Feb 20, 2007
A Sweet Vintage All Around
Though I look forward to vacationing with Sundance Vacations in the future, I am writing about what I consider a unique experience on a vacation my wife Ruthann and I took about 12 years ago.
Our first son, Zachary, was a year-old, and Ruthann’s parents volunteered to babysit so that we could get away for five days. Before they could change their minds, I booked lodging at the Viking Resort on Keuka Lake in Penn Yan, NY, the heart of Finger Lakes wine country.
Keuka is not quite as popular or populace as her big sister to the east, Seneca Lake, which boasts the town of Watkins Glen as her southern entry point, but after a year of diapers and 3 AM feedings, solitude sounded wonderful.
Ruthann and I had been married for two years and this was our first time away since our wedding. Unbeknownst to us on the trip to the Viking, we were pregnant with our second son, Derek.
When we arrived, Ruthann gave me a sidelong stare. Aside from the main lodge were a series of truly rustic cabins along the lake, which reminded one of a summer camp. I was thrilled, but my wife is an amenities aficionado.
When we entered the cabin I got a full glare, which I ignored. I dropped the bags and said, “Let’s explore”.
It was about 3 PM, and as we walked to the beach I noticed Ruthann begin to relax. It began to sink in that diaper duty was on hold, and the glitter of the sun on the water convinced her that rustic, temporarily, was cool…
As she stared wistfully at the passing sailboats, I turned toward the lodge and did a double-take. There at anchor was a 60 ft. boat with an upper and lower deck. I soon discovered that the “Viking Spirit” made a two hour sojourn of the lake, departing each day at 5 PM, however much to my disdain, I was talked into driving north along the lake to a restaurant which obviously ran a daily competition: Was the service, or what was served worse?
The next morning we swam and sunned, had some lunch and headed for the Bully Hill winery. When you pull into the parking lot you are several hundred feet above the lake and picturesque is a pale description of the view.
I was almost as impressed with the greeting we received from the staff, and in the hour plus we spent tasting and touring never felt rushed. They know how to sell wine!!!
We stood again admiring the view, proud owners of a mixed case of wine. Rather than subject myself to another “recommended” restaurant, I stopped at a lakeside stand, and we enjoyed burgers and fries. This because my intention was to be on that boat at 5PM…
Ruthann is admittedly not an adventuresome sort. Prior to our marriage, I’d lived in Colorado and New Mexico for many years, and had helicopter skied, hang glided, backpacked into the Rockies wilderness for weeks at a time, and even spelunked.
Ruthann wouldn’t get on the boat…
She claimed tired and a headache, and with Derek on the way this was possibly true. I gave her a lingering kiss (but 5 PM was approaching fast), grabbed a couple of my Bullies, and wished her a rewarding nap.
Before she closed her eyes, I was seated on the top deck waiting to hear those engines kick over.
As we pulled out of port, I pulled the cork on a port, and armed with my official Bully Hill stemmed glass, closed my eyes and enjoyed the sun on breeze, listening to the bubbling of the Chrysler 440’s underway.
As the boat began to straighten, aiming south, I opened my eyes, and next to me sat a “woman of the 60’s”. It was 1994. Fortunately, musically and spiritually I identify with that era, and we struck up a conversation I’ll never forget…
I figured her name was Jasmine, and was taken aback when she said Mary Ann. If Ginger showed up, I’d be one lucky guy.
Pleasantries aside, we began discussing music, and I was quite taken by what I sensed was the truth. Back in the day, she had worked as a publicist for and traveled with, “The Band”, one of my favorites!!! She spoke intimately of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rich Manuel, and a classically trained true genius, Garth Hudson, keyboardist extraordinaire. Garth could play virtually any instrument and looked like Walt Whitman. A true character!
All too soon the boat docked, and Mary Ann’s parting words were, “they usually have a bonfire on the beach around 10, maybe I’ll see you there.”
I excitedly burst into our cabin and told my wife of the wondrous conversation I had had with someone who had “been there”.
I smelled wood smoke at about 9:30, and Ruthann and I, holding hands, sipping wine, made our way to the glow along the shoreline.
Of course I had my eyes out for Mary Ann (hey, this was Band Camp), and was disappointed by her absence. I grabbed a couple of chairs and Ruthann and I sat by the fire, lost in our own dreams, (or vintage, if you will).
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice, “Rich I made it and I brought a friend.”
My wife turned and I saw her expression change to surprise, her eyes wide in the firelight.
There stood Garth Hudson.
I mumbled something about a seat, and have some wine, and I’m sorry to say, I gawked like a groupie. Garth chuckled, and said tongue in cheek, “Man you look like you have stage fright!!!”
The next few hours were spent in conversation about a variety of subjects, each more interesting than the last. Garth Hudson has played some of the most beautiful, haunting melodies I have ever heard, for a group that was known as “the tightest band in the world”.
At about 1AM, they rose to leave, we shook hands, and off they walked, up the beach, and…gone.
My wife smirked at me, and said, “Wow, you’re like a puppy, you’d think you just hung out with Mickey Mantle.” To which I replied, “In his world he is, honey.”
What a trip!!
Rich Fiegelman
Events Marketing Manager
Sundance Vacations
