June 6-10 - Cayuga Lake Family Vacation

"The memories we make with our family is everything." –Candace Cameron Bure

With all the Covid virus restrictions it's nice we have a beautiful area in our own backyard to vacation in. Our PA kids were on vacation, so they rented a house on the lake. The house was only a few miles up the lake from the marina and had a nice little dock for Tiny Pearl. Graham was excited to drive the boat to the house...Cora had a chance later in the week to drive the boat. They really enjoy our boats and we love having them here.

We spent our days playing in the lake, fishing, looking for beach glass and rocks, painting rocks, riding on the boat, eating well, reading, relaxing and truly enjoying just being together. We only took two short trips away from the house...a morning at the Ithaca Children's Garden and an afternoon sitting in the sun at the Bet the Farm Winery. 

The house

Looking up to the house from the yard.

The incredible view from the house.

The stairs up to the house from the lake.

We had a great time playing in the lake, even though the water is still cold up here (65º). 

The best way to warm up after playing in the lake...get buried in the warm rocks. 

Hot rock spa treatment.

Fun on the lake on Tiny Pearl.

These kids love to look for neat rocks to paint and beach glass...Cora has a great eye for finding beach glass. 

Upstate New York is full of rocks and we all like to paint rocks. This house was a great place to paint...it came with a wonderful view of the lake. 

Even Hattie had fun with the rocks. 

No trip to Ithaca is complete without a visit to the Children's Garden. 

Having fun on the deck...it was the perfect place to play and eat.  

This house and the lake was the perfect spot to relax, play and spend time with family. 

May 26 - Back to The Pearl

Allan H. Treman State Marine Park

"Not every lake dreams to be an ocean. Blessed are the ones who are happy with whom they are." —Mehmet Murat ildan

Our trip east from Texas this year was our 41st trip since 2011. It was definitely the longest and the hardest...maybe because we're getting older, but in reality I think it was the traffic. From the looks of our highways, our economy should be booming. We've never seen so many 18-wheelers on the freeways before. Because of the Covid 19 virus we decided to drive straight through this year. Definitely not our favorite way to travel anymore, but we just didn't feel comfortable stopping anywhere. We even brought our own food. We only stopped for gas and to use the restroom. Each time we stopped we wore our masks and made sure we cleaned our hands when we got back in the car. Between construction, accidents and having to be rerouted we lost four hours...making our 25 hour trip over 29. Our reward for the long trip was spending three days with our PA family and filling up on love.

After a little rest and lots of hugs we headed back to New York to get The Pearl ready for the summer. We arrived Sunday afternoon, unloaded all our stuff, stored it and were ready to launch first thing Monday morning. Stan checked all the systems, we flushed the water tank and then Stan was on his way to Ithaca. It was our quickest spring launch ever, no bottom job, no waxing, no other projects...we took the shrink wrap off and she was ready. 

Our first look at The Pearl...patiently waiting for summer to begin.

First step in waking up the boat is taking off her winter coat.

On her way to the water. 

She's floating and ready to go.

Stan leaving Beacon Bay...on his way to our summer home.

I like painting rocks and some of the best rocks I've ever seen are along the shore of Lake Ontario at Chimney Bluff State Park. It takes Stan about 5 hours to move the boat down the lake so I had plenty of time to enjoy myself before meeting him at the marina.

Some of the rocks I've painted...some I give away, some I sell and some I hide for others to find.

I enjoyed my drive along Cayuga Lake...everything is very green and beautiful. We truly love spending our summers up here.

The Pearl at home at Allan H. Treman State Marine Park...we're ready for summer. 

Getting our Tiny Pearl ready for family fun this weekend. 

Our marina is a state park...so it's beautiful and very peaceful. We have a series of bike trails that take us anywhere we need to go.

Enjoying my happy place.

May 13 - Summer Updates

“Home should be an anchor, a port in a storm, a refuge, a happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved and where we can love.” –Marvin J. Ashton

This is the first May in ten years that we’re still in Texas. It starts to get hot in Texas around Mother's Day...the temperature rises and the humidity becomes almost unbearable. That’s why we’re usually gone by now, but Covid 19 has changed the world and we’re on hold. We aren’t sure if we’ll even be able to return to The Pearl this season. 

Our marina is a New York State Park and they’re opening the marina on May 15, but so far they aren’t letting anyone spend the night on their vessels. It really doesn’t make sense...we can be there during the day, social distancing from others of course, but we can’t sleep on our boats. I’m sure they’re just following the guidelines for camping at other state parks...no camping...no sleeping on your boats. If the policy doesn’t change early in June...we won’t return this summer.

We have a few other options...none of them are ideal, so we’re still looking, planning and waiting. The boat is stuck on the lake, because the Erie Canal probably won't open in its entirety this season. I’m beginning to miss the open sea and the freedom that it brings.

We have been staying in mostly, since March 14...no dining out, no meals brought in, no shopping, no haircuts and no interaction with other people...except from afar or online. Not hard for us, we have plenty to do at our home. Stan has finished lots of projects that we have put off for years. Me on the other hand...not as energetic. The last few weeks we've visited our Texas grands, no hugs, but playing on the driveway and taking walks. This past weekend we actually acted like the world had returned to normal and had a wonderful Mother’s Day with them.

I saw this somewhere online and wanted to share it with my readers. I really like the last line.

The Day the World Went Crazy 
We fell asleep in one world, and woke up in another. Suddenly Disney is out of magic, Paris is no longer romantic, New York doesn't stand up anymore, the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress, and Mecca is empty. Hugs & kisses suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents & friends becomes an act of love. Suddenly you realize that power, beauty & money are worthless, and can't get you the oxygen you're fighting for.

The world continues its life and it is beautiful. It only puts humans in cages. I think it's sending us a message: "You are not necessary. The air, earth, water and sky without you are fine. When you come back, remember that you are my guests. Not my masters."

We have a lot of good friends in New York and they're keeping an eye on our Pearl as she patiently awaits our return.

We really wouldn't want to be in Ithaca right now...the weather hasn't been very nice. Snowstorms and lots of rain. I sure hope June brings us better news and better weather for all our New York friends.

A friend sent me this picture last night (5/12) still snowing in upstate NY.

Our marina...almost under water.