Enjoying the evening with friends, family & a few drinks.

I twisted open that Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade and took a swizzle. Mm-mm. Alec and Brookie were already having fun riding their bicycles around the road. The road was only traveled on by guests and it basically consisted of a huge square. Within that "square" is a playground, baseball field, and volleyball net. Plenty to keep the kids busy. Evan joined in a baseball game -- right up his alley! But they mostly loved riding their bikes. Of course, with helmets.

Time to rant. I noticed throughout our stay that almost all the other kids riding their bikes did NOT have helmets on. Did their parents think because they were in the Adirondacks on vacation that they were magically safe? I actually think it was even more dangerous as these kids were riding all over the place and I saw quite a few near misses ... or should I say near hits? Whatever. Their kids, not mine.

I took a quick stroll down to the beach area onto the dock and looked around. It was quite peaceful by this time down there.

Looking towards the east:


Rob and I met up with other "somewhat young crowd". Gosh, do I still call myself the young crowd? I have to admit, I should call ourselves the middle age crowd, but I feel young. We were across the way from our rental home at the home of Rob's aunt and uncle. There was an nice fire underway. We were talking and drinking while the kids were biking. One friend of ours, Bill, brought sparklers for the kids, and they had a lot of fun with them until they were gone and back on the bikes they went. It was so dark out but the fire lit things up nice. I ran back to our home and got the appletini shooters and brought them back. I passed them around and we all toasted to a new year in the Adirondacks.

All of a sudden, we felt the rain start, so everyone said goodbye quickly, and Rob and I headed back across the way back home. I told Rob that we should walk on the road -- not the open field -- so we could make sure to stop the kids from bike riding. We got back to the house and saw Brookie's bike parked there already. But she was not in the house!! I turned to Evan and Alec, who were just pulling up, where Brookie was. Evan took off immediately around the road to look for her. My heart was starting to flip out. Evan shouted across the way, I found her. Poor baby got off her bike when it started to rain and walked by herself on the field to where were had been. We didn't see each other probably passing in the dark. She was obviously upset, and I took her into my arms and told her it was okay. I told her that we would NEVER leave her. I waited until tomorrow to give her the "run down" on where we would be and swore we would NOT leave a particular spot without letting the kids know. Lesson learned fast! I still shudder thinking about this incident.

It was past 10:30 p.m. already so we all headed upstairs, got ready for bed, and laid down. We had a TV in our room -- lucky for me. Finally drifiting off to sleep after a short while ...

Fourth Lake here we come!

Rob had to work on Saturday. We waited until he got home and we got things packed up to go. We ended up leaving about 3:30 pm and planned on stopping in Forestport for dinner at the Buffalohead. It's been years since we've dined there. On the NYS Thruway eastbound we went. This kids saw the Turningstone Casino hotel with it's neon light flashing on top and thought it was cool. It was about 4:30 at this time and we were all starving.

I asked Rob if he wanted to forget about the Buffalohead and eat at Joel's Frontyard Steakhouse in Vernon. He immediately agreed, so we pulled on in. We were seated kinda sorta by a fireplace that, of course, was not on being summertime. The kids wanted me to take their pics, so I asked them to get together. But NO!!! They all wanted their own photo. Whatever. So individually I took all their pics.

Evan first. He actually wanted to pose like this. LOL


And then Alec...


... and last, but certainly not least, Brookie!


We had very good dinners. I got prime rib which was way too big, and the children's portions of chicken fingers were very large too. We had 2 take-home containers, and then we were on the road again.

Driving through Old Forge, the kids saw Enchanted Forest/Water Safari and said that looked cool. We told them we would not be going there as we were going to Virginia's Busch Gardens the following week. Remember that (insert eye roll here).

We pulled into Holiday Shores and found the rented house. It was a very nice duplex. I immediately had to "nest" by making the beds and putting all our clothes away. I placed all our bath items in the tub and medicine cabinet of what I thought would be "our" bathroom.

Yep, with everything done, it was time to relax and sip on a nice cold Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade.

Fourth Lake, New York ... a little talk first.

Rob and his family have been going to the Adirondacks for eons. This is "his territory". His parents rent a camp at Holiday Shores near Eagle Bay on Fourth Lake every year the last week in July.

Rob's job has, what I think is, a horrible system for vacations. It goes on a seniority basis, which is great to a point. The "seniors" get to choose all their vacation weeks at once, which has led in most years past to no time for us in the summer or during school breaks. Well, Rob has finally moved his way up somewhat on the seniority list, and we have finally been able to start taking weeks in the summer. He has 3 weeks total vacation right now, and this summer in particular we were able to take 2 weeks in a row -- wow!

One of those weeks just happened to be the last week in July. So, of course, there was no question on where we were going that week.

Kathy (Rob's sister) and her husband, Bill, were also coming up. Bob & Marla (Rob's parents) rented a 3 bedroom/2 bath home this year. Our room had 2 queen beds. All we needed to bring was an inflatable twin mattress for one of the kids. I thought that having 2 baths in the place that our family of 5 would probably "take over" one bathroom and the other 4 would share the other bathroom. Yes, this is the first instance you will see that I am very, shall we say "particular" in what I like/dislike. I really like having a bathroom for just us. I hate sharing bathrooms. I know, I know -- don't say it. I'm a bathroom snob. But more on that later ... .

The Adirondacks has never really been my "thing". I grew up with my family going to the ocean every year. But it was important for me for Rob to be able to have this week. Plus I knew the kids would enjoy it. I actually was excited about going this year!

So Rob brought home lots of chips and dips to take up. I brought the makings of a Buffalo chicken wing dip. We had many other food items too. But the most important thing was the booze. Well, maybe not the most important, but it definitely rated up there. I bought 2 big jugs of Bacardi rum Bahama mama drinks and a pack of appletini shooters. We were ready to hit the road!

Just a little introduction ...

I decided that a blog was the way to go to share my travels with family and friends. Travels may include a day trip or vacation -- anywhere that gets us out of the house that may be interesting for readers.

I hope you enjoy my blogs. Some of you may not like things I do and/or say here. I want to be as honest as possible on certain experiences and/or feelings, so please remember that. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think -- good or bad -- but good is better. ;)

I am starting afresh with this summer and going from there. Enjoy!