DAY 35-36 (5/20-21) FRI & SAT CROTON ON HUDSON TO DELAND/DAYTONA BEACH, FL

Up early for last muffin w/peanut butter & jam. Take us to train station-Jane gets on train to say good bye & make sure we’re leaving. Doors close-Jane almost went to NY instead of playing tennis. Arrive at Grand Central Station-not much time to look around-walk our bikes 12 blocks down Madison Ave to Penn Station. By the time we find our track-time for person to show us where to load bikes. 1st on train also-no time to buy neck pillow. 23 hrs long time to spend on train-not going to complain-lot cheaper & easier than driving.

Sat morning-MARY PAT WAITING AT STATION with our Buick. Load up bikes-stop for breakfast. Play golf that afternoon. Go out to eat & watch James Bond movie until 11. What a nice way to end our trip. Plan for another day of golf tomorrow.

DAY 34 (5/19-THURS) CROTON ON HUDSON

Went w/Jane to town current events discussion (2 hrs) on achievements of Obama in office. Group made up of 24 Dem & 1 token Rep. Introduced me from TX-said I wasn’t for Cruz. Said I had never done this in Austin. Armand & John played tennis-new shoes did not help-lost both sets. Went to look at cabins to rent when we come back. Jane fixed Spaghetti, we bought salad & dessert. Jane went to bookclub. John suggested movie he really wanted to see-DOUGH. Got to movie-only 2 tickets left-very small artsie theatre. Loved the movie-old Jewish baker & young black Muslim boy. Bob & Tali from Bethesda are Jewish-we were Catholics-it doesn’t matter. PEOPLE ARE NICE EVERYWHERE & have much more in common than differences. Feel bad for John-last night for Dough. Go back & eat another piece of pie.

DAY 33 (5/18-WED) CROTON ON HUDSON

Up at 9:00-bkft again. Jane gone to city to watch young kids perform. JOHN was our guide. Hike up Turkey Hill in our biking shoes, then to Payless for tennis shoes-UT buys yellow ones to match bike shirt. Lunch at store like Whole Foods. Come back & eat on porch-yard is beautiful. Jane comes home-takes us to walk along river-forgot camera. Then to look at cabins to rent-never found an area in the country that we want to come back for extended period of time. Dinner & hi-lite of day. JOHN PLAYS ICE HOCKEY 2× a week. Jane took us to game. JOHN is 74-started at 40. Is playing in an over 40 league-was so impressed w/John & everyone out there.  Armand is going to stick to GOLF.  Had pie & ice cream because it was hard work watching John. Tomorrow-last day here.

DAY 32 (5/17-TUES) CROTON ON HUDSON, NY @ JANE & JOHN’S HOUSE

DAY 32-CROTON ON HUDSON, NY. IT’S OVER. What a perfect place to stop after a good day of biking, train, car yesterday. Breakfast was ready when I came upstairs. Went to CROTON DAM-what a spectacular view-walked down below too.  Got lunch & went down to the river to eat-still feels cold. Toured town-more impressed with area all the time. Played tennis later-very close match. Armand got to wear Jane’s tennis shoes. Later UT checking on car rentals to FL-cost around $800+gas, food, motels-easily over $1,000. I SAY-CHECK AMTrak. AMTrak doesn’t take bikes. You can call. NO. JANE hands me the phone-I CALL. Yes, we take bikes. HOW MUCH TO FL?  $275-for 2 seniors & 2 bikes. Want 2 tickets for Fri morning. Sometimes I help.  What a wonderful day. So grateful to our hosts, JANE & JOHN.