It's been a busy week of sightseeing and fun with Mary Jo and Tony Taggart visiting as many wineries as humanly possible and eating at every possible opportunity.  Also a visit to Watkins Glen Gorge and Corning. It was wonderful spending this time with good friends.  The highlight of the week was truly a "Bucket list" thing for Nick.....flying a glider.

Entrance to Watkins Glen Gorge

Unbelievable works of nature

Beautiful scene where we had lunch in Watkins Glen

Design at entrance

Corning Museum of Glass

Glass Blowing Demo

Fascinating Glass Demos with beautiful results
Also great store for shopping

Another wine stop

Lunch at Knapp Winery

Had to stop at Barnstormers for the pilots

Pompous Ass Winery
(couldn't resist stopping here just because of the name)

So many wineries, so little time and each one is in an incredible setting, many of them overlooking the lake.  Such a beautiful part of our country.

Tuesday took us into Ithaca and Syracuse for an outing of lunch and shopping for a new satellite for the RV.....now if we can just get it to work.

We also discovered Preble, NY and just had to stop by.

Our Port St Lucie friends, Mary Jo and Tony Taggert, arrived last night to join us for a few days of fun.  They've been in NH visiting relatives and will start heading across the country this weekend.

Went to Spencerport, NY to visit Don and Leslie Ezard on Monday. Don was getting ready for knee surgery the next morning but took us around to show us the area including a great dinner in downtown Rochester at the Genesse Brewery. 

After retiring from the Sheriff's Dept, Don headed up security for the George Eastman Mansion, founder of Eastman Kodak. He was able to take us in for a private tour of this magnificent 35,000 sq ft home including beautiful gardens.  This home was built by Eastman for just he and his mother. It was such a treat to get to see this. Does anyone know how Kodak got its name?  George wanted something to go with Eastman that was short so he took the 'K' from his mother's name and put it on the front and back of the word trying out letters to fit in between and finally came up with Kodak.

Enjoying a visit at their home, Spencerport, NY

Don and Leslie Ezard

 

Genesse Brew House

Rochester, NY

George Eastman Mansion

Arrived safely yesterday at Sned Acres, Ovid, NY in the Finger Lakes near Cayuga Lake in time to get to 3 wineries with many more to see. They are everywhere, and it is a beautiful area to explore.

First stop Cayuga Ridge Estate

Converted barn for shopping and wine tasting 

Restaurant attached to barn

Thirsty Owl Wine Co.

Beautiful landscaping at entrance

Another tasting!

Cayuga Lake

Grapes growing everywhere

Cider House Tasting Room
(These were not our favorites)

Since we had cool weather today, we made a tee time at Trumansburg Golf Course and ended up playing in the most unusual and varied weather.  It rained off and on, the sun tried coming out a few times, but the best part is that is was only about 64 degrees.  I actually had on long pants and a jacket. Weather reports say it will be in mid 90s by Wednesday so in spite of the weather we were very glad we played today.

We finally got to play the Oak Hollow Course after getting rained out.  It's really pretty and again a bit of a challenge.....at least for me. A father/daughter joined us as well, and then we got to see a sight I've never seen before.....a guy in a "kilt golf skirt".

Oak Hollow Lake

 

It was great having dinner last night with Kathy and Larry Webb on our last evening in the Winston Salem area.  Kathy and I used to work together, and it was really nice to catch up.  We're hoping to get them to visit in FL once Larry retires next April.

We set out this morning to head toward NY planning to go as far as Harrisonburg, PA today.  We had a nice view of Pilot Mountain, Mt. Airy, NC on the way out of town.  We ended up with a bit of a delay as a young man ran into the side of the coach.  Luckily, no one was injured but we had traffic backed up as we sat on the side of I81 waiting for the police.  

 

KOA Harrisonburg, PA
They even will deliver dinner to your coach

Such nice landscaping, including a spinner like ours at home

 

Ann Strauss, this one is for you......instead of
beer and ice cream, I had wine and ice cream.....
to help soothe the nerves!