Follow You Down

Started out today with something different and wholly welcome. We headed towards Albany, but Lauren took us off a side road to Chatham to visit a friend of hers. Sarah used to work with Lauren, but she moved and now works for a different bank. The branch she works in took over a beautifully remodeled former train station in the late 90's. They really did a remarkable job restoring it. You can see polished pine beams, the soaring ceiling, and the original train ticket booth. Sara even took us downstairs to the cavernous (and, as she pointed out, creepy) stone basement. It's so big, they keep all the records for every branch in 100 miles! Sara and everyone at the bank were real sweethearts. Sara gave us big hugs, when we arrived and when we left! I was glad to meet her and her co-workers.

Our first stop when we got closer to Albany was the Denny's just up the hill from Cracker Barrel. We timed it pretty well. It wasn't that busy. We must have missed the lunch and breakfast crowds. Lauren had the All-American Slam - basic white toast, eggs, sausage, hash browns, and bacon. I had the Berry Banana Pancakes Slam - hash browns, bacon, and scrambled eggs with plate-sized blueberry pancakes topped with bananas and strawberries. Lauren ate all of hers. I ate all of mine but half of the hash browns. Both were delicious. I especially loved the gigantic, fluffy pancakes! (Even if the syrup was a pain to get out of the bottle.)

I had never seen a two-story Wal Mart before. We stopped there next, about 15 minutes from the Denny's. The place really was huge. The first story was clothes, electronics, toys, and furniture. Anything related to groceries, including food, health and beauty aids, and cleaning supplies, were on the second floor. Lauren got a really cute fluffy teddy bear print sweater here and boxes of tea for her parents. I just used the bathroom.

Colonie Center was only a five minute drive from Wal Mart. This is the oldest and smallest of the three malls we visit during my trip up north. On one hand, remodeling a decade ago left it attractive inside and out. Trouble is, it's had a hard time keeping tenants lately. Christmas Tree Shoppe died with that franchise in 2023, and Nordstrom Rack and FYE both closed earlier this year. 

The only entertainment option, besides an indoor playground for little kids, is the small Pier Arcade. It's one room of skee ball, a lot of Pac Man, and a Scooby Doo-themed wheel. I played Cruisin' Blast here. Got a sweet cherry-red Lamborghini, but could only make third on the dinosaur-themed Madagascar track. I made over 1,800 points, but didn't see anything I really wanted. Just got a box of Sweet Tarts. Lauren was more interested in trying to win a Playstation 5 (she didn't, but it wasn't for lack of trying). 

With Nordstrom Rack gone, there wasn't a whole lot else to look at upstairs. We headed to the first floor. Our first stop here was L.L Bean. This is one of three large stores at Colonie that's unique to the Albany area. Lauren didn't see anything she really wanted, but I got two pairs of nice, thick cotton socks in red and white. (I would have gotten the green pair too, if they weren't expensive, and if those socks I bought at Jockey the other day weren't green, too.) 

After a quick peek at Go! Toys and Games, we split up to check out the other two stores that are unique to Colonie in the area. Lauren went to Boscov's. I needed to go there too, but I started at Barnes and Noble. While this store isn't anything near as big as the one in Holyoke, it's still a fair size. It once again took me a few minutes to find the cozy mysteries. I had less trouble exploring the music and DVD area, which was half-given over to educational toys. In addition to a chai latte and an Oreo brownie, I bought:

The cast album for Six: The Musical (I've heard such good things about it that I thought I'd try it.)

Cookies and Clairvoyance by Bailey Cates

Went across the way to Boscov's after I finished my snack. I needed new sneakers to run errands in. I checked JC Penney twice and DSW Shoes, but never found either the Fija pair I bought last year...or if I did, I couldn't find my size. I couldn't at Boscov's, either. I broke down and bought a pair of Easy Spirits that were the same price and just as comfortable. Lauren told me she picked up a few more lounging pants and leggings there and at the super cheap LA 7. We walked around Macy's next, but neither of us bought anything.

Trader Joe's was barely a three-minute drive down Wolf Road. I was shocked at how busy they were when we arrived! The entire parking lot was full. I forgot it was not only Friday, but past 4:30 and rush hour. We ended up parking in the back, well behind the store. The store was busy, but Trader Joe's knows how to keep lines flowing, and they were short. I just picked up my favorite dried orange slices and coconut strips. Lauren got dried ginger pieces and peanut butter and jelly bars.

Our last stop was dinner at Ted's Fish Fry, one of our favorite local franchises. It's a fast food chain specializing in huge "fish fries," massive fish sticks in hot dog rolls that are nowhere near big enough for them. I had the tasty, hot fish fry. Lauren had a bacon cheeseburger that looked pretty darn yummy, too. We both had sweet potato fries. 

It was past 5:30 when Lauren started home. Despite the hour, there wasn't much traffic. Neither the mall nor Wal Mart were busy, either. I guess it just remains too nice for shopping. The weather has been gorgeous all week. It was warmer today, in the 70's, but it's still breezy and perfectly sunny.

Lauren pulled in an hour later. After we showed everything to Lauren's parents and gave them their tea, I hit the shower. Tomorrow, we're going to finally have breakfast at Bob's Country Kitchen, then spend our last day at Jiminy Peak, a mountain resort with a twisty slide down the mountain and a roller coaster you control yourself.