JuneNYsAdventuresPart2

Last summer, Elaine and I explored Tonawanda Gateway Harbor and we saw some people using the HYDROBIKES or WATERBIKES.  We were not in the mood to try them that day, but vowed to return and try them.  However, it did not work out for Elaine and I to return last summer or go this summer, so I recruited Marlene to go with me, and she recruited our new friend, Jenny.  They picked me up early this afternoon and we headed to Tonawanda Gateway Harbor. We paid our ten dollars apiece and were each given a waterbike (after a little bit of instruction in how to use them) and we headed out down ELLICOTT CREEK.  Here are a few pictures Marlene and Jenny Marlene and Jenny did not have their phones with them, so there was nobody to take a picture of me on my waterbike.  this is the best I could do.                            Under one of the bridges.   After we got back to where we started We kept going and  biked out onto the Erie Canal for a couple of minutes before returning to w

This morning I realized it might be a good day to call my younger sister Gail and see if she wanted to go out for lunch.  She said yes and we agreed that I would pick her up at eleven a.m. and we would head out towards Youngstown on 18 and have lunch at Ray's Tavern.  If Ray's was not open (I tried to find out if it was open for lunch without success), we would just keep driving into the Village of Youngstown and eat there. We accidentally drove right by Ray's so I turned around and returned.  There was not one car in the parking lot (11:25) so Gail went inside to find out if they were open.   When she returned to the car she said it was pitch dark in there, a toddler was walking around in the dark and a man told her (rather roughly) that if the door was open it meant they were open.  I suggested to Gail that we drive down the road a bit and give them time to get the lights on and maybe they would have a customer or two when we returned. We drove into Youngstown and I sho

I surprised myself by preparing this absolutely delicious meal today.  I came home from the Community Garden with tomatoes, an onion, celery and a couple of carrots.  Peggy was here and she gave me an idea for using tomatoes...……….but I expanded her idea and decided to use a crockpot. Into my smallest crockpot I put some chopped red onion, some chopped carrot, chopped celery and chopped green pepper (which I purchased at an Amish farm stand two days ago), along with a little bit of olive oil and a bit of butter.  I put the crockpot on low and left alone for a couple of hours.  Then I added some sliced yellow squash and cooked for an hour and a half (I think), and then I sliced two fresh tomatoes and set them on top.  Cooked for a couple more hours.   When it looked like everything was cooked through, I cooked some spaghetti.  I spooned out a couple of spoons of the vegetable mixture on top of the spaghetti and then put some parmesan cheese on top.  I was surprised at how go

I slept great last night!!!!   After breakfast, Pam and I began the massive job of packing up our stuff and then getting it into the car.  It was a real chore!!!  We turned in our keys and checked out the posters for some upcoming events at the camp. I decided to try a different route home, going through the Village of Appleton.  I placed a geocache at this store a few years ago. so I was able to check on it, and it is in fine shape.   The shop was open and many items were on sale...………..some practically being given away.  Pam got a lovely dress for $1.50.  I purchased a bracelet, a wooden leaf pin (that I will probably give to Carol) and a scarf and my tab was less than four dollars. Only one more stop on the way home at TIM HORTONS in Wrights Corners, where Pam got an iced coffee.   I think we got home around eleven a.m.  I have SO MUCH STUFF to put away!!!!  But it is worth it for the great time we had.

Weatherwise, today was an absolutely perfect day. It was not too hot, it did not rain, the humidity must have been very low and the sky was a gorgeous blue! After showering and having breakfast, Pam and I headed out to Golden Hill State Park.  We stopped at the registration building and picked up a map of the trails.  We decided to hike the "Red Trail" because some of it was right along the lake, and would take us to a grove of large, old oak trees.  We were not disappointed.  Here are some of the pictures I took. The best part of this trail was that we were able to get right on the beach.   I loaded my pockets with 25 rocks!!!  Pam took off her shoes and socks and waded along the shore a bit. We spent a bit of time here, exploring and enjoying the beauty and the sound of the waves.   After getting back on the trail we found the OAK GROVE which has trees that are as old at 300 years! We completed the trail which was triangular shaped and brought us back to w

Pam and I left Lockport late this morning and headed north towards Lake Ontario.  We stopped at Gordy Harpers Bazaar and shared a turkey club sandwich.  We hit a bit of  a snag when we got close to Lighthouse Christian Camp because the main road to the camp was closed.  Pam used the map/GPS on her phone and got alternate directions for us.  I think we arrived at the camp around three p.m.   We quickly got settled into BARUCH, our small cabin. Then we took a walk around the camp and along the shore of the lake.  It was VERY WINDY!!!   I took a few pictures.   Then I suggested to Pam that we do some geocaching.  I revisited three caches that I had tried to find in the past without success.  We found two of the three.  Pam found one at the park where there used to be a pier and I found the one that was embedded into a light pole, at the entrance to a private road to some cottages.  I could not find the one at the shoe trees.   We went back to the cabin and rested a bit and then

My friend Pam has wanted for her and I to go camping this summer but so far it has not worked out.  However, this week and next (the last two weeks of summer) are not busy ones for me, so I called Lighthouse Christian Camp this morning and asked if the cabins are full this week and I was told "no".  When I went to Life Group this morning, I asked Pam if she wanted to go and she was enthusiastic.  I suggested she come to my house for lunch so we could finalize our plans and make reservations. Pam called and reserved the cabin closest to the bathhouse for tomorrow night and Thursday nights.  $35.00 a night.  We decided what food and other items we would need and agreed on who would bring what.  After lunch we went out for ice cream.  When I got home, I started getting my stuff together and then I took a nap. Tonight was the MORE THAN ENOUGH LADIES BONFIRE at Faith Tab.  I went to it and it was VERY GOOD!!! The plans for tomorrow are for Pam to order a pizza from Village E

I had the idea that Myrna might like to go to the huge field of sunflowers on Route 31 in Sanborn, so I called her this morning and asked her.  She said she had to go to QUEST for bloodwork and that her daughter was planning on taking her.  I suggested that she call her daughter and tell her I would take her.  She agreed to that and said she would like to go at noon.  So I said I would pick her up at noon. I picked her up at noon and we went to QUEST, where we waited about 40 minutes before she was taken in.  Ten minutes later she came out, but they had been unable to draw blood because they had not received the request.  The lab had tried to resolve the issue by calling the doctors office, but they were unable to reach the right person. We decided to move forward with our day and hope that the problem could be resolved within the next couple of hours.  We went to SUNFLOWERS OF SANBORN and had a great time.  The owners have turned it into an attraction.  Entrance is still free and

nine to four fifteen I was totally exhausted from last nights trip to Del Lago Casino, but I had agreed to help Becky get ready for the annual Bowler Reunion.  I had agreed to meet her at the shelter at 8:30 a.m. but I arrived at nine a.m.  I helped clean the pavilion up, get the tables in position, blew up balloons,  put tablecloths down and set up the prizes and tied the WELCOME to the BOWLER REUNION sign to a tree .  Dan Bowler came and hung up the huge posters with pictures from the past reunions.  Ann and Dick arrived from Albuquerque arrived early and only stayed a few minutes before leaving and saying they would come back later. Becky forgot to bring coffee so I offered to go get some.  I decided to make it at home, and make myself a sandwich at the same time since she was saying we would eat around two p.m.  I also went to Tim Hortons and got some timbits and to the 7/11 and got myself a Big Gulp.  By the time I got back to the shelter, everything was done.  We relaxed