Better late than never - Memories of 2021

As I open this draft that I began over two years ago, I try to convince myself that I must stop procrastinating and "git er done." I almost thought of ending my blog since it is a lot of work, but I don't want to lose the memories, so I will be brief as I go way back to 2021 to recap what I remember before they fade like a well-worn pair of jeans.  

I am including descriptions of the photos below to make this huge process a little less daunting. This will be a "Photo Novella" and each photo brings back all the memories....the good, the bad and the ugly.

PHOTO BELOW: In July, we were at Black Bear Campground. 

We got to spend a day with cousins Lisa and Maurizio 

(who makes the most amazing pizza). We are NOW ready to plan our visits for 2023!  

While still at Black Bear, a great day was spent with my dear friend, Berni, her husband, Ron and Charlie. I think our smiles explain it all.

Most of the summer we were parked at Croton Point due to its proximity to our NY house. There is always something to do to a house you don't live in - although there is a lot to do in an RV when you full-time, so, the summer was twice as busy.

Some of my time was spent caring for Georgia when her mom and dad had events to attend 

Not many memories remain of 2021, except for those in my last blog written about my dear friend, Laurie. 

Our northern visit ended and we made several stops to break up the monotony of the I-95 boredom. We had planned an extended stay in Myrtle Beach, so we looked forward to relaxing for a couple of weeks.

Below  Stella checking out campground 1. 

Here is campground 2.

Myrtle Beach, SC was finally a reality. We stayed at three different campgrounds, Lakewood Camping Resort, Ocean Lakes Family Campground and Myrtle Beach Travel Park. I liked all three resorts for different reasons.  Lakewood was older and dustier, but it had very easy to access to a rather empty beach. Ocean Lakes' beach was very crowded, yet it was a bit more physically appealing. Myrtle Beach Travel Park was the most modern with a lovely pool. We didn't have the best weather, but we enjoyed whatever sun we received.

 

We took a day trip to deserted, yet gorgeous Pawley's Island in South Carolina. Since George was a good boy, he got an ice cream. Unfortunately, the Ice Cream wasn't that good. 

While in Myrtle Beach, we were able to meet up with friends, Shirley and Tom Kelleher. We spent a lovely lunch together chatting about our kids and of our years working together. 

The time at the beach ended without the weather improving that much.

As the photo below will attest, we finally made it to our first Buc-ee's! If you haven't been to one, imagine a Cracker Barrel on crack. It's an upscale Truck Stop where no trucks are allowed. This Buc-ee's housed 104 gas pumps and 1,000 parking spaces.  You really need to see it to believe it.

Beautiful Big Bertha at Buc-ee's.

We arrived back at our home base in October and Big Bertha was treated to a hot shower and wax by Jose, the only person allowed to touch Bertha besides George. He asked us where she got all the sand! He did such a great job making her sparkle and shine.

We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas in Oldsmar with the Tampa Crew. 

December brought slightly cooler nights. I got to bake "Grandma's Cookies," with some help, and they were a hit.

We all went to the Tampa Convention Center for the "Enchanted Lights" show. The photos didn't come out all that well, but the night was a great way to get in the mood for Christmas.

Still masking-except for photos. My lightbulb cup is still working!

COOKIES

My mom's Pecan Sandie recipe

Grandma's Cookies the lazy way, but still as good.

Christmas dinner minus the cook.

Our baby!

The year 2021 ended quietly. Neither George, Stella or myself were able to remain awake, but at midnight, the crazy Florida tradition of fireworks woke us in time.

Finally...2021 is completed. The next blog entry will be full of many different places and memories. I hope it doesn't take me as long to get it composed and posted. 

Deep thought for the day: If you've gotten this far, choose your favorite "Deep Thought" from below and let me know in the comments your choice for the Deep Thought.

1. "Tis a lesson you should heed Try, try again. If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again"......Popularized by William Edward Hickson (1803-1870)
2. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it." W.C. Fields' Legendary Counter quote.
3. "If at first you don't succeed, you may be at your level of incompetence already." The Peter Principal (Dr Laurence J. Peter)
4. "As my old Pappy used to say, 'If at first you don't succeed, try something else." Pappy Maverick's Wisdom, as per Bret Maverick (James Garner-see below).

Such a handsome guy.

THE END. For now.

Alpine Lake, Corinth, NY

The view from our site.by day.

Stop number two was at beautiful Alpine Lake RV Resort in Corinth, NY. Corinth is conveniently located close to Saratoga, Lake George, Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs and The Great Sacandaga Lake. We met up with several members of an RV group we belong to called the Hudson Islanders. 

The members in attendance were a combination of long-term, full-time and newbie rv'ers making for a fun gathering of food, fires, games and talks.

Unfortunately for me, the traditional nightly "bonfire" was something I could not totally partake of and enjoy as much as the others. Smoke makes my lungs protest and rebel, so I tried to behave by keeping a distance.

We had many fun nights at our lakeside site and were blessed with beautiful weather until our last day, but we had plenty of time to get out, explore and make many memories.

On our first day, George and I drove the perimeter of The Great Sacandaga Lake and were afforded many photo ops along the way. The Sacandaga is 27 miles long, which makes it only two miles shorter than the more popular Lake George, however, the sights were something to behold.

Our first stop was a visit to a vintage 5-10-and 25 Cent Store in Northville. I included a black and white, as well as a color because it just seemed that it should be viewed as an old time picture. 

Entering the store brought George and me back in time to when you could get ANYTHING you needed in one of those stores. They had clothing, fly swatters, hardware, shovels, make up. candy, toys, dish towels and even pink plastic hair rollers and pink foam hair rollers.  Enlarge the photo to see all the items on the shelves.

We next stopped at a roadside park in the hamlet of Hadley, which had an overlook on the  rapids portion of the Sacandaga River where it joins and empties into the Hudson River. It was a beautiful day and the view was incredible. 

Sacandaga River

A quick U-turn had me exploring an old cemetery dating back to the mid 1800's. I was moved and impressed by all the new American Flags that adorned many of the graves. A closer look showed bronze medallions that held up each flag that had been placed years ago by the local American Legion. I plan to contact the Lake Luzerne branch to make a donation to express my thanks for their continued dedication to our past fallen heroes.

The next bend in the road had us crossing a single-lane bridge that spanned the rapids. It was named the "Bow Bridge" after its "parabolic" design. (Bow - pronounced like "bow wow.") It was rather too easy to get up close and personal around this bridge where the slightest misstep could have had me tumbling down into the rapids. There wasn't a warning sign or barrier on either side of the bridge. George was behind me and visions of all the CSI and Forensic File shows I've watched came rushing into the forefront of my consciousness.  LOL

Thanks to a dear friend of mine who asked me to search for old tea cups, we got to explore the "Village View Variety Shoppe," just prior to its closing its doors for good. The entire building and huge antique collection was up for sale for a measly $150,000. We met the owner and operator who was a personable man who was ready to retire and had been unable to sell the building last year when it was priced at $300k. I couldn't believe someone hadn't scooped this place up, it had an entire side view of the Hudson River. It would have made the perfect location for a restaurant. 

I was able to bargain 11 tea cups that ranged in price from $10 up to $20 for only $5 each. Apparently, I can haggle for other people, but not for myself. It helped him deplete his inventory and allowed me to help out a friend.

The next day we met up with our fellow campers at the Up River Cafe in the center of town in Lake Luzerne. It was located right on the Hudson River and served up some tasty fare. It was a bit chilly on the outdoor porch, but the restaurant provided small blankets at most of the chairs that you could wrap around your shoulders. A very cute gesture.

Hummingbird Moth

Right out in front of the flower-filled front yard of the restaurant, I was able to view my first Hummingbird Moth. I had never seen this insect before and was happy to have gotten a few decent photos.  I was totally mesmerized by its swiftness and beauty.

After lunch, we all split up and George and I walked down the street and discovered the site of an old tannery, a museum (it was closed) and the little Chamber of Commerce Building, where you can view the narrowest portion of the Hudson River on its back porch.

Th closed museum, tannery marker and original chimney.

Narrowest section of the mighty Hudson River.

On two nights, George fired up our propane fire pit and had a raging fire that would make the hardiest "fire starter" jealous.

George's night to provide a roaring fire.

Here are a few other random photos of our time at beautiful Alpine Lake RV Resort.

From L to R: Vicki, Kathy, Chris,Doreen, Dawn and Roberta

From R to L: George, Ray, Mike, Tony and John

Not quite full, but my capture of the view from our campsite by moonlight.

George's view, with the moon reflecting on the lake.

Today marks the end of our Alpine Lake "unofficial" Hudson Islanders Rally. It was great to see the regulars, missed many of the other members, but it's always nice to meet new people, aka Dawn and John.

Over the last three days, one by one, the RV's pulled out leaving just Doreen, Tony and us. We are all packing up and battening down our hatches.  Another adventure blogged about so I can remember all the wonderful things we did, saw and ate. Life is good.

Deep (long) thought for the day:  Our neighbors in front of us were a unique and wonderful family. Hubby cooked almost every meal, kids were totally respectful and dogs well-behaved. I enjoyed watching their youngest son who reminded me of a Huck Finn type of kid. That rare type, who flourishes with a fishing pole, who took pleasure in explaining all the parts of the rod, reel, lures and hooks and the rules where if you catch a fish, you must throw it back. I never saw an electronic device in his hands the entire week, I never heard the parents discipline any of the three kids. The two large dogs lolled in the shade and seemed to be enjoying the entire scene, as did I. It was refreshing for me to listen to and watch. At 9 am, the pole is in the water and young son just pulled his second sunnie out of the water! He showed it off to someone passing by on the lake and he announced that it wasn't as big as the one his dad had caught earlier.  Life is good.  Many times, less is more. ~ vc

2018 Exploring New York - Stop #3 - Letchworth State Park

Stop #3: Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY. This park was voted the "#1 State Park in the United States" and is lovingly referred to as "The Grand Canyon of the East," and for good reason. It is meticulously maintained and provides a multitude of breath-taking vistas to behold.  After visiting this park, I clearly saw why it garnered such accolades. 

The park is a direct result of the original 1,000 acres and home that were donated by William Pryor Letchworth (1823-1910). Letchworth was a Quaker, visionary, conservationist, humanitarian, author and reformist. The Senecas named him “Hia-wa-ye-is-tah,” which means, “The Man Who Always Does Right.” He also fought for the rights of patients in insane asylums, epileptics and children from inner-city Buffalo. 

He saw the need to preserve what Indian heritage remained in the area and did so with utmost respect and honor. His generosity guaranteed that the history and beauty of this place could be enjoyed by the many generations who have followed.. The sheer magnitude of what he accomplished in his lifetime is documented and displayed aptly in this awe-inspiring place.

We were the exception to the rule.

We were parked in Loop 300, site 311, which was a large, partly shaded and very private site. We were nestled among tall pine, elm and chestnut trees. Our neighbors’ accommodations ran the gamut of pup-tents, large tents, pop-up trailers, pull-behind trailers and 5^th wheels. We were in the company of only about one or two other Class A’s in our loop during our stay. It was quite an education as we watched the tent campers go about setting up their sites. 

We decided that it is a camping option for the young and fit, of which we are neither. We watched one couple set up their space for over three hours hanging hammocks, tarp shelters and a tent. Just as they finished, it began to rain and it rained, and rained and rained for the remainder of the day and throughout the night...I felt so badly for them, but perhaps they enjoying the challenge.

There are so many great things to say about this park, but no matter what I write here, it won't give it the justice it deserves. It is best seen in person. Even though we worked our way from one end to the other over the course of four days, it was impossible to see it all. It took over 12 miles to drive from one end of the park to the other. Most of the road hugs the coast of the Genesee River and several overlooks provide you with breathtaking views of the Falls, river, gorge and the tracts of land that the Seneca's once called home.

My favorite spot...."Wolf Falls."

Some of the more popular viewing areas were of the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls of the Genesee River Gorge. Surprisingly, the smaller-scale Grey Wolf Falls turned out to be my favorite because I was able to dip my hand into the water, walk down to water-level and sit on a stone wall in quiet reflection. The only sounds I could hear were birds chirping and water trickling over and around the rock ledges. It was just me, George and nature.

On one evening we had dinner reservations at William Pryor Letchworth's former home, "The Glen Iris," which has been turned into a dining hall, catering venue and inn. When we arrived, we noticed there was an outdoor wedding being held under a huge tent. From our perfect vantage point we were able to eavesdrop on the happy occasion. When we left the restaurant, I suggested we crash the party and step inside the tent to dance, but George wasn’t up to the adventure. If my friend, Berni, had been there, it would be a much different ending to this paragraph.

Despite having to take a daily 10-mile drive to get a couple of "bars" of LTE cell service and needing to use public showers (no sewer hook-ups), I would stay here again in a heartbeat. I've used public showers before, but for George this was a first. “He went, he showered, he survived!” Life is good. I found myself loving this park more than I had Niagara Falls for the simple fact that it was pure, peaceful and accessible.

We pulled out of Letchworth in a heavy rain storm and felt badly for all those tent camping. There were puddles all over, dampness filled the air, and the fog and mist made me grateful to be snug inside Little Miss. If I didn’t think I could tent-camp before, I surely knew at this point.

What follows is a pictorial and video essay of our time spent in beautiful Letchworth State Park.

No stop is complete for me without walking through a cemetery.
On the right, the school Letchworth built - recreated after a fire.

The Glen Iris Inn provided us with a couple of delicious meals.

The beautiful flowers around Glen Iris

Video of Lower Falls

Upper and Middle Falls, and you know who.....

Letchworth fought for the rights of the insane and epileptics. The Seneca gave him the honorable name: Hia-Wa-Ye-Is-Tah," which translates "The Man Who Always Does Right." 

Me posing in front of the home built by Mary Jemison, known as "The White Woman of the Genesee." George in front of the "Seneca Tribal Council House" that Letchworth relocated, restored and re-dedicated.  

Upper and Middle Falls.

For anyone reading this entry who does not own an RV or is not a "camper" - there is no excuse for you to miss this gem if ever in the area. There are many rustic cabins and cute cottage homes right within the park as well as bedrooms in the Glen Iris Inn.  There is a place for everyone...and oh, what a place.


Deep thought for the day: 
Sometimes big is not better. 
I find that less can be more. 
Words withheld - unspoken, 
can comfort a soul for sure.  ~vc

Exploring Upstate New York

When I opened my blog to start this entry, I realized how lazy I had become. Either that, or I hadn't been doing anything worthy of documenting. However, every day should be treated as it's special, so I'll give a quick synopsis of what's been going on since our Valentine's Day bash. 

A lot of time was spent in the pool, a trip out to Colorado for a week to babysit, a couple of trips to see “The Mouse” with friend, Amanda, a couple of lunch dates with friend, Tricia and too many doctor and vet appointments filled most of my days.  

Friends Kristin and Rob flew down to FL a few times and during one of their trips the subject came up that I liked to make cards. Then, almost out of nowhere, Kristin "commissioned" me to make Thank You cards for her daughter's upcoming bridal shower. I hadn't made any cards in a long time and all of my supplies were up north, but the thought of tapping into my creative side sparked an interest, so I agreed with eager anticipation. 

I didn't realize how much I had missed crafting and this project catapulted me into creative heaven. A few trips to the craft store had me well-supplied and on the "production line." It felt good. It also helped to fill the days while George worked lots of hours at Lowe’s. His little part-time hobby has started to resemble a full-time job.  

Here is a sampling of the cards I've made:

Rainy days seem to have me making sympathy cards.

We arrived in NY the beginning of June and had plans to take a few weeks to explore some of upstate NY's treasures, including Niagara Falls, the beautiful Finger Lakes Region, Letchworth State Park and Lake George. 

I’ve lived all of my life in NYS and it dawned on me that in my 60+ years, I have traveled so little within the “Empire State.” While I have a lot of negative feelings towards NY – in particular, the taxes and Governor Andrew Cuomo, I had visited some very beautiful places over the years and wanted to visit and re-visit some this summer.

Croton Point Park is our NY home base, and it has changed very little since our last visit. It is still in desperate need of some TLC and better management. It is a beautiful location, situated on a peninsula that juts out into the majestic Hudson River and depending upon the time of year, you can view owls, eagles, red-tailed hawks and woodpeckers, along with a multitude of song birds, such as warblers, cardinals, robins, wrens and sparrows. The park is also host to coyotes, fox, rabbits, deer, squirrels and a group of feral cats of which I find myself getting too attached.

We are in site 47, which has us nestled beneath two pine trees. After the blasting sun in Florida, the shade was a welcome respite. Although only 30 amps and low water pressure, we were enjoying our little piece of the park to the fullest. As time passed, pine needles and dripping sap made a mess of the roof of the RV and ground. We have plans to move to a different site, but can't do so until September 1st.

The 2018 vacation began on August 1st when we hooked up in the parking lot on a day threatening heavy rains and storms. We headed out for Stop #1 of five: Cayuga State Park in Seneca Falls.

The photo speaks for itself......We're the little Blue Dot.

Stop #1, - Two nights at Cayuga Lake State Park, in Seneca Falls. It was a lovely park and campground that provided us with water, electric, nice showers and was conveniently located at the top of Seneca Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. It’s also smack dab in the center of wine country – my favorite type of country.

Tents

Cabins

Little Miss parked at the end of the road

Dumpsters - Cayuga...vs..

Croton Point Park Dumpsters.....

Lake Seneca Welcome Center

Lake Seneca-very cloudy day, but a welcome break from the rain.

We still haven't mastered "The Selfie."

Very common site in our travels, but I never saw these in such perfect bloom before.

Welcome Center lunch - where you can even buy a glass of local wine!

Lunch along the lake.

One of the best photos I took on the trip...Driver's Ed car...must have been after the "Parking" instruction.

We were able to visit three vineyards while in the area:  Ventosa, Fox Run and 3 Brothers Winery. I stocked up with at least a bottle or two from each one. I can't wait to sort out all the wines and my tasting notes.

Ventosa Vineyard-wish they gave you the glass....

3 Brothers Winery

To be continued...with Stop #2, Niagara Falls.

Deep thought for the day:  Find JOY in the little things. I find I get too caught up on the trivial things. We all need to focus on the PRESENT.....the actual gift that is TODAY. ~vc