Syracuse, NY

We arrived in Syracuse with the plans to stay in our friends Tom & Chris's driveway.  Although the driveway is steep, we thought we would be able to level the RV out with the jacks.  When we did finally get it leveled, the rear jacks were 5 blocks high, slightly off the driveway.  The first night there we had a terrible thunder and lightening storm with a torrential downpour.  The second night, more of the same.  At about 5:00am. we were awakened to a horrible crashing sound and, for lack of a better work, a jolting thump.  The earth below the rear right jack washed away and the RV crashed down causing the other rear jack to break and the front jack to dig about 10" into Tom & Chris's driveway.  Not done yet!  After the front jack broke through the blacktop, the RV slid back so half the jack disk was under (yup, under) the blacktop.  It was really tricky getting it out, but we did.  Don't think we will be invited back anytime soon to park in Tom & Chris's driveway. LOL!   We apparently also were hit by lightening that took out our refrigerator, and my computer.  And, our washing machine took such a jolt during the incident, it broke through the floor below it.  Until the floor is fixed, we won't know if the washing machine will work or not.  Everything else is fixed, so we are up and runnig again.  Aside from our little "incident", we had a wonderful time with friends from Syracuse.  Watertown, NY is next for us and then up to Clayton, NY on The St. Lawrence River.  


On Tom & Chris's deck overlooking Syracuse.



Nothing like having a bar in your own home!

I have always wanted to be a bartender.....

Chris, Laura & I all worked at the airlines together.

Dinner with Tom & Chris at Laura & George's house.

Chris, Laura & I visited a dear friend Maureen, who also worked at the airlines with us.

We keep finding great RV accommodations.

Our front jack deep into the blacktop driveway.

The mess we left behind in Tom & Chris's driveway.

Roy trying to dig the jacks out after our little mishap.

Syracuse, NY

Hi all.  My computer took a lightening hit so my blog is temporarily shut down.  Hopefully I will be blogging again within a week.

Massachusetts

Roy & I went to visit Pat, sorority sister of mine from college who lives in Massachusetts.  Pat & I were great friends in college and for some time thereafter.  Somehow we lost contact and had not seen each other in over 10 years.    Just before retiring from teaching, Pat opened a Therapeutic Riding Center on her farm.  The work she does is amazing!  I am so proud of her and her work.  The stories of how the therapeutic riding has helped her clients could reduce you to tears.  Next stop is Syracuse, NY to visit friends I use to work with at the airlines.  

My friend Pat's Therapeutic Riding Center on her farm.

The beautiful barn.

When Pat calls, the horses come running!

Pat with 2 of her grandchildren and Murphy.

Jackson

The crew that works for Pat, many of whom are volunteers.

A couple of the girsl grooming one of the horses.

Our RV tucked away on Pat's farm.



Connecticut

We arrived in Wilton, CT to visit my sister Maureen and her family.  Unfortunately there were no RV parks anyplace nearby.  For the first 3 nights we were allowed to park our RV at the School Sister of Notre Dame driveway behind the convent!  What wonderful people; they were thrilled to come on board! LOL   We had a great time with my sister and her family.

Dinner at Maureen & Gennaro's with Maura & Dan and Julie & Tim.

My niece Julie and her husband Tim.

My niece Maura and her husband Dan

The camera-shy Llama who refused to pose for a picture! LOL
Forotunately Jim & Mary and Maureen & Roy we more cooperative!

Taking a tour of the farm.

"Farm to Fork" host Chef Tim (and owner of The Schoolhouse Restaurant)
welcoming the full house of diners.

Sitting by the fire after the "Farm to Fork" dinner hosted by Chef Tim.

At the "Farm to Fork" dinner

Maura' & Dan's house giving us A+ motorhome accommocations!

Maura & Dan with their beautiful family.

We went to visit Roy's cousin John and his wife Deniese in Farmington, CT.  They live in a beautiful old home in the historic district of the town.  Roy & I were surprized to learn that his cousin Linda (same Linda from NYC) and her husband Hamid were coming out to CT on Saturday.  It was nice because we had not had a chance to see Linda's husband, Hamid when we were in NYC.  We had a great time.  As an added bonus, Roy's niece Shanna called on Sunday to say she and her fiance were going to be passing through town and would like to stop in to say "hi".

A toast to family
Hamid, Linda (Roy's cousin), Deniese & John (Roy's cousin) in the back row

Linda, Deniese & John



As we left The Grist Mill Restaurant, we had some followers!  LOL

They were especially interested in Deniese.

Roy's niece and her new finance, Jason.

New York City

Roy I went into NYC to see his cousin Linda who works for Random House.  It was in the mid 90's in NYC for the two days we were there.  Once in a while I have thought it would be nice to live in NYC again.  No more!  Now I remember why I left! LOL

Roy's cousin Linda in her NYC office.

The view from Linda's office at Random House!

Although you cannot tell from this picture, we had about 40 people in front of us waiting for a cab.

In the cab during OFF PEAK traffic.

Manhasset, NY

  We went to Manhasset, Long Island to visit my hometown and my lifelong friend, Patti.  Unfortunately there are no RV parks on LI where we could leave the RV.  We ended up leaving it in a small town a very long way away from Manhasset.  We had to drive 1 hour to the train station, ride the train for 2 hours to get into NYC's Grand Central Station, and walked over to Penn Station (about 40 minutes in 93* weather) and then took a 45 minute LI Railroad ride to Manhasset.  I sure hope Patti knows how much I love her! LOL  We had a great time.  It has been a very long time since I have been back to Manhasset but fortunately, it never changes.  We all went up to our old club, Starthmore Vanderbuilt (part of the Vanderbilt estate) just to look around and reminise.  We acted like we were still members and no one seemed to know the difference.  It sure was a fun walk down memory lane. 

My childhood home in Manhasset, Long Island

  

My lifelong friend Patti

Out to dinner with my two favorite Italians! LOL

Delaware



Kathy & I toast to getting together again



Catching up with Kathy, Stewart and Aunt Laura

All of us at the Legion

Roy dancing with my Aunt Laura at the Legion

Sunday Breakfast at the VFW

Letting the dogs - all 6 of them - cool off in the water
I was in heaven surrounded by so many dogs :-)

Hard to beat these RV accommodations

Nice to be on a crowded East Coast beach again

Kathy & Stewart

We had such a fun time in Delaware with my cousin Kathy, her husband Stewart and Kathy's Mom, my Aunt Laura.  They have a vacation getaway by Bethany Beach in southern Delaware where we caught up with them.  Roy & I have not seen them in over 20 years!  But it felt like we had seen them just a short while ago.  All of them - including my 84 year old Aunt Laura - are on-the-go people.  We loved being with them.  I'll never let so much time pass without seeing the people I care about again!