Naples to check out the Hometown Wine Company. owned by Brian and Sara. They met while working at a winery in Southern California. Brian was the Winemaker for the Winery and Sara was the Tasting Room Manager. During COVID, Brian and Sara were considered a part of the ‘Essential Workforce’. After having to let their teams go, management ran the front porch wine pickups and curbside deliveries.

The front porch was busy but they found time to talk about wine, food, travel, family, life and goals. One day there was an epiphany and a glass of wine after work seemed right. The Chardonnay must have been good that night because soon these two colleagues turned lovers, putting a dream into motion. 

Jumping ahead, their decision to leave the Southern California Winery and start consulting lead them all over the US helping everyone from winery owners to home winemakers with wine production, wine club, tasting room management and overall winery operations. As you may have guessed, it also led them to Upstate New York. Many of you probably already know, they fell in love with Naples, New York. They couldn’t help but to make this home and the dream of Hometown Wine Company’s Tasting Room a reality.

But, where are the Vineyards? They partner with farmers, family, friends and colleagues from coast to coast to source grapes. While Hometown Wine Company produces all of the wine, limited production is done at 203 N. Main Street in Naples. Hometown Wine Company focuses on specific appellations for high quality wines and hometown flavors.

The rain settled in for the afternoon and everyone stayed hunkered down in their campers. We were able to enjoy our group meal under Dawn & Dana's awning.

It did clear up enough to enjoy one last campfire for the weekend. Another excellent weekend of camping with friends in the books!

On Sunday July 19th, the skies were clear and we had a leisurely morning packing up the camper, watching other campers dump and returning to Livonia to help Jimmy. We went back to Livonia via Dansville to use our Open Roads to fill the RV with diesel.

In Naples, we passed the Naples Central School building. In 1880, a permanent building for the Naples Academy was constructed, serving grades K-12. In 1897, the facility was officially renamed Naples High School. In 1912, two large wings were added to the old Academy building, allowing all village students from grades 1 through 12 to learn under a single roof and closing down smaller common schoolhouses. That building is still used today for grades 7 - 12.

Two year ago, in July of 2024, a new public mural goes a long way in cementing Dansville's legacy as the community where Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. Artists Melissa Stratton Pandina and Gabriela Sepulveda painted the Clara Barton mural on the south-facing wall of 170 Main St. In the sprawling, colorful tableau, Barton shines light from a lantern alongside her quote, "It must never be forgotten that Dansville was the first child of the American Red Cross." Barton founded the first American Red Cross chapter in Dansville on May 21, 1881, also serving as its president. The Chapter 1 House is just steps away from the mural, on Ossian and Elizabeth streets.

Charlie's sister Molly was going to stop by, but that got changed until Monday. No one was going out, so Charlie and I enjoyed a late afternoon trip to No BS. It was a nice "date afternoon!"

He had the "We The People" American Light Lager and I had the Banana Kiwi American Ale. Sounds funky, but it truly is good and refreshing!

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!

Day 66, 67, 68, 69 & 70 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

Our day 66 of adventure was Saturday July 11th, it was a busy day! We did some running for our "camp host" this morning. In the very early afternoon we headed for the Scottsville -Chili Legion and the 134th Maintenance Company Reunion. It is amazing that it has been so long ago! 

We deployed in November of 1990 and we returned home in July of 1991... exactly 35-years ago! 

It is great to see so many old friends!

The reminiscing is incredible! 

The catching up on lives and hugs were wonderful, too.

This quilt was made by the family members while we were deployed. There is one square for every member of the 134th. The black ribbons indicate that the service member has passed on.

Charlie's favorite gal, Billie, was there from KY, so he got many hugs. Billie helped Charlie pick out my engagement ring! Keeping our prayers with those dealing with sickness, illness and deaths that could not make it.

After a few hours, we left the reunion and headed to Lincoln Hills Farm Bluegrass Festival in Canandaigua. We arrived before the gates opened and we were able to get a great parking spot!

At 6:30pm The Fretliners took the stage. They are a band defined by their songwriting. Their story songs are carried by powerful harmonies, dynamic arrangements, and a sound that feels both timeless and new.

Their music leans into the tradition of acoustic string instruments but reaches well beyond genre, resonating with listeners through honesty and craft. In 2023, they swept both the Telluride Bluegrass and RockyGrass band competitions—an achievement matched only once before. That fall, their debut self-titled album earned widespread acclaim, praised for its originality and heartfelt lyricism. With songs that balance tradition and innovation, The Fretliners continue to chart a bold path forward, creating music that connects as deeply on record as it does on stage. On guitar is Tom Knowlton, on bass is Taylor Shock, on fiddle is Grayson Wickle and on mandolin is Sam Parks.

At 7:45pm the Yonder Mountain String Band was on stage. They have been a driving force in roots music for nearly three decades. They are returning to Rochester with a newly released, Good As True, their twelfth studio album. Across the record, Yonder moves between drive, harmony, and open space, writing about relationships in all their forms and the work it takes to stay connected. 

Founding members Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals), and Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals), along with Nick Piccininni (mandolin, vocals), co wrote the album. Together, the five musicians bring their own voices to the material, united by years of playing together, delivering performances that are tight and self-assured. Yonder Mountain String Band have built a catalog that reflects where they are at each stage of their journey. With Good As True, the band knows its voice, trusts its connection, and continues forward on its own terms.

Sam Bush came out and fiddled a few tunes with them. 

Then Steve Mougin on guitar and Wes Corbett on banjo came out and joined them. 

When we arrived, just before 5pm when the gates opened. We were told "no chairs in the front of the house." Now to some that might mean different things, but basically the front-of-house speakers are the main speakers that cover the audience, and the front-of-house desk is the desk that generates the front-of-house audio mix. Use those two things to create a box and that is the "front of house." 

So, we picked a nice spot in the shade on the edge of the concrete pavilion floor. As people arrived, they edged closer and closer to the front of the house with their chairs. Before Sam Bush came on there were folding chairs in the front of the house area, reserved for those that want to stand or dance. Then, as Sam Bush started, 4 people got chairs from the venue tables and moved them to the center of the front of the house and sat there to watch the show. No where was there security or venue staff to tell them "no." Based on that lack of continuity and enforcement of their own rules, this venue was one and done for us. 

At 9pm, the Sam Bush band took the stage. When he was a teenager he said "thanks, but no thanks" to Roy Acuff. Acuff offered him a spot in his band. Bush politely turned down the country titan. It was not the music he wanted to play. He admired the grace of Flatt & Scruggs and loved Bill Monroe. But he'd discovered electrified alternatives to the bluegrass traditions in the Osborne Brothers and in The Dillards. He found inspiration from Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys and caught more musical fire from Bob Marley and The Wailers. He is credited with rolling out the NewGrass revolution. Sam Bush is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music.

Bush grew up an only son, and with four sisters on a Bowling Green, Kentucky cattle farm in the post-war 1950s. His love of music came immediately, encouraged by his parents' record collection and, particularly, by his father Charlie, a fiddler, who organized local jams. Charlie envisioned his son someday as a staff fiddler at the Grand Ole Opry, but a clear day's signal from Nashville brought to Bush's television screen a tow-headed boy named Ricky Skaggs playing mandolin with Flatt and Scruggs, and an epiphany for Bush. At 11, he purchased his first mandolin. He started working at the Holiday Inn as a busboy. Ebo Walker and Lonnie Peerce came in one night asking him if he wanted to come to Louisville and play five nights a week with the Bluegrass Alliance. He went! Bush played guitar in the group, then began playing mandolin after recruiting guitarist Tony Rice to the fold. Following a fallout with Peerce in 1971, Bush and his Alliance band mates formed the New Grass Revival, issuing the band's debut, New Grass Revival. Walker left soon after, replaced temporarily by Butch Robins, with the quartet solidifying around the arrival of bassist John Cowan.

Shunned by some traditionalists, New Grass Revival played bluegrass fests slotted in late-night sets for the "long-hairs and hippies." Quickly becoming a favorite of rock audiences, they garnered the attention of Leon Russell, one of the era's most popular artists. Russell hired New Grass as his supporting act on a massive tour in 1973 that put the band nightly in front of tens of thousands. At tour's end, it was back to headlining six nights a week at an Indiana pizza joint. But, they were resilient, grinding it out on the road. And in 1975 the Revival first played Telluride, Colorado, forming a connection with the region and its fans that has prospered for 45 years.

Sunday July 12th, I enjoyed a walk with beautiful sunshine, later we visited Tony and saw Donny & Donna's new trailer. The layout is really perfect for them! Tony was working on the chimney when we arrived, when he got down off the lift, he came to visit for a bit.

We had some running to do for Jimmy for the fair. The sights we see of the farm life in this area will never get old. There are over 600 farms in Livingston County, New York. This covers approximately almost 200,000 acres of land, with an average farm size of 333 acres. 

The night ended with an awesome sunset!

Monday 7/13, day 68, we had a meeting in Brighton with my financial guy. Brighton Securities was where my parents handled all their financial stuff. After they passed away, Tim Finety became "my guy." But as he aged, we slowly transitioned to Sam. He is a younger guy, but he is good at what he does. Meeting with my financial guy in Brighton.

After our music at Lincoln Hill Farms, the car was dusty so a bath for Indigo was in order. We enjoyed lunch at Tom Wahl's. Tom Wahl's in Avon has been a family tradition for upstate New Yorkers since 1955. Customers have been known to travel great distances just to enjoy a juicy Wahlburger, hot crispy fries and a frosted mug or two of their delicious handcrafted root beer. A Wahlburger is a ground steak burger served on a seeded roll topped with ham, swiss cheese, lettuce and "Wahl sauce." Charlie prefers a basic cheeseburger, with lettuce and tomato. I like the Hollywood cheeseburger served on a hard roll topped with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, onions, Wahl sauce, sweet and dill pickles. Yummmmmm! Today they still handcraft the root beer in each store the same as Tom's first batch, but they now have 9 upstate locations! We chose Tom Wahl's for lunch, because it is right across from Tops Friendly Markets. They finally had Charlie's favorite coke, buy 2 get 3 free.... $20 for five 8-packs of small bottles of coke is a great deal. But, since we are in NY we have a nickel deposit on each bottle. New York requires a 5-cent refundable deposit on almost all carbonated soft drink, beer, and water bottles under 1 gallon. You pay this fee at checkout and get your nickel back when you return the empty, clean container to any participating store or local redemption center. Since he may not drink it all here in NY, we are out another $2 bucks, but $22 for 40 bottles of coke is still fifty cents a bottle, not a bad price!

Tuesday July 14th, Donny and Donna stopped over while we were enjoying our coffee. They decided to make a quick trip to NC to check out where they are moving to in the fall. After they left, we headed to Henrietta. It is our day to meet with Charlie's financial guy. Just like me, Charlie had an older guy, who came right to his shop, that specialized in the Federal retirement system. He has long since retired and moved to the Villages. He mentored a young man and Vincent is great. Plus he is a bluegrass fan! After our meeting, we did some more running around for Jimmy and his needs for the fair.

On Decker Road on Conesus is a memorial to Dan Mulvaney. He was a lifelong farmer, running his family farm after his Dad's passing. He was a dedicated member of the Conesus community and a friend. Dan Mulvaney passed away on April 16, 2021, at the age of 58. He passed away while doing what he loved, working on the farm. He was well-known for his agricultural work and his passion for tractors. Following his passing, the community held a tribute and tractor run in his honor and now, there is a tractor memorial in his honor.

Tuesday night was our planned Steak night out with family and friends at No BS. No BS Brew Company is a favorite of ours while we are in town. It is a veteran-owned craft brewery located in Livonia, NY. It is just off the north end of Conesus Lake. It features an inviting tasting room, a vast two-acre outdoor beer garden with family-friendly games, and an impressive rotating selection of small-batch craft beers, hard seltzers, local wines and amazing food choices, rotating each day. Tuesday night is steak, taco and they always have pizzas! The steaks are high quality meat cooked to order!

The steaks, beers and other food does take a backseat to the great company of friends! 

We did have music played by a duo. We all got a contact high, when they exited their car to set up their equipment. I still have a hard time with the fact that recreational weed is legal in NY. It was signed into law on March 31, 2021. You can legally purchase products from licensed dispensaries, possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis, and consume it in most places where tobacco is allowed. Where you can consume it still makes me shake my head... Why do I have to smell your weed?

Wednesday July 15th included a 4-mile walk before the effects of the Canadian Wildfires arrive and we go indoors! You can see from the sun rising near the silo that the air is starting to get thick with something.

By later in the day, you can really see the poor air quality. It's an indoor quiet day. We did sit outside for a bit, but pretty low key.

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures!