6/26/2015
We spent day 288 in Fredonia relaxing. The morning started with a plate of assorted fresh fruit and a breakfast parfait waiting at the table. When I sat down, the scent of eggs, veggies, and potatoes floated my way. Maggie had gotten up early to whip up some of the most delicious things I had ever tasted. She had grown up on a farm and knew how to prepare a million different items. Jeff brought out a strawberry/peach smoothie to the table and chatted with me and Crystal. Moments later a few more items came out of the kitchen. I chose to eat Maggie’s homemade apple butter jam on my toast. The main course was a black olive and artichoke frittata. I ended my meal with a little treat. It was the flakiest berry turnover with powdered sugar lightly sprinkled on top. Maggie and Jeff were determined to replenish my body with enough nutrients. Even after I was full they put together a goody bag for the road. As we prepared to head out Maggie told us we should take a break in Fredonia for another night. She reminded us that we would start the day very later after seeing the kids at their local school. It was an appealing offer.
I had a chance to spend some time with the kids in the afterschool program on their last day of school. I figured sending them into their vacation with the message of finding adventure in books and play was a good thing. A few months without learning can be an eternity to a kid. A lot of knowledge could be forgotten in that time. I had a blast. I exerted my body a little bit more than I anticipated but I caught a breather when I read my book to the younger age group. We finished our time with a photo then returned to lounge and rest at the Edwards Waterhouse Inn. How could I pass up staying at such a beautiful comfortable place? Especially after the previous night’s rest was easily one of the best sleeps I had experienced.
The next day we took breakfast at the same time. I tried a different main course and had a sweet potato frittata. We wanted to get a jump start on the day but we didn’t want to leave Maggie and Jeff. After a bit more conversation we hit the road but not before Maggie made sure we took her blueberry crumb cake with us. I felt so blessed and energized. The day was beautiful for running. Rain had been reported but I saw no sign of precipitation anywhere. Everywhere I looked there were grape vines. Occasionally I passed a cherry tree or corn stalks but for the most part the landscape was dominated by rows and rows of grapes. I passed plenty of vineyards and when I reached the town of Westfield I snapped a photo of an old Welch’s plant. It was a brand I had grown up with. Apparently many of the growers in that area were part of a collective.
I got to Brookside Beach RV resort just in time to witness a stunning sunset. The entire sky over Lake Erie was pink. The air began to cool and I was ready to rest. The possibility of rain began to appear and I felt lucky that nature had been kind to me for one more day.
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