June 28-July 1 Graham's Visit

“Promise me you'll remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think.” -Winnie the Pooh 

Graham’s visit actually started off with us spending the weekend in Bloomsburg. We’ve visited Forks Farm Market many times, but this time Graham had a booth to sell some of his artwork. He had a great showing and sold out before lunch. It was so much fun to be there with him.

Graham spent some of his earnings on an arrowhead kit, complete with chipping tool, obsidian, grinding rocks and several pieces of antlers. Graham and his friend had a great time making arrowheads and figuring out what they were going to mount them on. Graham made an arrow and spent time at the boat finding feathers to attach to it and a branch to make a bow. I have to say I was a little skeptical that it would work, but Stan and Graham proved me wrong. They did a great job and he was able to shoot the arrow 20 feet or more. What a great summer project...Camp Marshall was a success.  

The weather was extremely hot the days Graham was on the boat, so we spent a lot of time at Long Point Park swimming in the cool lake. Graham had fun playing in the water, riding his scooter, looking for treasures and playing on the playground. We also spent time in the early morning and late evening riding bikes. Now that he can ride the two wheeler without training wheels we can cover a lot more ground. Each day we rode over three miles. Having the kids spend time on the boat during the summer is a very special time for all of us. Priceless memories. 

We picked raspberries one morning at Indian Creek Farm...they were so sweet.

The best way to spend a warm day is playing in the lake and eating ice cream.

Summer Updates

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ―Mae West

We've definitely been making up for the time we lost last summer. We've been out and about on every nice day...hikes, waterfalls, wineries, visiting with friends, picnics and exploring. Many things we've done just haven't needed it's own post so I'm including them in this one. We truly love our life on the lake in New York. There are so many things to do here and we always have somewhere beautiful to go.

One of our favorite things to do on the lake is to go to a winery, get a bottle of wine and enjoy a picnic with a view. Sheldrake is one of our all time favorites.

Chimney Bluffs State Park is located on Lake Ontario and is a great place to find rocks to paint. We spent a nice day walking the beach, visiting a waterfall, having a nice lunch on the shore of Sodus Bay and catching up with friends Pam and Mark.

A few of the rocks I've painted.

On the way to Chimney Bluffs we stopped and hiked down to the bottom of Wolcott Falls. There are hidden falls everywhere around here.

We've even had a chance to get out on the lake on Tiny Pearl.

Loopers Heidi and Christian spent time in Ithaca while they waited for the repairs on the Western Erie Canal. We had a great time getting to know them. We took them to Watkins Glen to hike and then to Boundary Breaks for a bottle of wine and a picnic. I hope our paths cross again one day.

One day we hiked the Owl Creek Trail at Buttermilk Falls State Park. It was a nice workout and there was no one else on the trail...just like we like it.

We spent one Friday night with Greg and Jen at their marina on Seneca Lake. Each weekend the marina sponsors a band, supplies a food truck and provides a lot of fun for anyone who wants to come. What a great way to spend a beautiful summer night.

What a surprise it was to see this deer one day when we were returning from Watkins Glen. Research told us that it was a Seneca White Deer. These deer found at Seneca Army Depot are a natural variation of the white-tailed deer, which usually have brown coloring. The Seneca White Deer lack all pigmentation in the hair, but have the normal brown-colored eyes. The protection that the Depot gave them has allowed them to interbreed and increase in numbers for more than 60 years.

One beautiful morning, after a heavy rain we visited Ithaca Falls. It's known as Ithaca’s secret falls, because it’s not obvious from the road that the beautiful falls are right around the corner. With a drop of 150ft and width of 175ft, it's the region’s most powerful and most impressive falls. 

We've had amazing weather during June...perfect weather for hiking and biking. One pretty day we biked as far up the Black Diamond Trail as we could. They've closed sections of it for maintenance, and we couldn't make it all the way to Taughannock Falls, but we found another one along the way to enjoy our lunch.

Why Living on a Boat is Better than Living in a House

Boat Nut: If you are one, there is no explanation necessary. If you aren’t one, there is no explanation possible.

Here are just a few benefits to living aboard full time instead of living in a house. 

1. You Can Move Your Boat & Live Anywhere.

If and when you want to move there's no getting the house ready to sell, listing it, showing it and looking for a new house…you simply untie the lines and move your home to a new location.

2. People Around You Pay Millions For Your View.

In a marina you have waterfront property for a fraction of the cost that homeowners in the same area are paying. In many cases, the view from the marina is even better.

3. The Cost Of Living On A Boat In A Marina Can Be Much Lower.

Boat owners in a marina pay a monthly rent for the boat slip. Most marina's will offer a large discount for taking out a long-term contract (6 months or more). Other costs can include electricity, insurance and a liveaboard fee...no property tax.

4. There Is Often A Wonderful Liveaboard Community.

The proximity of the boats and the need to walk the docks to get out of the marina gives you time to chat with your neighbors. If someone has an issue, everyone helps out and they keep an eye out for everyone else. The community is close knit and enjoy getting together for a chat and drink along the dock or aboard a boat in the evenings. It's easy to make friends in a marina.

5. Full-time Liveaboards Have Common Values.

Liveaboards all have a love for the water, most are interested in conservation, green technology and taking care of the planet. They value strong friendships and work very hard to make others feel welcomed and wanted. Conversations are more apt to be about boat projects, cruising destinations and fishing than current news topics.

6. Easy To Meet New Friends.

Marinas have the usual liveaboards and long-term tenants but they also have transients that come and go. One week you might meet an interesting couple who are migrating south for the winter and next week you could meet a sailor who has circumnavigated the world. Meeting these people is easy while you help them with their lines or share information on the area. Boaters become friends quickly and you can feel like you've known them forever, even after just a few days.

7. Keeping Up With The Jones Isn’t A Thing.

Due to the lifestyle, the typical person that lives on a boat is not interested in material possessions. They would celebrate with a neighbor who bought a new tender, rather than be jealous.

8. Less Space = Less Crap.

A reduction in space means a reduction in stuff that's a reward in its own right. On a boat, you only keep what you need. When something is no longer useful you pass it on.

9. Boaters Are Okay In A Flood.

You never have to worry about flooding, your house just rises with the tide. You can also move your home in the case of a hurricane...not true of a house.

10. Can’t Beat The Wildlife.

Besides the normal pets that people have, your neighborhood may also have dolphins, pelicans, sea birds, alligators, otters, seals and a variety of other beautiful creatures that you don’t find on land.

11. Cleaning Is Drastically Reduced.

Cleaning the whole boat takes a lot less time than cleaning a house and there’s no lawn to mow.

12. Time To Sell – Huge Marketplace Available.

When you want to sell your boat you’re not limited to selling it in your local area. Your target market can include the whole world.

June 17 - Robert H. Treman State Park

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” – Rumi

This summer we've been trying to get back to hikes we've done in the past and enjoyed. Today the weather was so amazing we just had to get out and hike. We decided to hike at Robert H.Treman State Park. We first hiked this trail in 2017. We parked in the lower section of the park and took the Gorge Trail 2.25 miles up to Lucifer Falls and the old grist mill. If you don't have time for the full 4.5 mile hike you can start at the top and do a smaller loop that is only 1 mile...it takes you to all the highlights in less time and with a lot less effort. Along the Gorge Trail we passed 12 waterfalls, including the magnificent Lucifer Falls that cascades beside a stone staircase and down 115 feet of rock face.

After a short break at the Grits Mill we took the Rim Trail back to the lower falls and parking lot (2.25 miles). This trail led to a wonderful overlook of Lucifer Falls, then to the Cliff Staircase (221 steps) that brought us to the bottom of the falls...wonderful views from both places. The trail winds through the woods to the lower campground by Lower Falls, also known as Treman Falls.

The Gorge Trail starts in the lower parking lot with lots of stairs. It was a great workout.

One of the many falls along the hike.

Beautiful scenery along the way.

Lucifer Falls, water levels are a little low at the moment, but still beautiful and impressive.

The falls right above Lucifer Falls.

The trail follows Enfield Creek, giving many views of the rock formations in the deep, narrow gorge known as Enfield Glen. This is below the Grist Mill and before Lucifer Falls.

We took the Rim Trail back to the lower parking lot. 

One of the views from the Rim Trail.

This is just part of the Cliff Staircase that take hikers to the bottom of the falls. If you're doing the short loop I would suggest you start with the Rim Trail, so you can go down the 221 steps instead of going up.

The view of Lucifer Falls from the bottom.

A seasonal pool is at the bottom of the lower falls. Crews are just now removing sentiment from the area. They will then replace the dam in the creek that will fill the pool with fresh cool water. It's listed as one of the top 50 natural swimming holes in the United States.

This is what the pool will look like soon. On every nice day this pool will be full of people. You're even allowed to swim under the falls...but the water is VERY cold.

A map of the trail and park.

We thought we deserved a treat after such a great workout, so we relaxed with a picnic at Long Point State Park.

June 13-15 Cora's Visit

"Children are not a distraction from more important work, they are the most important work." –C.S. Lewis

This year Cora got to come stay on the boat first and we had a wonderful visit. She is such an entertaining, informative and creative little girl. She loves nature...she explores every seed, flower, leaf, stick and bug she can find. 

We had so many things to do and so little time, I’m sure she’ll need to come again to complete the list. Some of the things we did get to do this time was pick strawberries, paint rocks, make bracelets, have picnics, visit a waterfall, play at a playground, ride a new scooter, have lunch with a bear and play on the flybridge.

Cora loved her new pink scooter and she was instantly great on it.

Cora's pets for the evening...she made sure to put them back on the trees when we went back to the boat.

Did you know different trees sound different when you play them like a drum?

Picking strawberries at Indian Creek Farm. The flowers weren’t ready, so I guess that will be on the to do list for next time.

We had a picnic at Buttermilk Falls and played on their playground.

Sometimes just playing on the boat is the most fun.

We stopped for lunch at a cute little place in Dushore called the Jolly Trolly. All kinds of fun things for kids to look at.

June 3-7 Cayuga Lake Vacation

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” –Anthony Brandt

We spent our first weekend getaway with Kyle and his family at a fantastic house about halfway up Cayuga Lake. It had the best view of the lake that I’ve seen so far. I could spend all summer just hanging out on their amazing deck. We had a great weekend celebrating Brytanie and Graham’s birthdays. We really treasure these vacations with our family.

The House

The Deck and its amazing view

Fun on the deck

Besides enjoying the view from the amazing deck while at the house we also went swimming, kayaking, explored along the lakefront, played in the yard, painted rocks, roasted marshmallows, built with legos and enjoyed some great relaxation time. But the most exciting part was watching Graham learn to ride his bike without training wheels. He is now a true believer that a two wheeler is much more fun than one with training wheels.

Campfire time on the beach

Even with a wonderful place to stay, you need to get away and do a few other things. On Graham’s birthday we went up to the Finger Lake Cider House for lunch...stopping at the Cayuga Lake Creamery on the way home. The ice cream cones at this place are huge...even the kid size. The next day we took Tiny Pearl up the lake to have lunch at O’Malleys. Bryt played captain and drove us there and back while Stan just relaxed.

Fun on the boat

The faces of our little grandwonders