Drive. Pray. Scream?: Day 90: Proximity

No scary beach dreams last night (re: yesterday's blog), and clear skies and calm water for our return ferry to Connecticut. One of the locals suggested we visit Montauk (far eastern end of Long Island) on our next trip...he said it's very quaint, "a little drinking town with a fishing problem"! We'll definitely be back some day.

On the mainland, we headed a bit northwest toward Weir Farm, home of American Impressionist painter Julian Alden Weir, and now a national park unit. We had loads of fun completing the kids' junior ranger activities, one of which was a letterboxing course. It's basically a treasure hunt, with clues leading from box to box, in which are stored a special rubber stamp, ink pad, and a notebook in which to make a note of your visit. We found our way to all five letterboxes, and the clues took us all over the farm, a place of great beauty featuring red buildings, old stone walls, a pond, trees of all variety and size, and terraced gardens. Although continuing to do battle with our now-familiar foe, the mosquito, we tramped all over the place (with a heavy layer of bug spray) and have a new appreciation for Weir and his many artist friends who found inspiration in this place. In our drives to and from the farm, we found ourselves sharing that we could see ourselves living here...if we could afford it (Not!) and were it not so far from family, friends and our 17-years-vested Colorado retirement plan.

It's quite strange to be within 50 miles of Manhattan tonight. We know the entire country is reflecting on the terrible events of 10 years ago. But here, where so many were affected on a personal level, the emotions seem almost palpable and electric. The appreciation we've gained for so many places on this trip is tremendous; and while we've always been patriotic, our love and pride for the country as a whole has grown exponentially. We are forever changed for the better by our travels.