a day away

Robin calls this morning.

"Hey, let's drive up to Rockland County State Park. There's a gorgeous lake up there; we can walk around it and then have lunch. It's beautiful. And no one is there during the week."

It takes no convincing. I haven't seen Robin in months, and I don't think I've been out of the city since Thanksgiving. 

Last time Robin and I went on a road trip together it was up to Westchester. We were absolutely sure that a similar trip would be repeated soon. That was over four years ago.

Robin picks me up around eleven, and an hour later we are in the country. Or so it feels.

Big trees. Lots of green. A gorgeous lake. And geese everywhere. 

We walk around the three-and-a-half mile lake. It's both calming and quiet — the perfect venue for catching up. We walk freely without masks, as there are few other people.

After our walk we scout out a well-situated picnic bench for lunch. How nice it will be to sit with a view so different from the one I usually see.

But within seconds of unwrapping our sandwiches, we are joined by a swarm of bees. Soon our lunch-by -the-lake becomes lunch-in-the-car-by-the- restrooms.

After our scenic lunch, we take advantage of our city-escape and drive to Connecticut to a totally empty BJ's.

Then on to Stew Leonard's, the best place to buy food out of Manhattan.

Everyone in the parking lot seems to be maskless. Connecticut appears to be more lax than NY. We contemplate not going in, but fortunately masks are required in the store.

By five, we are heading back to the city.

And by seven, I am eating my prized purchase of the day.  It may be a little heavy on the mayo, but it's still outrageously good.