6/15/2015
The Victorian décor greeted me in the morning at the Rosemont Inn. Utica had been such a wonderful little surprise. I would have never guessed. The scent in the air meant Rita had been preparing something to tickle my taste buds. Crystal started the day with, what she said was, the best coffee she had ever tasted. Rita mentioned that the coffee had come from a local roaster. I started the morning with a yogurt parfait topped with granola. Actually I had two; Crystal wasn’t a fan of yogurt. I needed as much protein as I could consume. I had felt sluggish and knew that my muscles needed the rebuilding power of the aminos. Our main course was an omelet with a variety of green veggies. Each bite had the flavors of cilantro, basil, and other herbs. The freshly squeezed orange juice quenched my thirst and gave me all the antioxidants I would need to protect my cells from the free radicals floating outside. Throughout our breakfast we conversed with Rita. We learned about our host and the community around.
My body was charged up and we returned to our expedition. Hills no longer surprised me. The flatlands of some of the southern states had become a distant and faded memory. What did surprise me was how I could still feel cold at times while we were firmly in the summer season. Light gusts of wind blew every so often that brought goosebumps to my skin. On the way to Oneida I passed several deer. They always seemed to be so fast and agile. I couldn’t figure out how they got hit so often.
With the leak in our ceiling not yet patched, and another storm warning in effect, Crystal headed to the town to buy an adhesive for a quick patch. She taped our roof in an area where the air conditioner once rested and prayed for the best. The moment I arrived in Oneida the rain began to pour. It was a good way to see if that part of the roof was where the water had been penetrating. We rejoiced when no water seeped in. It was a small victory but we would take it. It was decided that we would cover the taped area with flex seal once the weather cleared.
The bright sun broke through the windows at the same time a rooster called. The moment I stepped out of the trailer the humidity hit my face. It was time to run shirtless again. I didn’t even need to run to build a sweat. The moisture in the air took care of that for me. As I ran I noticed the size of the grapes along my route were a tad bit bigger that earlier on. I wondered if they had grown ever so slightly over the last couple days or if the tasty little treats in that area ripened before the eastern border. When I reached Crystal, I guzzled the last of a gallon of water. I didn’t realize we were so low on the precious life giving liquid. The delicious liquid slipped right down my throat. While I hydrated, Crystal received a call from the Jefferson Clinton Hotel in Syracuse. It was a beautiful luxury hotel that agreed to host us for the evening. It was located right on our route so there was no extra driving necessary.
After that news, I bolted out of the car. Most of the landscape was a blur while I ran. After I reached Fayetteville, the route was mostly city. There were areas with very little running room but I made it work. Running into downtown Syracuse was much like running into the downtown of a bigger metropolis. Professionals walked among those that were obviously unemployed. I had reached the hotel rather early and noticed all the unique businesses in the area.
Crystal and I checked into the plush suite and cleaned up before heading out for dinner. The beds were soft and full of pillows. On the fifth floor we had a view of our vehicle. This was good because we spotted a shady looking couple in the parking lot when we gathered our items. The room had plenty of amenities and it even boasted a personal Keurig machine. Everything in the place was complimentary and comfy.
We walked a couple steps into the downtown area and found the Modern Malt. The cuisine put some creative twists on old diner favorites. I enjoyed having a Portobello burger on a pretzel bun. Inside a fig jam gave the meal a nice zing. Crystal ordered a dish called cinnamon toast French. We shared our meals with each other and left nothing on the plates. It was a delicious way to end the day. It was a good thing the restaurant was just across the street from our hotel. I was able to hear the bathtub calling my name.
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