We got back from our biannual family reunion about 3 weeks ago, this time in Maine. Tamara's friend Daniela flew back to Mexico the next week. Tamara was very unhappy. She was particularly angry because she had thought her friend was staying longer and, in fact, had bought tickets to a concert they were supposed to see together. The weather was changing and winter was (is) coming. I wanted to do something for me, too. Old age is also coming and I will not enjoy traveling as much soon. We had been to Acadia National Park, but it seemed the closest extraordinary place we could experience. It was still a ways away, and places to stay nearby were full and/or expensive. I found a couple places that were about halfway and determined we could drive there to spend the night and go the rest of the way the next day and then back to the rental and home the next day. Tamara and Ray and my Dad were on board. 

I asked Molli if she and Michael wanted to come. She said they had been planning to take Declan to Legoland, an amusement park about an hour north of NYC (and more than four hours from here). So I found some places to stay near there. The countryside was lovely. Tamara said she didn't think she wanted to go since there was nothing to do. This, to me, was the point, but she was entitled to her opinion. Then I found the Renaissance Faire nearby and she was very happy about that. Everybody was ready to commit, so I reserved a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home in Tuxedo Park, New York. 

We will skip over the part where Declan and Michael got COVID and I thought they would not be coming, but we couldn't get our money back. In the end, they were well enough to travel and cleared of quarantine. In fact, they were somewhat protected from catching it! Tamara took a day off from work, since I did not want us to drive in the dark and arrive late at night. Ray also told H&R Block he could not work that day. We arranged for a dog sitter (adding Osa, Molli's dog, at the last minute). We borrowed my Dad's car as being more comfortable than our Prius C. We were tempted to take the electric car and find somewhere to charge it where we ate lunch, but we decided that with my Dad, that might be too stressful. 

We didn't get going quite as early as we thought--we were aiming for 10 and left by 11:30, I think it was. Ray is very deliberate in how he does things, including wanting to bathe after packing the car and right before we leave. There was no real hurry, however, just the thought that we should get there early enough to avoid Friday rush hour traffic. We stopped for lunch at a Friendly's. We had brought sandwiches, except for my Dad, who ate half of mine, which was fine. Ray wanted a fish-a-ma-jig and we all had Fribbles (milkshakes). We went in to order and use the restroom. The milkshakes were ready in a reasonable time, but the fish sandwich (and fries) took almost an hour. Friendly's was never fast food...and probably understaffed like almost everywhere these days. We stood around in the parking lot. The weather was good. 

We stopped a second time to use the bathroom at a somewhat ratty gas station in New York. The sign on the bathroom door said Only for Customers--the code is on your receipt. I looked pleadingly toward the employee and he said, "it's open." I was very pleased, but a little nagging voice did say, "white privilege," or maybe old white lady privilege. After me, Tamara and my Dad went and finally Ray. I think he got coffee too, so then we felt we should buy some (expensive) gas. Dad's car is a hybrid, too, so it only took half a tank. 

We crossed the Hudson and were amazed at how beautiful the scenery was and how different from "home," which is now eastern Massachusetts. Long lines of low rounded mountains covered with trees. Following the GPS instructions on my phone, we found the house. It was beautiful. Very open, post and beam construction, with windows opening onto a landscaped rocky hillside with trees and flowers. The kitchen had tiled counters and all the amenities and there was a great big dining table, plus a comfy living room and even a game table. 

Interestingly enough, there was a car in the drive and I thought the owner must be around, but he wasn't. The instructions for getting in? The key is under the mat. He lives at the house, unlike some Air B&B's we have used, so his food was in the refrigerator and there were several locked closets and rooms. We managed to fit our perishables in and the rest of the food stayed on the counter. We weren't staying long or planning to do a lot of cooking. 

In fact, the first thing we did, after checking out the house and unpacking, was go out to dinner. We drove to Helm, on Lake Greenwood, through winding roads. I would say it was a local dive bar, based on some of the people we saw. But we were able to eat outside and the food was good. There was even a young woman named Chloe Bee, who sang familiar songs (pop standards? Billy Joel, Elton John, Carole King) seated behind an electric keyboard. She was great and we gave her $5. (piano man?). There weren't many masks in evidence, but we were outside and not close to anyone else. My Dad ordered a great big charcuterie board and Tamara poutine. Ray had steak frites. There was plenty of food and I didn't order anything (except a Sangria). We still have some of the cheese left over. Did we have dessert? I can't remember. An unexpectedly pleasant dinner. 

When we got back to the house, M&M&D had just arrived. They unpacked and got settled and we went to bed about 9. Their trip had gone well, too. In the morning, it was Patturday. This is a routine where I drive to Molli's house early on Saturday mornings every other week to play games with him and let M&M sleep in a little. In this case, I was already at the same house. Declan and I played several games that we had brought--he was drawn to things he hadn't played before like Yacht Race. His strategy--go over all the Sailor's Lucks. Mine? Use up my wind change cards undoing the things Sailor's Luck had caused, before the first buoy. I was a good bit ahead of him and he declined to finish the game. I don't usually insist that he finish. I think we played Parcheesi as well, and maybe Mille Bornes. 

My Dad got up and wanted coffee. I told him I did not know anything about the coffee situation. He needed a pot to boil an egg. He wanted to know if there was bread for toast. Soon Ray got up and he made some coffee, which turned out pretty badly. The owner had asked that we not use his food. This becomes a somewhat philosophical question. I am pretty sure it's okay to use some salt and pepper. The bananas left in the bowl? Maybe not, but Dad helped himself. Did I bring any yogurt? I did. He ate out of the container. Fortunately, I had eaten mine, but I did not take the remainder home with me.