It's Another Day of Traveling in Bliss

Monday, 9/13

The coach is vacuumed, dusted, laundry done, heating system being scientifically tested by us and found to be OK.  So, what to do?  Ah, more wine country touring.  We head out, traveling northbound along the east side of Seneca Lake before crossing over to the WEST side of Cayuga Lake.  Bright skies with puffy clouds gave us special views of the lakes and an understanding why this area is so popular with vacationing easterners ... at least during the summer/autumn periods.  The winters are severe.  Just ask those who attend nearby Cornell and Syracuse Universities.  How these vineyards survive (much less the human residents) is a question we did not ask. 

A roadside stand provided huge tomatoes and concord grapes at bargain prices.  I grew up being fed both, but Mom overdid the availability of Welch's Concord Grape Jelly.  Even saved the jars while I became very un-fond of the taste.  Peanut butter couldn't kill it in a "Sunbeam" brand white bread sandwich.  Decades later, today's freshly picked grapes brought back strong memories of a great childhood on the farm and a renewal of the original desire for concord grapes.  Trust me, I won't over indulge this time.

A non-resident on her way to a lake shore vineyard.  Will work for concord grapes.

Lunch on the deck of the Ginny Lee Restaurant was most tasty (AKA, we both recommend), complimented by a perfect view.  Halfway through the day and we already call it a great one, leaving ample time to catch up on the blog, so far an enjoyable task.  Thank you again for your continued supportive comments.  And remember, if the picture is too small, click on it and it'll grow in size, just like me.

Decadence at high noon.  I can barely stand it.

Nascar, Salt, and Wine

Sunday, 9/12

Cool temps, overcast with drizzle started the day and made the 30 minute drive to Watkins Glen easy.  No traffic, back roads, tiny villages nestled in the leafy greenery of New York's low rise mountains.  Loved it!

Watkins Glen operates our RV park that overlooks a marina almost in the center of town.  The town is on the southern tip of the very long and narrow Seneca Lake, one of 12 that I count on the Finger Lakes map.  The lakes are separated by these low mountain ranges.  Mountains and lakes were carved by the glaciers that caused the east to enjoy today's much lower mountains than those of the Far West that are still growing.  Watkins Glen is one of the larger towns in the area, and is home to Watkins Glen International, a Nascar race track.  An old town, it also is home to both Cargill and US Salt operations.  Interestingly, there is a major salt dome beneath the area.  To access it, hot water is forced down into the dome.  Salt rises to the surface processing plants.  Product is shipped via truck and rail.  Your next Morton's Salt container may be filled with salt from this area.

With so many inducements to travel the local "wine trails", we had to drive roads parallel to Seneca Lake.  What a treat!  Rolling hills, more corn fields, and verdant grape vines supplying dozens of wineries.  We tasted some of the product, bought a few bottles, learned that a pinot grigio (white, slightly sweet) can be successfully paired with spicy food (What?!!).  OK, I already knew that tossing some sugar into a pasta sauce with too many of my favorite chile peppers does offset some of the heat.  So we ran home and Doris prepared spicy riblets.  Oh boy!  Good cooking with a decent wine.  Experimenting in the kitchen can be so fun ... and so waist-enhancing.  In the heat of dining, I always forget Dad's diet:  Push away from the dinner table halfway through dinner.  Guilt for not adhering to his spoken word doesn't work either.

I'll let you write the caption.  I'm busy with Acid Reflux.

Horseheads, Glass and Spray On TV

Saturday, 9/11

Time flies when one is retired and on vacation at the same time, but not fast enough for us to have forgotten 9/11/01 - 9 years ago.  All too vividly we remembered the moment that Doris' dad called us to say the Twin Towers had been hit by airplanes.  We were still preparing for work while Lexi is readying to be taken to school.  Turning on the TV, we saw the scene of horror.  Holding each other, I remember telling Doris and Lexi that this country and the world would never be the same. 

Our office was in semi-shock.  None of us really knew what to say, nor did we know what we should do if more such incidents occurred.  We did gather together, held hands, had  a minute of silent prayer which became tearful.  The closest to such feelings of fear and helplessness came once before when JFK was assassinated.

Today, 11 years later, the feelings and thoughts are still there.  Too, it seemed a bit wrong in enjoying life as we do, especially when there is so much suffering.  However, we must continue living and providing what we can to others less fortunate.  We do that. 

On this Saturday, we also met Don and Lucy, our Walmart neighbors from Maine.  Fun stories of mutual backgrounds in business:  tour business; truck driver; RV lovers.  3 months on the road from Maine to Yellowstone and returning home for 3 months before heading out again.  When we left them to get our $9.99/day rental car, we promised we see each other again, probably in Maine. 

Maine's Lucy & Don "captured" by Doris

Where was the car?  In nearby Horseheads, NY.  I told you not to ask me how it got its name.  Nobody seems to know, but they sure have a great car rate and a great Walmart Supercenter almost next door.  Surrounded on 2 sides by expansive lawns to view from the front, we were staying a night in a more resorty space than many that cost big $$.  This one only cost the purchase of a 1/2 gallon of milk.  We feel soo guilty.  Yeah, riiight.

Then its off to an awful lunch of what I delicately label "Airport Chinese Food".  Fast, oily, tummy-rumbling stuff, timed to "do its thang" sometime after departure so that you can't return to pay your true respects for a meal gone wrong.  In Doris's case:  Very Wrong.

But, we traveled on to the Corning Glass Company's Museum in (can you believe it?) Corning, NY.  Beautiful location and another incredible museum of glass products dating back to BC times.  Familiar pieces and mind-boggling creations of the last 30 years.  We also enjoyed viewing and being educated by superb glass blowing demos, flameworking, and optical fiber glass demo.  The latter gave us the opportunity to sit down ... and we did, very coincidentally, behind Don & Lucy from Maine.  What a surprise when I extended my hand between the two of them, handing them THEIR business card!  Ha!  They are the second fun couple that we've met more than once on this trip.  It's a great and small community in which we travel.

Corning's classy & glassy wine drinker impressing his female companion 

Back to the coach.  With approaching rain, I super-sprayed our satellite dome with a chemical to keep the TV picture in storms.  Without the spray, rain causes electrostatic buildup on the dome, just the same as precipitation does on airplanes.  (We pilots know that and make sure that the static "wicks" that protrude from the trailing edge of the wings and tail are in good shape before takeoff, thus assuring radio and navigation equipment continued reception/transmission.)  Sure enough, the rains came and the TV picture remained perfect ... while I remained Doris's hero for another day.