Mon Sept 6: Bonus Day in Sylvan Beach

In which we celebrate 29 years of marriage ...

Due to the high winds (gusts 25-30 mph) Lake Oneida was a raging bathtub.  Check out these whitecaps:

Mr Weather anticipated that (of course he did) we would not want to cross the lake today, so we had already planned a bonus day in Sylvan Beach.  All the better to celebrate our anniversary. Incredibly and wonderfully we’ve been married 29 years!  Rick always says that all the hard work that a couple puts into a marriage over the years is like investing in an IRA. It isn’t always easy, and sometimes you have to work to keep investing, but in the end the investment pays off.  How great to be able to collect the dividends/ROI now, with my fav person!

It was Labor Day and, despite the wind, the sun was shinning brightly and it was a pretty day. The town of Sylvan Beach was suddenly much more appealing, and hopping!  What a difference the sun can make. The amusement park perked up - the antique rides were making a more cheerful grinding noise.

Even Zoltar seemed quite cheery.

There were suddenly lots of visitors, and many Harleys, in town to celebrate the holiday.  However, some of the small day-boats that were here for the long weekend headed out. It is hard to believe that anyone would want to go out on the lake with the water whipped up into such a froth, but most of their boats can go faster than ours so the uncomfortable trip across the lake wouldn’t be too long.  For us it would have been a very uncomfortable 2.5 hours. 

Blue Horizon tucked away at the back of the pack.  Nice and sheltered, under a leafy tree.  It turned out that said tree also dropped a bunch of debris onto Rick's pristine newly washed boat....grrrrrrrr.

 

After lunch we mounted our “hogs” (foldable bikes) and rode off to explore the town. We ended up riding about 10 miles zig-zagging all around the lakeshore and into town.  We crossed over the canal bridge and cycled through the Verona Beach state park.  Being Labor Day we expected to see the campground full of families enjoying the last official day of summer, but the park was almost completely deserted.  Where was everyone?   Very strange.  Maybe the weather (rain/wind) made people decide not to come. 

Rick wanted to try one of the local restaurants and we rode our bikes to the Spaghetti Factory to see about an order of “Chicken Riggies”.  In this part of the country apparently they call rigatoni pasta “riggies”, and they serve it with a spicy cream sauce and choice of protein - with Chicken and Shrimp being the most common.   But NO.  Closed on Mondays.  Even Labor Day (???!!))  No Riggies for Rick.  Boohoo….

Most of the afternoon was guys coming up to discuss boats with Rick.  From where I sit on the couch I can see them coming, and I amuse myself by calling out "Rick - you have a gentleman caller"! 

Featured boat name - Show Me The Wave.  In honor of the waves on the lake.