Off to a Great Start

Off to a Great Start

So, it’s 9:30 pm and our first day on the bike is drawing to a quiet close. In the last  64 hours, I’ve entertained sleep for about 8. And I use the term entertained purposely, as trying to sleep, and then stay asleep, has been comical. 

I was up at 5:15 this morning for no particular reason. And not in a plodding, where’s my coffee sort of way, but up like Ricochet Rabbit. Bing. Bing. Bing. Laundry. Bing. Bing. Bing. Do the dishes. Bing. Bing. Bing. Review the list to make sure everything is packed, or ready to be packed. Bing. Bing. Bing.

The last thing to go in the bike was the iMac, because we needed to go to Staples and buy a cover. With out it….no blog! (And that’s all it will be used for, so side note to JJ, John, Snoop and Good Mike – don’t poke the bear!)

Today’s ride took us through rural Pennsylvania. The sky was a perfect and tranquil blue, but the wind, at least until lunch, was a bit rambunctious at times, so much so I think it even messed up my hair inside the helmet!

Our first “local fare” lunch was at a very cute, bistro-like restaurant called Seasons in downtown Tunkhannock. (http://www.seasonsdowntowne.com/index_2CUP.html). The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The staff was friendly and professional, and lunch was awesome. Jason had a Reuben, which he praised highly, and I had an amazing tuna melt with tomato and swiss impeccably toasted on ciabatta bread. Kudos!!

Our trip today took us to North Bingham and Gold, Pennsylvania and Whittesville, New York to visit some of Jason’s relatives. Of course, they were ambivalent about seeing us, as most had been dead for quite a number of years.  Yes, I made him take me to another cemetery, okay…. three cemeteries, but not just ANY cemeteries. These were the final resting places of his great-great-great grandparents.  

Cemeteries are such interesting places on their own; silently offering clues to the past while adding branches and leaves onto family trees. When the tree is yours, the visit is so much more valuable. Numerous members of his Chapin, Lawrence and Raymond ancestors lived in and around Potter County, Pennsylvania and Allegany County, New York during the 19^th and early 20^th century. Some stayed for generations, others stayed permanently. 

When we got to the Raymond Cemetery in the village of Raymond, looking for Jason’s ancestor Amos Raymond (seeing a theme here?) the sun was beginning to get low in the sky, and I was concerned that I wouldn’t get a good picture. We divided and conquered, looking for the headstone. Jason, fittingly, found it.It was a simple limestone tribute to the Revolutionary War patriot who fought as part of the 4th Connecticut and died in 1852 at the age of 95. When I reached Jason, and was ready to take the picture, the sun was pouring through the trees, singularly illuminating the stone; a surreal sort of timing.

While the amateur genealogist in me understands the importance of cemeteries and headstones to filling in gaps in a family tree, I’ve also seen how headstones can be ignored, and sadly abused, lying cracked, broken and weathered, and when they are destroyed, so are their links to the past. So, it will be a jar for me, porcelain preferably, and then scattered along Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg.

But, I digress.

We spied a cute restaurant in Olean en route to the hotel, close enough to walk to and with outdoor seating. We checked in and checked it out.  Angee’s Fine Italian Food (http://www.angees.com/) was as fine as its name.

So, now we’re tucked into our hotel. I’m exhausted in a perfectly wonderful first day of vacation sort of way and certain I’ll have no trouble sleeping tonight….that and only 8 hours of sleep in the last, well, now 65 hours.