The LCA bus trip to Saratoga Springs on August 1 was an outstanding, excellent adventure.  Wrangler-in-Chief Jim Mias led a bus filled to capacity with many many Leeds residents, along with friends from distant boroughs and towns such as Florence, Hamp, and the Faraway Hamps. Some of us were rookies on the trip; others were clearly recidivists.  The weather was perfect.  One of those outstanding summer days — we’ve had alot this summer! — that remind us why we love to live in New England.

The bus first stopped at the Saratoga Casino and Raceway, where we played the slots for a couple of hours.  We will never know how much money our bus lost or won at the hands of the slots.  Some people boasted that they’d won; many of us murmured that we lost and then trailed off…  It was weird being inside a neon-lit casino when the weather outside was so nice.  But it was a fun couple of hours.

We then boarded the bus for the Saratoga Race Course.  We set up camp — chairs and coolers — on the grounds and proceeded to scour the race sheets to strategize for the 10 races.  Great food, fun races, a little bit of beer.  Did I mention the great weather?  The veterans helped rookies understand horse race lingo.  Again, some people won on some races, some people lost on other races.  All had a great time.

At the end of the day we boarded the bus and enjoyed the chauffeured ride home to Leeds School.  No doubt, the Saratoga bus trip next year will fill to capacity again!