The plan, once we crossed the border back into the US, was to stop in Plattsburgh to reprovision (can’t carry any fresh food across the border from Canada) and then head straight to Matamoras, PA. There is a campground there that we’ve been to a few times on our way back home. It would be very convenient to take a few days there to just hang and practice.
Well, we got ourselves across the border (no problems there!), replenished the pantry and fridge in Plattsburgh, took care of a few other tasks, and spent the night at a rest area just south of the city. As we got ready to roll in the morning, the TPMS alarm started beeping – one of the tires was low. We pumped it up. The leak was slow, so we could keep moving, however a few hours into the drive we could see it was losing enough air that we should stop for the night and get it fixed in the morning. And we’re so glad we did!!!
We decided to stay at Schodack Island State Park, another campground we know and like on an island in the Hudson River just south of Albany, NY. It’s also our old stomping ground, so we know the area and a handful of people.
On the way to Schodack, we stopped to have lunch with an old friend, Al. When Doug and I lived in Troy, we were very active with the Mohawk Hudson Wheelmen (now called the Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club). Al was the President of the club for a few of those years, and I was his successor. We haven’t seen each other since we moved away – 36 years ago! It was good to get properly caught up. And we haven’t changed a bit except for the color of Doug’s and my hair. (Al seems to have gotten a pass on the silver highlights thing. Dude!?!)
We dove deep into reminiscing about bicycling and MHW. Those were some of our peak cycling years, and we were all three very active with the club. During Al’s tenure as President, the club got involved with supporting the inaugural running of an international stage race that became the Tour du Pont, starting in Albany. He also convinced the club to put in a bid to host GEAR ’89 (Great Eastern Area Rally 1989), a major all-things-bicycling festival put on by the League of American Wheelmen (now League of American Bicyclists) – and we won! By the time of the event, I was the club president. We organized and ran the event which drew 2,200 bicyclists, offering mapped bike rides, local tours, bike workshops, and unimaginable amounts of food in and around Saratoga Springs, NY.
It was great to reconnect with Al! We wound up our lunch meeting, headed down to the campground for the night, and the next day got the tire fixed. Then it occurred to us that we could as easily spend a couple of days right there as we could in PA, and maybe stay out of the way of the nor’easter that was threatening the coast.
You all remember Bobby, our host and roommate during last year’s epic RV breakdown. While we were house-sitting for him in Parker, CO – almost exactly 1 year ago – Bobby flew to Dublin, Ireland to attend a Steelers football game (really!). While there, he ran into an old high school friend from his hometown near Pittsburgh (Steelers fans are serious!), and they hit it off. Bobby and Amy are now a couple, and in fact we share an anniversary – September 27 was the day they re-met last year, and it is also the day Doug and I got married in 1986.
Amy lives near Saratoga. She and Bobby are working their long-distance relationship between CO and NY. We were quite sure they’d be in the same place for their anniversary, and maybe (since we’re all heading to Philadelphia in a week) might they right now be at Amy’s place… Yes!!!!! They were in NY! Another fabulous lunch!
Unbeknownst to Bobby, Amy planned a celebratory B&B getaway to Dublin for their 1-year anniversary – Dublin, NY! How totally romantic! I admire how Amy comes up with such clever ideas. Then, when she asked about our plans… well, honestly, we hadn’t planned anything special. And it was our 40th anniversary!
Amy: Didn’t you mention you got married at the Gregory House? That’s close to here!
Me: Duh.
Amy is brilliant! We took her advice and celebrated at the Gregory House.
We really enjoyed getting some extra time with these two, and we’ll connect again next weekend in Philly.