Day Five: 7/23/14

Day Five:  7/23/14

Miles: 43

Laundry: 2 loads

Doritos consumed: two small bags (none shared with parents)

Wildlife spotted:

Many gold finches

Deer

Chipmunks

Frogs

Mama turkey with a brood of 12

Loons

Minnows

Wildlife caught:

None

Breakfast:  Awesome

Lunch: Fabulous

Dinner:  Subway - Meh

The long awaited, much anticipated breakfast did not disappoint.  

After eating our fill, we took our relaxed selves 1/2 hour south through the rolling foothills of the Adirondacks to the home Sandy and Lois built.  When poor health forced them to move to the city they sold the land to very good friends, Paul and Ruth who we visited today.

The land is part of a nature conservation cooperative, flanked by state land.  It will never be developed and the lake will never be motorized.  It was a beautiful spot to share memories and hear new stories about Sandy and Lois.

The kids got a big kick out of a picture on the refrigerator of a bear who paid a recent early morning visit to the bird feeders.

 Paul pointed out his mounted bear trophy in the living room.  He told us that when he proudly showed Sandy and Lois this enhancement to their former home,  Sandy said: "Well, it's your house."

Our excellent breakfast was equalled by the lunch Ruth "threw together".  It was topped off by a beautiful and delicious apple pie and a visit from a hungry deer.

After lunch we toured the land and Paul showed us the various summer and year-round properties tucked into the woods.  He shared more stories about Sandy and Lois' love for the place.  Paul recommended a quick hike to "the most beautiful view of Cedar Lake."  Halfway there we were caught in a downpour; our first rain of the trip.  

By the time we got down to the lake, the sun was out along with the deer flies.  The kids, who had been tugging our sleeves asking to go back, suddenly could not be extracted from the beach.

We headed back to Paul and Ruth's and wrote down memories of Grandma Lois and put them in with her ashes.  They will be buried with her in the fall.     

Paul shared an article from the local paper, published shortly before Lois died.  She had been nominated for a very prestigious award, but in her usual quiet, modest way, had not told anyone about it.

Warm goodbyes and an exchange of e-mails and it was back to the B&B.  

I headed out to do laundry while the kids watched a video during the rain.  Dinner, games and bed tonight.  One last soft mattress before we camp again!