Vacation Day One

Because I knew I was going to be away on Valentines Day, I ordered and had a live baby yellow roses bush sent to Stacy at work.

So this morning after kissing her good bye and wanting to get to the Nashville Airport in enough time to get through security because I know whats coming and I was hungry and wanted to eat.

As I always am when I travel by air, I'm the guy who always gets asked to submit to a more "intense" security screen.

I must look like a bad guy, or maybe I'm on a list someplace that says I have to be pulled to the side, submit to a body cavity check before I can go any farther. So after clearing security, I was hungry and was surprised at the changes in the airport food court.I decided on a fat free, no calorie, bacon, egg and cheese biscuit combo with hash browns and a drink.

We lifted off on time and were en route to Reagan in D.C. This was a small jet plane, I was in seat 9A and there were only 9 rows behind me.

The attitudes of the employees inside the beltway has not changed since the mid 90's when I was stationed at the Pentagon. Still the same lack of customer service I remembered, oh the memories.

After getting on the bigger jet at Reagan, it was off to New York.

The Frozen Northern Tundra, aka, Syracuse New York.

After meeting David at the airport it was off for the hour ride to Ft. Drum where we got some of the best chili dogs I have had in a long time.

Ft. Drum is home to the 10th Mountain Division and conducts the best mountain training in the world. This is the statue dedicated to the 10th Mountain.
This is the street David lives on in Alexandria Bay. After settling in for a few minutes, I was ready to tour this summer resort town.
What looks like a castle in the background is just that, one of the many buildings and homes built on the islands on the St. Lawrence River. What looks like a pasture between me and the castle is actually the frozen St. Lawrence river.
This is the entrance to the 1000 Island Bridge that crosses the St. Lawrence River. After crossing the bridge, David showed me the golf club he plays and a "quaint" (his word not mine) village that looks like something out of the 1800's.

A lighthouse on one of the islands.

The 1000 Island Bridge from the other side of the river. I was nice tour of David's other world.

After my tour it was back to David's home away from home where we each ate six tacos with a side of refried beans. I'm going to ski ahead or beside David, not behind him tomorrow.

I did not get hurt today. But tomorrow holds many opportunities to be injured. We are meeting Jason and Kara for breakfast then off to the ski slopes!

I was impressed with Ft. Drum's MWR set up. I was able to rent skis, boots, poles and got lift tickets for both Snow Ridge on Saturday and Whiteface Mountain on Sunday for a total of $65.00!

When David picked me up at the airport, I could not but notice that we could be twins. We both wore blue jeans, brown shoes and the same exact sweater.

The "boys" touring Alexandria Bay, enjoying a good cigar.

And how was your day?