Another 300+miles, and here we are. And here we will be for the next four days, being generously housed by our friend N_______. We will soon be joined by friends E______ and R______, driving up from Rhode Island.

(You wonder how our friends got those names. It’s from reading classic Russian novels, such as those by D_________ and T______.)

So I will make this short. Breakfast in Oneonta is to be avoided in my experience.  Our hotel oatmeal was so dense that it reminded me more of the mortar we used to make the pyramids than a healthy breakfast food. So we went to a coffee shop we spotted the night before to find it closed. So i went to Oneonta Bagel Store, ordered a bagel and a cup of French Roast, along with a milder Breakfast Blend for Edie. The bagel was not edible (really) and the two coffees tasted identical.

We were redeemed at lunch in an old diner (been there since 1948) in Bennington VT. The Blue Benn Diner. I had a vegetable scramble with the vegetables I like best along with home fries and whole wheat toast. And, because it’s a popular diner and the booths were full,we ate at the counter. I gave my lunch 5 stars.

Other highlights? Troy, New York. Been there? It’s the home of RPI.

In addition, Troy has an unbelievable weekly farmers’ market, which we chanced upon. I took several photos. But……if you find them, let me know. They have vanished.

Finally, in case  you wonder,  Vermont and New Hampshire are still very appealing.