Giving Credence to Play Time in the Valley

Playing in the Valley, Drinking @ the Tier, Swimming in the Falls ...

With a planned departure of 830am, I was up and out of bed near 615am. That was 15 minutes later than I planned for, but I always build some pad in there just in case. I was comfortable with my decision. It was Sunday, so I didn't plan calisthenics. Instead, after starting coffee I went to the internet. Enjoyed coffee and internet for about 15 minutes before heading off on my run. I woke Mindy before heading out the door. My hope was that she would be showered upon my return. I was out the door before 7am. Decent run - another cloudy start with warm temps - about 68 degrees.

Mindy was just finishing her shower upon my return. I spent a few minutes looking over my pack list, making sure I had everything set to go. This would be the first trip where we've opted to leave the laptop behind, taking only my Kindle Fire. Felt unchained. Upstairs I showered then tossed all of the running and street clothes I'd need over the next 3 or 4 days along with my overnight kit into my large Nike duffle. Downstairs again, I put my Kindle, a book, and charging cords in my travel backpack. I then loaded my golf clubs into the Pilot, even though I doubted I would actually golf at Holiday Valley. Don't get me wrong, I want to, but don't like golfing with strangers or alone. And since Jacob gave me a resounding no when I offered to pack his clubs, it most likely wouldn't happen. Still, I wanted to have them just in case.

By then Mindy and the kids were downstairs. Mindy was busy packing sandwiches for the drive as well as whipping up a quick breakfast. Barring a stop for a potty break, our plan was to drive straight through to Southern Tier Brewery which is just west of Jamestown, NY, where we planned to have lunch. With little ado, we hit the road at 840am - about 10 minutes later than desired. Not bad, and we didn't have to be anywhere at any specific time.
We didn't get a quarter mile down the road before Jacob uttered that he forgot his iPhone charger. Really? No one said a word. I finally asked if we should return for it, already knowing the answer. But just the same, I was deeply annoyed given that it was perhaps the one thing he was responsible for. After all, Mindy packed all of his clothes and toiletries. Ugh! I bellyached about making the u-turn to which Mindy curtly ripped into me. That, unfortunately, set he somber tone for the initial drive.

We were back on the road 10 minutes later. It was an especially quiet drive around 270 and then north on 71 for approximately 120 miles. Both kids were asleep. Jacob woke, I think, somewhere between Cleveland and the state line. Bella slept pretty much the entire drive to Southern Tier. As usual, it goes really fast once you're on I-90 & I-86.

We relied on GPS to guide us to the Southern Tier Brewery, which is about 6 miles off I-86 in Lakewood, NY, and very near Lake Chautauqua. Seems out in the middle of nowhere, really. Very much impressed with the enormity and beauty of the Brewery and tap house. To my eyes, both facilities looks brand new and tastefully done in stone and timbers.

Inside, we were a little surprised that their food offerings were limited to pulled pork sandwiches and chips. My guess is that it's catered, as they ran out while we were eating ours. I didn't mind so much. I was there primarily for the beer. While Mindy and I enjoyed a pint of beer, the kids enjoyed soda pop. We bought a growler of Compass and a rocket of Plum Noir for the road, neither are available in our area. I was going to buy a shirt but they didn't have any I liked in my size. I'm estimating that we were there for about an hour. We took a few family photos by their large entry signage then headed back to the highway, or I-86 and onto HV.

The drive into HV was relatively quick, only another 50-60 minutes. I'm thinking it was near 330pm when we wheeled into the Inn @ HV. By then the skies were a mixed bag of clouds and sun. Didn't look like rain anytime soon, which was very refreshing to see. Check in was a snap - room #212, which is the corner room that despite being on the 2nd floor, has ski up access to the lift view patio given that the building is built into the ski slope. We were all excited about that.

We didn't spend much time in the room before wandering out for a walk. After a 6+ hour drive, all of us were eager to be on our feet and moving about. We wandered from the Inn across the base of Sunrise lift, which in the summer hosts a green for one of the golf courses holes, not sure which. We followed the cart path over to the Tamarack and the newly built HV day lodge. Looks quite different in the summer. There are something like three pools in an around the new lodge, most of which were packed while a live band played under a portable canopy Just beyond the railing was a large concert stage with maybe a 1000 seats for a special event slated for later that night. We learned that Credence Clearwater Revisited would be playing at dark.

For whatever the reason, the music coming from the lie band around the pool was too loud for my liking. Mindy felt the same. She, the kids and I, continued our exploration of the park in summer mode. Soon, both kids, especially Jacob, bellyached about being there and even threw out some rude remarks directed at Mindy. I wandered off on my own but still within earshot. Both kids wanted to head back to the Inn and our room. I was thinking about having a beer at John Harvard's brewpub located on site at the Tamarack. Soon separated from Mindy and the kids, I sent Mindy a text indicating as much. She responded favorably but said they were already back at the Inn. Said she'd meet me at John Harvard's. With the pub nearly empty, I opted to wait in the lobby, reading the local paper checking out the available real estate adds.

Mindy soon joined for a beer in the pub. I went with Harvard's own Pale Ale. It was just OK. I really wanted to try the EBC Nitrous Hopicide, but they were all out. :( We opted for just the one drink then headed back to the room. By then it was after 5pm. Back at the room, we quickly readied for the pool and hot tub. There we met a guy who claimed to be the drummer for KC & the Sunshine Band, though later that story along with a couple others didn't quite seem to add up. Still, he was interesting to converse with. He and his girlfriend were staying in one of the suites at the Inn. Said they dined at the Barn the evening before and hated it. Felt ripped off and said they'd never go back. We laughed because we said the same thing after our visit there last December.

After some time at the pool and hot tub we headed back to the room where we quickly readied for dinner at the Depot. Of course we walked over. Not only is right across the street, but the evening weather was ideal, partly sunny and warm. Not too big a crowd at the Depot. In fact, most of the crowd looked headed for the Credence show at the HV lodge. We got a table right away. I ordered a pint of Southern Tier IPA. It was just OK. Honestly, though, it tasted a little old. No worries. The kids wanted deep fried pickles as an appetizer. Bella ordered a cheese burger. Can't remember what Jacob ordered. Mindy ordered fish & chips. I ordered wings hot with a side of onion rings. My wings and rings were very tasty.

Walked back just as the sun was setting and darkness moving in. I poured a S.T. Compass then headed out on the patio where I could easily hear the warm-up for Credence. Could see a few starts popping out for the first time in seemingly days and days. Once Credence started ,Bella and I ventured out onto the golf course crossing the Sunrise slope and taking seat somewhere in the fairway still a few hundred yards from the stage but easily within earshot of the concert. Sounded decent. Bella didn't hang long once the mosquitoes started biting. I hung out for another song and then headed back to the room, too. I fell asleep watching TV with the family.