Finally getting everything all cleaned up!!

Monday and Tuesday May 25 2021

    Even thought it is our days off we worked around our site and on cleaning up a pavilion area beside us.  I don't think the leaves have been remove from the swales for a few years.  Cleaned it up and mowed the whole area it looks much nicer.  Diane had the fire going all day we would work awhile sit by the fire awhile and sip wine for awhile it was a nice couple of days.

We do like
our fires!!

Wednesday May 26 2021

      Off to Corning today for lunch and some shopping.  They are calling for Thunder storms although we managed to dodge most of them.  We walked around old town Corning hit a whole bunch of little shops and eventually found a soup and salad type restaurant for lunch and just had a salads for lunch.  And good salads I might add.  We had a nice day and stopped at the grocery on our way home for supplies to last through our hosting days.  It wasn't long after we unloaded the truck we started remembering how much stuff we forgot.  This getting old and forgetful sucks.  Just rotisserie chicken for dinner and of course a glass of wine. 

Thursday May 27 2021

    Started our second tour of camp hosting this morning a nice day and only a few tickets to put up.  Diane made all the rounds and did all the work while I rested comfortably in the Dentist Chair.  I did the milk run though (stopping everywhere),  the post office, tractor supply, wine store, lumber store before the dentist and at Pag-O-Mars on the way home.  Needless to say it was almost 4pm until I got back by then Diane had the fire burning and the rest of our flags up for Memorial Day weekend.  We did our final round and had some home make BBQ sandwiches.

Friday May 28 2021

    Rain, rain and more rain.  This is the big weekend and they are calling for rain all day.  We headed out on our first round around 9am while the rain was very light.  We had 67 tickets to put out, all the

We aren't sure if he wanted
 to go with Uncle Paul for
 more belly rubs, or if he's
 mad at us???

sites are full except a few hike-in sites.  Just as we were finishing Bill tracked us down with three changes.  We re-did those few and headed in for a hot cup of coffee.  It was 45 degrees when I got up and with the rain the dampness just seemed to pernitrate to the bone.  By now it was noon and Diane made us breakfast for lunch.  Our Memorial Day company pulled up around 2pm.  Paul, Betty and Alice got here for just a short visit on their way to Alice's cabin.  We had a real nice visit, except for Rudy who didn't like the strangers in his camper.  We were hoping to sit by the fire but the cold steady rain forced us inside.  Not much happening all the campers are stuck inside.  A quick meal tonight and the fire place running non stop.....time for a break in the rain!! 

Our first tour as hosts in PA.

 Tuesday 18 May 2021

   The beginning of first shift and it is very warm the temps well into 80's with lots of sun shine.  We are not to start until 12noon so Andrea (office volunteer) didn't bring us our paper work until 10am.  It was

a really easy first day with only 6 arriving guests and 4 leaving.  We took advantage of the slow day drove all around the campground including down to the hike-in sites.  They are nice, several right on the waters edge, the only problem we can see is that they are walk-ins.  As we made the afternoon rounds we noticed one site is double booked.  We were waiting for the camper in the spot to leave then read his tag and he was good several more days.  Turns out they had reservation system upgrade and this double booking was the result and we shouldn't worry about it.....so we didn't and the incoming camper never showed.  A good first day. 

Wednesday 19 May 2021

   Hotter yet today temps in the mid 80's by the time Diane left for the eye Dr.'s.  I made the first pass around the campground putting up tags checking/cleaning fire pits, again we only had 7 check-ins.  I was done had lunch and cleaned up around our site until Diane got back from the dr.'s office.  She rested for awhile after having her eyes dilatated.  We had our last rounds of the day to see if one camper had actually left site(T).  They had not but the lady shown (on her phone) to Diane the new reservation for another day so we left.  We barely got back when another camper was here he also had a reservation for site (T).  Another computer glitch we figured, but no Diane had been bamboozled by the lady on the site.  Good news is that there were twenty empty sites so the guy just picked another one.  Almost 8 until we were done and late diner.

Thursday 20 May 2021

   The weather is just unseasonably warm so we decided to head out early to beat some of the heat.  Again we didn't get our tickets until 11:00.  We still headed out there were six or so sites we wanted to weed-wack.  By the time we finished that it was after lunch and 86 degrees.  Back to the camper we had only done 6 of our 22 check-ins.  After having lunch and bit of a rest we went back to finish up the check-ins.  I used the Kubota to bring us two loads of stone from maintenance shed to fix up our site.  I showered while Diane made the last pass around the CG only to find some old geezer camping in the Meadow(no hook-ups) without a reservation.  He promised to get on-line and make one.  It was again after 8pm by the time we had diner.  The end of first shift and we learned a few things, only believe half of what people tell you and plan quick meals for diner.  Come morning the guy did come over with a reservation ticket. 

Friday 21 May  2021

   Still hot as we passed the Kubota off to Cathy for her first shift of the season (she has been hosting

Rudy Made himself
a bed in the leaves!!

here for 12 years) so no big deal.  We people watched most of the day.  Diane went to town for a few things and found us a hummingbird feeder.  We found an eagle's nest not far from here but have been unable to get a good picture.  Not long after Cathy left for her second trip of the day we see her walking back with this terrified look on her face.  She yells down she lost the Kubota we figure the rangers came and got it to use for awhile.  Here she parked it to clean a fire pit and it rolled down over the embankment and into the woods. The good news is she wasn't hurt and there wasn't any damage to the Kubota.  The head ranger came over checked it out, put it in 4-wheel drive and just drove it out.  No harm, no foul as they say and the next day the ranger was over to fix the parking brake.

Saturday 22 May 2021

  It just keeps getting hotter.  We just hung out around the CG.  Diane went to get some pictures of the eagles but only the babies/youngsters were there.  We also got the maiden voyage for the kayak we took turns, about a half hour each to get the hang of it again.  It goes pretty well for a 10 footer.  Got the fire started and broke open a bottle of white wine and did some chicken on grill.

Sunday 23 May 2021

   The day we arrived here we put up the rain gauge we bought 3 years ago, we talked about often but never put it up.  We did put it up when we got here and have not had one drop of rain since, I think the farmers are starting to talk!  We did a little running around took a  side road over to Mansfield and we finally made it there albeit a hour longer.  A nice drive through a very rural area with mostly hunting camps and mature forests.  Several doe were out feeding, it should be time for them to have their babies.  Lunch out was on order for today I think we have only been out twice since we set up camp here.  On our way back to the Moho Diane found another Eagle's nest and we have some good pictures.  That is two nests right here by our campground.  Back to the Moho cleaned up the outside the weather guys calling for a chance of thunder storms.  Looks like shrimp fajitas for diner.

Pictures for the two eagles nests.  

The juveniles are about ready to leave the nests, 

they are almost as big as the mature eagles.  

Breathe Deep and Exhale!!

 Sunday May 17 2021

    It has been four years since our Shawna Kay passed away.  February 18 1972 - May 16 2017.  There is an emptiness in our hearts that remains for ever.  I thought "time would heal all wounds" but it doesn't.  So I would just like to use today's post for all of us to remember her.  This is always a sad day each year. And we miss her terribly.
   We did get our new chairs put together they look very nice.  

  

Our Summer Site as Camp Hosts, not bad!!

Monday 10 May 2021

     Well here it is time to move to Tompkins for our tour of duty as campground hosts. Now you know how it goes we are only moving 15 miles so no hurry.  We have breakfast and slowly start cleaning and packing for for the trip.  You know it was noon before we knew it and time to step it up a notch.  Diane 

Our summer site is
covered in leaves!!

headed out stopping for broccoli salad, propane and some potting soil.  I stopped for fuel then headed to the campground.  I parked on the road and started blowing leaves off the site until Diane arrived.  The park is closed so no hurry we clean up the site and planned our attack to get the Moho backed in as the road is a little narrow.  I forgot to tell you it rained steady most of last night, water running everywhere and ground is very very soft.  So we start backing up pulling forward, backing up pulling forward like five times being careful to keep the back wheels on the pavement.  Diane starts yelling stop...so I did.  I got out we are in between a sign post and flower box with the front of the Moho dragging in the mud.  Oh crap, crap and crap. We decided to pull up the flower box and fix it later. Well turns out it was just sitting on the ground we picked up and move it.  Had we known that we would have avoid this whole mess.  It took over a hour and most of our nerves until we were backed in and parked.  Whew!  We arranged enough of our stuff to be comfortable for the night and figured we make a plan for arranging the site in the morning.

We didn't get stuck, but we sure did give it a good try!!

After 8 tries, the sign moved and we moved right in, who knew.  😀

Tuesday 11 May 2021

    I left Diane here to study the mess we had outside while I went hunting and to my surprise she just waited until I got back (not really she had a fire and was burning leaves).  We worked all day getting things arranged and then rearranged.  It has been a long time since we have been parked for such a long time and you want to make feel like home.  Diane had started the fire and she raked, burned and used the leaf blower on the rest of leaves most of the day. I split and stacked wood  until I swung and missed and bruised my hand...time to quit and enjoy the fire.  Some of the maintenance volunteers stopped by to introduce themselves and chat a little. We ordered take out from a new BBQ joint up the road.   It is nice having the whole camp ground to yourselves just sit by the fire and relax.

Wednesday 12 May 2021

   No hunting this morning it was a rest and recover day.  Another nice morning breakfast on the grill and back to site organizing.  More leaves to rake more wood to split more and meet the rest of the maintenance volunteers.  Grill chicken strips for dinner then wine by the fire.  Diane is definitely enjoying the camp fires.  She has them going by lunch lasting until dark I just hope I can haul it in faster than she burns it.😄

Thursday 13 May 2021

  I was up and in the mountain by 0530, I had a good feeling that today I would find the gobblers.  Well that feeling passed in a hurry although I did see a hen.  Back to the Moho by 9:45 just in time for Diane to head into Wellsboro for a back massage hoping to relieve some of her back pain.  And of course since she was in town she hit the grocery store, wine store, hardware store and our favorite deli (Pag-O-Mar's). In the mean time Rudy and I took a much needed nap.  After that nap we rested before hitting the wood pile for an hour or so.  Diane returned we stacked wood then some wine, sat by the fire then burgers on the grill.  

Friday 14 May 2021

   The weather has been great for several days now in the 30's at night but clear skies and highs in the 60's.  So I went hunting back to the same place as yesterday hoping to find a gobbler but no luck.  On my way out I decided for stop in and visit Jen and borrow a cup of coffee, but it turned out they are down state.  Back to the Moho, brunch again today sausage and eggs on the grill.  Diane did the big grocery shopping to Wegmans in NY.  Rudy and I finished splitting and stacking the fire wood, weed wacked and continued to fix up the site.  When Diane got home she planted the rest of the flowers then it was wine by the campfire. Another good day.

Our site is getting
ready, looks better.

 Saturday 15 May 2021 

    Opening day for the campground and what a beautiful day it was.  Forty degrees and a magnificent sunrise this morning it quickly warmed up into the 60's.  After breakfast I went to State Line camping center to pick up some supplies and wouldn't you know it there was a yard sale right at the entrance.  Naturally I had to stop on my way out and found a few items I could not pass up. Thirty dollars later the truck was loaded up and I was on my way home.  Diane was so happy with my purchases she kept saying not again, not again.  She had the fire going by lunch and we keep it going all day.  She planted the last of the flowers and the place is looking nice.  We put up the clam for out door setting in the bug season.  Another big moment was the sewer plant being turned on and shortly there after we dumped tanks with five days worth of holdings. That excitement was short lived as the tank rinse piping started to leak inside the coach somewhere dripping down into water bin. Oh well one more thing to fix.  We have sewer the washer is running, long showers and real plates again.  We sat by the fire in between talking to the other camp hosts.  A good day.

Back in Tioga County, Ahhhhh!!

  Just to catch you up we were to go straight to our site at Tompkins campground.  I called our ranger 'Brad' we talked a few minutes I told him we were on the way up and just checking to see if everything is up and running.  He says 'yep' all the other workers were there and hooked up.  The only thing was the sewer plant would not be turned on until the 14th.   Two weeks without sewer I don't think so!  Diane jumps on the computer and gets us 5 days at Ives Run.

Saturday 1 May 2021

    So we arrived at Ives run around noon planning on leaving on Friday.  We got the place all set up and settled in.  Jen and Greg came down for campfire, they were surprised we were here.  We sat by the fire and chatted for awhile then they headed up the hill and we made burgers on the grill, it was a nice evening.  

Our site at 
Ives Run.

Sunday 2 May  2021

  Went over to Tompkins to check out our site and ended up meeting a co-host Dolly and Kathy a mother daughter team and meet Brad our 'ranger in charge' .  The site looks nice, a nice warm day to check everything out.  We got back to the Moho organized few more things and started planning/wandering where to camp after our time was up here at Ives Run.  Our choices are a place with no water, a place with no sewer, or move into the volunteer section here at Ives Run and work here for two days.  We decided to have some wine, chicken on the grill and think about it.  Another nice evening some wine by the fire.

Monday 3 May 2021

   Diane's dentist appointment was this morning and believe it or not she was out the door at 8:15 am.  After lunch I went over to visit Paul, Ben and his boys at the cabin.  They all came up yesterday hunted this morning and were in the cabin "resting" when I got there.  Well, Mason wasn't resting much.  We talked for a while then Ben and I went up to get the tractor out of Tony's barn.  I couldn't believe it but it started right up and we were back at the cabin in less than a hour.  Should say I was back Ben drove the tractor that goes at a snail's place.  We talked a bit before I headed back.

McCurdy Camp, a three day visit

and the porch is full!!

I-Pads and phones 
at the Cabin,
Oh my  😲!

   

Tuesday 4 May 2021

 I had an eye Dr. appointment  this morning for a follow up pressure check.  Turned out to be a full blown exam including dilation.  So,  I drove back over to Ben's with two pair of sunglasses on and the sun visors down.  All this to give him our hot spot so the boys could log on and do the home work.  Arrived gave it Ben he tried to set it up and "No Service" all this for nothing. But  Paul and I talked while Ben worked on getting some internet service.  It was a nice warm afternoon we all sat on the porch and chatted for awhile and although our hot spot didn't work we had a great time anyway. 

Tough day of hunting
 for Paul!

Wednesday 5 May 2021

    The plan was I would meet Ben and the gang at the game land for a morning of turkey hunting.  But I had a tick bite that got bright red and ended up going to the Dr. this morning.  And this was probably the last warm morning for awhile.  

Thursday 6 May 2021

    The big day we get our second COVID shot this afternoon. Woo-who  We made a day of it into Wellsboro, lunch at Dunham's, then over to the quaint little In My Shoes shoe store but nothing. Off to

We saw a Bear with
2 cubs on our
way to town!!

the 'old' high school for our shots. Talk about culture shock in Carlisle there were hundreds of people here there were 4 people working and about 8 recipients.  This was going to be my lucky day my intake person must have been a school teacher.  She took one look at our cards and "oh my, oh my" to our surprise and then we get the  "this is wrong, this is wrong".  She finally calls over the head lady and tells her the other facility "wrote outside of the lines, outside of the lines" are you kidding me all this crap because they wrote out side of the lines. I guess since there were two of us she repeated everything twice-twice. Anyway after a brief consolation they decided it would be OK. whew!  That was a close one.  Diane get processed and moves on to get her shot.  Then it is my turn and she types in my name.  "oh my, oh my"  I give her that not again look and I hear "this can't be, this can't be" you are not in the system.  She looks at me over the top of her glasses and we start all over again where did you get your first shot, name, address, etc.  I know in her mind she just caught someone sneaking in under a false name to get a COVID shot.  By now Diane is waiting by the door with a smile on her face.  She calls the head lady over they have a second meeting come over ask for my IDs again another meeting come back over decide to just put me in as a new person getting only the get second COVID shot. She types in my name and birthday her eyes get big "I found you, I found you" they just spelled your name wrong.  I didn't care just get me out of here.  I walk over to the waiting area to get my shot,  they call me and I'm happy.  Stop, stop I hear from across the room. I'm ready to just walk out. They found the last does from an old batch that needs used first.  And Poof just like that I'm done.  I was going to skip the 15 minute wait when the head nurse looks at me and the please wait here sign and me again, so I sat down.  

    We finally go back into town finish our  shopping and head home.  If we ever have another pandemic I think I'll just take my chances.

Friday 7 May 2021

    A cool morning like 35 degrees cool.  I went out to do a little hunting this morning here at the game lands.  I've never hunted here so I just walked and sat and walked and sat.  Must have went 2 mile or more up the mountain, no gobbles, no turkeys, no nothing.  I worked my way back down to the truck called Diane and headed in.  I meet the game warden on the way and we talked a little he says the place is loaded with turkey.  I think they always say that. I get back to the Moho at 10am Diane has made fresh muffins for breakfast. Yum! Then she tells me she got us a reservation until Monday for the very same site we are in, I guess with the pending rain and cold there were a lot of cancellations.  I guess we do have a little luck. After lunch Diane took a hike up the hill and around the campground before ending up at Jen and Greg's place, I joined them after my nap.  We sat by the fire and jawed for a while then back to the Moho before the cold settled in.

Saturday 8 May 2021

   Diane was up early for a trip down state to visit Lynne and to pick up our new chairs we ordered.  She was out and on the road by 9am.  I spent most of the day piddling around the camper and answering phone calls from Diane.  She drives down the 190 miles picks up Lynne and drives 40 mile back up to Blue Mountain Kayak store in Lynne's car.  She has always wanted a kayak but never got one.  Today was her lucky day she had the credit card and Lynne plus she didn't have me.  She did send me a picture of it and asked what I thought.  As I look at picture I notice it is setting at the door by the cash register but at least she asked.  Then they drive back to Lynne's to get the truck, Diane drives back up to pick up the kayak while Lynne picks up our chairs from Ashley's  They all meet back at Lynne's then drive to the Pizza Grille for dinner with Shane and Morgan, I'm tired just typing this.  It must have been a hectic day for all.  

Sunday 9 May 2021

   Diane was again up early, prying Lynne out of bed to say thanks and goodbye.  She was home just as the rain started about 1pm.  We were still emptying out the truck 'except the kayak' when the phone rings, our firewood guys want to deliver right now before the rain picks up.  So we jump into truck head over to Tompkins campground, pulling in as the firewood guy followed us to our site.  We get to the site as the rain starts coming down a little harder so we quickly unload the wood and the kayak before heading right back to the Moho. Diane wasn't any to happy leaving the new kayak at Tomkins although the gate is locked and the two maintenance people live there.  She was exhausted from the two days of hustle and bustle and didn't last long after dinner.  Tomorrow is the big day when we move over to Tompkins for our summer volunteer spot.

Last Visits in Dillsburg!!

 Saturday 24 April 2021

     We finished getting everything organized around the camper after the long day of travel yesterday (it was almost a half hour drive).   Dave and Julie came for dinner and stayed for a while. We started off sitting by the fire but the rain chased us in before to long.  I still managed to cook burgers on the grill but we had to eat inside.  It was a really nice visit, we chatted for some time and shared some wine.

Sunday 25 April 2021

   Not much happening today.  We had diner with the Shirks  probably the last for this trip.  A wonderful meal of scallops and veggies done in the oven.  Oh Yum!  A great visit and yes it was, once again, after dark when we got home.

Monday 26 April 2021

   One more trip to the Insurance lady I think we have it all figured out now.  Diane worked  around the camper.  I took the truck over to L B Smith ford to finally fix the check engine light.  Diane picked me up in Mel's car, it has been a while since I crammed my self into a small car but it saved us from dropping it off in the morning.

Tuesday 27 April 2021

   I dropped Diane off at Rite Aid to meet Lynne for a day of shopping and hanging out.  I went to the storage unit to pick up flash lights and other things we left there. It wasn't but 9:30 when they called to tell us the truck was finished. I realized I could spare myself to agony of getting in and out of the midget car by getting the truck now and so I was off to LB Smith's.  Back in the truck I stopped at the tree farm talked to Mark and Norman for awhile (more like a hour or so).  Mark said he could use the vise I've been toting around for years so back to the storage unit one more trip.  The vise is heavy so I opened the tail gate, unlocked the storage unit, propped open the entry door preparing for a one grunt trip to the truck.  As I walked in to get the vise guess what was in my way......the rifles I sat them in the hallway this morning.  Yep they sat in the hallway all day.  I was lucky.  I loaded up the vise and checked the hallway and storage lock like six times.

   Meanwhile Diane and Lynne had a great day of shopping hitting a dozen or more stores and of course a stop at Starbucks.  Diane had a great time and we ended up with new dining room chairs.  

Wednesday 28 April 2021

   Well now we were up showered dress and ready to go for breakfast by 9am.  We walked into Brothers restaurant to meet Norm and Pat.  They were just finishing when we sat down but they stayed and we all chatted while we ate and for a while after we were done. Diane went over to Lynne's for our last mail pick up before we leave.

Thursday 29 April 2021

    We had breakfast and Diane was off and running well just to the laundromat to wash the big bed spreads they just don't fit in our machine.  Rudy and I piddled around the camper most of the morning.  After lunch we headed over to visit with Bev one more time before we leave.  We talked and reminisced for a couple of hours and we all had a nice visit. Back to the Moho a nice walk for Rudy then burgers on the grill and cleaned up the outside preparing for some very high wind tomorrow.

Friday 30 April 2021

   Holy crap hope we don't blow away.  Woke up several times last night with the camper rocking and it just got worse today the wind gusts must have been close 40mph.  Diane went for a final run to the storage unit, Mel's and the grocery store. The wind was so bad and for the first time ever it blew our satellite dish over and broke the co-ax connector.  We did our best to pack up the place for tomorrows trip but every so often you  had to come in out of the wind.  Folding up our patio rug was a challenge even with two of us it was hard to hold on to, we would pick it up it and it wanted to take off like a giant kite.  We finally quit for the day, I'll just finish it up in the morning.