To New York and Massachusetts

After a wonderful night's rest on the outskirts of Cazenovia we woke up to 36 degrees (F) Thursday morning -- but the sun was already high up in a lovely Robin's egg blue sky and it promised to be a gorgeous day for road tripping.

After coffee -- as you may recall we typically bring our own little Nespresso machine along on these lengthy jaunts cross country -- and just lounging in the room, we packed up and headed off to Prattsville, NY, for lunch with our friends Don and Gloria Archer. 

We headed east on US 20 to Richfield Springs where we turned south on to county road 80. After about 10 miles driving along the western shore of Otsego Lake we pulled into Cooperstown. We drove through the lovely downtown area but didn't stop to see the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nope, we turned back north on county 31, this time cruising back north up the eastern shore of the lake.

Meandering around one back road after another, climbing from valley to ridge and back, enjoying spectacular views of the countryside as we made our way some 140 miles to the home of Don and Gloria Archer outside of Prattsville.

Gloria had prepared a very nice spread of salads for lunch and the four of us spent a good hour and a half catching up on all the news. Their son David joined us -- he was up from NYC to help out with some chores -- and it had been probably at least five or six years since we had seen him. He's always got wonderful stories to share. . . 

We had still more miles to go before the end of today's journey and the time came to say goodbye. It's always a pleasure to stop in the Catskill mountains with such warm and generous folk. 

Back in the car we made our way to Rte 23 east and eventually the NY Thruway north before turning east on I-90 and the Mass Pike. 

With just a couple of short stops, to add oil to our car and switch drivers, we soon reached our exit for I-395 south and then off on to Rte 16 at Webster, MA. It wasn't long after before we pulled into D & D's driveway. A quick unload and unpack we soon had a glass of sparkling wine in hand ready for one of Dor's delicious meals.

It had been a full day to be sure but not a tiring one; some 328 miles of driving in fair weather. 

view looking northeast from Rte 23, in the direction of the Thruway