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!