The Explorers are getting back on track with their travels after a break that turned into a whole week of standing still. They didn’t make a lot of forward progress on their route, but, more importantly, they saw a lot of friends.
Last weekend, Sidekick Sue went to her girls’ weekend with 8 other friends from Clarkson University (and they found one more while watching the Bills game in a bar in Old Forge). The lodging in Old Forge was a beautiful home on Second Lake that was “loaned” to them by a friend. The girls were very grateful to be gifted such a nice place to stay for their weekend of stories, recollections and laughs. Because they didn’t have to pay rent, the girls rented a pontoon boat and travelled north from Second Lake to Third Lake to Fourth Lake, where they had a great lunch before heading back south to First Lake and then to their homebase again. Sunday was full of shopping, football, food and drink. It was a marvelous weekend that ended much too fast; everyone should laugh until it hurts at least once a year with the best of friends.
Captain Mark’s weekend was spent with siblings. He spent a day with his brother, getting reprieve from the boat life to visit his brother’s house. Captain Mark’s brother and family returned to the boat for a boat ride from Pittsford to Fairport, enjoying the trip under the squeaky lift bridge in the village of Fairport. Sunday was spent with his sister, first attending a polka festival and dancing with “Polka Patty”, and then repeating the boat ride to Fairport and back. The bridge tender at the squeaky bridge was probably amused at Captain Mark’s passing back and forth so many times.
The rest of the week was filled with numerous visitors from the Rochester area. After Captain Mark took a bike ride to Spencerport and back with his sister, Sidekick Sue returned to the boat in Pittsford, dropped off by her old Clarkson roommate, Maura. Later that night, Mark’s sister returned for a trip to Pittsford Dairy.
On Tuesday, the Explorers moved the boat to Fairport for a change of venue, passing under the squeaky bridge one last time. Sidekick Sue caught up on email while Captain Mark ventured out for a bike ride. Potsdam friends, Jane and Glen stopped by for lunch, and Sidekick Sue’s brother Rob stopped by with his girlfriend Kelly and his son Peter. They had a late dinner at the Irish Pub across the street. Wednesday found Captain Mark biking back and forth to NAPA to stock up on marine anti-freeze in preparation for the upcoming “winterization”. After, the Explorers enjoyed a quick visit from Captain Mark’s fraternity big brother, Al, who works in the building right next to the canal. Dinner was with some of Sidekick Sue’s high school friends, Carolyn and Gregg. Thursday was another day of visits, Captain Mark walked with Al in the morning, Sidekick Sue’s sorority friend Kim K. stopped by after yoga, the Explorers joined Al for lunch, another sorority sister, Paula and husband Rich visited, and then finally, dinner with Al, his wife Becky and son Jackson. The Explorers are so grateful for so many lifelong friends. It was definitely worth the delay to spend time with so many treasured friends and family members.
Today, Friday, the voyage started again. The Explorers passed through two locks without incident (there was a sailboat that was slightly out-of-control, but its occupants managed to recover). They stopped in Palmyra so that Sidekick Sue could do a Zoom meeting, but it turned out she messed up the time and the meeting never happened. So within a half hour, the Explorers were underway again. Ooops!
The Explorers arrived in Newark, NY where they planned to stop for the night. It was still fairly early in the day, so the Explorers registered at the dock office, and set off to find the Wegmans that was just over a mile away. When they returned, Sidekick Sue took advantage of the free laundry machines provided for boaters. She was happy to give a donation to get the laundry done, with hopes that this would be the last time that laundry would be necessary on this trip. Captain Mark whipped up some mini-pizzas for dinner, and the Explorers had a nice, relaxing evening in Newark.
The Hogger Girls go boating.
Ten of the ladies of Moore House III at Clarkson University. This is the 33rd gathering.
Meanwhile, Captain Mark is doing the polka.
A visit from Jane and Glen.
A stop in Palmyra for the Zoom meeting that didn’t happen.
Driving by a spillway that seems a little too close.
Parked in Newark.