Monday - September 28, 2015: A travel day. We had stayed an extra day in Niagara Falls NY to enjoy it a bit longer. Now its time to move on so we can get to the Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire before the colors are gone. We were able to load the van on the tow dolly on the first try - first time that has happened. Made moving day much more pleasant. it was a short day. We're in the mountains (by Florida standards) and it is a bit windy. Just took it easy.
154 miles today.
Tuesday - September 29, 2015: Best laid plans. It rained all day; big time. So, we didn't get out much at all. Did laundry and ventured into town, in between the raindrops, to pick up some supplies. While we were on the U.P. Patti saw an RV site with a Sparkle Ball (or two). She was fascinated and decided she needed one. What's a Sparkle Ball? It is a sphere shaped group of clear 9 ounce Solo cups held together with staples and illuminated by Christmas Lights - in this case, Halloween Lights, because they are all orange. Thus, a Fall Sparkle Ball. The search for the component parts began. Patti found the lights and bought additional staples. Now we just needed the cups.
Wednesday - September 30, 2015: Overnight we checked the forecast and saw that Thursday was likely to be rain free, so we decided to stay an extra day here in Watkins Glen. On Wednesday morning the rain started to let up and we ventured out. Found a Starbucks near Corning NY, the home of Corning Glass, including Corning Ware and Corelle Ware. What a beautiful little town, with so much history. Didn't find the 9 ounce Solo cups at Target. Headed back to Watkins Glen and decided that the rain had let up enough to explore a bit. Dale watches NASCAR pretty regularly and they hold a race at "The Glen." We Googled "Watkins Glen International Raceway" and followed the map. We found the entrance and Dale talked with the gate attendant. No tours until the track renovations are complete, early next summer. By late afternoon the rain was gone.
Thursday - October 01, 2015: This is one of those days we came for. The cooler temperatures and rain showers over the past two days may have started the change. We started to see more color showing. The main reason we came to Watkins Glen NY was because Patti saw a photo from a link one of her Facebook friends posted. It showed beautiful fall colors surrounding a waterfall in Watkins Glen State Park. So, to the Park we went. We were certainly glad for all those "steps" we have counted on the beach over the past six months or so. Watkins Glen Creek has formed a "gorge" that rises about 500 feet in about one and one-half miles, with 19 waterfalls. We made the trip without any difficulty. Dale is not fond of heights and on several occasions found himself having to face that fear head on. He says it was well worth it. Check out the photos below and see for yourself. We probably could have stayed here for the rest of our Fall Color Tour - beautiful area at the head waters of Lake Seneca and a great KOA facility. We would recommend a visit.
Our next stop? Montour Falls. When we came to the area we planned to stay at an RV Park just south of Watkins Glen. When we arrived we found it was not as advertised and decided to move on. It was late afternoon and the experience was not all that - Dale had become a bit testy. (Patti says that may be an understatement.) As we headed to the KOA we found, we passed through Montour Falls NY and noticed a beautiful waterfall directly in front of us - but we were on a mission and moved on. We returned today and got the shot you see below. BEAUTIFUL.
Friday - October 02, 2015: Moving Day, again. It is great having the flexibility to add a day here and a day there to your planned stay in an area and no urgency about "getting home." In a sense, after nearly six weeks on the road, in the RV, it is becoming our home. We're sure we can do six months next year to explore the Western United States. It's amazing what we've learned about ourselves and each other. What we can live without (and what we cannot). Surprise! We loaded the van on the tow dolly again on the first try. Are we getting the hang of this? May be, who knows?
Short day again today. Very windy; and, Hurricane Joaquin hasn't come close yet. We made a Walmart run - found the 9 ounce Solo clear cups. Hooray! We made it to Tall Pines Campground in Bainbridge NY by mid-afternoon. Just a one night stop over on our way to Lake George NY. Then, it's on to Vermont, before Hurricane Joaquin arrives.
Look at what Patti did with 50 clear 9 ounce Solo cups and a string of orange lights - picture below. The Park has a restaurant associated with it that makes and "delivers" pizza on Friday nights. What a rarity, Pizza Night!
114 miles today.
Saturday - October 03, 2015: Happy Birthday to Hank! Twenty-eight today. Seems like only yesterday he was born. He shares the birth date with his name sake, Dale's Grandfather Schumacher (Frederick Henry Schumacher). Back to the Fall Color Tour.
Another travel day started well enough, took some interesting turns along the way. Let's go.
Breakfast at Talls Pines Campgound - no tall pines to be seen. The material they handed us when we checked in outlined an aray of food they served for breakfast, and the Pizza was pretty good the night before, so we thought we'd give it a try. The server acted as though she had never done this before, perhaps a family member volunteer. We got our order placed and paid for, only to find out they did not have buscuits and gravy - ouch. French toast instead. We were on our way, Dale had located a Starbucks on the way to Lake George NY.
As we approached I-88 East, Dale pulled into the wrong left turn lane and tried to get back where he belonged (first interesting turn). We're in New York, remember. Do you think anyone would cut us some slack? You're right, they wouldn't. In fact, they sped up to cut us off. Gotta love New Yorkers. North bound on I-88 East. Gotta love the Interstate Highway System.
We saw lots of colors along the way north to Albany, then Saratoga Springs, then Lake George. Where's that Starbucks? It's in Oneonta NY. Exit and follow the GPS, right? Second interesting turn. After a trip through the narrow street of this quaint little village, turns out the Starbucks is in the Student Union at State Univerity of Oneonta. No parking, so we didn't get out of the RV. No Starbucks this moring. Oh well.
Time for gasoline fill up. The exit said Cooperstown. If you're familiar with Major League Baseball you may recall that Cooperstown NY is the location of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Not on the bucket list, but we're so close. Only an hour and a half out of the way. Let's do it (third interesting turn). Cooperstown is a sleepy little village about 20 miles from the nearest Interstate Highway. On street parking for vehicles under 20 feet, only. People everywhere. Got some pictures, didn't get out of the RV. Another time, perhaps with grandsons in tow.
Misty rain most of the way. What a beautiful location. We were in he Catskills in the moring and the Adirondacks in the evening. Fall Sparkle Ball in operation. What a country! Overnight forecast for 37 degrees. BRRR!
Pictures to follow.
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