FINGER LAKES, NEW YORK

Enjoying our stay here in the Finger Lakes.  Our first day was sun and clouds, but it has been cloudy and cool for the past couple of days.  The weekend brought quite a few folks to their campers that have been empty since we got here, but the campground is still not full.  The owner told me that starting next weekend they are completely booked for the entire summer.

Relaxing at our campsite on the water.

Beau and Luna have found a way to play, even with her in her pet tent.  It looks like Beau is being aggressive, but watch Luna when he backs off - she goes right back at him.

On our walks around the property, we spotted many of these giant mushrooms

Mark Twain's Gravesite

We rented a car for our time here so we don't have to break camp while we drive down to Elmira and around the Finger Lakes.  On Friday, we drove the 1 hour to Elmira to visit Jack's family gravesites at the large Woodlawn cemetery, including a quick stop at Mark Twain's grave.  His wife's family were long-time Elmira residents and Mark Twain wrote some of his most famous books while living here.  We made a tour of the homes Jack lived in before he moved to New Jersey and did some grocery shopping at his favorite store - Wegmans!  

Jack went to school with Ernie Davis, who was the first black Heisman Trophy winner

Yesterday,  we went to the Windmill Farmer's Market on the east side of Keuka Lake.  This is a large indoor/outdoor market that is a mix of Amish baked goods, cut flowers, plants and vegetables along with local handcrafters and a few stalls with typical imported market merchandise.  Jack got his favorite pumpkin raisin cookies and I found a few handmade items that called my name.  Beau enjoyed walking around with all the great food, people, and doggie smells.  As we were leaving, I spotted this sign for the Amish merchants....

Beau prefers his nachos without salsa.

Afterwards, we met up with Mike and Joanne from Elmira at a distillery/bar called Black Sheep just a mile from our campground.  Mike and Joann have a cottage on Keuka lake and live here all summer.  We enjoyed catching up and checked out the distillery's specialty cocktails.  A fun happy hour.  

Keuka Lake - one of the five major Finger Lakes

We left Keuka Lake for New Jersey on Wednesday so I could attend youngest New Jersey grandchild's high school graduation.  It was held in the Rutgers basketball stadium and there were just under 800 kids graduating and probably 6,000 people in the stands.  Very nice ceremony in airconditioned space and very well organized - start to finish in just under 2 hours with good speakers.  Congratulations, Lucas!

Sorry for poor photo, but taken from the jumbotron, or whatever the giant video thingie is.

Timothy, Lucas me and Johnathan at Lucas' graduation.

Lucas will be attending High Point University in North Carolina, only 4 hours away from us in Summerville!