as promised ...

A "catch up" post! Below are photos from Lake Ontario (when we were in the Rochester, NY area) as well as Lake Erie photos from when we were in Ashtabula, OH. Additionally, there are some randoms thrown in just because I can! Hope y'all enjoy.

These next few are from the Lake Ontario day. We were at "Irondequoit Small Boat Harbor". I'm still a bit confused about the area. I think it is truly part of Rochester. But these photos were taken at a water way that is separated from Lake Ontario by the jetty you see below. Arlo played in this waterway, as dogs are not allowed on the beach to the left of this jetty we are on. That beach is on the Lake.

The photo below is us on the jetty that is in the distance in the photo above. It was a bit choppy that day, so naturally yours truly had to be nervous about Sir being out there. Rick took him out to the other side of that light house - where I suspect they had about 12' of rock to stand on! Also, for the record ~ Rick pointed out to me that I looked like a bag lady carrying around that plastic bag ` truth be known the bag contains Arlo's tennis ball and one of his "wilsons" for water play. I have since switched to a more "appropriate" (maybe?!?!) canvas bag!

Below, is Sir swimming back to "shore" with his tennis ball. The guy just LOVES the water. Sadly, the campground we're at now has a pond of some sort that is very close to our site and dogs are not allowed anywhere near it. In fact, we haven't even seen it but I swear Sir knows it is there!

Something that struck me as rather odd (and is very clear in the areal photo in the link above it is centered in the lower 1/4 of the photo) ~ this waterway has a town on either side BUT the bridge connecting them is open (or closed, I guess, depending on how you look at it) ~ the bridge is not really a bridge over the late spring, summer and early fall months. The town you see behind Arlo in the photo below is Webster, NY. I've googled Webster some to find out where the other entry point to town is - after all there MUST be one right! Can't find anything - perhaps a different, less tired time! I found the whole thing king of interesting.

Here is a photo showing the bridge open - as it is the "open bridge season"!

This is the gate the closes off the open (closed? confused?) bridge this time of year.

After we left the lake we went into downtown Rochester to a barbecue place Chad had told us about (he was up there the week before we were to check on one of his projects). This is Dinosaur Barbecue ~ great food, interesting service. Thankfully Arlo was allowed to sit outside with us and the waitress brought him a cup (seriously - photo to prove it!) of water! Believe it or not he really did drink from that cup - I guess he was really thirsty but how he got his snout in that cup is beyond me!

The next two shots are of the area around the restaurant. That is the Genesee River that runs through ~ how about those trees in the second photo below ~ they made it over the dam but couldn't get any further.

Now we go on to Ashtabula, Ohio. An old town, but yet another like so many we've visited that have seen better days.

Ashtabula is on Lake Erie. Above and below, are obviously Sir enjoying some water play in this great lake. What a lucky dog he is I think. I don't remember where I was for this water play time - these two photos were taken by Rick with his phone. Sir carried that stick back to the coach - the stick is three feet long. Apparently once Sir finally put it down and Rick was ready to leave he (Rick) picked it up to bring back to the coach - he thought it would make a great "fire stick". There is quite a hike from the beach area up a fairly steep incline to the Lodge where we were staying - Rick carried up to the higher part but Arlo decided HE was going to carry it the rest of the way - even at 92 pounds that was quite a distance for him to carry it, but carry it he did!

As I mentioned, it is quite a steep climb back up to the Lodge. The photo below is where the "path" back up takes a turn and there are a couple tables there - I guess to take a much deserved rest after making it 1/2 way up. The second shot is the same area with a handsome dog posing. Isn't it a spectacular view.

That, by the way is a private beach owned by the Elks Lodge. What an incredible piece of property this is.

Next is a shot from outside the coach looking at the Lodge and the Lake beyond - not sure it shows the perspective I wanted, but that was our water view every day. We are so darned lucky to be doing what we are doing.

Ashtabula has this lovely park high above the downtown area. Man the street we drove up to get to this park to look out at the lake as well as the coal/ore industry that seems to be the major thing in the town. There were several streets going up huge hills on either side of the main street in the downtown area. These streets are BRICK streets - think about all the various vehicles that traveled them over the many many years they've been there - if those streets could talk ... wow I'd love to hear their stories!

Also in Ashtabula we found this pub - The Bum Boat Pub. I thought it was just a silly name the owner gave it. NOT - who knew that there really was such a thing as a bum boat (well Chester, as a Coastie you probably did!). Wikipedia to the rescue again! Speaking if things could talk the stories they'd tell - bet this boat has more than a few that would "curl your hair" ... It was used to take supplies (food, alcohol and various other needs to the men working on the ore boats on the lake!!!). Small tight quarters in the bar section below (there is a deck above with tables and chairs - we however were downstairs), but it was certainly an interesting quick stop for us.

Ashtabula County is the covered bridge capital of Ohio. They claim to have the longest covered bridge in the world. Of course we had to see it and use it as another (UGH) photo opportunity for Sir Arlo. It was nice to see, but we didn't do the tour of the county that includes many many bridges. They even have an annual covered bridge festival in Ashtabula County! It was a gorgeous area with huge huge farms and rolling hills, not to mention the lake.

While we were in the area we happened to stumble upon a motorcycle rally in the next town (Geneva on the Lake). Another interesting little town (reminiscent of Nantasket Beach in Massachusetts in its heyday). Rick headed over there by himself Saturday afternoon while Arlo and I went for a ride in search (in vane) of a small pumpkin. Rick and I returned together later that day on both bikes. A little known fact, that I can't explain - my favorite rally event is a "burn out pit" I love them, and perhaps it is that I am so intrigued by the insanity of anyone who would do that to their motorcycle. Anyway, as any self respecting rally should, this one had a burn out pit .....

I've never seen anyone set the wall on fire tho .... crazy crazy boys and their toys.........

Good night all