Antiquing on a dismal day.

 

Today was a day we planned to drive up to Hudson, NY and do some antiquing.  The big problem was with my legs - I couldn't walk far, and I was grateful to have my cane with me.  Thankfully, I'll be seeing my doctor in a couple of days, and hopefully he'll able to help me walk properly before my cruise.

But first...

We got up at our usual time today, and got out of the house around 2 pm.  I knew it was going to be a long drive to get to the Antique Warehouse in Hudson, NY - 80 miles away.  For the most part, we made good time getting to Hudson, stopping only for gas and a bio-break.  By the time we got to the warehouse, the heavens had started opening up, and we rushed inside to get out of the rain and explore the place.

Once inside, we were overwhelmed by the size of the place.  Half of the building was occupied by the warehouse, with a smaller section occupied by smaller, independent shops, and a small section occupied by an Amtrak maintenance department.  I could barely walk, and was glad I could sit on any chair I could find in the place.  However, our stay in the warehouse was short, as it was warm and humid inside.  I couldn't wait to leave the place, so I could get comfortable.

Our next stop was a restaurant that Vicki and I went to when we returned from our trip to the Flax barn sale.   Savona's is part of a 4 restaurant group operating in the Hudson Valley.  I have wanted to go back with RQS in tow, and today was our opportunity to try this place together.  However, we had to pay for 15 minutes of parking, and it took some time for me to use the app to pay for those minutes.  Once I paid for those minutes, we went inside and ordered our meals.  RQS said that I made a better Caesar Salad than the restaurant, but that's because I make the dressing from scratch.  When the main course came, neither of us could finish our food.  RQS loved the place and would go back in a heartbeat.

We got home around 8, and I was aching - my legs could barely support me.  But I was safe, and I was at home.  And that's the important thing.

A visit to the Flax Barn Sale

 

The only thing on the docket for today was a long drive to Wampsville, NY for the Flax Barn Sale.  Two years ago, I scored several dresses, tops and bottoms for a dirt cheap price.  This year, Vicki and I decided to do it again while RQS was in Philadelphia with her cousin.  Yet, neither of us expected the drive to be as long as it was.  But then, Vicki was following speed limits to the letter.  (I wonder if she got a ticket recently - I'm not going to ask her....)

I woke up around 8 am, with only 4 hours of sleep.  Yet, I was ready for Vicki on time - 10 am.  There was no way that Vicki wanted to stop to eat until lunch time, so she offered me a protein bar to stave off any hunger pains until we sat down for lunch.  About 1 1/2 hours later, we stopped at a Thruway rest area and paid almost $20 for a Burger King meal - something that off the Thruway would cost $12-$13.  Ouch.  Neither of us finished our meal, and continued onward  for another 2 hours for another bio-break.  This time, Vicki picked up some Dunkin' Doughnut Holes, small 1 bite doughnut pieces that could temporarily stave off hunger pains until we got something serious to eat.

Eventually, we made it to the barn sale, and we started going through boxes of garments, looking for things that would fit us.  On my side of the tent, some women were stripping down to their undies to try on clothes.  (The only male in the tent was on the far other side, manning the cash register.)  Even if I had a cisgender female's body, I doubt I'd want to show myself in my underwear to other women.  This is not a gym locker room, nor is it the Syms (a defunct store) women's dressing area.  Vicki bought 4 garments for herself, and several for her friends.  I bought 1 outfit for myself, and a light linen dress I could wear this summer. 

We started home around 4-4:30 pm, and I changed into something comfortable at the first thruway rest area.  (I was wearing a unitard, so that I could try on clothes without stripping down to my underwear.)  Once in a more comfortable dress, we traveled for the next 2-3 hours until we reached Hudson, NY for dinner.  I looked for an affordable place, and found Savona's.    It's a good, stick to your ribs Italian joint, but not one you'd call a "Red Sauce" joint - even though it serves many of the red sauce joint specialties.  While waiting for our food, Vicki and a man at a neighboring bar seat got into a long winded chat.  (She wanted to end the chat earlier, but he couldn't stop once started.)   occupied myself by playing a game on my phone.  When the food came, we realized that after we finished, that we would go home with leftovers enough for a small meal.  (Both of us would go there again tomorrow if it weren't 2 hours away.)

Having left the restaurant, it took us another 2 hours to get home.  Vicki was getting tired, and I could see that in the way she was reacting to idiots on the road.  So, I was glad when she dropped me off at 11, knowing that she'd be in her own bed by midnight....