Seneca Lake Wine Trail

Nasty wet day, but it was a very nice drive

John Boyd

Tully, NY

We're parked in John and Ruth's driveway for a week or so. We pretty much take up the whole driveway! The leaves are turning and it promises to be a beautiful stay. Not much in the way of plans, just relax and enjoy.

John Boyd

Trip to New York City

We took the train from Croton-on-Hudson to NYC for a day. Fantastic ride along the Hudson River, with views of the Palisades and lots of bridges.

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, we saw the Egyptian Temple of Dendur. After lunch at the Museum (overlooking Central Park), we went to the Frick House. Frick was an industralist that amassed a huge collection which is displayed at his home on 5th Avenue. Beautiful curved marble and wroght iron staircase, atrium in the center of the home complete with a water-lilied pond.

Then, we sat at a sidewalk cafe sipping wine, eating pate and watching NYC walk by.

Hudson River Mansions

Today we toured the FDR family home, Springwood. FDR was born here and he and Eleanor are buried here. The home was interesting and not as magnificent as the Vanderbilt mansion we toured later. It was also nice to see that most of the rooms had something to show that children lived there, too. (They had what - 6 children.) But, the overriding presence was his mother, Sara. Poor Eleanor! I thought my mother-in-law, Lisabeth, was tough! Sara was the BOSS!

Also what was interesting to see at the FDR Library was the sculpture done by Churchill's granddaughter, Edwina Sandys, from pieces of the Berlin Wall.

The Vanderbilt Mansion was sumptuous for a country estate - 50,000 sf - and very state-of-art for its time. The rooms were larger than at Springwood and much more ornate. The Vanderbilts were very generous to their staff and to the townspeople. Frederick Vanderbilt left $250,000 to the lands keeper, but nothing to any surviving Vanderbilt. He also left at least $1,000 to each staff person who had worked for him for at least 10 years, actually a sizable number of people. Didn't hear about anything like that regarding Sara Roosevelt.

There are at least 5 other mansions to tour. We just have to come back to do those!

Van Cortlandt Manor

Yesterday, we went to see this house, built in the 1750's by the Dutch family Van Cortlandt. The tour guides are all in costume. We saw the kitchen, bedrooms, formal rooms and a demonstration of spinning wool. Now I know how my heirloom spinning wheel is supposed to work! Also "grafitti" carved into the guest bedroom by a Revolutionary War soldier - an unknown Colonist or Red Coat - as both used the house during various times during the war.

And, as the photos show, there is a big Halloween party coming up! It will actually be pretty spooky! It is dark from all the trees; the Croton River is murmuring and little light from the surrounding area. BOO!

John & Kathleen Boyd

Sunday Morning on the Hudson

Beautiful. We'll come back

John Boyd

West Point, NY

We saw a Parade and a football game today. Unfortunately, the Parade was more exciting

John Boyd

Drive across PA

Beautiful drive across Central Pennsylvania yesterday, with a stop at the Spring Brook Cemetary

John Boyd

A day in PA

We went to Penn's Cave; took a fantastic boat trip about 100 feet below ground; saw a bald eagle and a lonely swan. The cave is amazing! The stalagmites and stalagmites are beautiful natural sculptures millions of years in the making.

On the way there driving the 'back roads, we saw a lot of farms, some Amish schools with children playing in the yards and a couple of Amish carriages. Some interesting local signs, too, like "Buggy Parking Only."

Mid Pennsylvania

Beautiful drive along I-80 yesterday. Kathleen took the wheel for about an hour. Today, we are relaxing at a campground, and will do some sightseeing.

John Boyd

RV Village, Mercer, PA

Beautiful campsite, once we got here this morning. We're stopping off in Mercer to visit with Skip and Cindy Barretta, friends going back to La Verne. Then, we'll head east across Pennsylvania, ending up near West Point, NY this weekend. Planning to show Kathleen a parade and football game, and she will show me some of the sights in NYC. Then, we head up to Syracuse to visit with Kathleen's mother, sisters, brothers-in-law and nephews.

John Boyd

Oh, he leaves so much out!! One, the Prius had to be towed out of here on a flatbed. Something to do with the brakes. We may or may not get out of here tomorrow. Two, I'm cold! What happened to Indian Summer? Three, he keeps opening doors, turning on fans and even had the a/c on! John, we're not in CA anymore!!

Kathleen

Once in a Lifetime

Since we were late getting on the road last night, we decided to stop at one of the Interstate Rest Areas with the truckers. Can you say 'Once is enough'?

John Boyd

Wild Flowers, Washington, PA

Finally got the awning fixed last night. Took these pictures where we waited for the repairs.

John Boyd

Driving School

Kathleen and I took our driving lessons today. Kathleen was highly complimented by the instructor.

John Boyd, from my 700p

John is the master of understatement. I did FABULOUSLY!!!! I can back up, park and corner that tank like a pro. One question, does that mean I have to listen to country music now?

Kathleen