Impulse Cruising Again

Vessel Name: Impulse
Vessel Make/Model: Catalina 350
Hailing Port: Langhorne PA
Crew: Bill & Mary
Recent Blog Posts
16 August 2023

Heading for Philly after a few stops...

Sunday, August 13

12 August 2023

Time in the foothills of the Adirondacks

Friday, Aug 11

10 August 2023 | Oswego, NY

Finally catching up

Tuesday, Aug 8

09 August 2023

One post, many days

So I haven't posted any news in a long time - here is some catch up material. I'll post the rest tomorrow...

02 August 2023 | Valdosta, Georgia

Another Road Trip! Going North...

We are on the road and here is the story.

02 August 2021 | Punta Gorda, FL

Our Last Night on the Road!

Not much to report for yesterday - Bill drove and drove and drove. We left Slidell, Louisiana and stopped for the night in Lake City, FL. I had wanted to stop at Florida Caverns State Park but the tickets for the tour of the caverns are first come, first served and as we neared I called and we [...]

Heading for Philly after a few stops...

16 August 2023
Mary Yeomans
Sunday, August 13

Happy Anniversary to us! 46 years of marital bliss…

We left Fosters after a quick breakfast and goodbyes, and headed to Saratoga Springs. It took a bit of finagling to find our way since the road was closed 8 miles from our destination and there was no cell service! That isn’t unusual in these parts. We drove through the town, past Spa Park, past the SPAC (performing arts center), and past the racetrack. We did see horses crossing the road after their warm up runs, but no races were happening yet being Sunday morning. So we continued on and got to the Vanderbilt mansion after lunch at McDonald’s. The tour guide was very good (we have been very lucky in that regard) and the house was lavish but not huge like the Biltmore. They only ever had 18 guests in this residence. When this Vanderbilt died he left this house to his niece. She didn’t want it and tried to sell it, but had to lower the price many times until she got an offer at $80,000 – this was during the Depression.. That didn’t seem right, so she took her neighbor’s, FDR’s, advice and donated the property to the National Parks. We left and headed several miles down the road to FDR’s home, Spring Hill, where he was born and raised, and lived until his death in 1943. Although this had a whole lot of bedrooms, it was not very big in terms of communal space. No adaptations had been made for his inability to walk after his bout with polio. He used the luggage lift to haul himself up to the second floor to his bedroom and bathroom, demonstrating how strong his upper body was. After his death Eleanor moved to a house not too far away, ValKill, as she had never felt this was her actual home. FDR and Eleanor were always trying to help people as we had learned when we visited Fort Ontario last week. The tour guide here was very good too! Not a loser in the bunch! We headed to our hotel in Poughkeepsie and had a little wine and nibbles before heading to dinner, then went to the Texas Roadhouse for our anniversary celebration! Pittsburgh medium rare steak for Bill, filet and shrimp for me. Everything was delicious!

Monday, August 14

We decided our trip to head south towards Philly, but we stopped in Oceanport, NJ to visit our friends, Tim and Mare, and their daughter, son-in-law, and Mare’s mother who turned 98 today!! We had a takeout Caribbean lunch at their yacht club on the water, and it was delightful, although a bit spicier than expected. They have a Sanderling sailboat there. Greg grew up sailing at this club and they live nearby and are very active in the club. After lunch we headed for Kim and Darren’s, which was about two hours away. We stopped at our old grocery store to get what Bill needed to make dinner and ran into Colby, our 17 year old grandson, who was working. We arrived in time to prepare dinner and see everyone before bedtime. It is great to be with the kids and grandkids again!

Time in the foothills of the Adirondacks

12 August 2023
Mary Yeomans
Friday, Aug 11

This morning was cool and breezy. We left the hotel and stopped at Fort Ontario where we walked around a bit, looking out on Lake Ontario and checking out an old cemetery and monument. The fort has earthen walls and six structures inside. We toured barracks, officer’s homes, the arsenal, and a guard house. This fort went through many changes, serving in the French and Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the Civil War on various sides of these conflicts. It also served as a Safe Haven for 982 refugees from the Holocaust who President Roosevelt invited to the US as his guests. Oswego welcomed these folks with open arms, and when the war ended the majority wanted to stay in the US and not return to their homelands as they had promised to do. President Truman allowed them to do stay, and many went on to be outstanding American citizens who contributed much to our country. One even invented the CAT scan! From the fort we headed south, following the Oswego River to Great Sacandaga Lake – Mayfield to be precise – to visit Betsy and Dick Foster. I know Betsy from garden club and had met Dick briefly. Once we settled into the “guest quarters” we went to a farm to buy corn for dinner and also to the Rice Homestead, which is a home built in the 1760’s which is maintained by the Mayfield Historical Society. Dick and Betsy are very active in the organization and they gave us a great tour. Conversation flowed easily over wine and they fed us a delicious dinner.

Saturday, Aug 12

Bill slept better then he has in months! Windows open with cool air, very quiet and a comfy bed and he was very well-rested. Dick made omelets and Betsy offered muffins and marmalade she had made along with fruit. A great start to the day! Dick drove us through Gloversville and Johnstown which were both involved in leather tanning and glove production back in the day, but no longer. We toured Johnson Hall, which was built before the Revolutionary War and housed the Baronet of New York and his family. William Johnson was know as a very good peacekeeper with the Native Americans and settlers, and the exceptional tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and shared a lot of information about the house and family with us. After the tour we stopped at a Stewart’s in Northville for a quick snack and then headed home. After a brief rest and glass of wine we went to the Historic Broadalbin Hotel for dinner. All were served delicious meals and we went home happy and full. We are leaving tomorrow morning so it’s time to pack up and hit the hay!

Finally catching up

10 August 2023 | Oswego, NY
Mary Yeomans | scattered showers
Tuesday, Aug 8

We got to Letchworth State Park soon after it opened, and drove to the south end of the park along the Genesee River. This is a gorgeous park – the geologic formations and waterfalls are incredible. It is appropriately called the “Grand Canyon of the East.” The park is very well-kept. We ate at the Glen Iris Inn at Caroline’s – food was good and the gardens are beautiful. The Inn was originally the home of William Letchworth, a Quaker who made his money working hard in the carriage and ironwork industry. He was very philanthropic and donated his estate to the state to be made into a park. We stayed at Park Lake Motel in Perry, NY. This was an old motel, but it was extremely well-maintained. Everything appeared to be original, but nothing needed paint or caulk. It was clean as a whistle and a good find. Once we reserved a room online we got an email with our room number. The door was open, and the key was left next to the phone, which is where you leave it when you “check out” by hanging a tag on the doorknob. Such a quaint, small town feel to the whole experience. We skipped dinner – too full from lunch!

Wednesday, Aug 9

We had breakfast in Perry at John & Sarah’s – a cute little place with very large plates of food! Bill took some of his hash with him for tomorrow’s breakfast there was so much. George Eastman Museum in Rochester was not very far away and we arrived as it opened. The mansion, once again, was the true winner in this stop! The gardens were pretty too, and the exhibits were interesting, but we can’t get over the homes these self-made, wealthy men built for themselves and their families. Of course Eastman made his fortune in photography – Eastman Kodak was the company. He created that name – he though K was a strong letter and he wanted two syllables, easy to pronounce in any language, and unique. He never married, so he had no children, and at 77 years of age decided to change his will and leave his estate to the University of Rochester rather than his niece, having many friends speak to him that day so that they could vouch for his sanity when he signed the document. After they left he shot himself in the heart with a Luger, leaving this note: “My friends - My work is done. Why wait?” Wouldn’t that be a shock? We left there and ate lunch at the Bluewater Grill in Skaneateles at the north end of another lake. The water there was truly blue – as clear as any water I’ve seen. The town is full of shops, boutiques, and restaurants and we learned the Native American pronunciation, which is what they use, is “skinny atlas!” Hotels were well out of our league so we stayed nearby in Weedsport – another funny name but not a bad place! Dinner at Arby’s was all we needed…

Thursday, Aug 10

After breakfast today it started to pour rain, so we hung out and leisurely left for Syracuse around 9:30 am. We got to the Erie Canal Museum and were quite entertained by the fellow at the desk – a very knowledgeable and outgoing guy! The history of the Erie Canal is quite interesting, and the museum is actually in the Weigh Lock building, which is the only one of its kind left in the world. The canal boats pulled into a lock here, then the water was emptied out so the boat sat on a wooden cradle, which was connected to a scale in the building, and then the water was refilled. All boats had to be weighed empty at the beginning of the season (April) each year, so subtraction resulted in the weight of the cargo, and tolls were imposed according to the weight, type of cargo (flour, furniture, salt, etc) and miles traveled. This is how they paid for the construction and maintenance of the canal! After lunch we took a drizzly walking tour in the area to see the architecture and layout of the intersection between the Erie and Oswego Canals. Erie Boulevard and Oswego Street are now laid over the original canals, which were filled in. We learned a lot today! A Biergarten was nearby so we stopped for a few brews (and I threw some darts) and then we drove to Oswego, where we have a 4th floor room overlooking the Oswego River and we can see Lake Ontario. We had dinner at the Press Box – a walk down the street towards the lake. Hopefully tomorrow it won’t rain!

One post, many days

09 August 2023
Mary Yeomans
So I haven't posted any news in a long time - here is some catch up material. I'll post the rest tomorrow...

Thursday, August 3

Happy Birthday Colby!

After breakfast at the hotel we stopped for gas and headed north, stopping in Madison, Georgia for lunch. We ate at R & B Café and had delicious fried chicken and pork chops along with the traditional southern sides – collards, corn bread, lima beans, and mac & cheese. Drinks were included: sweet tea and lemonade, of course! With full bellies we headed for Athens and the State Botanical Gardens of Georgia.

It was cloudy when we arrived so it wasn’t very hot, but it sure warmed up quickly once the sun broke through! We toured the Days (of Days’ Inn) Exhibit of Porcelain and China and then some of the gardens and the conservatory. There were some beautiful orchids and interesting heritage plantings.

We went in to Athens and had a beer at the Blind Pig Tavern and then brother Kurt joined us. After a couple more beers we all got in our car and Kurt took us on a tour of the UGA campus. He is a great guide! The stadium is quite impressive, and we couldn’t believe how big the campus is. We ended up at DeAmici’s for dinner, which was delicious. Then said our goodbyes to Kurt and followed him out of Athens, waved bye on the road, and found our hotel in Commerce. A very full day!!

Friday, Aug. 4

Not much to report today – it was a day when you get in the car, hang on, and drive! We landed in Chambersburg, PA for the night, ready to head further north tomorrow.

Saturday, Aug. 5

We fueled up and headed north, getting to the Corning Glass Museum in NY after lunch. The exhibits were incredible, and we watched a demonstration of glassblowing and another about the different types of glass and how they break. There is so much in this museum it is difficult to stay focused for the hours it takes to see it all! We left Corning and stayed in a hotel in Bath, NY. Dinner at the Liberty St. Pub was delicious, and the owner/bartender was a great conversationalist!

Sunday, Aug 6

Leaving Bath after breakfast put us at Sonnenberg Gardens in Canadaigua as it opened. The mansion was incredible – we seem to really fall for these old houses and their architecture. The gardens were nice (this was one of the reciprocal gardens with my membership to the Peace River Botanical Gardens) but not as manicured as others. We did learn they had quite a loss of plants last winter with bad weather, so that explains some of it. We had lunch at Rose Tavern – quite uppity! – at the north end of Lake Canandaigua. We couldn't believe the number of boats that were anchored off of the shore there. I guess it is the weekend gathering place for the whole lake! We stopped at the Heron Hill Winery for a tasting and all of the wines were very good. Our hotel was in Farmington and it turns out that many restaurants close early there so we ended up at the Thirsty Turtle. Food was okay, but it wasn’t our first choice…

Monday, Aug 7

After breakfast we headed for Niagara Falls State Park and found parking without too much trouble. Although we arrived soon after opening, there were crowds of people there. We went on the Maid of the Mist! What fun it was. Blue ponchos, lots of spray from the falls, and the boat went into Horseshoe Falls far enough that from the outside it was not visible. We had both seen the falls as children but I was probably more impressed now then I was then. The power is incredible! We ate lunch nearby at Flip Burger and then headed to the Niagara Falls Power Project. There we toured exhibits that showed how tunnels were dug to divert water from the Niagara River to a dam to produce electricity. These tunnels are underground and run for miles under golf courses, roads, etc. The dam is directly across the river from the Canadian hydroelectric plant. We left there and went to Buffalo and ate dinner at Naan-tastic. The food was very good and the restaurant functioned much like a Chipotle or Qdoba only with Indian cuisine.


Another Road Trip! Going North...

02 August 2023 | Valdosta, Georgia
Mary Yeomans | Low 90s, humid...
We are on the road and here is the story.

Our house sitters haven't arrived in FL yet. They were going to fly to Tampa and rent a car and drive to our house yesterday. But, George was called to jury duty, and Maria's Delta flight yesterday was delayed and rescheduled for today. Then, she was put on a flight that was full so she was on standby, and if that didn't work she was on standby for the next flight! So, she texted and said there was no guarantee she would arrive today so she was going to wait for George to be done with jury duty (Friday?) and they would drive down from Atlanta. Very apologetic, and very frustrated! I have a few thoughts about Delta I probably shouldn't' share...

So, we discussed it and decided to leave today - waiting one day was okay but this was too much. About an hour later we were packed and on I-75. Squeak is alone with lots of food and Mom will check on her for a few days until they show up. Crazy, huh?

We had lunch at Tomatillo's near the Venice exit, and now we are staying in Valdosta in a LaQuinta. Had dinner at Jack's Chop House. They didn't have what Bill wanted and his backup wasn't good, but my shrimp and grits were exceptional! Service was okay...

Hoping to get to Athens and Madison tomorrow. I want to see the campus of UGA, visit the botanical gardens there, and see Kurt!

Our Last Night on the Road!

02 August 2021 | Punta Gorda, FL
Mary Yeomans | Sunny, 92
Not much to report for yesterday - Bill drove and drove and drove. We left Slidell, Louisiana and stopped for the night in Lake City, FL. I had wanted to stop at Florida Caverns State Park but the tickets for the tour of the caverns are first come, first served and as we neared I called and we would have had to wait for a tour for two hours, so we kept on going. Maybe another time?
We stayed in a Hilton Tru Hotel - never saw one before - and it was very contemporary and fun. We had some wine and then saw a storm coming so hurried to dinner at Gator's Dockside, which reminded us of Beef O'Brady's. We shared Steak Poutine and it was a delicious plate of french fries covered with cheese curds, brown gravy, and beef tips. Very good - we might have to suggest it to Beef's! It poured the whole time we were there, but let up so we could get back relatively dry.
This morning we packed up and ate breakfast at the hotel, then left to drive home. We got here by 2:00 or so after stopping for fuel and a car wash near home.
So, here we are! It is great to be back home, and I'll enjoy it once we are completely unpacked. It was quite a trip and I know we have lots of memories to share. 7,475 miles and 35 days. Wow!
P.S. I am terrible at selfies but thought I should include at least one. This is us toasting our trip last night.

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