Ready, Set,.........

[Mac1]

Here are some more pictures of trip across NH, VT to Lake George, NY

Enjoy......

Mac and Linda

[Mac1]

We have enjoyed the week of R n R on Lake George so far. We had a nice visit with Linda's neice and her husband and kids (5 & 1). They left on Saturday and all of a sudden it is very quiet. The weather has been great even if very warm for the Adirondacs.

Buckeye has been chasing the "dummy duck" every day, he even learned a new trick in jumping off the end of the dock in pursuit of the "duck".

Linda has moved into the house while I prefer to sleep in Carmen O with the cats and Buckeye.

We are planning on visiting Ben and Jerry's factory and Cabbot Cheese in VT one day this week when the weather is ify. We also want to take the Mohican's Discovery Cruise which goes the whole 32 miles of Lake George.

I am looking to get a NYS fishing licence to see what I can catch in Lake George.

We enjoyed watching the sailboat races over the weekend, one finally got started after many false starts, it almost sounded like a naval battle.

Here are some pictures........

Mac and Linda

[SilverCabin]

Mac,

Rich Luhr (Airstream Life) is camped in Vermont right now. You may be close. Read his weblog at Tour of America :: Home.

Randy

[Mac1]

Randy, Thanks we will try to contact him by e-mail and hopefully get a chance to see him tomorrow when we head up to Burlington on a day trip.

Mac

[Mac1]

We took a day trip yesterday to Waterbury, VT to see Ben & Jerry's Factory (and sample some ice cream) and to stop at the Cabot Cheese Store, Dakin Farm Store and The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory.

On the way we stopped and chatted with Rich Luhr (Airstream Life) for a while who was camped just outside of Vergennes, VT. We had an enjoyable visit and took a few photos.

I also took some pictures of a Lake George sunset a couple of nights ago; Ticonderoga water falls, and Fort Ticonderoga from Rt 22 I would like to share.

[Mac1]

On Thursday Linda and I took a boat tour on Lake George on the Mohican out of Lake George Village. The tour left at 9:00 am went up the east side of the lake with an unscheduled stop in Paradise Bay (the boat barely fit in it and the captain showed his many skills in the process).
We went up past the house to Rogers Rock where the boat turned around and came back off the west shore.
I have not been to Lake George Village in probably 30 years, never go there because of all the tourists going nuts. I did not realize how wild some sections of the lake are. The captain said they saw a couple of Bald Eagles two or three weeks ago - all we saw was an old Turkey Vulture. There are some good fishing spots on the lake, some 200 feet deep. A 32 pound lake trout is the record (caught two years ago). All I could catch was a bunck of crappies and a 10" small mouth bass.
The view of The Sagamore Hotel is spectacular from the boat as well a millionaire's row. The history dates back to pre-revolutionary days and is pretty interesting.

We would recommend Lake George (where James Fenamore Cooper wrote the Last of the Mohicans) as a vacation spot for a couple of weeks or a weekend destination. A nice place for a rally, especially the north end.(Rogers Rock State Park).
It is hard to believe our summer travel are almost over. We head home next week so we are enjoying our last days of freedom before heading back to NC and (work).

We are enjoying a visit with our daughter and son-in-law as they came in for the weekend.

Mac and Linda

[SilverCabin]

It's been fun following you guys this summer. Have a safe trip home.

Randy

[Mac1]

Thanks Randy (and thanks for the tip on Rich we had a great visit with him)

Mac and Linda

[Mac1]

We left LG Wednesday morning and headed down RT 22 to RT 149 over to RT 9 and I 87 (Northway). From there we caught I 90 to I 88 to Binghamton and I 81 south. It is not a bad road, rough in spots but relatively no traffic. We took I 81 to RT 15 in Harrisburg to Gettysburg. Round Top (Gettysburg, PA) Campground ($40)
is just off the road (road traffic negligable with AC going.) It was a hot day on the road but everything functioned ok.
A couple of former baseball players of mine from 82 - 85 came over to the campground to visit just as we arrived. It was great catching up and reminiscing. Good golly where does time go? Both are getting grey hair and I don't have any......
We took US Rt 15 south all the way to Warrenton, VA stopped for lunch (temp 100 +) and took RT 17 to I 95 south to the I 264 and RT 117 into Mount Olive. We
got home about 6:00 pm.
It is hard to believe the great summer vacation of 2007 is over and its back to work next week.
Well, I have to unpack the truck and trailer and get organized for Fall semester.
I will post more of my thoughts of the trip as I get time - It was a great trip and a Perfect Summer.

Mac and Linda

[Mac1]

It turned out to be 89 days/nights in Carmen O, 13,200 miles - coast to coast and border to border with the 50th WBCCI International thrown in. we have been back almost a week and a half, college classes have started and boy do I miss being on the road......

We received word while we were in CA that Linda's father had been diagnosed with inoperative lung cancer and was given 6-12 months to live. She wanted to know if her folks wanted her home, they kept telling her no - stay on the trip. Even when we were home over the 4th of July (Linda spent 5 days with her folks) they wanted her to continue on the trip to Maine and Lake George. Her brother and sister-in-law came in from OR to spend a couple of weeks with them. He was receiving excellent hospice care at home.

When we returned home Linda packed her things out of the AS into her car and left for Wilmington, NC. That was Thursday and stayed until he passed the following Wednesday. We were all concerned about where he would spend eternity because he was a skeptic, even though he took his family to church while the children were growing up. He was a tough guy on the outside but had a heart of gold. He loved his family and extended family very much.

On the last day he awoke and after having breakfast told Linda and her mother that he had had a conversation with the Lord during the night and asked if He had a place for him and would He let him in? He told him he did have a place for him and would take him in (Linda's mom asked her dad if the Lord had a place for her - to which he nodded and said He had a place for her as well. Needless to say it was an awsome day and he was at peace.

A little later in the morning Linda asked him where he would like to be, to which he answered Lake George. So Linda went down to the den and brought some watercolors of the lake and some panoramic shots of the Lake for him to look at. Interestingly, I had spent the day before scanning slides we recently found as well as some we took at the Lake House and brought home to put on a PowerPoint show for him. We spent a good two and a half hours to three visiting the lake and friends long gone. He knew where each was taken and who was in each picture. We laughed and enjoyed the slides while listening to his favorite "Big Band" music.

Hospice workers were in and out and were a true blessing to us all. He was as lucid as he had been in a long time. He struggled with his breathing but did not complain of pain although he was a little uncomfortable.

On one occasion the ladies were out of the room and I leaned over and took his hand and told him he was a great father-in-law and grandfather, and I told him I loved him to which he responded he loved me too and was proud of me (I told him I was proud of him too.). That was our goodbye. He drew his last breath that evening a little after 9 with Linda holding his hand. It was peaceful and now we know where he will spend eternity, I look forward to the day when I see him again. He was one of my heroes, God bless him.

All five of his grand children and even several of his greatgrandchildren made it in from all around the US for the memorial service. It was a beautiful service celebrating his life, the meaning of Lake George and his family. Several of the grandchildren joined Linda and her brother in sharing their favorite memories of him.

Linda is still with her mom (Allene) as everyone has headed back to their homes and back to work. They are both doing well and I would ask you to keep them in your prayers.

"Carmen O" came in handy as I towed her down for additional living quarters for the week. We had an outlet installed in the garage and hooked up the garden hose.

Yes, it was a sad day but it really was a glorious end to a "Perfect Summer" in the Airstream.

We shall miss him.

Mac and Linda

[safari57]

Mac and Linda

A sad event, at the end of an incredible journey. It is comforting to know that Linda's father was able to let you know he had his next journey arranged, including the "accommodations" and his travel companions. We had a similar experience with my wifes brother close to his passing and we were much comforted knowing that he was secure in his knowledge of moving on from this life.

Our sincere condolences to the family.

Barry

[Mel]

Mac and Linda, my condolences to your family, but what a wonderful last day you were able to spend together! May you continue to cherish your memories of him. Your family is in my thoughts.

[SilverCabin]

Mac and Linda,

Sorry to hear of your loss. Your very elequent discription of his closing hours reminded me of my last days with my mother. Based on my own personal witness, I am absolutely convinced that someone comes to get you at the end. Sounds like your father was visited before to let him know it would be okay. That should give you great comfort.

Our prayers are with you,

Randy

[Stream 1529]

Mac and Linda

My deepest sympathies on your loss. Thank you for the wonderful eulogy, it really was heart warming.

I've always held the opinion that you get more credit for walking the walk than you do otherwise. Linda's father seems to have walked the walk.

________Tom

[Mac1]

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. They are a great comfort and very much appreciated.

Mac and Linda

[Mac1]

Well things have settled down a bit with classes up and running, the online class half over and Linda spending less and less time getting her mother back on track so now I have some time to get back to the forums more often.
One of the things I noticed was that we didn't get pictures posted during certain parts of out trip. It would be good if I could go back and insert pictures when they happened, but I don't know how to do that or even if it is possible. Maybe I will hear from one of the moderators.....

Well here are some pictures of packing Brutus with our gear, a shoving off picture and pictures of Rt 17 in VA, Berryville, VA and our rig at the family farm in Shenandoah Jct. WV.

Mac and Linda

[Mac1]

Here are pictures of leaving the farm, I 70/68 in MD and KOA in Dayton & USAF Mueuem B17, B24, B52 WWII Control Tower and barracks

[Mac1]

Hear are shots of our stop at Jackson Center (Friday 4:30 - where is everybody?) at some pictures at the TCT Rally of Carmen O and the 1936 Bowlus (Way cool - a real peice of art!)

[Mac1]

[Mac1]