MEMORIAL DAY

Roger and Karen
Karen and Foxy

Memorial Day seemed especially poignant with John along: safely home after a year long stint in Iraq. John had some scary close calls.

Paul and Roger cheerfully waiting for Mary and Karen to do a little shopping.

Roger gets a bear hug.

Front row seat for a great small town Memorial Day parade.

Paul sits on the "Hondabago"

ART AND ARTIFACTS

The art was incredible, what a museum.
Scrimshaw horn with a map engraving.

George Washington himself.

One of the beautiful drums hand made and painted.

FORT TICONDEROGA

Incredible restored fort Ticonderoga
Looking out at Lake George

Cannon pointed out at the lake

As we walked through the entrance, I got a quiet thrill as I read the list of people who had gone before us................

These canon were my favorites, short fat Mortars.

All the canon were works of art.

Just look at the ornate work on the canon!

What a work of art.

Here we are, riding into the entrance to Fort Ticonderoga

Plaque at the gate

Fort Ticonderoga, originally Fort Carillon, was built by the French military between 1755 and 1759. One of a series the French built to control Lake Champlain. The site looks over Lake Champlain at a point where it narrows and the shore of Vermont is a mere cannon shot away. It is at this point, too, that the waters from Lake George enter Lake Champlain via the La Chute River. Control of this strategic narrows meant control of the north-south water "highway".
On July 8, 1758 the Fort was successfully defended by a French army of 3500 soldiers under the command of Louis-Joseph le Marquis de Montcalm despite being severely outnumber by an attacking British army of 16,000 troops under the command of General James Abercromby. This was France's greatest victory in the Seven Years' War.
The following year however, the British under the command of General Jeffery Amherst defeated the French at Fort Carillon. The French troops evacuated the Fort but not before blowing up the powder magazine and warehouse as they went. After several years of archeological site-work the magasin du Roi has finally been rebuilt.

At the outset of the American Revolution a small company of British soldiers still manned the Fort. On May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, and the Green Mountain Boys crossed Lake Champlain from Vermont and at dawn surprised and captured the sleeping garrison. This was the first American victory of the Revolutionary War. From then until July 1777, Fort Ticonderoga served as an important staging area for the American Army while invading Canada and holding the territory against the British forces.
In 1776 new fortifications were built across Lake Champlain on Mount Independence. During the summer of 1776 a fleet of small warships or gondolas where rigged and fitted out at Mount Independence. This fleet under the command of Benedict Arnold fought the Battle of Valcour Island on Lake Champlain in 1776. In July 1777 the British General Burgoyne managed to place cannon on Mount Defiance and forced the Fort's garrison under General Arthur St. Clair to evacuate on July 6th. In September 1777 a small American force conducted the final raid on the Fort attempting to retake it from the British. The British finally abandoned the Fort in early November following the surrender of the British army at Saratoga.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Here's Miss Foxy Allard having a great time running on the trails at Half Mile Ranch.
Bella finally has someone to keep up with!

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN BEAUTY

All through the Adirondacks the scenery is gorgeous. Here we find a park with a view to die for.


Looking down at Lake George

Steam rising off from Lake George

Paul and Roger hamming it up.

Lake George again.

MORE MINNEHAHA

No we aren't having fun............... :)
We view the Saint Sacrement from a window below the deck.

Looking up.

MINNEHAHA PADDLE WHEEL

Here is the paddle wheel turning, making an interesting "paddle wash."

MINNEHAHA EXHAUST PIPES

I was fascinated with the steam exhaust pipes on the Minnehaha. Seemed like a dragon huffing and puffing along.

MINNEHAHA STEAM PADDLE WHEEL BOAT

In a comedy of errors, we got a wonderful ride on the steam paddle wheel boat, Minnehaha. She is an authentic steam boat, built in the 60's. We parked our motorcycles, didn't pay the required parking fee, (till later) ran across the street (right through a parade!!) and boarded the boat in the last seconds before the ramp closed behind us!

FUN AT THE CAMPGROUND

Foxy Allard waits patiently for a ride on the Goldwing
Great neighbors: John and Tonya, John did a year long tour of active duty in Iraq.

Foxy finally gets her ride.

Karen's rose: recognition for 15 years at Midcoast Hospital.

Breezey shows off her new dress from Nora.

ADIRONDACKS: PART 2

Our cozy camping spot. We shared a yard and dog pen with Roger and Karen.
The longer stayed the better we liked it!

Karen walking down the drive to the Saloon.

Private fishing pond right beside the lodge.

Foxy checks out the nice swimming pool and hot tub.

ADIRONDACKS UPSTATE NEW YORK

Arrival at 1/2 Mile Ranch with Roger and Karen in their RV. This rustic old log cabin has a GREAT Saloon and restaurant.
Adjoining farm had well taken care of horses to admire.

Gorgeous horse farm.

We were amused at our view.....

Not much better from this window.

CEDAR FALLS CONTINUED

How's THIS for a camping spot!? Denny and Karen's awesome back yard on 11 acres.
Bella just loves it. Lots of safe freedom!

Bella and Anniebelle scope out the territory.


Breezey is happy to be wandering around in the sunshine.

The Mill's beautiful backyard.

Looking from the backyard to the house, and our RV.

Oaks and other hardwoods on their beautiful acreage.

Looking up through the grove.

Denny pointing out landmarks to Paul.

Bella is MORE than happy, she's ecstatic!

Looking at the neighboring cornfield. (beans will be planted this year)

Bella scopes out the corn field.

The Mill's cool cupola.

What a place to camp!

Denny's hand made (by him) concrete drive.

Bella likes running on the concrete.

Front of the Mill's house.

The neighbors. :) Denny says the lights dissapear as the corn grows tall.

Denny counts rings on a large old tree that had to be cut down.

Many thanks to Denny and Karen for such a wonderful visit.

We were also treated to a GREAT tour of the John Deere factory where Denny worked for many years. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed. I must say, we got an especially super tour riding with Denny beside us!