We are at home and enjoying domestic tranquility so have not posted lately.  Still, a lot has happened since our last post.  We enjoyed a trip to New York State for the wedding and stayed a week reaping the gracious hospitality of the Woods family.  On the Saturday after the wedding we moved the RV to Arrowhead Marina and RV Park on the Mohawk River west of Scotia.  The private park is lovely in a birch grove along the river.  Our friends Jane and Bob arrived to begin a bike tour of the Erie Canal bikeway from Albany to Buffalo. 

During this tour, the RV was our base camp.  On Day 1, the guys drove one vehicle to Albany and the gals, including Mary Helen started at Douglas Road in Schenectady.  We met in the middle and the gals met Frank who peddled from Albany and then returned there with the ladies.  All enjoyed the thirty mile ride without incident. 

On Day 2 we left one car at Schenectady and all drove to the villager of Sprakers about 30 miles west of Schenectady.  We peddled down the Mohawk and back to Douglas Road for a last time.  On Day 3 we drove with the bikes to Herkimer and peddled to Sprakers where we loaded the bikes into the car we had started fro the day before to return to camp.  On this day we toured the Herkimer House and became aquainted with Col. Herkimer and the Battle of Oriskany.

Our plan was to move the next day (Thursday) to Blossvale and not bicycle that day, but the weather forecast for Friday was ominous.  So, we moved early and started what was supposed to be a relatively short (25 mile) run to Utica at lunchtime.  Margaret had called and decided to meet us by peddling from Utica west on the trail.  This was good, but in early afternoon the rain arrived as both parties reached Rome.  Worse, the bike trail was completely unmarked in Rome.  We had a map which helped only a bit, and Margaret, following NYDOT bike route signs for a different trail became completely lost.  We recovered her through the magic of cell phones.  Meeting in a buidling supply center we rejoiced and continued our soggy ride east into Utica.  We arrived at dusk and revived our spirits with dinner at a pub.  Margaret returned to Schenectady, the rest of us to our new camp. 

Friday was indeed a rainy day.  We shopped, laundered, and toured.  Jane & Bob went to the Long Distance Runners Museum while Mary Helen, Anne, and I (Chuck) went to the Fort Stanwix Historic Site to view the nifty visitor center designed by one Rob Woods.  We learned more about this theater of the Revolutionary War and enjoyed the exhibits and dry warmth of the hall.  The weather simply did not permit our walking about the replica of the fort itself.

On Saturday we bicycled again and on Sunday moved the rig one more time to Waterport.  Mary Helen had to return to Chappaqua so we made farewells after a fine breakfast at Mary's Diner.  Over the next three days we made 40 mile bike rides through rural landscapes in good weather.  On the last day we lunched in an Irish Pub in Lockport.  We returned home on October 21 passing much fall foliage.  A grand trip done.

At home we follow a somewhat standard pattern.  On weekdays we jog a few miles at dawn.  Maintaining the daily run became more difficult last week when our neighbors Jane and Bob fled to Florida.  Now we have to do it on our own.  After that we conduct our chores or special activities.  Currently Anne is quilting and has also begun making some wool carpets.  Chuck completed landscaping and is building a laundry table.  We run to York regularly to see Chuck's parents and often to go with them to doctor's appointments.

We are now preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We will spend it here and in York.  Elley is coming to South Mountain on Tuesday.  Her friend Adam is joining us on Thanksgiving day.  We will pick him up at the Lancaster train station and take him to York.  Chuck's sister Laurie will bring the bird there for the big day.

Last week Anne worked at a Gettysburg family practice office giving the husband and wife group a chance to vacation.  Each week is different, but there is much less stress than when we were both working.  We plan for the new year.  We have to see how it goes with all our parents and if the Cherokee Hospital wants Anne to work there for a bit, but are working on various travel plans.  None are as big as this year's "Wild West 2010" adventure, but we AT hiking, spring birding in Michigan, a summer tour of the Atlantic Maritime area, and a bike hike along the Nachez Trace are possible.  We won't do all of them, but hope to do at least a couple of them.  Of course, we plan to go to Fort Myers in January and February. 

Meanwhile, we wish all of our kith and kin a Happy Thanksgiving.