Tues Sept 14 & Wed Sept 15: Hangin in Fairport

 In which we get to show off ...

Blue Horizon is looking VERY clean here - both inside and out - because we had visitors!  My friend Deb's parents drove up from Buffalo to see us (really to see the boat).

Scrubbed and shiny! There is always something to wash on a boat…

Rick is giving Dick and Betty the route briefing - first he went over the Great Loop, and then our specific route for the day! So adorkable...

We got underway, and eventually both visitors got the chance to drive the boat.  There were also many photo opportunities so that I could send pix to their kids and grandkids.

Due to beginner drivers we were going so slow, even for us, that the runners on the towpath were going faster.

This is the tiny space Rick gets us into and out of in Fairport.  It makes for quite a performance, and our visitors were properly impressed.

 

Once back from the Erie tour we asked our friends Scott/Suzanne and Mike/Dana to join us outside for docktails, so as to give Dick/Betty the full boating experience.  I'm crabby that I forgot to take a pic of that portion of the expedition ...

Dick and Betty treated us to dinner at Richardson's Canal House - an inn built in 1818 that they had visited 35 years ago.  Excellent food!

On Wed we continued to explore the town:

Here's an example of what we really liked about Fairport - all over town they have made an effort to keep the old buildings intact, even with their new purposes, and to show you something of their history

IDK if this vessel has any purpose other than dockside charm.

Clearly this shed is ignoring it's original architectural mandate to stay plumb.

Our fav places were an incredible Italian store, Lombardi's, a local health food store called RedBird Market and this local gem - Tool Thrift Shop.  It was all donated items, polished up and sold by retiree volunteers with the profits going to a charity for retirees.  It was full of AMAZING treasures - even old antique tools.  Rick found two Very Important pieces for a big total of $2.

A local inn, with a LOT of character.  Particularly Halloween character...

We went down to Journey, Mike/Dana's boat, for docktails.  It's a rather amazing and eclectic boat that used to be a sailboat but that has been rebuilt from the bottom up, and a unique and customized way. They spend their year either on Journey or in their RV (Old Bones), with about two months in the winter on their TN houseboat.

Mike turns out to be as obsessed with sox as Rick is - good grief.  They had to debate the various merits of Smart Wool vs. Wigwams. For the love of ...

Dana and I amused each other by creating Instagram-worthy pix of our cocktails - and by discussing poetry, purpose and personal growth.

 

 

 

Here is a nice pic of our new friends, with Dana modeling her 'statement earrings'.  I think this must be the first time ever that statement earrings have been combined with boating!

Good night, Fairport.  We have so enjoyed our visit, but won't miss the DAMN TRAIN HORNS AT ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.