Adirondacks 2021

We had another wonderful week in Long Lake in the Adirondacks this year. We were sorry that Sean and Ashley couldn't be there with us this year but it was nice spending the week with Katie, Todd, Henry and Clara.

This year Becky and I were in a cottage by ourselves. When we arrived at Sunset Point Michelle the proprietor told us there were some cancellations and we had a choice of a wider selection of cottages. Katie and Todd were booked in cabin #4 where Becky and I stayed last year along with Sean and Ashely for a few days. It's a nice cabin near the beach. Becky and I were booked in a small cabin in their newly acquired section of the property. Close but not in the same area. We were told that cottages #1 and #2 were available. We had stayed in #1 before and last year Katie stayed there. We went and looked at both of the cottages and then when Katie and Todd arrived shortly afterward we decided which ones to take. Katie and Todd decided to keep #4 because of the proximity to the beach and Becky and I took #2 which was the most spacious of the group. We went from having a tiny cabin to having one that comfortably slept six and for the same price too.

So we had a very comfortable week. The weather was comfortable too. It rained a couple of times but mostly at night. It was much cooler than last year. Like last year we also were dealing with Covid but certainly not as bad and widespread. We went out to dinner with everyone at the Adirondack Hotel and sat on the outside patio. It was very nice and the food was wonderful. We also ran into Gail and Wendell there which was very cool. We watched the kids one night while Katie and Todd went out to dinner down at the Long View Lodge. A couple of days later Becky and I also went there for a nice dinner. Both times we were able to sit at the outside patio dining area.

We had lots of beach time and Todd was able to take Henry out a few times for some good father and son time including climbing Mt. Coney. We went over to Tupper Lake to the Wild Center one day and another day we went to the Adirondack Museum down at Blue Mountain Lake.

I had also forgotten the bag of medicine I prepared for the trip. How I did that was a mystery but there was really only one thing I needed. The other things were for just in case situations like my inhaler. Becky had plenty of statin so I was covered there but I really needed my meds for controlling afib.  I looked online and saw there was a Walgreens in North Creek about 20 miles away. I then went online to my primary doctor's site and requested a refill prescription of my meds with that Walgreens and included their phone number. My doctor called it in by 8 am the next morning. We drove over to North Creek which was a very nice trip and got the meds in the afternoon. Nice use of technology. North Creek was very cool too. We will definitely go back there some time, go to one of the pub restaurants and hang out.

We really liked having that large cottage. The kids like coming over to our place to hang out and read books. Clara especially liked to sit on the couch and cuddle. We had brought a pile of books for the kids and a few special toys. It was also still close to Henry's birthday so we had some gifts for him... and something for Clara too.

So the folks that cancelled their cottages this year had been booking the same cottages for the past 30 years or so and because of some illness in their family said they would not be reserving cottages for next year. Michelle told Becky about this right away and we decided to take those cottages next year too. Coincidently Karen had contacted Becky about her and the family coming from California next year to the Adirondacks with us. Sean and Ashley along with Andrew also decided to come next year too.

We are now booked for the same week next year. Katie and Todd in cottage #2 where we were this year because it will be spacious enough for them and three kids. Sean and Ashley will be in cottage #4 near the beach. Karen, Davo and the kids will be in #1 and Becky and I will be in #6 which is a smaller two person cottage next to the beach. Should be fun. Can't wait.

Another interesting aspect of our recent vacations to the Adirondacks has changed since we retired. Going up to Long Lake for a week every summer was an annual ritual that we all looked forward to every year. We always went in July because by August we were busy with getting ready for the start of a new academic year. In particular I always liked that we went from Saturday to Saturday which meant that I had a day off on Sunday before going back to work on Monday. That always meant a lot. It was one of my favorite days off.

Now that we're retired and almost five years of not working means that every day is a day off and the annual vacation to the Adirondacks doesn't mean the same thing anymore. Now it is more about spending quality time with our children and grandchildren. We still love going there.