Two Lane Adventures: Day 61, 62, 63, 64 & 65 of 166 Days of RV Adventures in the Summer of 2026

On Monday July 6th, we slept in. I know you don't read that often in my blogs. But, it felt really good! The temperatures were a bit cooler and we had the windows open and no air on!

We had a few runs to make this morning. So, we had breakfast and headed to Walmart. Good thing I only had a few things to pick up! We are in New York now and plastic bags are "bad." New York State has a statewide Bag Waste Reduction Act that prohibits businesses that collect state sales tax from distributing single-use plastic carryout bags. But, interesting fact, if you have a roadside vegetable stand you can have single use plastic bags there! I was not going to pay for a paper bag. I just juggled my purchases in my arms and left.

Back in NYS we have access to our credit union, Eastman Saving & Loan. So, we stopped and did some banking. We had an appointment at Mavis Tires to have a Tire Pressure Monitor replaced. While we were out, we stopped by Tony's house to see the grandkids and Donny & Donna. Donny & Donna were out, but we visited Natalee and Cameron for a bit. We had Natalee's graduation card and a little something for her. We cut our visit short when I realized that Charlie's ex-wife, Bobbie, was in the next room.

On Tuesday June 7th, we took a trip to scope out our music venue for our bluegrass show on Friday night. On Facebook Charlie found that the Travelin' McCourys were playing in the Rochester area. So, we headed out for a recon drive. "Lovin' Cup" most commonly refers to the classic rock song by The Rolling Stones from their landmark 1972 album Exile on Main Street album. It can refer to a traditional ceremonial drinking vessel, but for the purposes of this blog, it is a well-known bistro and music venue in upstate New York.

Lovin’ Cup Bistro and Brews is about dreams. It was the five owners, each of whom bring a different set of talents to the table, dream to build a place that celebrates the good things in life: Delicious, uncomplicated food choices, with a wide range of flavors to appease every palette. A rotating draft selection that is sure to please. A solid selection of bottled beers, to change with your mood. An ever-changing collection of local, national, and international wines. Thoughtful signature cocktails that any mixologist would be proud of. A comfortable environment that transforms from day to night. A deliberate attention to detail when it comes to the vibe: handcrafted tables, rotating local art, ambient lighting, and most prominently our beautiful wine rack. A wide-range of events and music every week! Their biggest driving force? They truly take pride in their conscious understanding of what a community-driven environment is.

Lovin’ Cup is a family business, a family of five friends: Erik Ward, Leslie Zinck-Ward, Clay Carpenter, Bob Zinck and Ric Carley. They are only the start of a cohesive family of staff who work to create an experience for you each and every time you walk through our doors. This place means different things to different people. It could be your favorite place to grab a bite and a beer. It could be your favorite spot to see original live music every week. Or the spot where you finally unveil a talent that no one knew you had at open mic. Most importantly, they want it to be a place where you feel like you can be yourself.

We enjoyed a beer each and a pretzel and cheese. Charlie had a Samuel Adams Summer Lager and I went for the Genesee Brewing Ruby Red Kolsch. We are going to Lovin’ Cup Concerts in the Square: The Travelin’ McCourys Grateful Ball with Folkfaces, Smilo & the Ghost and Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers.

Time is flying by! It's day 63, already! On Wednesday July 8th, I took a walk this morning. After that we enjoyed coffee on the patio. It was a leisurely morning! Then we took a road trip to Canandaigua around noon to scope out the venue for Saturday night's Bluegrass festival. It's at a 95-acre venue called Lincoln Hills Farm. It offers sweeping views, gardens, and open-air spaces designed for unforgettable gatherings. They are a venue for weddings, private events, with a few select ticketed experiences offered. The farm provides a unique setting that blends natural beauty with rustic charm and modern amenities. The name is a tribute to the original settlers of the property, the Dewey Family, who occupied their farm on Lincoln Hill for over 100 years. With roots in the past and their eyes toward the future, they are passionate about where they are from and they are deeply committed to providing everyone with access to the true spirit of the Finger Lakes.

While in Canandaigua we stopped into Runnings. Everyone from New York says it is like Charlie's favorite store in Florida, Rural King! The Runnings story began on December 5, 1947, when founder Norman “Red” Running opened the first store in Minnesota. Initially focused on automotive supplies, Runnings grew into a trusted source for farm and fleet goods through the late 1980s. Over time, the product offerings expanded, and the company’s legacy of quality and reliability only deepened. Runnings has grown to offer an extensive range of high-quality products, including clothing, footwear, automotive items, sporting goods, farm supplies, lawn and garden essentials, toys, housewares, tools, pet and animal supplies, and more. Additionally, some locations carry firearms. This one did and it was a large selection!

Heading back to Livonia, we went through Bloomfield. Elton Park, originally known as the Public Square, is the focal point of East Bloomfield and one of its most historic sites. The founding fathers, in October of 1798, provided a place to worship, a burying ground, and a meetinghouse green. In 1847, a group of public-minded citizens decided the square should be cleared and ornamented. Plans were set in motion and the square was plowed, graded, sowed and fenced. Following the Civil War, a meeting was held and a vote was passed to erect a monument to the 39 men from Bloomfield who lost their lives in the war. An artist and sculptor was commissioned to construct a monument. The granite and limestone monument is 45 feet high and bears the names of the 39 soldiers and the battles they fought in. It is topped by a replica of a Union Soldier who is facing south as though ready to repel any invader. In my picture, you can see him peeking through the trees!

We also stopped at Pete's Stock Works, owned by our friends Pete & Kristi. Another friend is retired, but works there on occasion. We got to see all three of them! We have heard all about Pete's shop, but we have never been. Pretty impressive and well stocked for any hunter or shooter in the area!

Today, Thursday July 9th, was just one of those days... I was not into doing much! I cleaned up the inside of the camper, yes... there are still domestic chores while you are on the road! Charlie worked on the tires and a few other outdoor things. But, we never left the property today. We did have a morning visitor while we enjoyed our coffee in the late morning. We saw him the other afternoon, but he had two ladies chasing him. Today, he was all alone!

Friday July 10th, we had a breakfast date with Jane, Dick & Deb Vallone at Leisure's. Before that we took a run to a couple local farm stands. One to grab tomatoes, the other to get some fresh NY corn! Ohhhh, the tomatoes look sooo good! Breakfast was delicious! We used to go to breakfast almost every weekday morning with Deb, Fay, Bud, Jim and Jackie. Slowly, they have passed away, moved, or just gotten older. It was great to see them! Oooppps, no pictures!

We arrived early at the Lovin' Cup to get a patio table under the shade cloth. We enjoyed a few beers and dinner with our great server, Sam

We were able to watch some set-up and others arrive, as the doors opened at 5 PM for the Lovin’ Cup Concerts in the Square series.

The first band on the main stage were The Ruckus Juice Jug Stompers. They played for an hour, starting at 6:00 PM. They are Rochester’s premiere jug band, they may be Rochester's only jug band!

They performed a wide variety of jug band songs. Their instruments are unique, to say the least. A banjolin (a hybrid banjo/mandolin), a jug and a kazoo. Their standard instruments include guitar, fiddle, banjo, upright bass, and/or washboard. They share a bit of history of this music & instruments. Their song selection allowed for some audience interaction in singing along and doing some call-and-response tunes. To say they were entertaining, would be an understatement!

RAED (Raedwald Howland-Bolton) played for two 30-minute sets on a side stage as the bands changed on the main stage. His first set was between the jug band and the Folkfaces.

People in attendance quickly took notice of his talents and connected effortlessly with his soulful vocals and the foot-stomping, and syncopated rhythms. His rendition of country blues portrays the vastness and beauty of a cultural gem. He performs both delta and piedmont blues intertwined with other folk styles. He is an excellent finger-picker that explodes with the sounds of acoustic folk music.

Folkfaces came on the main stage at 7:30PM. They are a Buffalo-based quartet with an infectious blend of bluegrass, folk, blues, and hot jazz. They do play a mix of original and traditional music. The group takes its influence from weird old American music. An energetic variety show and traveling music review. Exploring a wide range of genres including country blues, traditional jazz, rock and roll, honky tonk, western swing, bluegrass and old-time, jug-band music and more. The music is driven by songwriter and front man, Tyler Westcott (Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, Kazoo) who founded the band in 2011.

This venue is very near the student housing for Rochester Institute of Technology. RIT serves about 1,500 deaf and hard-of-hearing students annually through the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). These students make up about 5% of the total 19,000+ student body on campus, and socialize, live, and learn alongside more than 16,000 hearing students. So, the sight of ASL Interpreters is not uncommon. I can honestly say, this is the first time I have seen them at a music venue. But, it makes sense, they facilitate communication by translating spoken words into visual sign language, ensuring equal access to information and entertainment for Deaf and hard-of-hearing attendees.

The Travelin' McCourys took the stage at 9 PM. The McCoury brothers—Ronnie (mandolin) and Rob (banjo)—were born into the bluegrass tradition. Their father, Del, is among the most influential and successful musicians in the history of bluegrass. Years on the road with Dad in the Del McCoury Band honed their knife-edge chops and encouraged the duo to imagine how traditional bluegrass could cut innovative pathways into 21st century music.

The band played an initial set of traditional bluegrass, followed by a collaborative set completely dedicated to "bluegrassified" Grateful Dead tracks. Yes, you heard that right... a rock band, renowned as the pioneering godfathers of the jam band world.

They regularly pay tribute to the Grateful Dead through a high-energy touring project called "The Grateful Ball." This ongoing musical crossover honors the deep bluegrass roots of Jerry Garcia, blending traditional acoustic instrumentation with psychedelic jam-band arrangements. The bluegrassified tribute to the Grateful Dead is called Grateful Ball. It has its roots in a one-off performance in the summer of 2016 with the Travelin’ McCourys and the Jeff Austin Band at Urban Chestnut Brewing in St. Louis. The show was so popular that a tour was scheduled with both bands where each played a set on their own, followed by a joint set of modern bluegrass arrangements of Grateful Dead material. Since then the Travelin’s McCourys have combined with a variety of artists on a number of Grateful Ball tours reinterpreting the music of the Grateful Dead.

Tonight's Grateful Ball set, rocked the Deadheads songs! Good thing, because the pot smoking group in front of us were not too happy with the first set! I know recreational weed is legal in New York State, but when men in their 50's, maybe 60's pass a joint around like they are teenagers is just insane! Not to mention there are kids running around near them!