My Cousin Vince and his wife, Annie, from Southern California, came to visit us in Liverpool, New York. We showed them around Central New York, including a stroll along the Erie Canal in the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park in Dewitt, the farms and apple orchards in Lafayette, the famous Columbus Baking Co. bread bakery in Syracuse, the St. Lawrence River way up North in Alexandria Bay, including a boat ride across the river to visit Boldt Castle on Heart Island, one of the Thousand Islands, Point Vincent (how apropos!) on the shore of Lake Ontario, one of The Great Lakes, and ending with a wonderful dinner at Belhurst Castle on Seneca Lake, one of the five Finger Lakes, in Geneva, New York.

Vince and Annie really enjoyed our walk along the historic Erie Canal. Vince was particularly interested in seeing swamps. He said it reminded him of New Jersey where he grew up. So, on the way to Belhurst Castle in Geneva, we drove through part of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

Our last night after dinner at Belhurst Castle in Geneva, NY, about 55 miles from our home, was most memorable for an unfortunate reason. Our car broke down and just died somewhere on Rte. 5 in the middle of farm country. We wound up having to call a private cab to drive us all to our home in Liverpool. We all enjoyed a good laugh on the way and amused our cab driver.

Also, we all had a wonderful time visiting and reminiscing about our many visits over many years and our family histories.

Cathy & Joe R.