Montreal Trip - Day 4

After a pleasant morning with Stephanie and Joe, we drove out towards New York State. I called Clarence, an internet Coogan "relative" who has kept in touch with us for nearly a decade. He told us to meet him near the Kingston, NY, exit. When we got together, he and his wife Wilma treated us like their kids. They took us out to dinner at their favorite restaurant. When the kids talked about wanting a break from the car, Clarence suggested that we come with him to an old summer resort that he has enjoyed since the 1930s. When we got to Williams Lake, the kids were more than happy - there were canoes, rowboats, old-time swimming and beach games. We spent the rest of the day as Clarence's guests (people thought we were his grand-kids). It started to get a little rainy around sunset, so Clarence and Wilma insisted that we not get back on the road yet. He told us which hotel we should stay in (Holiday Inn Kingston on Washington Avenue), and then had us come back to his house for a cookout with his family and his friends. It was hard to believe that, before today, all we shared was the same surname (and some job related similarities). By the time we said goodbye at the end of the night, though, the kids felt like "Uncle Clarence" and "Aunt Wilma" were close relatives. I must say, I am humbled by their generosity and heartfelt friendship. We feel truly re-charged and ready for the next part of our trip!!!