Yesterday’s storm and cold front broke the heat and humidity and we were able to wake up with the windows open. It was a nice start to the day, with pancakes and bacon for breakfast before disconnecting the RV and heading out for our day that the entire trip was planned around.

The cool wind blew down the river and across the hills, and we started our drive with the windows down. We are several miles north of the Interstate, and we navigated the undulating green hills of Upstate New York. It was a beautiful June morning.

It was just under an hour before we pulled into the Shrine of St. Kateri parking lot. The Church was a two story barn, built on the site of the first Catholic Church in the area, and just under half a mile of forrest path from her village. The upstairs was a Chapel, with the lower level serving as a museum to St. Kateri’s life and the Native Americans from Upstate New York and Canada.

At the top of the hill, and across a country road, was a large open field filled with stakes. The outer perimeter was mowed, with the inner perimeter more rustic. A series of silver stakes outlined where the village palisades once stood, with red stakes in long rectangular patters where the Mohawk longhouses once stood. It was comfortable outside, but wanting to stay out of the sun, we found a tree casting a large shady spot within the palisade boundary.

We stood under the tree for several minutes, enjoying the stirring breeze passing through the leafy treeline and moving the grasses. We were standing in the exact place that St. Kateri spent much of her life, a small spot of land that was intimately hers. We began our rosary, and then prayed as we walked through the village and passed into the forest along a short path to a natural spring.

The spring was very close to the village under dense forest canopy. A natural spring, it provided water for the village and was used for St. Kateri’s baptism. After several more minutes enjoying the space, we went back to the village for a little more exploration and reflection before walking back down the long hill for lunch in the RV.

Our next stop was just 11 minutes away, a few miles down the road and across the Mohawk River. The National Shrine of the North American Martyrs is built near the village where. St. Kateri was born. It was also the site where St. Isaac Jogues was imprisoned, enslaved, tortured, and martyred, along with several companions. There is a chapel built overlooking the hill that his body was dragged down to the river banks after his martyrdom.

Just over 90 years ago, a large church was built on the site, aptly called The Coliseum. It is circular, and massive, and tells the story of the North American martyrs.

With our planned activities over, we drove to Walmart to get some provisions and back to camp to set up for the evening and make dinner. I built a fire and grilled burgers.

We had dinner together on the picnic table, followed by some play. Benedict and Felicity rode the bikes around camp, we had some ice cream, and enjoyed music outside in the cool evening air. I even had a chance to ride around.

As the evening wrapped up, the girls went with Alison and I for one more trip to Crayfish Island before heading back to the RV to pack up camp for the night and play some evening boardgames before lights out.