Cheese To You

Blackberry Inn B&B -- very nice!

On the way home, we visited Watkins Glen.

Watkins Glen gorge -- 800 steps up and then down again

Finger Lakes wine flight as a reward

 Much more impressive though --Meg's shop and her new olive oils and vinegar.

 

Back to Pat's Camp

Much as we like the camp we rented, it was really great to get back to Pat's camp for the last few days of our trip!

 

SOS Race and Reunion

Once again, the Hall/Scruggs Team scored in the Save Our Schoolhouse Race/Walk.

The school reunion was a chance to get together with lots of friends.

Enjoying the lake

Spending many weeks here this year, we had lots of time to enjoy the lake and the opportunities to hike.

 

 

 

 

 

Working on the book project

This was the entrance and guard house when the mine was operating

Pam, James, Russ, and I spent a fascinating day touring the old mines with George Persson.

Russ and James seeking the perfect image

A ruin of one of the former mine buildings

Waste rocks are being crushed and sized for resale

James and George examining the rock components

The pit has filled with water since the mine closed

Visiting Cousin Charlene

We spent a wonderful day with Charlene at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake.

 

Stopped by the Raquette River Brewery on the way home for a growler of ale.

A New Book Project

Our first couple of weeks, we focused much of the time on research and background information for Russ' potential "revisit" to his best selling Gem of the Adirondacks. The book project gave us an opportunity to meet several new people and to have interesting long conversations with folks about how they see the future of the community.

We went to community meetings to get a sense of shared goals and concerns.

 

 We talked to lots of people

Russ interviewing the Craigs on their dock during the Poker Paddle

The weather got a bit windy during the interview

Time out to help a paddler land the kayak

 A few times, I arrived at my interviews by kayak. This is a tough assignment.

 Other times I walked arrive on foot and had a hard time concentrating on our conversations with the water and wildlife distracting me.

Renting a New Camp

our rented camp

From Meg and Steve's, it was a full 10 hours of driving to Star Lake. As Cousin Mary Dadey reminded us, the family always called a trip to the Adirondacks "going to the woods."

the woods as seen from our porch - note the lake, down through the trees

Because we arrived in July this summer, we couldn't stay with our friend Pat at her camp because her family comes in July. So we rented a very comfortable VRBO camp with an easy-to-clean gas stove in the kitchen and even a dish washer!  We have electric in our home kitchen and it was nice to be back cooking with gas. The camp's porch included two bentwood rockers that I would have liked to steal; they were that comfy. There was an electric keyboard, that we didn't use. A dulcimer, that we didn't even touch! And a half-finished puzzle, that we finished and left them with a 1/4 finished replacement --- with even more pieces.

Russ in the kitchen

Peg in the dining room

the loft bedroom, the main one was downstairs

the loft

Pam by the porch

the porch and sleeping porch

Lunch with Pat; The Evening with Meg, Steve, and the Granddogs

Today we drove from Hayesville to Holly Hill and met Pat for lunch at the Brightstar Grill . . . a cool 60s style diner. We don't look much like siblings . . . wrong. Just alike!

 Next we drove up I-77 out of NC into VA and I-81 to Lexington. Traffic was heavy all day and we were late to lunch. We arrived in Lexington after Meg's shop closed. But that just demands a return visit. We had a wonderful evening with her, Steve, Bushmills, Guinness, and Lenny.

On the Road to Star Lake

The trip to Star Lake takes about 22 hours of on-the-road time, not counting any stops. This year, we are breaking it up by visiting along the way. First, a long awaited visit with Dawn and Craig at their North Carolina place. We went boating, hiking, pottery making, and dining! Lovely.

Enjoying Cedar Key in July

We are spending lots of time in Cedar Key, enjoying walks by the water, time with friends, and visits to the refuges.

 

 

 

 And working with the Friends on  Seahorse Key for the July Open House. Almost 400 people came out by boat for the event. What a gorgeous, hot , sunny day!