May 21 – We got on the road earlier than we expected.  The trip to Darien Lakes State Park in NY is about 200 miles but we wanted to be early enough to really get the RV set up for our 2 week stay.  We combined our break and lunch since we left just after 9.  Also, we were on I-90, which parts were also a turnpike so the plazas were kinda far apart.  As we drove through Pennsylvania there was nothing on either side of the road but vineyards.  I’d love to do a wine country tour there.  There were numerous vineyards listed on the exits as well as some billboards.  The vineyards thinned out as we arrived in New York.  We passed Buffalo and the entries into Canada and Niagara Falls. 

 

We had no problem finding Darien Lakes but it was kinda disappointing.  There are no lakes, just one small man made lake, more like a big pond.  It’s for swimming (when there is a lifeguard present), fishing and kayaking.  We really don’t know what the draw is to the park but they have 156 campsites.  Bill went in to check us in and that’s when we found out that the sites have no water.  There are no “specific” host sites and the one they generally assign in our camp loop was worse than the sites we left in Punderson.  I think I was misled by the ranger who told me they had electric and water.  I never understood that we’d have to unhook and drive to one of the many faucets and fill up.  Bill was ready to just stay the night and leave.  We drove to the assigned site and agreed, NO WAY!  We marked down 2 other sites in the same area by the bathhouse and Bill wanted me to go in as he says I’m more aggressive.  We knew that the head ranger would not be here today as it was his day off and we were to meet with him tomorrow.  When I went back in the office the second in command was there and we discussed the situation.  The sites we wanted were reserved for Memorial Weekend coming up.  I explained that we’d need to be near a faucet as with a rig our size we would not pack up and go for water repeatedly during 2 weeks.  He gave me a choice of 4 other sites near water, so we drove back around and chose one right beside the water with trees in the back but primarily in the sun.  It was the longest and flattest one. 

 

After we set up and took the bikes off Bill rode his bike up to let them know what site we chose and to take Molly’s medical papers.  They are strict here about rabies so it’s a good thing the vet office encouraged me to get the rabies certificate.  To get to the bathhouse we have a path right behind our RV thru the woods.  The thing is there aren’t lights anywhere so it’s going to be pretty scary going at night.  That’s when we will use our own toilet. So, I guess we can manage it for 2 weeks.  We are very glad they wouldn’t let newbies have a month!

 

Bill gave the RV a quick bath while I got the inside all in order.  Then came the challenge of setting up the Direct TV.  We have a big clear yard area beside us so I set it there.  So to our total surprise I got it on the first try!  Yee ha!  In Rainbow Springs I tried a dozen times and could NEVER get a signal.  This time I was dead on first thing.  So the Direct TV is on the big TV and I tried the antenna on the bedroom and we got ABC and CBS.  So we’re pretty much good to go for 2 weeks. 

 

After dinner we walked down to check out the bathhouse and then I baked some almond cookies and make a new recipe of Flax Chia crackers.  It was looking a bit like rain.  It did.  First there were a couple of bursts and then we got a soaker.  I managed to go down for my shower before the soaker.  I took my phone in case I needed Bill to drive down and get me.  The bathhouse for our loop is OK.  There are 2 sinks, 2 showers and 3 toilets.  The showers have a small dressing area with a chair, so it’s OK for 2 weeks.  I just hate carrying all my stuff back and forth.

 

The crackers were really good and the cookies were OK.  Since I’m off wheat it’s tough to do a lot of quality baking but I do find some recipes that we can live with.  We had cookies for snack and I did work for work and Bill read.