Niagara Falls.... and More August 1-9 2017

Trip Overview

We are planning on taking an extended trip this winter to escape the Maryland winter, so we felt taking more than a few days traveling might determine if it was enjoyable (or even tolerable).  We wanted to incorporate a number of factors to see how we "coped" with different conditions.  We chose Niagara Falls as our destination for the first week and decided to "wing it" the second week.

The following is an account of our travels and experiences over the period.

STOP 1 - 

BLACK MOSHANNON STATE PARK - Phillipsburg,  PA    AUG. 1

I decided that we would try not to drive more than 4-5 hours a day and Black Moshannon Park was chosen for it's location in central PA, 221miles from home and only 160 mies from our next stop.

Quiet private little campsite

While it was a lovely State Park we didn't get to see much of it.  Rain, some more rain, and some more rain!

While we did score a site which offered electric, the violent thunder storms knocked it out for most of our visit.  The Park was also isolated enough so we had NO cell phone connectivity making us "off the grid" for our visit.  It was actually nice and we ended up watching a movie to pass the time before going to bed.

A movie or a little TV can come in handy when you get RAINED in...

STOP 2 -

WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK - Watkins Glen, NY  AUG. 2-3

AMAZING!  This was one of the most beautiful Parks we have visited on the East Coast.  A three mile trail leads hikers on mildly physical trek to observe 19 waterfalls (three where you actually walk UNDER the falls)

Nice way to cool down on a hot day 

Elliott enjoying one of the amazing waterfalls

We had no idea that NASCAR also hosted a sprint series event at the Glen on this weekend, so we were able to enjoy many of the festivities associate with that event which included having one of the Race Cars parading through the camp grounds under a Police escort.... Pretty cool.

We also ventured into town and enjoyed some vistas over Lake Seneca (one of the Fingers Lakes) and a side trip to the Taughannock State Park to enjoy more amazing waterfalls.

Lake Seneca

The falls at Taughannock State Park look like a heart from a distance

FOUR MILE CREEK STATE PARK - Youngstown, NY AUG. 4-6

What a pleasant surprise to discover this Park!  The site was 50' x 50' which meant we had room to spread out and relax under the CLAM Shelter when we were not venturing out to Niagara Falls or Fort Niagara which were only minutes away.  (An extra bonus included a cancelation which afforded us electricity and a short walk to the comfort station.)

Nice large campsite with electric!

It was a 3 day weekend for our Canadian friends so the Park was crowded, but still quite and respectful of other campers.  It rained on and off for the entire visit but the bad weather seemed to cooperate with our agenda and provided us with PERFECT conditions when we were on our tours.

The Park sits on the shores of Lake Ontario and we were blessed to enjoy some magnificent sunsets.

We spent a full day at Niagara Falls State Park and did all the touristy stuff including the Wind Cave which allows you to walk nearly under the Falls.

Wind Cave puts the Falls up close and personal

Majestic and beautiful  Niagara Falls.   I love America.

The Park is only 2 miles from Fort Niagara where we spent a nice afternoon observing locals reenacting life in the Fort in years past.

Hand crafting powder horns

The Barracks... even tighter than my old ship berthing quarters, maybe.

Elliott at the entrance to Fort Niagara

1,000 ISLAND KOA - Henderson, NY AUG. 7

What can I say... it was a KOA which is NEVER our preferred venue but we needed to connect to the internet to plan the second part of our trip and do some laundry.

This KOA is MAMMOTH.  We managed to secure a semi private site for $20 per night with water, electric, cable and internet.

Although the place is typical KOA, it is situated on its own Island and afforded some great views of Lake Ontario.

Every so often a KOA can be pretty welcoming.

It was here we planned our next few days on the road and decided to begin to head home rather than venture into Canada.  Since we had never camped in Vermont we reserved a spot in the Green Mountains, with a final stop in PA before heading home.

WOODFORD STATE PARK - Bennington, Vermont  AUG. 8

This was a great decision as the Park was beautiful, private and empty!  We arrived in plenty of time to set camp relax and enjoy cocktails in front of a much appreciated campfire as the temperatures plummeted downward.

Life is Tough when you are roughing it!

HICKORY RUN STATE PARK - White Haven, PA  AUG. 9

We have stayed in the State Parks in PA"s Pocono region before, so we decided to visit Hickory Run  and see  the Boulder Field we had heard about from other campers.  It was a good decision as it is a remarkable "natural" phenomenon and I would encourage you to explore if you are ever in the area.

This is pretty amazing.  We decided that walking out too far wasn't in our best interest

HOME - AUG. 10

This trip was memorable and gave us some great insight in planning longer adventures.

Some of the lessons learned included making choices of where to 'spend time', or where to stop-over in order to get to a place we want to more thoroughly explore.  We also learned what to pack and what to leave home.  While I had the Honda generator we never used it. (but I will always have it just in case we are forced to Boondock.)

We also discovered that we need connectivity occasionally, and how quickly our 2GB Verizon Data plan can dissolve, even with the simplest interaction on the internet for messages, planning/reservations and weather reports.

In summary we are blessed to have the opportunity to pick up and go when and where we choose.  I am further blessed to have a travel companion of over 40 years who I know I can depend on to "roll with the flow" and still be friends after 10 days of tight quarters.

With this new information and experience, Elliott and I are looking forward to expanding our range and seeing even more of this great Country.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Wilmington, North Carolina June 25-29

May, and much of June, marked the loss of a number of friends and relatives, and kept us close to home.  

We really needed a road trip to reset our emotions and change our scenery, even if for only a couple of days. Wilmington is a town we have often wanted to visit, so we packed up the camper and took off for a few days of exploration and relaxation.

Wilmington is a town of beaches, a historic district, museums, waterfront with a charming River Walk, quaint shops with local artisans, music, friendly people and some great restaurants.  It reminds me of Annapolis although slightly more modern (Civil War vs. Revolutionary War).

A stroll along the River Walk provides a magnificent view of the USS North Carolina, some interesting craft shops, and carriage rides through town.

Carriage rides along the River Walk or through Historic Downtown

The USS North Carolina is open to the public for tours

The Cotton Exchange is packed with small local artisan shops and great bars and restaurants

We ended our first day of touring downtown by enjoying a relaxing evening of tropical drinks a cigar (for Me not E), chilling out in the "zero gravity loungers", and great steak dinner.

Tuesday we explored Wrightsville Beach before visiting at a couple of "Gated Golf Communities" we have been considering should we decided to relocate here.  

After lunch we took a guided tour of Bellamy Mansion before heading to Airlie Gardens for a leisurely stroll through some magnificent gardens and a viewing of a butterfly release. (really... a butterfly release!)

The Bellamy Mansion is worth touring as a glimpse into pre Civil War living

Airlie Gardens is 67 acres of magnificent gardens, landscapes, and wildlife

Wildlife abounds... including some Terrapins (OK Turtles)

The Butterfly House (real butterflies not these sculptures)

Like these!

We are usually "Park People", but occasionally it becomes necessary to stay at a facility that is centrally located to the sites you want to visit, which was the case in Wilmington.  That said, I give the KOA there 5 thumbs up!  Pleasant staff, clean rest rooms, beaiutiful large pool, WiFi, cable tv, and power for the air conditioner and microwave without having to run the generator.  it was quiet, huge, and they gave us a site without neighbors.... right next to a lovely pond.

We LOVED Wilmington experience and would recommend it for anyone wanting a spend a relaxing few "stressless" days.

We hope that everyone is having a relaxing summer and enjoying the outdoors and amazing opportunities America has to offer and look forward to sharing our future adventures.

Until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!

ASSATEAGUE STATE PARK, BERLIN, MARYLAND      June 12-14


Well, here I am again!  Every year about this time my "better half" takes off for a Golf Trip to Penn National Resort with her golf League.  I seize the opportunity to spend a few days at my favorite camping ground... Assateague Island.If my photos look like the rest of them from our adventures at Assategue, its because I always like to get the same spot next to the dunes where there is nothing between me and the Atlantic Ocean but sand.

Perfect campsite - Perfect Weather... again!

There is something extremely therapeutic about being at the beach with a cold beer, cigar, zero gravity chair, and only a few other people... and of course the local residents!

Some of the wild Assateague Ponies.

The locals like to drop by every once in a while to check up on me!  They left when I told them I was out of beer!

I often hear from my non-camping friends, "Camping is staying at a Holiday Inn without room service".  

Hey, I get it, I also enjoy a nice resort on occasion.  But honestly, it's hard to find a hotel with these views, where you can sit next to a campfire at night and enjoy a cigar with a full service bar within arms length, fall asleep listening to the ocean crashing right next to you, pay less than it does to park, and wake up to fresh brewed coffee, magnificent sunrises and above all solitude.

The fish are in the room next door

So another pleasant trip to the beach is in the books.  The only thing that would have made it better was having my best friend Elliott along, but she also enjoyed her golf trip!

Wow, it was tough to find a good spot at the beach!

So until next time....  HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!

PS - Thanks for staying at that Holiday Inn Express.  It left a little more beach for me and my equine friends!  

:-)

Assateague State Park  Berlin, Maryland             Sept. 6-8, 2016

I felt like I had just won the lottery!

One of my favorite sites at Assateague had just opened up due to a cancellation.  Site C-13 is large with nothing between the Aliner and the Ocean but a sand dune.  It is also just steps away from the boardwalk leading to the beach.  All I could think about was dozing to the sound of waves crashing the shoreline.... that is until I received the email that said Tropical Storm Hermine had forced the Park to close until further notice.

The good news is it opened back up JUST in time to honor our reservation so off we went.

With Tropical Storm Hermine in the rear view mirror the temperatures dropped considerably making "off grid" camping pleasant.  A nice breeze and temps in the mid 80's provided a great daytime environment to do what we do best .....relax!

Apparently the legendary Assateague flies must not have received the email about the Park closing because they showed up in force, munching any piece of flesh they could land on.  Fortunately we were able to retreat to our Screened Clam Shelter, and enjoy the beautiful days unfettered by the annoying insect intrusion, while still taking advantage of the perfect weather.

The State Park remains one of our favorite destinations.  It's never very crowded, the people who camp there are polite, follow the rules, and respect the environment.  The bath facilities are immaculate and the staff is always helpful and polite.  They even have store which sells things you may have forgotten including some of the BEST salt caramel ice cream I have ever tasted.

Aside from having to spend a little too much time protected from the flies, we were still able to enjoy the therapeutic benefits associated with the combined elements of salt, sand, waves, sun, cool breezes, amazing sunsets, campfires and spending time with my best friend.

In summary, life is better than we deserve and we are blessed being able to do what we do best ...RELAXING AND ENJOYING LIFE!

So long until next time!

Gettysburg PA. July 25-27

My 12 year old Grandson Billy, is a genuine treat to be around.  He is not just a great kid, he enjoys just about everything including sports, fishing, and history.  We were long overdue to spend some "Guy" time together, so we embarked on an adventure to Gettysburg National Battlefield Park.

This being Billy's first trip in the camper I felt I'd afford some amenities before exposing him to a true "boondock" experience.  We chose the KOA in Gettysburg where we could plug in the A/C, hook up cable TV, have WiFi access, and enjoy a pool, miniature golf, horseshoes and other stuff I thought 12 year olds might enjoy.

Once we set up and ate some bacon Cheeseburgers, Billy used the quite and serenity of the campground to catch up on some mandatory summer reading for school.

We awoke to a nice morning and enjoyed breakfast outside before embarking on our Gettysburg adventure which began at the visitors center with a Movie, the Cyclorama theatre and the museum.  Of course we couldn't pass on a HUGE slice of pizza!

The Cyclorama at the Visitor Center is a spectacular 360 degree experience.

Pizza anytime is great, but after a morning of hiking it's the BEST!

After lunch it was off to explore the battlefield, with the beautiful monuments, relics and sites of various famous battles such as Pickett's Charge and Little Round Top.

Billy with a line of cannons at the PA State memorial

What 12 year old doesn't like climbing on the rocks at Devil's Den

Billy makes friends with a Union General.....

We had a phenomenal 3 days and Billy says he's ready for some "Boon-docking" and some trout fishing..... which is magic to Grandad's ear!

Back at Camp Billy beat me at Miniature Golf, Corn Hole and every other game we tried.  It was a special treat to see his enthusiasm for history, and I was impressed by his voracious appetite for reading and learning everything he could.

I'm looking forward to many more camping trips and memories with a SUPER camping companion, and a incredible Grandson. 

OHIOPYLE STATE PARK - Pennsylvania                    July 6-8

With temperatures forecasted in the mid to high 90's, compounded by oppressive humidity,  it was time to head for the mountains.  So we loaded up the truck, filled the cooler and hitched up the Aliner to escape the heat for a few days at Ohiopyle State Park.

After a pleasant 3-1/2 drive we checked in at the Ranger Station, filled the water tank, and set up at  campsite #125 on the Ginko Loop.  It took less than 15 minutes to level the unit, set up the screen shelter, open the lounge chairs, plug in the electric (for A/C and microwave) and open a cool adult beverage.  We were officially "off the grid" with no TV, no Internet and NO WORRIES.

Cool, Quiet, Peaceful

After a nice dinner we managed to perfect the art of relaxing with some music, reading and a good cigar.  The neighbors were quiet and the only thing we heard was the sound of birds... sweet!  we turned in at 10 when a refreshing rain storm came through, and we fell asleep (snug and dry) to the sound of rain on the camper top.  NO LEAKS.....

Ohiopyle has some beautiful hiking trails spread over the 23,000 acre park and we set out Thursday to explore.  We started at the Park Visitor Center and took in the main Falls where the white water rafting trips leave for a day on the Mighty Youghiogheny River.

View of Main Falls at Park HQ

Looking downstream from the Visitor Center.
Rafting trips start here

The most difficult decision of the day is determing which trails to hike!  We started by seeing Cucumber Falls and the natural Water Slide.  The Falls are gorgeous and the Water Slide is amazing... (we passed going down the slide, but lots of youngsters SHOT down the chute)

Partial view of the Natural Water Slide... 

Cucumber Falls

After a quick lunch we hiked the Jonathan Run trail for about 3 miles and never saw another hiker.  It was pretty muddy and I managed to take a pretty good spill on one of the embankments!

feeder stream on Jonathan Run Trail

We then drove to the Meadow Run Trail and hiked a steep 5 mile loop.  While a bit strenuous, the views of the stream were worth the physical investment.

Meadow Run is more difficult hiking but worth the effort/

Back at ole site 125 we managed once again to chill with a nice fire, a few libations and snacks, dinner, and of course a good cigar.  Stayed up until the fire turned to embers and retired to a great nights rest.

The "ART" of relaxation

We re-entered reality Friday on the drive home when we first learned of the BLM related shootings, and realized once again the the unfortunate direction our Country is headed.  Everyone should take a a few days to go off the grid, turn off the news, listen to a waterfall and the birds (instead of the Fox or MSNBC talking heads), and gain some new perspective by sharing what God has given to us to share with no regard for race, political affiliations or economic status.  The "Rivers and Forest" don't care!
Less violence.... more SMORES!

until next time...! 

ASSATEAGUE ISLAND STATE PARK,  BERLIN MD.         JUNE 13-15

Elliott took off Monday morning for a 3 day golf excursion with her friends from her Thursday golf league.  They headed off to Penn National Golf Club in PA, so I seized the opportunity to head out for some surf fishing and relaxing at Assateague Island State Park in Berlin, Maryland.

I packed up the ALINER and took off Monday driving 2-1/2 hours, arriving at the Park right at check in time at 3:00 PM.  Site C7 was perfect being only one campsite away from the dunes, and steps away from the "dune path" to the beach, and able to enjoy hearing the surf "crash on the beach" all the time.  It took a TOTAL of 15 minutes to set up the camper and the brand new CLAM screen shelter, and I was in my "zero gravity chair" sipping a tropical drink by 4:00!

Relaxing in less than 15 minutes.  Just add water... and of course a rum drink!

The weather was MAGNIFICENT, 78 degrees, 10 mph breeze, and not a fly or mosquito to be found.   I was surprised that there were plenty of empty campsites and the beach was uncrowded.  One of the MANY advantages to retirement is being able to stay home on weekends, and travel on weekdays when the young folks are working!

Gorgeous Day with few people

Campground was empty with the exception of another A frame down the road.

After dinner I was so comfortable that I just hung out in the screen shelter and "chilled out" with some music, foo-foo drinks, and a great cigar and until bedtime.  When I finally did go  inside, I caught the evening news on TV and then slept like a log with the windows open, 68 degree temps, and a gentle breeze all night.

Peaceful night on the beach

Tuesday proved to be an even prettier day than Monday!  After a hearty breakfast of eggs and smoked hickory bacon, I mustered enough energy to make my way back to the beach and plopped in my chair with a good book.  I was actually too relaxed to go fishing and settled in until lunch time when I decided to grab a bite, take a short nap outside, and then hike the beach for a couple of hours.  Assateague is known for their wild ponies and they were out in force on the beach and in the campsites!  (I find it ironic that they tell you to "CLEAN UP" after your pet.  Apparently the horses don't pay attention to the signs!)

Camp Host picks up the horse dropping every morning!

After dinner I went back to the beach and enjoyed a tropical libation, cigar and music until sunset.

Well, I ended up doing very little fishing... but who cares!  It was a great two days at the beach, and I needed to head back home so I could get wound up again :-) !  (All this relaxation can't be good for your health!)

I missed Elliott, but she also had a great time golfing with her friends, and we plan on coming back again soon... if I can get her off the golf course.  In the meantime it's back to election coverage, yard work, and planning the next adventure to wind down again.

Until next time... Adios from Assateague Island!

AAAH.... What Election?

I AM BLESSED and LIFE IS GOOD!