It has already been three weeks since the last time I was upstate, and while I am definitely missing being up there and Snowboarding, I have been busy at home and on the road. I was pretty certain, on March 2, that it would be my final day of Snowboarding for this season. With Youth Lacrosse practices beginning at home and the Condo being rented for much of March, I knew it was unlikely that I would be back at Gore again this season. With that in mind, I was determined to enjoy that last day to the fullest and put a fittingly, fine finish on a fantastic season.

It was a great day for snowboarding at Gore, with nice weather and beautiful conditions. I was at it from before 8:30am ’til after 3pm. I savored each run and covered as much of Gore’s varied terrain as I could. I could not have asked for a better ending to the 2021-22 Season.

The following Wednesday, I travelled to Rochester with Jay, for the Nazareth Women’s Lacrosse Game against Brockport. I had checked out the weather, and knew it was going to be a bit dicey, but did not realize that it would be snowing for all but the final 15 minutes! What I had envisioned as a leisurely drive, instead was tense and trying. We ended up arriving with just enough time to check into the Hotel before the game, which we arrived at, just as the National Anthem was played. It was a tough day for the Golden Flyers, though there were plenty of positives, upon which to build. Of course the highlight of the trip was our “Garbage Plate” Dinner, with Jon and Diana back at their place!

The rest of the week was spent going to Lacrosse Practices and the Mentoring Program at Woodland Middle School. I also found time to watch some live streamed lacrosse games (Nazareth and Mercyhurst). That weekend, Debi and I took the train into Manhattan for a couple of days of City Stuff. We went to the Frick Museum and did a Big Onion Walking Tour of the southern part of Central Park. We were treated to beautiful sunrises each morning, from our Midtown Hotel. It really was a great weekend.

Last weekend Debi and I made the two hour drive up to SUNY New Paltz, to see Golden Flyers of Nazareth take on the Hawks of New Paltz. The forecasted rain, never came and we enjoyed a great game in a really pretty setting (though obscured by fog and clouds for the most part, the Shawangunk Ridge lay just to the west of New Paltz). It was a tightly contested and well played game, with Naz coming away with the 11-10 Victory! We got to visit briefly with Diana before the team got back on the bus for the long (but not unhappy) ride back to Rochester. It was great seeing her out there coaching (and a bonus to see them win)- certainly worth the drive up!

From New Paltz we headed to Newburgh for an overnight visit with my Uncle Paul Gannon. It is always great to see and spend time with Paul, and this time, was no exception. He took us to the Newburgh Waterfront for a great dinner and then to the Newburgh Brewing Company.

After Sunday breakfast with Paul, Debi and I headed to Poughkeepsie for a hike and Paul went to Dominate his regular Pickle Ball game. We decided on a loop that took us across the Mid-Hudson Bridge, up through Franny Reese State Park and then back over the “Walk Over the Hudson”. Despite the less than perfect weather, we enjoyed the hike and the spectacular views.

We spent the night in Poughkeepsie, before returning to Long Island on Monday. It was another really great weekend. I keep telling myself that I am going to “blog” more often. I hope I can do that.