Racing Home

I was thinking yesterday that I'd do some laundry today and hit a bunch more wineries in Ohio as I continued on my way.  But lying in bed last night, I knew I just wanted to get home.  TR is coming home tomorrow and the quickest I can get home now (sanely) is Sunday. 

I didn't have Wi-Fi yesterday, so I need to catch up a minute.  Thursday, I stopped at a winery on the Southern End of Keuka lake (westernmost of the larger finger lakes), bought 9 bottles of wine, and got back on the road.  Stopped at a restaurant in Amish country where they had an Amish carriage sitting in the middle of the room that you could have lunch in (no, I didn't), then went off on a wild goose chase in search of a Harley shop with an interesting name to get TR a t-shirt at.  Never did find it, but had a lovely time driving through Amish country and then found another winery near Fredonia (NY) where I bought another 8 bottles (one of which I am polishing off at the moment--Woodbury Cherry--made with sour cherries and has that wonderful tart flavor.  I am eating an amazing New York cheddar with it.)  Then back on the road and had only gotten as far as Erie PA by the time I stopped.  When I talked to TR, I found out for sure that he was coming home on Saturday.

So, I tried to figure out how I could avoid wasting time doing laundry.  To make a long story short, yesterday's outfit is being worn today.  I still have clothes for two more days, and I should make it by then.  I still had to stop at a WalMart to get cottage cheese, jello, and a paring knife for my cheese--last night I was trying to cut it with a plastic spoon.  Then I figured I'd stop at a winery or two, but mostly just drive.  The wineries along the coast of Lake Erie were closed (I went through between 10:30 and 11:00, and they didn't open until 11:30.  Not a problem in the Finger Lakes, where all the wineries start tasting at 9 am.)

Just before getting to Cincinnati, I got off the freeway looking for a winery advertised only to find it was 60 miles from the highway.  I was not willing to go that far out of my way.  Next, in KY, I followed a sign, but, after driving 5 miles in the direction it had pointed to, I'd not found another sign, so I gave up.  Finally, I followed a sign that took me a ways out of my way, but kept encouraging me with more signs.  I got there at 5:51, and the place closed at 6:00.  I asked if I was too late, but, of course I wasn't.  After tasting about 7 wines, I bought 10 bottles, and then started looking in earnest for a motel.  I finally stopped at 7:30 at a Hilton...a bit more expensive than I've been spending, but love the accoutrements.  Well appointed room with lots of outlets, nice lighted clock, large screen tv with lots of channels, Wi-Fi, refrigerator, breakfast tomorrow, a little cart to help me get my stuff to the room, and a call from the room clerk to make sure I was comfortable.  Very nice.