June-October 2022

Goodness...once on a role, I realized how I lost all track of time and place.. So, now I will get my ducks in a row. I didn't realize we had done so much in the second half of 2022. It was so much that I decided to remove November and December and give it its own entry.

My last blog was missing a big trip. I neglected to include "Everglades February 2022," where we met up with Charlie who was staying in another campground.  Bertha was too big to stay there, so we booked the very upscale Everglade Isle Motorcoach Resort. We were parked alongside a Prevost and a drive around the property showed more Prevost, Newmar and Tiffin coaches. The roads were laid with paving bricks and each site had pavers. Most had tiki huts and lavish landscaping. The pricing was upscale as well.

A restaurant on site allowed us three the oppotunity to enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks one evening. I had my favorite, a Lemon Drop Martini, which was superb. I keep trying to concoct the same mixture, but fail each time. Maybe it's like a take-out food...it always tastes better in the restaurant. 

Can I get one To-Go?

The weather was quite nice and we toured the Everglades on an Airboat. Our captain was very knowledgeable and we learned about mangrove trees and their role in the ecosystem. Interestingly, the Everglades is the only place where alligators and crocodiles cohabitate. We were able to spot a couple of each, but they were too far to capture in photo and I didn't desire to get any closer.

The airboat ride was fantastic. We sped down narrow openings in the mangroves that led to an open area where the boat went around in a huge circle at a high speed. Water splashed all around us. I found it exhilarating! I can't wait to do something like this again.

Top two photos: our site.
Bottom, our site from the boat, our tour guide and the canal behind our RV

Ride along in the Everglades

In June, Croton Point Park welcomed us with much-needed improvements that had been accomplished while we were gone. Trees were trimmed and the campground road was paved.

The area is full of history and beautiful views of the Hudson River
as seen from atop the old landfill.

.

Apparently, while we camped in Georgia, a tree frog jumped on board Big Bertha and we transported him to various campgrounds, across state lines and all the way to NY. The sound our specific tree frog made was similar to a duck. Froggy "quacked" at intermittent times and in different locations throughout Bertha. As hard as we tried, we could not locate him. People thought us crazy until the sound was heard by our fellow Islanders. 

Froggy finally revealed himself as I opened a lounge chair in Croton  He was probably dehydrated and starving. George placed him at the base of a tree, but I doubt he survived, God rest his soul. Stock photo of the little bastard below.

Tree Frog

We had the opportunity to celebrate another 80th birthday. Our friend, Charlie, hit that great milestone in May. In June, his children hosted a party with all of his family and friends. It was a terrific night, filled with great people, delicious food and fine wine. I'm sure the top two things that made his party happy were his kids being there and the FOOD! 

The month of June also allowed me to join in celebrating the retirement of my last principal at BMMS. I went through seven principals in less than 10 years! I retired two years after John Owens (below) was promoted to the job. My friend, Helene, was appointed to fill my position and has done a great job at re-creating and streamlining the responsibilities. Now why didn't I think of that?

Top l to r: Jonathon Brown, John Owen, me and Helene
Bottom: Me & JT, who looked confused at being invited to the party,
R - me, John and Helene - his two best secretaries!

We had reservations for the Fourth of July weekend in Northhampton/Springfield KOA in Massachusetts. It's a long story that included electricity and a run-in between the manager and George (yes, I said George) over not being allowed to use our generator. Then, for the first time in eight years as full-timers, we were kicked out of a campground! A terrible review was left in several locations. 

Of all times, we were traveling on a big holiday weekend with my nephew, Jack in tow. This was his very first RV trip! He had looked forward to camping and was extremely excited and extremely inquisitive. He became a bit worried when he heard we were booted from the KOA and then felt worse when George said that we would "just stay at a Walmart." I think Jack thought we were going to sleep INSIDE the store. We calmed his fears and drove to the nearby Walmart.  It was a quick drive through, because the parking lot was overrun with dilapidated vans, buses and cars. We needed to go with Plan B, aka "CB."

Cracker Barrel here we come! George found a very safe neighborhood and Jack was happy to see other RVs. He still had a bit of trouble falling asleep. so I sat with him until he slipped off to dreamland.

First RV Trip for Jack!

Another first! First time at a Cracker Barrel. It was a hit.

I was able to book a stay at KOA near Mystic Seaport, in Connecticut. It turned out to be a campground needing some TLC. Neither of the two pools were working. No wonder they had space for us on the holiday weekend! Regardless, the trip was terrific and memorable. We took Jack to Mystic Seaport and we all had lots of fun. Jack is a great kid. His mind is like a spinning wheel that never stops. I am thoroughly amazed by his comments, ideas and observances. Watching the whole experience through his eyes made the trip even better.

Mystic Seaport

Last night: A campfire and a BIG Mr. Softee cone.

After returning from Mystic, we had another big celebration. George's step-dad, Charlie, turned 90. A party was held at Table 9, in Cortlandt Manor. Many friends and family gathered to mark this amazing milestone. George and I missed it due to me contracting the flu and George being contaminated, so sadly, no photos.

In August, we traveled up and around northeast coastal towns to the Boston-Salem area. The first stop was Aces High Campground in East Lyme, Connecticut. This was a very nice place and would love to stay here again for a longer time.

Aces High Campground. Close to the beach and seaside towns.

We got our 1st duck at Cape Anne!

The second stop was Cape Ann Campsites in Gloucester, MA. There were so many interesting places to visit, including the Salem Witchs' Cemetery. It was sad knowing these women were innocent and that ignorance was what actually killed them.

We came out of our RV one morning and there was a little blue duck on our Jeep. It had a tag attached that claimed "we had been ducked." Links to FB and Instagram explained the creation of this new fad that was borne out of sadness during COVID. The objective was to bring a smile to a fellow Jeep-er's face. 

 

I'm officially hooked on this new Jeep fad - share a duck and give a smile. It's a "Jeep thing."    

Cape Ann Campground, Gloucester, MA

Boston

Last stop was Alpine Lake Campground in Corinth, NY. We had been here before and loved its proximity to Lake George, Saratoga and Saratoga Springs. It is also a very peaceful place to just sit back and relax.

The view from our site.

The other side of the lake.

Saratoga Springs. We ducked and got ducked again!

We headed back to Croton and dealt with everyday life until it was time for our next trip with several other Islanders. We stayed at the quaint and comfortable Fisherman's Memorial State Park on Point Judith, in the town of Narragansett, RI. We were able to get a lot of sight-seeing squeezed in and had a pleasant (chilly) time.

Beavertail Lighthouse-3rd lighthouse on the Atlantic Coast.

The "facilities" at Beavertail Lighthouse. 

I felt like this blog entry rambled on for way too long. I will complete 2022 in my next entry. Its' not over until it's over.

Deep thought for the day:  Isn't life just ducky? As I proof-read this document, I noticed the three references to "ducks." We should all live a bit more like ducks - they love being in the rain, bobbing on the water, quacking and running or swimming in a line. They always look happy! Let's all try to be more "ducky." ~ vc

Mystic, CT KOA

Woohoo.....another sticker!

We found ourselves meeting up with our Florida/Canadian friends, Carole and Serge at the Mystic KOA in North Stonington, CT. We had booked a premium site and it is one of the nicer sites at which we have ever stayed. We had a large cement patio, pretty Adirondack furniture and a glider.

The ride from Massachusetts turned out to be the worst weather we have ever traveled in the motor home. George did a great job getting us to the KOA safely and George was so happy I had booked a pull-through site. I can't imagine what it would have been like if he had to unhook and back into a site.

The weather cleared for a bit and George was able to hook up quickly before the skies changed and we experienced another deluge.

  

Fortunately for us, the skies cleared before dinner and we enjoyed what remained of the day. Carole prepared dinner for our first night in Connecticut. It was a French Canadian meal called, Racklett. A Racklett is similar to a small hibachi stove on top, with a lower level that had a broiler to toast bread and melt cheese or it could warm onions on top of cheese on top of bread with a slice of prime rib or shrimp or sausage or chicken. You get the point. It was a full spread. Carole constantly amazes me with her culinary talents and that night was no exception. She makes the most difficult tasks look so simple that I almost believed even I could do the same......Hahaha..yes, I said ALMOST.

Once we had cleared the table and sat to chat for awhile, Carole disappeared inside her 5th Wheel and came out with a HUGE bowl of custard that had Vanilla Wafers, whipped cream and raspberries on top. She has prepared this for us before, so we knew we would be leaving stuffed to the gills.

Early the next day (for us) we headed out to see the mansions in Newport, RI. The only one we chose to visit out of about eight "tourable" ones was the Vanderbilt "Summer Cottage." Words cannot describe the opulence and grandeur of the home and it blew my mind to imagine living a life that would afford me such luxury.

A few photos of the splendor or gaudiness (depending upon your tastes) follows:

Serge and Carole outside The Breakers, the Vanderbilt's "Summer Cottage."

Ready to start the self-guided tour.

Entry hall

Grotto below the Grand Staircase

Ornate ceiling in the Grand Hall

Music Room

Fireplace in Cornelius'  master bedroom.

Sitting area in master bedroom

Beautiful coffered ceiling

Close up of gold leaf, open pine cone in each coffered section of the Library.

Close up of railing of Grand Staircase

Youngest child, Gladys', bedroom.

Gladys' dresser

Older daughter, Gertrude's bedroom.

Wife, Alice 's bedroom

Pantry in kitchen

Every copper pot imaginable in the detached kitchen

Bank of stoves and ovens

Interesting doorway to Butler's Pantry

China Room - two levels. This room contained a locked safe for the silverware

If a clearer day, you would have seen the "breakers."

End of tour.

I didn't include the 40 or so other photos I had taken of the mansion/cottage, because I believe you really needed to be there in person to appreciate the true and utter beauty.

Deep thought for the day:  The sayings go..."beauty is in the eye of the beholder"...."the nicest things come in small packages" and..."less is more"....unless you are a Vanderbilt.  ~vc