North Country- Days 25-26

 NY to me means family.  My dad grew up here, many of my aunts, uncles and cousins live in NY, and especially after the last 2 years that we've had, it's really exciting to just get to be with family. 

This summer my aunt T and her husband got a compound in Robert Wehle State Park on Lake Ontario and it has room for family- which I am so thankful for. I am also grateful that today is a light drive day- only. a few hours. 

Prior to getting up to the Cabin however I had a few things I needed to stop and do

1. Wegman's - Yes I have to go to a Grocery store and no this will not be my last time in a Wegman's before I leave NY- If you've never been in a Wegman's you just don't get it. 
2. Oil Change - I am over 6000 miles and this feels like the appropriate thing to do after the wear and tear I have put my car through over the last 24 days. 
3. Biscotti Cafe & Bakery  for the best Italian cannolis and cakes in Syracuse. 

Lake life! 

My Uncle is from the Henderson area and much of his family has lake homes for the summer up there.  This summer they rented in a place in Wehle state park.  It was PERFECT.  Secluded, quite, peaceful, disconnected (hence why this blog is late) but so great to just forget about any worry of life and just relax with family.  

The first night I was there we went out to dinner at a local brewery in Watertown, NY - Garland City Beer Works. Not only do they have a great tap list, but they also do craft cocktails and have an extensive food menu with choice of proteins ( beef, chicken or portobello mushroom) for nearly all their entree options which is great when out with large groups of people. 

On my second day I spent most of the day relaxing either in the window seat with tea or in an Adirondack chair with a beer- really the best way to spend the summer.  My cousins and I decided we needed to swim and went over to another family member's property as she has more accessible water front.  Let's be clear though it's not a beach as most people thing about it- this isn't sandy- it's a 3 foot strip of rocks accessible by a stair case to the Lake. But we all did it, we all went full into the lake.  My cousins lasted considerably longer than I did.  I was more than content to say I did it, to check it off my list and to sit in the sun.  We then went back to the compound for dinner- so nice to have another homemade meal.  Eating out is fun, but after weeks on the road, home cooked meals are everything.  We had pork tenderloin (already a personal fave), roasted potatoes with very caramelized onions and broccoli.  

After dinner I was again exhausted-  Even though today was a wonderfully lazy day- it was wonderfully lazy in the sun, so sleepy.  

I swear the 2 nights I spent at the lake have been the best nights of sleep I've had this who trip.  The breeze through the window- no A/C noise, just the sound of waves hitting rocks.  Seriously perfection. 

This morning- (day 27) I woke up early (before 8) had tea and an English muffin, worked on a puzzle for a few hours with my uncle and cousin.  Moved all of my Cousin A's stuff out of my car (I drove stuff out here for her move from WA to ME, because I was coming eventually) and packed my stuff up to go.  After saying goodbye I hit the road for Wine country. ---However, life happens and in all the saying goodbye I forgot my purse and wallet at the compound-- realized this in Mexico so I turned around and drove about 30 miles back, retrieved my purse and wallet- said goodbye again and got on the road- for real this time.  

I would happily spend every summer day that that lake house.  It was actually really lovely to be disconnected from the world- to not be able to call or text unless you walked way out into the yard, to not have access to the internet- and to not have the world have access to me.  It reminded me how important truly disconnected time is in life.  

Signing off for now

-C