I took the usual red-eye trip to arrive during a NY heatwave. Normally NY heat does not bother me but this year was oppressive. Bill and I managed only 2 rounds of 9-hole golf with both of us wilting by the 6th hole. Bill trounced me- obviously, he has secretly been working on his game and I haven’t.
We did the usual walk in Onondaga Park, lunch at The Retreat, Dinner at Borio’s, and walk around Syracuse University campus. We didn’t get to Coleman’s for a pint which was unusual.
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| Syracuse University Campus |
A trip bonus was that John Conkling was taking 2 of 4 kids to college over 2 trips. Bill and I traveled to Rochester for lunch at the Dinosaur and then walk the High-Falls Trail along the Genesee River in downtown Rochester.
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| Genesee River, with downtown Rochester. |
Then on to Brockport to see John and Christina. Christina is beginning her senior year. I did not recognize a-n-y of the Brockport (class of 1983) campus. Guess it has been awhile. The 4 of us had dinner near the Canal Side in downtown Brockport, then Bill and I traveled back to Liverpool.
John stopped into Liverpool for lunch the next day since he was traveling to New Hampshire to pick up another kid from camp. Tina was able to join us for lunch. Bonus!
Initial plans were to travel to Maine and visit Stan Moore and his family. Plans were also extended to see Boston, and to have dinner with Adam Del Rosso who was working a Lowell, MA internship. But after speaking with Stan our trip was abandoned. Stan was leaving within a week for Italy to work as Head Coach for SV Caldaro/Kaltern. Stan volunteered to drive 2 hours to a meet point for lunch but I nixed the idea; he needs to spend quality family time now. So we agreed Stan would email info once settled into Italy, and we would meet there since Bill and I were traveling in March 2019 to Budapest/Prague.
We ran into Nicole on my first day in Syracuse while walking off the red-eye jet-lag at the park. Great to see her and catch up. And a few days later, I got a text from Wendy (Nicole's ex-roommate) saying "you think you can be in town and we won't know?". Busted. Then Wendy gave me a guilt-trip saying the kids would be disappointed if we didn't get together. So we arranged a fabulous dinner at Wendy and Gordon's of Elvis burgers (lettuce, tomato, peanut butter, bacon, and cheese). I got to see the kids (Ben, Christopher, and Mesi) are becoming fine young adults. Ben is off to his first year of college at Kingston CA. Gordon's new interest is fly fishing and I had to ask, 'Do you tie your own lures?'. OF COURSE, Gordon does. Quite an impressive tie selection and rods.
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| I failed to get a group pic, but isn't Wendy's garden awesome??? |
John and Courtney stopped in for lunch the following week as John was taking Courtney to SUNY Potsdam. And Courtney delivered a hug from Karen. Thanks!
Bill and I made several trips to the New York State Fair. It was different than the Del Mar San Diego Fair, with a smaller woodworking and photography exhibit. However, we discovered an air-conditioned stage that local acts were presenting on.
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| And we discovered seating, music, A/C and beers! |
We started work on Plan B, to visit Montreal in place of Stan and Boston. But we checked the Montreal forecast (rain, followed by more rain) and canceled that idea. Plan C was a day trip to Ithaca to walk about Cornell campus and see their waterfalls. We got into watching some women’s volleyball (very good!) and then snuck into the Cornell bell tower for stunning views.
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| View From the Cornell Bell Tower. Awesome! |
We found our way back to Syracuse through Skaneateles Lake. Ah yea, a stop at the Sherlock Inn for a refreshing drink overlooking the lake then to Doug’s Fish Fry to split a lobster roll. This is Living Well.
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| At Skaneateles Lake, pre Doug's Fish Fry |
Tina had arranged a dinner/drinks for several people to introduce Mark, her fiancé. It was good to catch up with Kathy, Kim and Ethan, and Debbie and Dick. And Adam showed up from Lowell.
