Tornado too close - Bath to West Point

Mexican night out

We got up Friday morning got checked in at Wilkins and headed out for the camping world in Churchville, NY.  We stopped for breakfast on the way  got there about noon.  We found what we were looking for made our purchases and then headed out to the RV's to see what they had (I think we have every make and model memorized), but we spent a couple of hours there ('til 3:30).  We headed out but had to stop for a light lunch, we had milk shakes, back to Wilkins.  We went in, found out what the damages were, no they did not get the AC working, then got it set up and headed out for dinner.  We found this great Mexican place for dinner, it seemed to be a local hangout and the food was great. 



Foggy Hill Top

We got back to the ‘campground’ , watched some TV, then off to bed.  Saturday Brad was up early, me about 7:00.  We got cleaned up and headed up the road about a mile for breakfast, then we hooked up the car and headed out.    We were traveling across NY on Route 17, which was a beautiful drive.  We had a lot of drizzle on our travels, but nothing too bad, and when we got close to West Point we hit fog on the mountain tops, but  just take your time and it all goes well.

We got to Round Pond, the camping facility for West Point about 4:00, got checked in, found our spot, parked and got set up....yea. There are a lot of people here, but after talking to a couple of the other campers, this is Family Weekend for West Point here at the grounds.  There are a lot of picnic pavilions, that were full and most of the rental cabins are occupied as well, but we are here, safe and sound.  Burgers for dinner, and trying to hang out outside, but spent most of the evening indoors as  the rain kept running us in.

West Point Museum

Sunday we did some walking around the park, actually walked the whole camp circle and found some pretty nice camping spots.  About 11:00 we decided to head into town, Highland Falls, and from there to find West Point to check that out.  We never made it to West Point it's self, we got to the West Point Visitor Center and the museum and got stuck in them.  We finally got done at the museum about 4:00 (closed at 4:15) and decided maybe we should just eat, since we missed lunch.  Stopped at this restaurant that didn't impress either of us but it was food and we didn't have to cook.  Let's see what tomorrow brings. 

Diane

Wilkins RV, Bath, NY

Tuesday was my Birthday, and it was great getting all the birthday wishes, from the songs, to the FB and txt msgs I received. Birthday or not, Brad had a Dr. appt. so needless to say we didn't do much to celebrate my B-Day. We stopped and had a bite to eat on the way home from the Dr., then got home and sent Brad off to rest. Me, I hung out, did some walking around and talking to the neighbors and the new people pulling in. The new arrivals are usually the most talkative and have some interesting stories of the travels to tell. I finally headed in about 10:00 and off to bed shortly thereafter.

Wilkins Campground

Wednesday morning I was checking the maps and trying to make some travel plans. We have an appointment Friday up at Wilkins so that changed our original travel route, so after many phone calls, the reservations are made and the first being the parking lot (they call it their Campground) of Wilkins. The rest of the afternoon we just hung out and very slowly cleaned up and packed up the RV decorations preparing for the next move. Early afternoon I headed up to Lynne and Rick's, threw our comforter in the washer, waited for it to finish then hung it out to dry. I got back; we finished what we could, got showered and headed back to the Shirks. I had one more load of laundry to do, and we then were heading to the Pizza Grille for my B-Day dinner, yea. We had a good meal and then back to the Shirks. I finished the laundry, and then we headed back to camp and off to bed by 11:00/11:30

We are on the Ramp, and there are
cars and 18 wheelers stopped
along Route 15 in NY

Rain blowing across

Well here it is Thursday and I didn't get out of bed until 7:30, by then the thunder storms were rolling around pretty good.  Brad already had everything outside cleaned up and put away, so just finish the inside and off we go.  I tried to get a  shower, I managed to get in the shower, get wet and almost immediately jumped out  as I watched the lightning streak go over head(yes there is a sky light in the shower).....so much for getting a shower. We finally headed out about 10:30, stopped for gas and then headed up the road. We stopped for lunch in Selinsgrove then back on the road. We stopped at Lawrenceville at the PA/NY border for a break and some iced tea, where everyone was talking about the storm in the area and headed this way. Oh well, back in the RV and into NY, heading into the storm the way things looked ahead of us. As we keep an eye on the weather, we round a corner and here it comes....you can see the torrential downpour blowing down the mountain. We are right at an exit, Brad gets off and parks on the side of the road......here we go, literally riding out the storm. The RV was rocking pretty good and in the pic above there are 18 wheelers pulled over and in the lower pic, the rain is blowing so hard it looks like snow blowing across the road. Well we are now at Wilkins, all checked in, out for dinner and back with me working on the blog and Brad is watching the TV and having his pretzel snack. Need to do dishes, make coffee and get off to bed. I want to be out of here fairly early tomorrow. We'll keep you posted on the RV repairs and travels.

Diane and Brad

Gettysburg Farm CG

We are still here at Gettysburg Farm, and have managed to get some visiting in.  Tom and Bev did not make it over for dinner, and we didn't get to go out to eat with them.  I just hope we can get together with them soon. 

 Lynne and I went shopping on Saturday and visited with Dad while we were out, actually he met us for lunch and some shopping, where we ran into Cathy Berger.  Dad headed home before we went to Kohl's and when Lynne and I finished shopping, we got our ritual coffee, um.  We got back to Lynne's, I called Brad and he had just left Lorin's, so he picked me up and we headed home.  We had chicken wraps for dinner and enjoyed the neighbor's camp fire....it was rather large.  Walked around the campground a few times and headed off to bed. 

Sunday we didn't do much.  We were to go rafting, but the weather didn't cooperate so we changed the plans to Lynne and Rick coming over for dinner.  We did run into East Berlin for some supplies, basics from the grocery store, etc.  We stopped at Rutter's for a quick bite to eat, which ended up being anything but quick and about 30 min. later we finally had something to eat.  Lynne and Rick got here about 4:30 and they brought the main dish, yea.  We ate then headed over to this cement pool table to check out the game.  You play it like pool with 6 inch balls and croquet mallets.  What a hoot, we howled.  The game hasn't been maintained, but we all thought if they cleaned it up and fixed it, everyone would just have a blast with it.  Back to camp, s'mores for dessert then Lynne and Rich headed out. 

Monday, we went to the Shirks to gather our rafts and put them back in storage, to the CU to take care of some things and then off to Lowe's.  We need t-p, and the PVC and stuff needed to make a flag pole (they did not have the hardware required).  We stopped to eat lunch and then hit the grocery store, Mel and crew are to come over for dinner and I have nothing left in the refrig.  We got back, I got ready for the company and Brad headed into East Berlin to the hardware store to get the hardware.  He got what he needed and when he got back had a plant for me for my birthday, how nice.  Mel and gang got here just as we finished the flag pole, so had dinner  hung out for a while then decided to play mini golf.  Well it took us 30 min to get up to the mini golf (5 min walk normally) as we had to go past the petting zoo, barn yard area where they have every thing from pigs, donkey, goats to llamas. We finally get to the mini golf and realize it is almost too dark to play, but we give it a shot.  We managed to play until about 9:30, then had to quit as Keisha called looking for Kaydence.....who was asleep in my arms.  Oops Mel and Pere better get her home.  It was nice to have them all over, wish we could do it more often....but everyone is busy. 

So it is 11:30 and I am finishing this blog, exhausted and not sure I am making any sense, so good night, til another day.

Diane

Tioga to York County

We made it....we are back in York County at the Gettysburg Farm Campground.  We got here Tuesday afternoon, a long 4 hour drive J.  Tuesday we just hung out here, in the 95° heat,  and very slowly set up camp.  Just had a light dinner, showered and crawled into bed. 

We got up Wednesday hoping for some relief from the heat, but not to happen.  Oh well, out for our daily walk.  We just hung out at camp for the day.  Did some cleaning, campground research and the likes.  We did get out to meet Lynne and Rick for Dinner at the VFW.  Not much for excitement, but sometimes you need to have days like that. 

Thursday we had breakfast and then headed to the storage unit.  Unloaded some things from the camper and got the cooler.  After that we headed over to Grumbines to look at a couple of the RV's.  I found one (a 5th wheel) that I really like, a 2012 left over, but that is a whole different world.  We stopped at the grocery store on the way back to camp, unloaded the off to Hanover to see Taylor's Volleyball game.  She really has improved from the first time I watched her play, I was impressed. We left and Brad got to drive home in a horrendous down pour, :-o, no fun on roads you're not familiar with.

Brad is out running around this AM and I am putzing around the RV.  Tom and Bev are to come over for dinner (weather pending), so laundry needs done, and I still have the soda and things we bought yesterday to get put away.

More later,
Diane
 

Tioga County

Friday when I went to shower there was no water pressure.....none for Brad either.  Did some checking and the shower hose is wore out.....back to Camping World on Saturday.  We stopped for lunch on our way there  and  between Wilkins RV and Camping World, we never left NY until 5:00, glad it's only about 45 min. drive.

We got home and Brad was making steaks on the grill when 'Bang', came from across the street.....oh well.  Then just before we ate....'BANG', this time really it was twice as loud.  Nobody seems to know what it was.  We just sat down to eat and all these sirens and red flashing lights show up just above the campground.  Our neighbor camper had a scanner, but they can't seem to find out where the noise was from either.  Oh well, hung out until about 10:00 then off to bed.

Sunday Brad made breakfast on the grill and then we slowly gathered up laundry and headed into town.  Yea, that is where we are now.  Laundry just finished, but we are in the middle of down pour, so I at least will get to end this blog.  You probably won't hear from me anymore until Tuesday.  We will be back in civilization where we should get connection again. 

Well that's all from Tioga County, see ya all back in York County.

Diane and Brad

Tioga County, Tompkins CG

July 13, 2012, Still at Tompkins Camp Ground.



Barn Art

Brad got home yesterday and we had lunch, and then went for a normal walk (ends up being a little over a mile) then we got cleaned up and headed back over to the homestead.  We are to meet the renters and go over the CREP program and what can and cannot be mowed and we had a list of things we wanted to get.  Imagine that, even with a list we forgot one thing…..go figure.  We then took the back road over to the VFW for wing night and ran into Mike and Denny….it was nice to see them.   We were there for an about an hour then headed back to camp.  The sites are already starting to fill up for the weekend. 

 

Friday we got up and headed into Wellsboro.  We stopped for breakfast and then headed to the courthouse.  We are getting a copy of the Deed history on our property….for our own curiosity of the history……what self torture.  We then stopped and ate, since it was 2:30 ‘til we got out of there.  We stopped at the animal shelter, (big mistake), then over for groceries.  We stopped and checked on an RV for sale, got fire wood, and I’m sure I missed one or two of the other little stops we made, but you all get the drift.  We got back about 6:00 and now we are sitting by the camp fire (yes it’s 80◦) and I’m typing out my blog. 

Tioga County

It is Thursday July 12 and I am back on the blog.  Where we are staying we have very poor internet service, so I have been typing this on Word and when we get to town I post the information on the blog. 

But here we are.  Monday we spent most of our time at the laundry mat, so how we had a ton of dirty laundry last week.  Back home and then off to Knoxville for hunting liscenses.  Time to mail in for the doe tags. 

Tuesday we went to NY to camping world.  Needed to get a step platform, that’s nice.  We did window shop the RV’s and found a 5^th wheel we liked, but of course we left without it.  We then headed over to Wilkins RV and everything was locked……no joy.  We left.  Stopped at Applyby’s for dinner and then headed on home. 



Road to Picnic Grounds/
Boat Launch

Wednesday we headed into Mansfield, needed a few things from Lowe’s.  We did some site seeing on the way, first we stopped at the visitors center on 15, which I think is the nicest one I have ever been in.  Then we followed the road to the picnic grounds and boat launch at Tioga Lake.   We headed into Lowe’s, got the stuff we were looking for and a few things we didn’t need (as usual).  We made a few more stops, Williams Oil, Post Office, and even turned around to go see Rita (she opened her own attorney office in Mansfield).  Did a few other stops and then headed home to unload.  We then headed over to the VFW for subs for dinner, Bonnie (the cook) said she missed us and was glad we’re back.  That was nice, and they do have the best subs.

Brad got up this morning and headed over to the house, they were coming to pump out the septic, me I got to stay home and clean……boy did it need that.  But of course if you listen to Brad, it really was more of a mess when he came back than when he left, but I did get a lot of scrubing done…..and I’m not quite finished.  He got home about noon and we are getting ready for lunch.  I’m sure I’ll have more before I get to post.  Diane

Pictures will be posted later....not enough connection.

July 4 then on to Tioga County, PA

Hey I’m back….it has been over a week since I last updated the blog (shame on me).  A lot has happened since I was last here, so I’m going to try to fill some things in. 

Gettysburg Farm CG

We were there until July 2.  We stopped in at the Warrington Butcher Shop and ran into Lorin, Ben and Kenny, working on the house Kenny Mann bought…..lots of work there.  We did manage to stop in and see Jen and Greg.  We tried to hook up with Bev and Tom, but the timing wasn’t right, so hopefully in two weeks we’ll be able to get together.  We tried to hook up Mel and crew on Sunday night, but I ended up at the Doctors on Sunday morning with infected sinuses, and Monique was fighting a migraine headache, so dinner got scratched (that in itself is a story).  So what a c couple we make, Brad can’t hear with his infected ears and I can’t talk with my sore throat….what a fun couple of days J

We were in the mean time planning Dads 80^th  B-Day Party, and come Monday July 2, we headed up to Lake Glory Camp Ground by Knoebels, since that is where the Party was being held. 

July 2 and 3, 2012

Lake Glory Site

We got to Lake Glory at a decent hour, hooked up and just had burgers for dinner, the next morning I have a flurry  planned for me.  I left by 9:00am, nails done, hair cut, grocery shopping and a beer stop, and then headed home about 2:30.  I get there, Rick is there hooked up and hanging out with Brad.  We decided to go to Knoebels to find the pavilion and check the place out; we ended up being there for 2 hours.  Neither Brad nor Rick had ever been there, so I think they were both intrigued by the place.  Headed back to wait on Lynne, I went to get gas in the car (not sure how many trips will be made tomorrow, but it was low).  I got back and Lynne arrived shortly thereafter.  We had a nice dinner, sat by the camp fire, then off to bed for a busy day on Wednesday. 

July 4, 2012

Lynne and I headed over to Knoebels about 9:30 and were still parked at the pavilion unloading the car when dad showed up (he is always early, but at least we had help with the decorations and set up).  So his thought is, what a nice gift, his girls all coming to Knoebels to spend the day with him.  Ah, but we did have a little bit of a surprise for him, there ended up being about 50 family members there.  There were family and friends, who, we missed, that couldn’t make it, but it was great for all that could.  It was wonderful to see everyone, some I know I haven’t seen in  years, some traveled far and others not so far, but I do know Dad was surprised and grateful for all of the family that made it and we all think we need to have family get togethers more often.  What a GREAT DAY.

https://picasaweb.google.com/115574168101787483704/July92012#

July 5, 2012

We survived yesterday and the downpour that showed up about 10:00 PM.  We got up Thursday, had breakfast and got ready to leave….heading to the Yuengling Brewery for the tour.  We stopped at a little dinner/coffee shop combined with a drug store in Pottsville for lunch, great food, then headed up the hill to find the brewery.  Our tour started at 1:30 and was great.  It was a hot day, so getting to go into the storage basement was an added plus.  Our guide had a great sense of humor and the history of the place was fascinating, not to mention the sampling room…..we each had our second and our second and our second.  Of course after that we all bought shirts and shopped in the gift store.  We left the Brewery and  stopped at the grocery store then off to Kowalonek’s Kielbasy Shop in Shenandoah (I think they were happy to see us show up).  Back to camp chicken wraps for dinner and s’mores by the campfire.  Great couple of days and our last night of family to camp with, sorry to see it end.  Rick is planning on being on the road about 7:00 and Lynne is coming to visit me. 

July 6, 2012

Well Friday Rick was on the road about 7:15 and Lynne did come over for coffee and a visit, and  hung out until about 9:00 then headed down the road.  How sad , but we need to pack and head up to the Ochenrider Camp.  We leave in separate vehicles, meet up, hook up, travel a while then disconnect and head out in separate vehicles again.  Brad had the car and scouted out the travel route and I was very, very slow behind him.  We get to their camp, get the RV set up and realize we don’t have the keys.  So we can’t open up camp and cool it down….so dinner at the RV.  Kate and Tony got there about 8:30-9:00 so down to the camp.  We were there until about 10:00 then up to the RV for bed.

July 7, 2012

Brad is up at the crack of dawn….me much later,  I get down to camp about 7:30….early enough for me.  We hang out, Kate and Tony go mow, I make breakfast, Brad watches each  us in turn.  We all get done, Brad does the dishes, Kate and Tony finish mowing, then we all clean up then head into town.  Stopped for beer and groceries then head back to camp.  We just hang out, make Kielbasa and perogies for dinner then watch the race with Tony.  In between everything else we emptied the RV refrigerator and freezer into Kate and Tony’s and defrosted the RV’s refrig. and freezer, rode the 4 wheelers and checked out tree stands and just did a lot of B-S’ing and catching up with what everyone is up to.   Brad and I headed up to the RV about 10:30, and I think we both were asleep as our heads headed to the pillows….what a great day.

July 8, 2010

Tompkin Camp Site

We both managed to sleep in until 7:00 this morning, got our coffee and headed down to camp.  Kate and Tony were hanging out, counting deer on the pond bank.  We hungout for a while,then Tony made breakfast while Kate slowly picked up and packed.  I did dishes, while the guys sat on the deck.  After that Brad headed over to visit Paul and Betty, while I put the RV back together.  It took about 4 trips up and down the drive to get all the refrig. and freezer stuff back in place, and the grill back to the RV.  I had most everything stowed and packed when Brad got back.  We head down to see Kate and Tony and they are all packed up and ready to leave.  So we see them off, finished with the RV and head out for a 45 min drive to the next site.  Brad took the car and scouted the trip, while I had the RV and traveled slow.  He called with the easiest way into the Campground, Tompkins Campground on Cowanesque Lake, and when I get there we meet up and he leads me to our site, very nice and large sites.    We get hooked up by a little after 2:00, and then put up decorations, the easy up,etc.  We cleaned up and I headed to the local store for bread, milk and pills.  Back to camp and started working on this blog posting.  That took all evening and at about 9:00 I quit and am finishing this morning 7/9.