Home Again!

August 14 – Last day on the road and I’m ready to give up the driving for a while!  We managed to leave at 8:30.  The trip was pretty uneventful for the most part.  Traffic was not bad until Jacksonville.  We stopped on the south side of Jacksonville for fuel and they didn’t have pull through spaces for parking.  Since it wasn’t busy at the fuel lanes I went in and got us wraps from McDonald’s and we pulled to the stop line and ate in the lot. 

Once we got on I-4 the skies started looking grey and by the time we hit Altamonte Springs the skies opened up and filled with thunder and lightening.  We pulled into the rest area and waited it out, then on to Winter Garden to park the RV.  We drove the same route we always do but apparently one of the trees has a lower branch now and it hit the satellite and dented it.  I’ll have to go out this week and take the cover off and see if I can pop it out and test it and see if it works or not.

Due to our problems with the City of Winter Garden at our business we’re not supposed to be parking there and we no longer have electric to the RV.   That’s a whole other ongoing situation we’re working on.  So I had to totally empty the fridge and freezer once I got parked.  I only loaded the essentials in the car as it was full and I was tired.

Then at home I had to unload the car and put it all away.  Kerry, Kam and Jared showed up for a visit so while we all chatted I went through the mail.  Actually that was my “pairing down” phase so later will get serious at sorting.

Molly was really glad to be home and spent a lot of time on the hot front porch.  Luckily there was lasagna in the freezer so we had that with a small salad.  I did my first load of laundry, called Directv and got the TV’s all back on and started making my lists for tomorrow.

And the story ends for 2016!

Last campground

August 13 – I wanted to leave by 9 and we left the river just after but we had to

Last campground

drive to Lowe’s and hitch the car on as I wouldn’t drive the RV up the steep lane so Bill followed me in the car.  So by the time we got hitched up and left it was almost 10.

We didn’t stop until time to lunch and fuel up and that was around 1:00.    Then it was back on the road and we didn’t stop until we arrived at New Green Acres Campground in Walterboro, SC.  Nothing fancy but lots of nice big trees and level sites.  The best is that is it literally right off the interstate.  Our last campground for the summer.

Offical Last Vacation Day

August 12 – Our last real “vacation” day as we head south for Florida

River view from in the RV

tomorrow.  It’s really sad and I dread delving into the doctoring that is about to begin.  I’m not working until Saturday as Bill has several appointments next week and I won’t commit to work until I know what new ones he’ll have the following week. 

I had to get him ice during the night, well at 4 this morning and woke him after 9 to come eat breakfast.  It I wait any longer the whole day gets out of whack and we eat such a late dinner. 

I attempted to use my use I-hooks to fix the latches to the folding bedroom door but broke off 2 hooks.  They are brass and I think I need something more durable so I planned to go to town this afternoon and see if I could get the same size hooks made of stronger stuff, steel I guess.

Bill wasn’t feeling good all day so after I made him some lunch, I had some and left for town.  I first went to Lowe’s and got different hooks, then to McDonald’s to the only high top table with an outlet by it and caught up on a lot of email and journaling and posting.  When I got home I put my newest hooks in and they seem to be working.

After dinner I walked down to Jenova and Charlie’s place where the girls were playing Mexican Train Dominoes.  I learned a lot and since we got a set for Christmas now we need to start playing it.  It looks like fun and once Bill gets then hang of it, I think he’ll like it.

Then it was time to put stuff away inside and wash up the dishes to be ready to leave for home tomorrow.

Great day in Galax



Kayaker on the river this morning

August 11 – Bill had good night last night!  I know it’s because when we drive all day he’s off the foot/feet so they don’t hurt during the night.  Once we had breakfast I went out and caught up with all the ladies.  I asked if I could host dessert tonight before the card playing begins and they said sure, so we’re meeting at 7 in the screened room behind one of the 5^th wheels the Catrons own.  That’s where they play a lot of the cards and it’s a really nice spot for gathering.

Fisherman on the river

By the time I got back from making the rounds it was noon and we had planned to go into town to see “Jason Bourne”.  We readied up and on the way we stopped at the post office and went thru the Bojangles drive thru for chicken wraps for lunch.  I haven’t been to one of those in I don’t know how many years, 10? 15?  We ate in the car in front of the theatre.  Tickets for the matinee were only $4 each, what a bargain.  Seating was no issue with only 6 of us there for the show.  It was the same action packed, shoot ‘em up movie as the previous Bourne movies and we really enjoyed it.

After the movie I ducked into the grocery next door for heavy cream to top my peach or blueberry shortcakes for dessert tonight, then we went to Lowes for smaller I hooks for an RV fix it.

We relaxed and read until time to make supper and Morris stopped by for a

Where we had our dessert

visit.  We love him!  He is really a nice person as are so many of our camping friends.  They are all so eager to pitch in and offer assistance; you just won’t find nicer folks than they are.  I was finishing up slow cooking my peaches and my blueberries and the whipped cream was made.  After dinner I carted the bowls, spoons, napkins and my shortcake fixins next door as people were starting to arrive.  I think everyone enjoyed it, especially having a choice.  The guys sat at one table and the women at the other and it ended up no cards got played.  We had our hen party going, discussing all kinds of topics (some I can’t record), and who knows what was being said at the mens’ table. I think it was about 9 when we broke up.  Most wanted to go watch the Olympic swimming on TV.  It was really nice.  We need to do that more often!

We don’t get CBS, NBC or ABC so we couldn’t watch the Olympic but we sure watch a lot of home remodels, little house building and flip or flop shows.  Then Bill throws in a little Big Bang Theory.  Eventually he went to bed and I was reading.

Driving day

Sulky horse training at the fairgrounds

August 10 – Nothing today but a boring drive.  At least it was a straight shot!  We had a bit of a delay right out of the fairgrounds at the train crossing.  The gates were down but no train!  We were there 15-20 minutes and lots of cars on both sides turned and got out.  We’re not exactly the right size for that maneuver so we waited.  It’s a couple of miles to the I-77 ramp and once we got on it was I-77 to the exit for Galax, VA.

We stopped once to fuel and have lunch but they really didn’t have adequate pull thru spaces for us so once we fueled we pulled back around to one of 3 spaces but then once we ate we had to wait for the fuel lanes to clear for us to pull back into a fuel lane to get out.  Luckily there was only a truck in front of us and when he finished he didn’t just pull thru to the waiting area, he headed to the exit so we could also.

We had a bit of rain here and there, but nothing like we’d driven in before.  It was a bit mountainous and was busy around the cities but for the most part the traffic wasn’t bad at all.  At least the scenery was really nice among all the trees and hills.   Once we exited it’s about 14 miles to the town of Galax and there we stopped at Lowe’s to unhitch.  I REALLY hate the narrow downhill entrance to the area where our friends live.  I told Bill that was the only way I’d go back there.  So we unhitched and I don’t like for Bill to be driving on his bad foot but that’s the only option.  It’s another 5-6 miles I guess to New River.  We arrived about 5:30 and Bill Catron, who owns the lot we park on, came out to help us get hooked up.  Again we are facing the river but since they’ve had a lot of rain here it’s rather muddy right now.

Bill took off on the scooter to visit and I got us set up and dinner ready.  I saw a few of the folks, but didn’t really visit tonight.

A day in Canton

Saxton-McKinley House

August 9 – First thing after breakfast I called the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton to see if we could get on the 10:30 tour.  She said we could and gave us directions to the parking lot as well as to the building.  It’s only about 30 minutes north in I-77 so we arrived in plenty of time.

First we looked at the exhibit in the 1895 City Bank building.  There was a revolving exhibit of miniatures of the First Ladies gowns, interesting information on a number of the First Ladies and samples of some of the

McKinley's chair

Presidential dishes.  When it was our turn we went to the Saxton McKinley House next door that belonged to the Saxton family.  McKinley married one of the Saxton daughters I think and her sister owned the house but they lived there also.  President McKinley and his wife lived there for a time.  The lady giving the tour dressed in period clothing and did a fantastic job on the tour.  There were some pieces that belonged to the McKinleys and she pointed out the changes that had been done to the house in restoring it as closely as possible to how it looked when the McKinleys lived there.  We thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

McKinley Monument

Not far was the McKinley Memorial and Presidential Library and Museum.  The Memorial is huge and he and the First Lady are buried there.  There were lots of runners and joggers doing the stairs.  It was rather peaceful since it was a weekday.  Bill waited in the car while I went in to the gift shop for a couple of post cards.

Just a block up the street from the Memorial is Kennedy’s BBQ.  The ladies at the First Ladies National Historic Site had recommended it.  It’s nothing to look at and has been around since the 1920’s and the family finally sold the place and the recipes to

Bill waiting at the
counter

another restaurant, Taggerts, who still makes the special relish and the smoking and cooking of the meats.  It was very good, tender and moist.  I didn't much care for the relish and couldn't really tell what it was made from.  It was green.  Yum! 

Our last stop in Canton was the Football Hall of Fame.  Bill had been there on one of our prior trips but since it was Inaugural week he wanted to stop at the gift shop.  His Handicapped hanger came in handy as it got us into the lot and a great space.  The workers were there dismantling all

of the out buildings put up for the Inauguration and the “game that didn’t happen”.  They had big trucks all over so the staff was carefully monitoring the incoming traffic and were re-routing to a lot some place and they shuttled most people in.   We did some photos and some shopping.  Wow, that’s some expensive stuff and lots of it.  No team went without!

Recycling but they were both out on trucks.  We really hadn’t notified the whole family since our plans were not made too far in advance. 

 

Me, Wendy,Aunt Donna
and Diane

Larisa had sent me a text about a letter I needed to do for work so we came home I did the letter and forwarded to Kerry for tweaking.  I called cousin Becky to see what time she wanted us to come over for dinner.  Diane and Aunt Donna stopped by with another cousin, Wendy.  We caught up a bit and had a nice visit.  I’m hoping Diane and Wendy will come to Florida for a visit as they are both “retired”.

 

We had a nice dinner with Becky and Greg and lots of good conversation.  Seems at our ages a lot of the conversation revolves around health issues.  How sad is that? 

We got a bit of rain on the way home, which everyone in the area needs.  Everywhere we visited in the NE was really dry.  It’s very sad to leave tomorrow.  I would have liked to spend more time with my family.

Exciting day???????

August 8 – Bill had a very bad night so when I woke him this morning he said he didn’t think he’d go with us today.  But, once he got up and had some breakfast he said he’d get his shower and once he did he decided to go. Diane arrived and offered to drive since her car is bigger.  So I loaded the scooter into her car and off we went to pick up Aunt Donna.

Amish buggies waiting

Diane said she’d drive as her car is roomier for 4.  We stopped at the post office on the way to pick up Aunt Donna.  She gave me a tour of her house which is perfect for her.  Then we headed to Amish Country.  First we stopped at a shop and everyone got some decorating ideas but we didn’t buy anything.

Then we proceeded on through Sugarcreek to Walnut Creek Cheese.  We did our shopping and we bought more cheese and some trail bologna and a few other items.  They have a nice cafeteria upstairs.  Diane had a burger but the rest of us had the “stacker” which is kinda like a Chipotle Bowl or Taco Bell’s Bowl.  It was very tasty!  Downstairs is the hand scooped ice cream.  Diane passed but the 3 of us each got once scoop and it was huge!  To save time we ate in the car while she drove. 

Next was a ride through/to Berlin.  Just as we arrived Aunt Donna had an attack of sorts and Diane called 911 and they took her to the hospital closest in Millersburg.  They ran tests and did xrays and decided she had a bad back muscle spasm which caused her to have an anxiety attack.  Once she got to lay down and let her back relax she was fine.  So it took about 1 ½ hours but she was joking and ready to go.  It was a big relief that it wasn’t anything more serious.

As we headed back towards Dover, we stopped at Tis The Season which is a huge Christmas store like the one we have in Brooksville.  I found a hedgehog ornament that is like a little stuffed animal, so he might not make it on the tree!

Covered bridge in Walnut Creek

We drove back through Old Sugarcreek and stopped at the Swiss Village Bulk Store.  Bill had found coupons at the Christmas shop for a free 1/3 pound of Colby cheese so the 3 ladies went in and got our free cheese among other things!  They had lots of samples so we actually had a snack as well. Then we drove through the covered bridge in Walnut Creek and then Diane dropped us off at the RV.

What a great time we had!  Lots of laughs and it was just so nice to spend the time together.  Bill really liked Aunt Donna and they talked a lot and she told him a lot of jokes that he enjoyed!

We decided to run to Wal-mart before dinner in case another cousin stopped by.  We had our dinner and watched Rizzoli & Isles.

Camera back on board and on to Dover

August 7 – We managed to leave at 10.  Bill checked to see where we could stopped near Lorain where we could unhitch the car to go retrieve the camera.  He found a Wal-mart listed in his Next Exit book.  When I mapped the store it looked pretty far out of the way, not really AT the exit.  So we decided to wing and see what was at the exit.  As it turned out we spotted a shopping center along the exit and asked at the toll booth how to get around to it.  He said to turn right at the first light and it would be along our right.  So we ended up stopping near the corner at Red Lobster in Elyria. 

I unhitched and left Bill at the RV with Molly while I drove to the marine to get the camera.  While I was gone Bill made our lunch and I ate when I got back.  The manager who we spoke to about the camera was not there.  The person in charge first could not find the camera in the office so he said he’d call the manager.  I took a seat and waited and after about 10 minutes he came back with the camera.  Bill and Molly were right where I left them so I ate quickly, hitched up the car and off we went to Dover. 

We navigated right into the county fairgrounds where we were camping for 3 nights.  We didn’t receive a lot of instructions other than if it was after 3 to find a space and pay the caretaker the next day.  Well, she also indicated that the spaces only had electric and water.  Bill wanted me to drive around and check out the spaces and there was another large motor home parked in a rather level area and they had sewer.  There was another spot beside it so I went back for Bill and had him check it out.  He agreed with me that space was the best, especially since it had full hook up.  He got out and waited for me to walk back to drive the RV over.  We backed in and then checked if we had long enough power cord, sewer hose and water hose and we passed on all counts.  Yea! 

My cousin Diane had texted earlier in the day to ask our status so once we set up I texted her that we were ready for company.  She and my aunt Donna came over and we had such a nice visit with them.  We laughed and shared stories and just enjoyed several hours together. We planned for them to come over at 10 tomorrow so they could tour guide us through some of the Amish country.  It was 8 before they left so we just had Lean Cuisines for dinner. Then we watched some TV.

Spending the day with and without friends

August 6 – What a full day!  I finally had to wake Bill so I could get my day going.  I made 2 dozens cake dessert cups, like you buy to use for strawberry shortcake and put them in the freezer.  In between batches (I could only bake 6 at a time) I took down our cool air return vents and washed them all and put them back.  Those little filters were filthy!  I did a load of laundry and cleaned my tile floor.  It was pretty filthy also!  Then I got Bill to shower so I could shower as he was having lunch with his high school friends at 12:30 and I wanted to go to the post office before they closed at 12:30.

We left in plenty of time as the restaurant was across the street from the post office but to my dismay they were closed.  The post mistress was exiting the back as I got out of the car and she said they close at noon and I thought the website said 12:30, oh well!  I went to McQueen’s Orchard thinking I might get apples to take home for my apple butter but the early apples they had needed to be refrigerated and I don’t have that much room.  I did get some of their homemade cake donuts.  Bill loves them and they do make a good donut! 

 

I stopped at a roadside stand and got 2 ears of corn, fresh basil and the sweetest little yellow cherry tomatoes! Then after a quick stop at Goodwill I headed home to have some of my tomatoes and basil with fresh mozzarella for a Caprese style salad for lunch, followed by a coconut donut for dessert.  I figured if Bill was eating out I deserved something special!

I was working on the computer when Bill got home around 3.  He said they had a great visit and a couple of people he hadn’t expected to see showed up for a while.  A group of his classmates meets for lunch every Wednesday.  Sometimes they have as many as 25 show up since they live pretty much in the area.  I think it’s very special to have that many classmates still in continual contact after graduating in 1962!

We left at 5:30 to have dinner with another couple, Jane and Clyde, that Bill taught with who ended up moving back here.  We ate at a Mexican place and I tried their version of shrimp cocktail and it was huge!  I bit spicier that the one I get at home but it ranked right up there in the number 2 spot!  If it had been colder I think it would have beaten out my favorite!  After dinner they drove us around to see changes in the area and we ended up at Panera for coffee and stayed until 9:30.  By the time they dropped us back at our car and we got home it was 10 and we were both pooped.

Bill really enjoyed his time with his old friends and thinks this could be the last time he sees some of them, you just never know!

Drive to Maumee - Visiting Places

August 5 - Bill kept kicking me during the night so I ended up on the couch.  I think he took one of his pills too late.

We had our leftover scones, fruit and some bacon and then I put things away and got ready to head on to Maumee.  Well, actually we’re staying in Whitehouse, OH.  The couple with the mix up of spaces stopped and talked to me a while about some other strange issues they are having with the park.  Too bad for them that this is the closest park to Cleveland where their daughter and grandchildren live.  They are scheduled to be here a month and didn’t know there’s no sewer hook up.  Not good.  They went to dump already this morning and once we pull out they will move to our spot and then they’re taking their grandkids to a water park.  Sounds like fun on a hot day!

We left at 10 so the worst of the Turnpike traffic was done.  We did hit a nasty patch of rain at we approached the Toledo-Maumee area.  Luckily for us it passed on over before we stopped.  We decided to get off one exit early to fuel up the RV for the next round since we were arriving about 1. 

We have a nice pull through with full hook up at Twin Acres Campground.  We stayed here 2 years ago and had a good experience so no reason to make a change unless they were too full for us.  We parked and unhooked the car and I hooked up the water, electric and sewer and went ahead and dumped since we had no sewer for the last 2 days.  Then we had some lunch and prepared to head out again in the car.  We were heading to Toledo to the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse.  I gathered up my address info and my Lighthouse Passport book and went to get the camera and it was no where in the RV. I check the car and no camera.  Crap, crap, crap!  I knew I had it at the marina and in the restaurant and then I took it when I stopped in the gift shop and since we only went to Wal-mart I knew I hadn’t taken it in there.  So we called the Jackalope and he had it.  I wanted someone to Priority Mail it at my expense to my cousin that we will visit once we leave here but he said he couldn’t do it today and had no one he could send.  So when we leave here Sunday we will head back there and get it and then go south from there.  I was VERY upset with myself.  I know it was sitting right on the counter when I paid for my one little postcard and she didn’t notice and obviously I didn’t.  Lesson learned!

Famous Tony Packo's

We had some trouble locating a good spot to see the lighthouse from and found it is 10 miles off the shore of the Maumee Bay. The Maumee State Park is the best location so we went there and I had to walk out to the marina at the Lodge and put .50 in the viewer to see it.  Now I can send a SASE to the lighthouse’s association and they will send me a stamp for my book.

We drove around the campground at the park and they have a really nice park with lots of privacy between spaces but they are all electric only, so that would only work for us for a couple of days.  Then we headed back in to Toledo for dinner.

We went to Tony Packo’s.  It’s been around for

Donald Trump Bun!

years and years.  Bill brought me here once 20 years ago and we just had their famous hotdogs.  They call them Hungarian Hotdogs but I think in reality it was only a gimmick as they didn’t really have them in Hungary.  They have had lots of famous people visit as it was always talked about on M.A.S.H. by Corporal Klinger who was always wanting to go home to Toledo.  Jamie Farr, Klinger, was from Toledo and they wrote it into the TV show.  When a famous person eats there they have them sign a hotdog bun and there are literally hundreds of signed buns in cases on the walls.  They had local celebrities as well as several Presidents, First Ladies, movie and TV stars, athletes, news stars.  We didn’t get to read them all but the very first one was Burt Reynolds and so it began.  Bill had the hot dogs but I had Hungarian dumplings with paprika chicken.  It was very good and filling!

On the way back to the campground we stopped at a Meijer store.  It’s like a Wal-mart or Target, but they carry some of the better name brands and the store is larger.  We didn’t really find what we were looking for as they didn’t have any bargains like they did 2 years ago!  So we headed back to the RV for some rest and relaxation!

The Indians and the Lighthouse

Bill enjoying the train ride

August 4 – We planned a pretty early start today to get to the game early.  We decided the best plan was to drive to the airport and take the RTA from there into Tower City, which is basically a couple of blocks from Progressive Field.  We had no problem getting to the airport but as we entered there was a sign indicating RTA/Free Parking.  Well, once we got in to the airport area there were no other signs offering any information.  I stopped at a baggage handler and asked him about parking and he said there was no free parking and steered me to where was cheaper.

We circled to the other side to the Sheraton and found a spot quickly and close to the airport garage.  I put Bill’s scooter together and I went in to the Sheraton to see how to get to the RTA station.  She told me to go through the covered walkways, through the garage to the elevator in the airport and down to the RTA station.  We managed that just fine and got our tickets and were the first

Progressive Field

and only ones leaving the airport.  The closer we got to Tower City the fuller the train got.  Once we arrived at our destination we had to use the elevator to go up into the shopping galleria to the elevator there to go down to the level to the “gateway” to the arena and stadium.  Then at the end of that we take an elevator down to street level and go outside

Even Flo got into the game!

to the stadium entrance.  There was a line but we were early enough to get our seating changed to “handicapped”.  They put us further from our paid seating which didn’t make Bill happy but we were up higher and in a much less crowded area straight down the first base line.

We were under a large overhang so we weren’t in the sun.  It wasn’t bad until a bit later in the day when the sun was getting closer to us.  Bill was excited that the Indians won 9-2 and might gain back a game in the standings.  We got to see some homeruns and a couple of nice plays.

What's a baseball game without a blimp?

We left at the top of the 8^th since he’s in the scooter and is slower than us both walking.  We backtracked to our last elevator to go down to the RTA going west and the elevator was out of order.  Wouldn’t you know?  They said our best option was to go down 2 floors in the mall elevator to the eastbound RTA and go one stop and get off and get back on going west.  It wasn’t so bad but of course we missed the train and they don’t’ come every few minutes like in NY.  So we got on then got off and waited again with a lady with a bad knee who also couldn’t take the stairs.  Then we got on and at the first stop, our original stop, there was a huge crowd from the game trying to get on.  We were set and good.  A black lady from Dallas got on and sat by me and she, Bill and I had a super good conversation all the way to the airport.  All about racism, travel, education, white cops vs. black thugs, the whole gambit.  She was not behind all of these anti-white cop people who don’t see how many blacks kill blacks.  Anyway, it was very interesting and she was such a nice lady travelling alone.

Once we got back to the car we headed to Lorain, OH to see the lighthouse

Lorain Lighthouse

there.  Traffic was heavy due to the game letting out but once we got into Lorain it was fine.  Bill couldn’t believe how run down and desolate they looked from he was there last.  So many closed, boarded up businesses.  We went to the marina, which was rather nice looking with the original older homes facing the water up a higher ridge.  We parked in the marina and I took the long walk to the end of the pier where people were fishing and midway there were young guys jumping off into the 20-25 foot water.  The weather wasn’t the best, a bit misty, but I got a couple of photos of the Lorain Lighthouse.

I has asked where we could get a Lake Erie Perch Dinner and they said right there at the marina for sure.  So we pulled and luckily there was an elevator up to the Jackalope.  We could sit on the deck overlooking the marina or inside at a window and we chose the window.  The view is great and it would have been perfect if it was closer to sunset.  We both had the perch dinner and it was delicious!  Bill’s dad used to bring us Lake Erie perch when he’s come south to winter.  We loved that fish.  I had the corn risotto and fresh veggies and Bill went more traditional with cole slaw and mixed rice.  They gave us way more fish than we could eat and we brought home 3 nice pieces.

The marina at sunset

I stopped in the gift shop below to get a post card of the lighthouse that was nicer than my photo and had a nice chat with the lady working.

 

Then it was time to head back to Grafton to the American Wilderness Campground.  We stopped along the way at Wal-mart and then Burger King for dessert.  I was too pooped to post for even type but I read a bit then off to bed.

Headed on to Cleveland

August 3 – I got up early and got everything ready to go and we managed to leave at 9, which is the earliest I think we’ve left this summer.  It was hard to do as I didn’t go to bed until midnight and then as soon as I fell asleep Bill got up and turned the light on and during the night I had to get up twice for ice bags for his foot.  That’s because he was too stubborn to use a wheelchair at the Women’s Rights exhibit and did 2 floors on crutches.

I went out and sprayed the leveling legs and let them sit and when we got ready to go I was SO relieved that they worked perfectly.  There was still some loud knock under there somewhere.  Will have to take it in for a check up when we get home.

We had out leftover pancakes and sausages and hitched up the car and back out on the toll road again.  About 30 minutes into the ride we had a drizzle of rain but luckily that was it for the day.  The drive was rather uneventful and Bill took a nap in the bed.  We didn’t stop for fuel today, only for a bathroom and stretch break at 10:45, lunch at 1 and I was so tired that I had to have a 30 minute nap at 3:15.  Then I made us iced coffees and that perked me up in addition to my nap.  I’m not a napper but I was afraid I’ll fall asleep driving.

Traffic was pretty smooth all day until we got around Cleveland and rude people would not let me change lanes.  We had a bit of difficulty at our final exit to the campground.  The directions I printed were not the same as the ones on the phone and Bill called the campground and hers were different.  I DID NOT want a repeat of the last wrong turn we made.  Between calls to the campground and the phone we made it!  It’s a really nice campground, again more geared to seasonals and weekends, but nice.  We headed to our site 136 only to find someone else in it.  Bill called the office and she said well, how about 135 and he told her there is someone in 135,136 and 137.  She said she’d send someone to figure it out.  So we parked in the lane and I unhitched the car while we waited.  Come to find that the people in our space should have been in 138 and they were totally set up with chairs and rug and grill.  The employee told him he’d have to move.  Then I told him we’d take 138 since it’s just 2 nights and he can move later or get them to change him to 136.  They are here for a month visiting their daughter and family in Cleveland.  I don’t see why the employee didn’t just ask us to take the next space. 

So we got set up, no Directv, but we have plenty of books.  I had a hard cider and eventually made some dinner.  Then we planned out tomorrow’s excursion to Cleveland to see the Indians play.

Full day in Waterloo

August 2 – I made a nice breakfast of pancakes, venison sausage, fruit and an egg for Bill.  Then I put a load of laundry in to wash while we left for the Ford dealer to get the car oil changed.  We thought we had an appointment but they didn’t really write us down but it only took about an hour.  They did the 20 point inspection and rotated the tires, topped off the fluids, all for $28.08.  Best deal we’ve had in a while!

I wanted to go back by the RV and put the clothes in the dryer and start another load so we did that then left in search of a new Quick Link so we could put the mud flap on later.  We stopped at HEP, it’s kinda like a Lowe’s/ACE combo, but the didn’t have it so we headed further down the road to Lowes and I was excited to find it and bought 2.  At our rate we will need another one for sure!

There is a lot to see in the area and we should have researched it better and planned more time here.  We went to the Muranda Cheese Company and did their tasting.  They do 12 cheeses, 5 pepper jellies and 2 pumpkin oils for $3.  The cheeses were all pretty good but being small batch crafted it was expensive.  We both picked the same cheese as our #1 pick so we got a small block of it.  The intern working goes to Cornell and wants to some day own a dairy farm and makes craft cheeses.  She loves her job there and plans to come back on weekends once school starts.  She lives with the family.

Lock #4

The farm is out of Waterloo a bit and on our way back in we happened to cross the Cayuga-Seneca Canal and so we drove up along side to get some photos of the Lock 4 and

Boat in lock

timed it to watch a boat come in the lock and get raised up and send out the other end.  It’s fun to watch and a lot of work in the day with it was all done by hand.  They are now hydraulic so one guy just pushes the buttons for each step.

Old fashioned counter in Connie's

By now we were starving!  I had read up some as had Bill, on the “places” to eat in the towns of Waterloo and Seneca Falls.  We were fortunate to end up on the main road right at Connie’s Diner and the place was packed.  It’s done in the 50’s “diner” style with lots of 45’s on the walls and booths and stools at the counter.  There were a lot of take out orders but they were super busy.  Most seemed to be locals.  I had an Antipasto Salad and it was so big with so much meat and cheese that I only ate half.  Of course I also spotted coconut cream pie on my way to the bathroom and that seemed to discourage me from eating all that salad!  Bill had a chicken wrap and a salad and once I ordered pie he was not to be left out so he went with the mixed berry.  It was all delicious!  Later he called a friend in Orlando who is from Waterloo and told him where he was and he asked if we ate at Connie’s.  Guess we made the right choice!

We had also read about a huge Mennonite owned country store, Sauders, so we stopped there.  They have tons of bulk foods, homemade pies and cookies and all the meats and cheeses like we got in Virginia.  I bought some PA peaches and some Bing cherries but didn’t think we needed any sweets and we will wait til we get to Ohio for meant and cheese. 

Portrayal of people at first convention, The man
is Frederick Douglas

Finally it was time to visit the Women’s Rights National Historic Park, which is why we came here in the first place.  The Visitor Center is next door to the Wesleyan Chapel where the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in 1848.  A core of ladies had gotten together

Wesleyan Chapel

and discussed wanting equality and proceeded to write the Declaration of Sentiments, patterned after the Declaration of Independence.  It was at the time when all off the discussions of freeing slaves was going on and women could see that former slaves would have more rights that women did.  It was a gutsy group of ladies that got it started but it was not until 1920 that we finally received our right to vote! 

Time to gas up the car on the way home in preparation to hit the road again tomorrow.  Then we headed home to cool off with an iced coffee.  Then we put the mud flat back on and I grilled some chicken for dinner.

NOT a do over day!



This big steer crossed the road at
the exit for Rome!

August 1 – It was nice out when got up but by the time we were ready to go the rain started.  We headed back onto the toll roads and suffered the rain as we headed west to Rome, NY.  Luckily the skies cleared shortly before we were to exit for Ft. Stanwix.

Fort Stanwix was along a main trading route connecting Canada, 6 Native American tribes and US east coast.  A war started in 1754 with the French and Virginia Colonial troops in Pennsylvania, called the French and Indian War.  By 1756 (remember we were still subjects of England) the fighting spread to England where it was known as the Seven Years War.  The fort was actually built in 1758 by the British and played a vital role in the war.  It was detrimental to the Indian Nation whose people chose sides and destroyed

Model of the fort

crops and trading for a long time.

The foundations of the fort were excavated and a replica of the fort now stands where the original did.  A few of the original out buildings were not redone.  There are furnished bunk quarters, officer quarters and the Sutler Store.  Bill was able to navigate most of it on his scooter and the exhibit in the Visitor Center was very interesting as well.

We had to park across the street in a regular parking lot and luckily it being a

One of the bunk rooms

Monday it was not too full and we easily got in and by the time we were ready to leave a couple of key cars had left making our departure much easier!  Yahoo!  Then it was back on the toll road to Waterloo, NY.  The weather the rest of the day was good which makes a huge difference.

We stopped and got diesel but they had no DEF fluid at the pumps and none in the store by the gallon.  We tried another stop about 50 miles further up the road and no DEF at the pumps but they had it by the gallon, at $8.70 per gallon.  What a ripoff!  That’s how it is when they have a captive audience.  So we got one gallon and that barely made the needle move.

Onward to Waterloo!  (which is named after Waterloo in Belgium) Bill checked his Next Exit book and saw there was a big Petro truck stop when we got off so we went there and topped off the diesel and used our 2 empty DEF containers to fill at the pump.  I guess trucks have their DEF tank on the driver side but RV’s (who knows for what reason) have it on the passenger side.  So we filled the containers and dumped them in and I filled them a second time and we used 1 ½ so I pitched the smaller container and topped off the larger one and stowed it.  The DEF was $2.89 a gallon, big difference!

As we headed out of Petro Bill said to go right and shortly down the road he realized he should have said left and now we’re in farmland and need to turn around.  CRAP!  Well, here’s what went down!  There were nothing but houses and we see a food bank with a drive way into a parking area, bear in mind that we are not crawling down the road as there are cars behind us and your mind is working fast and you’re in a panic wondering how far before you could easily turn and I hesitated so didn’t stop and we both saw the exit from the lot and I still wasn’t slowed enough and Bill said turn, so I did and I stopped because I knew I hadn’t swung out enough for the narrow lane, which was narrower than the first lane and I just stopped!  Bill is telling me to go and I do know the limits of the RV pretty well and knew I’d go in the ditch on one side of the lane.  I said no, I can’t and he reminded me that we can’t back up with the car towing.  I totally got panicky which I rarely do and was seriously ready to cry and he got out and gave me very slow directions in and I heard a big scrape.  He got back in and I pulled on in further and got my tears over with.  Then he joked and said maybe I should check the mud flap.  So I got out and sure enough, the mud flap was hanging from one side.  Bill with his walking boot on and

The missing link!

crutches, got down under the RV and unhooked the one side and asked me to see if I could find the hooks that came off.  I was only able to find one so thought it flew off across the road. We struggled to get the mud flap into the car.  It was very slightly bent but without the hooks we couldn’t put it back on.  I was leery of towing out of the small lot onto the narrow 2 lane road so we unhitched and Bill, who is not supposed to drive, drove the lead to the Waterloo Harbor Campground.

The campground is on a canal where they do a lot of kayaking and canoeing.  They rent them here.  There are a lot of seasonal RV's here as well.

The spot we were assigned was not the most level and we had some difficulty there so we hope we haven’t created a new problem when we go to leave.  I think I’m starting to drink more!!!

Once again we enjoyed having leftover pickle steaks for dinner and I enjoyed not having to cook,  We watched one of our remaining TV shows, Rizzoli & Isles.