Travel Plans

As mentioned on Saturday before giving an update of the homebrewing process, I will be on vacation starting this Wednesday (9/23) through Sunday the 4th of October.  In part to give you all a preview of what I will be sharing when I return and also to get the itinerary straight in my head, I thought I would share my travel plans.

My northbound flight will leave from Orlando early and have a short stop at JFK on the way to Syracuse, NY.  I love flying JetBlue when I have the opportunity and I don’t mind making a stop if I can get to my destination earlier in the day.  The only regret on this trip is that I don’t have enough time to have a Brooklyn Lager on draft on my stop over at JFK.  It does, however, get me into Syracuse early enough to have lunch and visit with a few good friends at Dinosaur BBQ.  I haven’t put a lot of thought into what I would choose for a last meal, but that place would certainly be on the short list.

From there I am driving down to Ithaca, NY to meet up with the lovely couple for whom I am making the trip (I have the honor of being in the wedding of a very good friend of mine).  I also get to stay with my cousin who I haven’t see in a long time as a bonus!  Thursday we will all be meeting up to say hello and have a few drinks.  Most of the wedding party is traveling from far away from Ithaca, so it will be nice to meet everyone prior to wedding activities.  Friday will be picking up tuxedos, wedding rehearsal, and probably some goofing around by the groomsmen.  Later that night I will be running to the airport in Ithaca to pick up The Wife (after she puts in a full week of work).  Saturday will be the outdoor wedding early in the afternoon, leaving the remainder of the day for the reception festivities and eventually a well deserved night of sleep.

Sunday morning we will be waking up very early so we can drive back to Syracuse to meet up with my father and step-mother at the airport.  We will drop off our rental car, jump in their car, and start our day long drive to Maine.  I think we are looking at an eight hour drive, but with some stops built in it will likely creep to ten or more.  That is why we have intentions of a very early start in Syracuse.  The purpose of the drive to Maine is to spend a week with The Wife‘s family at her grandparent’s home on the coast.  We do not get to see either of our families that often, so we are both looking forward to this trip very much.  Starting the trip with close friends and ending it with family will make for a good time.

There will certainly be much in the way of beer, food, and travel to share upon my return.  We have plans to make a day trip to Portland, ME to visit a few breweries such as Shipyard and Allagash (and maybe a few more time permitting).  That alone is enough to make me behave for such a long car ride.  I will be well traveled and should be well rested upon my return and  hopefully I will have won a trip to Portland, OR during that time as a bonus!

P.S.  Any suggestions on places of interest in Maine (preferably near Camden) would be gladly accepted.