When we arrived in good ol' Alfred, it was lunchtime, so we headed down to see "new and improved" 'Jet with Adam and Anna. Conversation was a little bit of catching up and, somehow, talking about the first (and maybe only) vacation I took with Andrea's family during the first year we were dating. The vacation was a pretty dramatic experience for me, but now in hindsight, it's all waves of laughter. The food there was just as good as I remembered, but I was a bit disappointed in the atmosphere. Maybe because it was Parent's weekend at the University, but maybe because it isn't as cozy at it used to be, but was a little strange not eating at the traditional location. I'll get over it. Bacon Meter still gives it 4/5.
After lunch we went geocaching; but even with boy scout (Adam) we were still unable to find the cache hidden around Kanakadea Creek. At this point, I had lost the point-and-shoot camera (at the 'Jet), so no pictures of the adventure. Sorry!
Per Kellie's suggestion, the four of us headed to Lain's Cider Mill before dinner. Getting there proved to be just as much as a struggle as looking for our cache, but 45-minutes and a phone call later we arrived to the sweet smell of apples and a homegrown apple milling operation.
Also, this:
It may not look like much on the outside, but there's a good reason why Lain's Cider Mill has been in local business since the 1940s. I'll detail the operation in a blog immediately following this one, but with the exception of picking the apples (because there's no orchard within the immediate proximity), they are the true definition of friendly, high-quality, and family owned business. The people were very friendly, polite and informative - all things you have come to expect if you happened to have known Jamie Lain in your Alfred years. On site when we visited: 12 huge crates of apples of all different sorts, apple pies, apple cider, plain and cinnamon donuts, and a make-you-own hard cider kits in apple, blueberry, blackberry, peach, apricot and other flavors, complete with the classic glass jugs. So if you're ever in the area, this is a must see attraction.
The rest of the day was pretty much dinner and a movie (The Great Escape [1963]). Oh, and the Penguins won their third pre-season game.
Sunday was a visit to InverVarsity Chapel in the morning, the recovery of the point-and-shoot camera, and a whole day of making apple delicacies such as apple pies, apple dumplings, apple rings, applesauce, and caramel apples with chocolate. Where did all the apples come from? The McClain's apple tree. Although the food was delicious, what made the day was the fellowship. It was nice being able to catchup and chat with Marissa and Nadine after not having the opportunity very much of either of them the last few semesters.
The trip back was enjoyable because I knew it was a weekend well spent. And the house wasn't destroyed by Penelo. Best weekend in a while.
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