A NIGHT AT THE VINTAGE GARDENS B&B

Time to check into the Vintage Gardens Bed and Breakfast in Newark where we met owners Kimberlee and Michael Meeks. Gorgeous vintage Tudor home built in 1844 on 2 plus acres with grass and forest in the back and gardens in the front. That is, what ever is left in the gardens after the cute and adorable deer use it as their dining room. At least they can't drink up the water in the fountain.

I stayed in the Asian Lily Suite that overlooked the forest. Queen sized cushy canopy bed with a pillow top mattress, luxury robes, cabinet with refrigerator and television that doubled as DVD player (free DVDs to use are located in the library), claw foot tub and separate shower in a large bathroom, and amenities to include a special package of "all you need in case you forgot to bring" items. Kimberlee is so great that she'll even do your laundry if you need those clean clothes for the rest of your trip.

Cookies are placed on your pillow...well, that is, on a plate, near your pillow and you are welcome to have a pot of tea to accompany it.

The downstairs area has a sun room, library, living room, gift shop area and dining room. That is where I had the totally delicious breakfast of whole wheat waffles with fresh peaches topped with home made whipped cream and nuts, along with a large breakfast sausage made with cranberries and orange. Kimberlee makes her own sausage, too.

CONTINUING ON TO GENEVA AND NEWARK

We continue on to Geneva, in Ontario County making our way to Geneva Lakefront Park on Seneca Lake where the Lois McClure is docked for tours. The 1862 replica 88-foot canal schooner is making its way to various ports culminating in Rochester for the World Canals Conference on September 17, 2010. The Lois McClure, hailing from Burlington, Vermont on Lake Champlain, is a replica of a type of boat once common throughout the region. Hopping aboard the ship allowed us to travel back to the 1800s when wooden boats lined the docks.

I'm told that during their heyday, canal schooners were homeported on Lake Champlain but regularly plied the canals, rivers and lakes between New York City, Quebec City and Montreal. Launched in 2004, the Lois McClure serves as a regional ambassador promoting the shared heritage of Quebecois, Vermonters and New Yorkers.

Newark, located in Wayne County, was our next destination. It was there that we met John Zornow an Historian. He first took us to the Arcadia Historic Museum. The front room had a collection of dinnerware which people purchased party style like Tupperware. The other rooms were devoted to the canal and its history.

It was down to the canal area to check out some of the remains of the original canal in Port Gibson as well as one of the locks to view a boat utilizing it.

Murals are the rage in the canal towns. John runs the Newark Chamber of Commerce Information Center located at the Spencer Knight Canal Port. It's a fabulous spot to relax from one of two chair swings and view both the docking boats and murals.

There is no fee to dock and facilities include water and electric as well as a the use of a restroom and shower.

Esther, Eunice and I had the pleasure of meeting Mayor Peter Blandino.

Dinner was at the Corner Restaurant at 101 W. Union Street. Picture having Chicken Francaise where the pieces of chicken are battered and fried and sitting in a sauce of lemon, white wine and butter. Now, instead of using chicken, the dish called for artichoke hearts.