We had to use a local laundromat one night, because someone had a little bed wetting accident during nap time, soaking mine and daddy's sleeping bags...but it was good we went there because I picked up a brochure for both Watkins Glen Speedway and the Farm Sanctuary. The brochure for the speedway had an ad for "Thunder Road Tours." Turns out you pay $25 to take your vehicle on three guided laps around the speedway. $25, and me, dying to get on a racetrack all my life behind the wheel, oh yeah...you better believe we were taking my beat up, 200+ thousand mile minivan on that track! There were three great parts of that experience. The first was not even halfway through lap one, when I was the 3rd vehicle behind the pace truck, stuck behind a Kia Rio that wouldn't go faster than 45mph...the pace truck driver pulled us all over and told that guy to go to the back of the pack! Nothing like pretty much being black-flagged on paced laps huh? The second was stopping at the start-finish line for some photos, and third was actually getting the van up to 72 mph on one of the straightaways. The funniest part of the ride though, was when Scott yelled at me to slow down in a couple corners because my wheels were squealing..."this will tip over quicker than that pick up truck in front of you..." Okay grandpa...keep your seatbelt on and close your eyes if you are scared. Ha ha...glad he wasn't driving :)
The Farm Sanctuary was a pretty cool place to go. Now I am not Vegan, but I don't bash them and I understand where they come from. Visiting the farm sanctuary just broadened my perspective on Vegetarianism further. This place was gorgeous. They rescue farm animals from factory farming type situations and abusive situations. It is great work they do. For those who don't really know what factory farming is, look up Foie Gras. That gives you an idea of what happens in factory farming settings. Anyway, after visiting there, it gave me the idea that someday I am really going to try to overcome my texture issues and incorporate more fruits and vegetables into my diet. I can't say that I can ever see myself eating TOFU however I can see myself reasonably cutting down on chicken and other meats I currently have in my diet. Anyway, this is a great place to bring your children, as they can get up close and personal with many of the rescued animals which include pigs, goats, chickens, turkeys, cows and sheep. They also have some bunnies there. My older daughter was a bit skeptical about getting too close to the animals but my youngest just jumped right in, as you can see in the photo below.
Scott was a little bummed that we weren't right on the water at our site. Seneca Lake, as well as several other smaller lakes, were very close by however. So my three year old (who we actually lovingly call "Cub") doesn't have much interest in farm animals, but she DOES have an interest in fishing. In fact on the hottest day of our vacation, which was undoubtedly Friday, we were outside in the blistering sun, trying to catch some fish in the Catharine Creek at the Montour Marina in Montour Falls. We had picked up pizza and wings for lunch, along with some root beer, and decided to sit at a picnic table there at the marina to eat, then fish right after. There was no shade to be found, so I grabbed my umbrella and used it to shield my two year old (who has the nickname of "Critter") and myself from the sun but it was still just too hot. After a while, Critter and I retreated to the air conditioned van while Cub and daddy continued to try to fish. She told her daddy she liked fishing...I guess I know what is likely to become the father's day tradition, at least for those two! We also found a nice fishing spot a few nights before, on Cayuta Lake, at the boat launch area. It is a small, peaceful lake, but we didn't get anymore bites there than we did in the creek. Daddy taught Cub how to cast while we were on Cayuta that night, while Critter took the binoculars, pointed them to the sky and told the moon to say cheese because she was taking its picture...
We also took a sightseeing tour on Seneca Lake. Not a whole lot to see, but it was Critter's first time on a boat like this, so it was worth it for her excitement. Plus we learned a little bit about the salt factories there in Watkins Glen that have set up shop on the shores of Seneca. It is a very interesting process. We spent some time in Clute Park, which is along the shore and has a beach area, picnic areas, a park area, and just a pretty view. Going there around sundown is nice. The beach wasn't the greatest, because I don't like seaweed in my swimming water, but if you are desperate I guess it would do (no, we did not go in the water there).
All in all, this was a great trip. The weeping willow tree made me think of my grandmother, as did the train whistles that woke me up a couple of times in the middle of the night (she always used to say that a train whistle in the dead of night was the most lonesome sound ever...I tend to agree with her). Being on the race track and at the farm sanctuary made me think of a friend, his girlfriend and her son...the little guy would have thought it was super cool to be on the race track...of course he would have wanted to be in a Mustang...hell...I would like to have been in a Mustang but I am just thankful for the opportunity at this point, so minivan and all, I am satisfied :)
When my girls are a bit older, I would like to head out that way again. They are in the middle of construction on a trail they are calling the Catharine Valley Trail, which I think is a hiking/biking trail...be nice to do it by bike..it will be about 12 miles long when it is finished. They also have different wine "trails" you can drive along, stopping to sample wines and tour vineyards. I'm definitely no wine expert, so taking that trip and learning something new sounds good to me. I'd like to order wine someday without having to ask my server fifty questions :)
So vacation is over. School starts again for me in three weeks. Cub starts sometime in September, and Critter still has to wait another year...I may try to do a weekend getaway to Saranac Lake before camping season ends, but I'll have to see. It's a lot to pack up for the girls and us just to go for a couple days. Maybe I will just go with my niece on a girls weekend :) We haven't done that in a while.
Til next time, God Bless and all take care!
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