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Last week, the New York State Fair started and we decided to go. It was an extremely last-minute trip. We had both been feeling the stress of daily life (and then some) and just felt the need to get away. Neither of us had ever been and the tv ads about the butter sculpture just sealed the deal. Who doesn’t want to see a butter sculpture??

We had purchased a Harvest Host membership this year and this was our first time using it. We stayed at the Heritage Hill Brewhouse in Pompey, NY. With the membership you can stay one night free, and pay $25 for a second night. Can’t beat that.

This is a view from down the hill where our campsite was. That red barn is a beautiful event space and the brewery/restaurant is behind it.

It was a gorgeous day when we arrived.

We enjoyed this peacefulness for a bit before heading to Skaneatles, NY for lunch at Doug’s Fish Fry. (Paul is a fish fry fanatic. It’s probably his favorite meal out, second only to a turkey dinner.)

We enjoyed more beautiful views there, at the lake:

We did a little wandering around and found a pet shop to buy Wink a treat. Then headed back to our campsite to enjoy the beautiful day.

We walked up the hill for dinner and decided to sit at the bar.

The live-edge bar top corner was perfect for holding my knitting.

We enjoyed two flights of beer so we could each try 8 beers. AND we got an excellent hot pretzel with beer cheese dip and honey mustard dip.

Then, it was back down the hill, past the wedding reception going on in the barn, to watch the sunset…

And the moonrise…

(That’s the moon between the trees and the barn! It was a huge, full moon that night.)

The next day we headed to the NY State Fair, nice and early to beat the crowds. We walked A LOT. Paul got a pizza cone but we forgot to take a picture – a pizza crust in the shape of a cone with the sauce, cheese and pepperoni inside. It was yummy and he almost went and got a second one. I got chicken riggies, a local staple.

We saw the butter sculpture in the dairy building, after we cut through the very long line for milk….????

I thought it would be bigger.

We walked 4 1/2 miles at the fair, so by 2:00pm our feet were done and it was getting waaaaay too people-y. I’m sure you know what I mean: too many ridiculous people doing too many ridiculous people-y things.

We headed back for another meal at the brewery where I had an absolutely YUMMY pumpkin beer:

Soooooo good. I bought some to bring home.

Back down the hill, past another wedding reception, to the campsite to sit by the fire. Then, one of the farmers happened by with Liberty, a 4-month-old baby cow, out for their nightly walk, looking for alfalfa. Liberty is apparently a genuine Guernsey cow from a very good lineage, and the farmer is looking for someone to show her someday (if you know someone, let me know….).

They did come over to talk but I was too distracted petting Liberty to take a picture. Apparently, Liberty is also a professional wedding crasher and takes pictures with the brides all the time.

The next morning, we were up early to see the sunrise up the hill, behind the camper…

I had a chance to knit a little and started my appropriately-named Campside shawl before we went home.

A wonderful weekend away that helped to recharge our batteries. We all need that now and then.