The Okie Legacy

Vol. 1, No. 26
Saturday, 2 October 1999

Canada & New England
(Through Oakie's Eyes)

Traveling by the light of an almost harvest moon was a sign that the next few days of vacation would be a grand journey that will last forever in our memories.

In the early 18th century and maybe earlier our ancestors could be found heading west for new opportunities and adventures in covered wagons - on horse back - with only their hopes and dreams to guide them through the rough spots along the way.

Today their descendants are doing something similar but in a modern and motorized sort of way. They are headed in the opposite direction searching for their history. With the help of motorized covered wagons instead of the horse drawn type, the modern day pioneers have it a lot easy than our ancestors did way back when.

Things do come full circle, don't they. Instead of the modern day pioneers pulling extra ponies behind the covered wagons of today, they can be seen pulling small compact motorized vehicles and heading east instead of west.

I haven't been online that much this week, so there isn't much to click on in this weeks newsletter. I've been busy sightseeing and browsing the Interstates and highways of the real America back east that you can feel, touch and smell in person.

As you know, we are on vacation for the next few days and traveling through Canada, New York State, and the New England area during Autumn's Fall Foliage changes. I've found some exciting and relaxing spots that I've hated to leave, and have reluctantly moved on in our Autumn journey of the New England States and Canada.

I will share a few of those moments with you in some special editions later. I'm doing this in two installments because I've got lots of photos to share with you and not enough time to present them to you in all one shot.

Thursday we arrived in the Adirondacks and stayed at the Lake Placid Lodge. Friday morning I woke up before dawn to gaze out the big picture window overlooking the the mountains and lake while I was still snuggled warmly and sinking snuggly into the big feather bed. The blazing fireplace was located a few feet from the end of the bed to keep the room cozy and warm.

I really let myself sleep in this morning enjoying everything around me. Including the morning mist rising from the lake and escaping into the fresh mountain air. This is a great place to snuggle, relax and rejuvenate in the Autumn and Winter. Check out time was at noon and We were reluctant to leave this peaceful place.

BUT....The sights, sounds, and smells of the woodburning fireplaces and other memories will always be with us. Another place that was hard to leave was Niagara On The Lake in Ontario, Canada. Did you know it was once the capital of Ontario? The only British settlement that the Americans lost and reluctantly relinquished to the British during the war of 1812. As the short story goes, the Americans burnt the village down to the ground just before they left it for the British who were advancing upon them.

Friday night as I attempt to write up this brief newsletter, we have found a quaint little Inn called the Sunset Hill Inn in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire off of highway 302 to spend the night and rest up for the next day of sightseeing that will take us into another part of New Hampshire and Portland, Maine tomorrow.

To my friend in Montreal, Canada that I promised to stop in and meet.... I regret NOT making it up your way this time. But one day we will finally meet. Please don't be too upset with me. There is so much to see of this beautiful countryside and too little time to see it in. I will be back another time. As to my Long Island friend (Penman), You are on my list still and I'm looking forward to meeting you and your wife towards the middle of the week coming up.

Until later this weekend,
Linda "Oakie"