Training Day turned into an ADVENTURE!!

Rury's Food Store in Cherry Valley, New York
Originally uploaded by JuneNY

This morning, I attended a three hour training at Social Services in Cooperstown, New York. It was such a gorgeous day that my co-workers and I did not want to go back to work. Our boss who was driving went along with this idea. We had lunch at a cafe in THE COMMONS, a plaza just south of Cooperstown.

After that we headed to Cherry Valley to go to a place known as LILACS, LILACS, LILACS where there are a lot of lilac bushes and greenhouses where you can purchase
small bushes to transplant at home. This place is associated with the old building known as the HOPS HOUSE, and a picture of the Hops House is attached to this blog. After that, we decided to spend some time exploring Cherry Valley. We found the neatest book store. I noticed RURY'S FOOD STORE, and had to check it out.Once inside, I decided to buy something (batteries)befor asking if I could take pictures. Francis Rury still runs this true Mom and Pop store that has been in his family for a long time. The original shelving remains.

On the way back, I suggested that we might stop at another small Mom and Pop type store that I noticed on the way to Cherry Valley. Bob's Country Store in Roseboom is another great place, which offered a lot of photo opportunities. The Roseboom Post Office is located in this store.

Cherry Valley and Roseboom are places where I want to spend more time exploring in the future.

Four Hour Adventure with Terry May 5, 2010

All American Produce Grocery Store
Originally uploaded by JuneNY

When we realized that it was a beautiful day and we both had the afternoon free, Terry and I decided to go to the FrogPond and out to lunch. I asked her if she wanted to do some geocaching and she said yes.

We met up in Unadilla at 12:30 p.m. and headed to Bainbridge. We checked out the Olde Jericho Inn, but decided to have lunch at the S & S Cafe instead. We both had the pulled pork sandwich. We were a bit disappointed because it was somewhat dry.
A picture of the cafe is at the top.

As we were walking back to my car, Terry noticed a sign for an art show. We decided to check it out. The artwork was outstanding, but the best part was that the gallery is located in an old theatre in the Bainbridge town hall building.

Next stop was the Mennonite Store. I bought a few items.

Then on to THE FROGPOND, which did not disappoint. The prices were really good on most items. I spent eleven dollars and got an incredible amount of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Upon leaving The FrogPond, I fired up my GPS and gave it to Terry. She guided us
to the location of the cache, which is a wetland area near the school. We put on our boots and set out. Its a good thing we had the boots, there were a lot of wet and squishy spots. Terry found part one of the geocache. We opened it and there was a puzzle to solve. It was really hot and we decided we were too lazy to do the puzzle, so we trekked back to my van and took off.

On the way to Bainbridge, Terry had mentioned that we were not far from the East Guilford Cemetery where her husband is buried. We had plenty of time, so I suggested she show me where it is. Indeed, it was only a couple of miles away from
Route 7. Its a very small, but nice cemetery.

We headed back to Route 7 and towards Oneonta. I noticed what looked like an old abandoned grocery store so I suggested we stop and check it out the ALL AMERICAN PRODUCE GROCERY STORE. I guess it has a Sidney address, but there was a sign saying RIVERSIDE close by, so perhaps Riverside is a village or hamlet of Sidney. In a more recent life,this store was a flea market. Both the grocery store signs and the flea market signs remain, and I took a lot of pictures. Some of the flea market items are still sitting outside, in a partially enclosed area along the side and back. The third and fourth pictures up above are of the abandoned grocery store.

Terry suggested we stop for ice cream. We passed the first ice cream stand and ended up at THE BIG TOP (second picture from the top) I think we were still in Sidney. We both had waffle bowl sundaes and they just hit the spot. While eating our ice cream, we noticed a cute shop next door, which I took a picture of. We did not go in, but will save that for another time...... during another trip to Bainbridge.

We got back to Terry's car in Unadilla around 4:15 or so. We really packed a lot into a little less than four hours.

10 Years! Oneonta, New York a geocache by softball29

10 Years! Oneonta, New York a geocache by softball29
Originally uploaded by JuneNY

The weather was perfect and we had a great turnout for the
geocaching event (bring your own picnic) at the lower level
pavilion in Wilber Park, in Oneonta, New York this afternoon.

Some of us made signs.......and this is me in the picture, holding the sign.

We all had chances at doorprizes, but I didn't win anything.

There were ten new geocaches available not too far from the
picnic site. I found one (Upper Level Cache) which involved
climbing up a pretty steep incline. It was harder climbing down, though.

Staff Fun Day Adventure: The Mystic Forest and MORE!!!!!

The Mystic Forest
Originally uploaded by JuneNY

Today was what we call a STAFF FUN DAY at Family Services. Instead of working, we all meet up and then take off for something fun. Mary (my boss) asked me to put
together some ideas of where we might like to go. After we discussed a couple of these ideas, we decided on going to Delhi and Hamden for the day. The group included myself, Mary, Geneen, Kim, Carol and Phylicia. What a mixture.....women ages twenties to sixties!

We started out early in the day and drove to Delhi. The first stop was the Village Square, where a geocache is hidden. Mary found this tiny geocache pretty quickly. I took some pictures of the square and the buildings around it. Then we walked down to the Co-operative Store, an organic food store at the other end of Main Street. By that time, Stewart's (the old fashioned store) was open, so we stopped there. The woman working showed us the old "initialer" which was used to stamp initials on leather hat bands in the "old days". There is a picture of it up above, third one down. We also went into a tiny gift shop, and I got a few postcards to send to my grandkids.

From there we headed out to Hamden. I had found the geocache named THE MYSTIC FOREST before, but I love that woodsy area and wanted to go again. We parked and took the trail in, stopping to see the huge old red oak tree on the way. Once in the Mystic Forst (I am sure that is not its real name), a few in the group took off to find the source of the running water we heard. They returned with stories of a stream, small waterfalls and a cave. In the meantime, Geneen had located the geocache. I highly recommend hiking at the West Branch Nature Preserve in Hamden, New York.

We then went to THE LUCKY DOG FARM STORE AND CAFE. This was my third time there, but it was a first for the others. We looked around and then had lunch in the cafe.....which is an experience in itself, with the old porcelian topped tables and
displays of antique and vintage items.

We stopped to see an eagles nest from the road, as we left Hamden. There is a small geocache hidden nearby, which I located. It was down a pretty steep incline, and I did not want to climb down it, so Phylicia and Geneen went down and got it.

While at the eagles nest area, I noticed a huge old abandoned house across the road and the door was open!!! We walked up the driveway and explored a bit. Geneen and I went inside but the others declined. The place is full of furniture, including an organ and pool table, and lots of junk and boxes piled all around. We did not go upstairs, but we could have since there seemed to be about five stairways going up. The picture way up at the top is a picture of the abandoned farmhouse.

We then went to see the Hamden covered bridge, which we had passed a couple of times earlier. We took pictures and explored. The rural area just beyond the bridge looked so inviting.............maybe another time......

After that we headed back to Delhi, and went to THE HEART OF THE CATSKILLS, which is a pet shelter run by the Humane Society. It seems to be very well run and organized, and it is very clean. Mary might get a dog sometime soon, and I saw her doing paperwork with someone at the front desk. I took some pictures of the pet cemetery there.

The day was winding down and we headed back to Oneonta. I think everyone had a wonderful time!

OPEN HOUSE at the WALTZING HORSE FARM

Synchronized Riding: April 24, 2010
Originally uploaded by JuneNY

My friend Carol told me about the Waltzing Horse Farm and the Open House today. I asked a couple of friends to go with me. Connie had already heard about it and she wanted to come. We met up at my house around 11:30 p.m. and headed out. I had good directions to the Waltzing Farm (courtesy of Carol), so we made it there in record time.


We were one of the first arrivals so we were able to get a good parking spot. We parked and headed to the arena. We were offered refreshments (home baked cookies, breads and brownies).

The first part of the show was when a narrator told us about the horses while they were brought out and walked around. The history of these breeds is really fascinating. I took a lot of pictures. After a short break, they did what they call "synchronized riding". It was beautiful! They offered tours of the farm, but Connie and I decided not to stay for one.

Connie mentioned that she had never been to New Berlin, so I offered to drive over
there and show her the Main Street. We drove through the main area, all the way
to the New Berlin Diner a few miles outside of town. Once she saw the diner and realized that it was the "real thing" an authentic old diner, retaining the old features, she wanted to have lunch there, so we did. This was like a "blast from the past", and both Connie and I enjoyed it.

We decided to spend some time walking around Main Street in New Berlin. I took pictures of some old buildings. A guy came up to me and asked me if I was a real estate person, he said I made him and some other people nervous by taking pictures. I reassured him I was only taking pictures of old buildings.

It was a great day, but somewhat tiring.

Mel's Antique Race Cars and more ADVENTURE!!!!

Franklin, New York
Originally uploaded by JuneNY

Today was a REAL adventure, one that will be hard to match or beat!


I had something else in mind when I called Leslie this morning (going to Gilbertsville and Mt Upton maybe) but she mentioned a new geocache hidden in Franklin. We decided we could combine that with two other geocaches in Delhi. We met up at her house at eleven a.m. and headed to Franklin.

We found the geocache fairly quickly. After we signed the log, etc. I suggested we just keep driving down Main Street in Franklin (a very small town in Delaware County)
and see if Franklin had anything else interesting. I noticed a ghost sign that said MobilGas as we drove by it, so when we turned around and headed back, I told Leslie that I needed to take a picture of the sign.

I pulled in and took the picture, and then I realized that we had stopped in a really special place. I could see several really old cars under a metal canopy close to where we parked. We glanced at them and then walked towards the front entrance of the building. A guy came out and I told him we were just looking around. He called out to "Mel" and told him that he had company.

Mel came out and we started talking. He was so friendly! He told us about a couple of items inside the shop and then said he would take us out back so we could see more old vehicles. I quickly put new batteries in my camera and we went back. I was amazed at what he had stored behind his shop. He told us about several of the old vehicles. Of particular interest was a Brooks House of BBQ race car. I think Mel said it was from the sixties.

Mel pointed out a vehicle he referred to as a "doodlebug". I asked him what that means and he said that a doodlebug is a tractor that has been made from an old car. he talked about his doodlebug club and the clubhouse. He took us into the clubhouse, which was part of his shop. A couple of pictures are attached up above. The picture to the left of the sign is of the television in the clubhouse.

After taking a multitude of pictures for flickr (you can see my Franklin set taken today here http://www.flickr.com/photos/juneny/sets/72157623767932651/ ), Leslie and headed towards Delhi.

Once there, we found two geocaches. One was in the woods right along Route 10, and the other is on the grounds of the Humane Society. The Humane Society has nice walking trails in the woods. Lots of people visit and take a dog or two for a walk.

By that time it was mid afternoon and we were getting hungry. I suggested we pull in at a nearby rest area and purchase a hot dog from the vendor who is there. We did that. After eating, we looked at a Delaware County map and debated whether or not to take an alternate route home. I decided against it, since I was expecting Christa to come over and I didn't want to use up time in case we got lost.

It was a great day! Geocaching sometimes leads to discovering places you never would have found!

Saturday April 17, 2010 Adventure

Presbyterian Church: Worcester, New York
Originally uploaded by JuneNY

My friend Judy suggested I join her for the chicken and biscuit dinner her church was having today. Since it is about a 45 minute drive to Judy's house from my house, I decided to combine that drive with some geocaching. I quickly put two geocaches together and thought about where I would like to hide them. Then I realized that I don't really JUST go geocaching anymore, I now go geocaching AND flickring at the same time. That means while geocaching, I look for "photo-worthy" places and things.


So with my camera and GPS with me, I set out a couple of hours early. My first stop was at the abandoned railroad yard just the other side of Oneonta. I think technically it is in Milford, but it might be in Cooperstown Junction. I stopped and took several pictures. The picture of the red, white and blue railroad car is from this abandoned railroad yard, up above on the top left. I guess I was more observant today, because for the first time I saw what used to be an italian restaurant in an old railroad car. Its right on Route 7, but I had never really looked at or for it. There is a picture of it up above in the middle (going down).

I continued up Route 7 to Worcester, where I planned to hide my first cache. I had noticed a sign for a park right on Main Street, a couple of years ago. I located the park and hid the cache. I took some time to take photos of Judy's church. I had not realized it had a historical marker in front of it. I drove around and I think I located the building which housed the train depot (its on Depot Street). I took pictures of the Worcester Market and of Ardy's. (Ardy's is at the top right).

Then on to Westford, where I hid the second geocache in a playground/park. I noticed an abandoned church across the road from the park, so I took a couple of pictures.

I arrived at Judy's place at the appointed time. I helped her pack up the two cakes she was taking to the dinner. We arrived at the church early and she finished icing the chocolate cake. I got to meet many of her church friends and the chicken and biscuits was delicious.

After eating, I headed back to Oneonta. I really needed to "walk off" some of that gravy, so I stopped at Southside Mall and walked for about 35 minutes before heading home. I also did a couple of very small errands in Oneonta.