So, my period of mourning over the sad fate of my Maui Jims is done. Still sad, but I guess it's time to update here on how our trip is finishing out.
So, the biggest thing to say about Chincoteaque is that I was not sad to see it in the rear view mirror. After our donation of blood there, I was glad to be back on the road, headed towards Williamsburg.
The crossing of the Chesapeake Bridge-Tunnel was pretty uneventful. Excepting for very skinny lanes in the tunnels (there were two tunnels) and having to turn the propane off (resulting in less than frozen popsicles in the freezer) the crossing was easy. No traffic to speak of there. The idea of the bridge-tunnel is pretty cool, and made for some great views of the bay. Normal car toll is less, but our rig cost $20 to cross.
The roads through the Norfolk area were pretty rough. We were bouncing around from all the dips and bumps and Melissa was pretty freaked. It was so rough, in fact, that just a few miles from our campground near Williamsburg we were flagged down by a passing pickup, and told to stop and check our rear. Turns out we were inches from losing the bikes. The bouncing had knocked them loose. Lesson? I need to be more diligent in making sure the bikes are loaded and tied down well. We moved one bike to the back of the truck, tied down the rest, and were back on the road. Re-entering I-64 there was interesting, as traffic was heavier and it was a downhill grade. But, we finally caught a small break, and a few cars moved over for us as we merged in.
Turned out the KOA in Williamsburg had a Jumping Pillow, just like here in Niagara. I didn't jump this time, but Melissa did!
What was very different at Williamsburg from Niagara is that in Niagara, the spots were flat. The spot in Williamsburg was anything but. Not sure what the "grade" was, but it was steeper than we'd seen anywhere else. In fact, we ended up using all of our leveling blocks just to get the tongue high enough. With no leveling blocks left (and none for sale in the camp store) we ended up using stacked firewood under the jacks (our neighbor gave us the idea, as they'd done the same thing), and it STILL wasn't completely level. But, it was good enough.
There was a movie showing that night at the campground (Over The Hedge) and the campground had a nice outdoor theater, with stadium style seating (wooden benches), and a huge blow-up screen. All enjoyed it, and bedtime was quiet.
The next day, we ventured to Colonial Williamsburg where, since I had purchased tickets from the KOA, and they didn't ask the kids ages, I overpaid and paid for Fin when she should have been free. Next time, Melissa handles the tickets.
Williamsburg was neat, though it was quite warm. There were less "characters" roving about than we had expected. We had lunch at a tavern, and the food was good. Cadence and Finley had fried chicken strips and Harper had fried shrimp. Melissa had a roasted vegetable stuffed ravioli, and I had a chicken pot pie.
After a visit to the Apothecary, a tour of the Capital building, and the Gaol (thats how they spell jail), a storm hit. A big one. Things were blowing all over the place, branches were breaking out of trees, and Harper was screaming. So, of course, instead of seeking shelter, we walk through all that towards the visitors center where we parked the truck. We were soaked. Power was out at the visitors center (so couldn't buy postcards) and we had left the windows cracked (which we were wet from the rain anyways).
When we got back to the camper, luckily everything was ok. We were fearing there might be damage, especially to the awning, which we had left extended. Save a few limbs on the ground and no power at the campground for a couple hours, everything was fine.
That night we got to know the family in the spot next to us. They were from just outside NYC. They had a couple of kids similar in age to ours, so they got along great, and we sat around the fire and talked until after 11. They were nice and shared their beer. :)
The next day we headed towards The Natural Bridge in VA. This time, our lack of planning didn't work out as expected. We had made it so far through the trip without having any issue with campground availability, even without making any advance reservations. But, the KAO at The Natural Bridge didn't have any availability. So, when we stopped at a rest area, we looked up alternative campgrounds. Our friends from NY had said they were headed to a Jellystone in PA, so we found one nearby Natural Bridge and they had room. Turns out it also has a small water park, with a regular pool, a splash park and even water slides. They also have a jumping pillow and a mini-golf course. So, we spent the next day playing at the campground. Never did actually see the natural bridge, though we did visit the gift shop.
Tomorrow, we'll be heading towards Milford. Our journey will be just about over.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Tragedy
A beautiful morning. Coffee. Cereal. One more trip to the beach before packing up and heading to the next stop.
A bike ride through carnivorous mosquito-infested wildlife refuge. A kamikaze attack on the mosquito strong-hold (another story for another time).
A different beach. Secluded. No vehicle access. Almost deserted.
Waves. Bigger waves. Girls riding the waves in their life vests. I'm standing with them in the water. A good time.
Go deeper. Marine life at my feet. A rogue wave. (ok, maybe not a rogue wave, but bigger and caught me off guard)
I'm under. I'm up. Fun! Sure is bright out though. Shock. Realization.
Search in the water. Scrape the bottom. Another wave. Another.
They're gone. Search the surf. No use. Gone. Gone forever.
..........
Above is a description of how we lost a close family friend - my Maui Jim sunglasses. The victim of a ill-fated beach experience. May they rest in peace.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
The Birds
Have you ever seen the Hitchcock film The Birds? Remember the iconic scene that may, occasionally, visit you in your dreams, the sky black with wings? Well, that's Chincoteague.
Alright. So, it's not birds, per-se. But, the Mosquitos at Chincoteaugue are just about as thick, and can, I believe, strip your bones just like a large flock of carnivorous birds.
We started our day at the beach. It was a beautiful morning, and we got to the beach early. And fortunately Harper didn't go to the restroom before we left. I say fortunately, because as Melissa walked her to the restroom, they came upon a turtle laying eggs. Melissa came back and got the other two (and she let me tag along). We ended up seeing 3 different turtles laying eggs, covering them, and then scurrying back to the water. The stop at Chincoteague was worth it right there.
After the beach, we got some lunch (just sandwiches at the camper) and then headed out biking. We decided to bike a trail in the National Refuge Area. This was apparently a poor choice.
Not a poor choice because of the trail we chose, which was actually a nice, paved path, and had an overlook to the wild pony area. But, do you remember The Birds? Well, we will always remember The Mosquitos.
Imagine biblical swarms of locust, but Mosquitos. They. Were. Everywhere. They chased us. I think they may have even barked. We could have leashed a few.
After escaping with a few drops of blood left in our bodies, we got some dinner. Last night was Don's Seafood. Tonight we tried Bill's. It was a nicer restaurant, and the girls were pretty well behaved. They even tried oysters (fried and Rockefeller) and liked them!
We ended our evening with the first campfire of our trip.
Someone gave us the wood, so I felt obligated. Unfortunately, the Mosquitos get even more aggressive once the sun goes down.
Alright. So, it's not birds, per-se. But, the Mosquitos at Chincoteaugue are just about as thick, and can, I believe, strip your bones just like a large flock of carnivorous birds.
We started our day at the beach. It was a beautiful morning, and we got to the beach early. And fortunately Harper didn't go to the restroom before we left. I say fortunately, because as Melissa walked her to the restroom, they came upon a turtle laying eggs. Melissa came back and got the other two (and she let me tag along). We ended up seeing 3 different turtles laying eggs, covering them, and then scurrying back to the water. The stop at Chincoteague was worth it right there.
After the beach, we got some lunch (just sandwiches at the camper) and then headed out biking. We decided to bike a trail in the National Refuge Area. This was apparently a poor choice.
Not a poor choice because of the trail we chose, which was actually a nice, paved path, and had an overlook to the wild pony area. But, do you remember The Birds? Well, we will always remember The Mosquitos.
Imagine biblical swarms of locust, but Mosquitos. They. Were. Everywhere. They chased us. I think they may have even barked. We could have leashed a few.
After escaping with a few drops of blood left in our bodies, we got some dinner. Last night was Don's Seafood. Tonight we tried Bill's. It was a nicer restaurant, and the girls were pretty well behaved. They even tried oysters (fried and Rockefeller) and liked them!
We ended our evening with the first campfire of our trip.
Someone gave us the wood, so I felt obligated. Unfortunately, the Mosquitos get even more aggressive once the sun goes down.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Trying Something New
One of the big reasons for spending so much in diesel this summer for this crazy long summer adventurcation is to let our girls experience as many new, memorable experiences as possible. Niagara Falls. Hershey Park. Gettysburg. (so far)
Today we arrived in Chincoteague, VA. We expected the drive from Gettysburg to be brutal, since we were traveling through Baltimore, but it turned out to be pretty tame.
We checked into our campsite, which turned out to be a pretty nice one:
We then headed for a local seafood restaurant, Don's Seafood. Here's where the "experience" comes in. All three girls selected cab legs for dinner. Fortunately they had a kids portion (saved $). Now, I don't think any of them had had crab legs before, so this was new.
I was expecting at least one of them to say "yuck" once dinner was delivered, but I was pleasantly surprised. They liked them, and each cleaned their plate.
Now, we could have gotten crab legs at a Red Lobster anywhere, but they got to try them in a different town at a local restaurant. A neat experience (and they were pretty well behaved!).
We finished the day with another experience... We went out and scoped out the beach for tomorrow. Harper experienced the joy of sand in your shorts where it doesn't belong... Couldn't have happened to a better kid... :)
Today we arrived in Chincoteague, VA. We expected the drive from Gettysburg to be brutal, since we were traveling through Baltimore, but it turned out to be pretty tame.
We checked into our campsite, which turned out to be a pretty nice one:
We then headed for a local seafood restaurant, Don's Seafood. Here's where the "experience" comes in. All three girls selected cab legs for dinner. Fortunately they had a kids portion (saved $). Now, I don't think any of them had had crab legs before, so this was new.
I was expecting at least one of them to say "yuck" once dinner was delivered, but I was pleasantly surprised. They liked them, and each cleaned their plate.
Now, we could have gotten crab legs at a Red Lobster anywhere, but they got to try them in a different town at a local restaurant. A neat experience (and they were pretty well behaved!).
We finished the day with another experience... We went out and scoped out the beach for tomorrow. Harper experienced the joy of sand in your shorts where it doesn't belong... Couldn't have happened to a better kid... :)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
2 Day Update
Hershey having thoroughly exhausted the Wehneman clan yesterday, I failed to provide an update as to our adventures. So, this will be a double header.
Hershey Park was much better than I had expected. The park appears to be very well maintained, and the ride layout is excellent. Specifically, the small kid rides and big kid rides are intermixed, so that little ones (like Finley) have something to do nearby as their bigger siblings ride their rides.
Also, the rides are coded for very easy identification of what height is required to ride. And all the height groupings are named after Hershey candy (duh, of course). Cadence and Harper (Harper just barely) were Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars. Finley was a Hershey Kiss. Other groupings included Hershey Mini's (smaller than Fin), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers.
A little surprising to me, the roller coasters were the favorite all around. Harper seemed to prefer the wooden ones, while Cadence preferred steel. Finley liked the one she was big enough to ride (we rode it 5 times I think).
I also got Cadence to go down a big waterside, The Whirlwind. We went down in a two-person tube.
We wrapped up the day with a visit to Hershey's Chocolate World (inside thankfully) which is a huge shrine to chocolate. I believe I gained 10 pounds and contracted diabetes on the tour. But, we did do something pretty cool. We did the "Create Your Own Candy Bar" experience, where we each designed and watched them make (via automated equipment) our own candy bar. The girls thought it was great.
Exhausted, we returned to the campground for a quick dip in the pool, followed by bed.
Melissa awoke this morning with a very sore and tight neck. Can't tell for sure if she hurt it at the park or just slept on it wrong. Probably a combination of both. It bothered her all day, and if I had to guess, will continue tomorrow.
We decided to alter our fairly loose plans, and instead of heading straight for Virginia, we went SW instead towards Gettysburg. I'd never been, and others told me they've enjoyed it.
It's actually a pretty short drive, so we arrived mid-day at the Gettysburg National Park visitors center. After checking out our options, we declined Harper's begging to go on a 3.5hr bus tour (costing us $80) and instead chose to purchase a 3-disc Auto Tour set which takes you on a tour of the battlefield. Likely just as long as the bus tour, but at our own pace and in our own vehicle.
We then figured out where we were going to stay the night. I made 3 calls to the campground which was our first pick, but kept getting voicemail. So, onto our next choice, who happened to have availability. We showed up 10 minutes later, picked out our spot (the one with trees, so we were NOT out in the open sun), and set up shop. I wisely shut my hand in the door of the truck as we began to unpack. I had to be hurt so Melissa isn't the only one getting sympathy.
After a quick lunch, it was off to the pool, where the girls swam, Harper getting back to actually swimming, which she can do, but often lacks the confidence. Finley was showing all sorts of confidence in her flotation device, falling backwards into the pool from the side.
After the pool, we headed out on our Auto Tour. First, Harper was crazed and non-cooperative. But she settled down when we reached a spot where a film crew was using a flying camera - it had a series of helicopter-like rotors on top of it and was radio controlled. It was pretty awesome, and I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of it.
Next Finley lost her mind at Little Round Top, where she refused to stay with us and kept running off.
Finally, as we neared the end, Cadence's bladder invaded her mind, and we finally quit, just 1 stop from the cemetery and the conclusion of the tour. If we can, we'll try to finish it tomorrow morning before heading out.
Not 10 minutes after returning to the camper, everyone is in bed, quiet and/or asleep. I'm about to join them.
Tomorrow, we embark on a challenging trip to the coast of Virginia to get our beach on. I'm (naively) hoping for sleeping in the truck. I'm (wisely I think) going to seek out a route that avoids Baltimore.
Hershey Park was much better than I had expected. The park appears to be very well maintained, and the ride layout is excellent. Specifically, the small kid rides and big kid rides are intermixed, so that little ones (like Finley) have something to do nearby as their bigger siblings ride their rides.
Also, the rides are coded for very easy identification of what height is required to ride. And all the height groupings are named after Hershey candy (duh, of course). Cadence and Harper (Harper just barely) were Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars. Finley was a Hershey Kiss. Other groupings included Hershey Mini's (smaller than Fin), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Twizzlers and Jolly Ranchers.
A little surprising to me, the roller coasters were the favorite all around. Harper seemed to prefer the wooden ones, while Cadence preferred steel. Finley liked the one she was big enough to ride (we rode it 5 times I think).
I also got Cadence to go down a big waterside, The Whirlwind. We went down in a two-person tube.
We wrapped up the day with a visit to Hershey's Chocolate World (inside thankfully) which is a huge shrine to chocolate. I believe I gained 10 pounds and contracted diabetes on the tour. But, we did do something pretty cool. We did the "Create Your Own Candy Bar" experience, where we each designed and watched them make (via automated equipment) our own candy bar. The girls thought it was great.
Exhausted, we returned to the campground for a quick dip in the pool, followed by bed.
Melissa awoke this morning with a very sore and tight neck. Can't tell for sure if she hurt it at the park or just slept on it wrong. Probably a combination of both. It bothered her all day, and if I had to guess, will continue tomorrow.
We decided to alter our fairly loose plans, and instead of heading straight for Virginia, we went SW instead towards Gettysburg. I'd never been, and others told me they've enjoyed it.
It's actually a pretty short drive, so we arrived mid-day at the Gettysburg National Park visitors center. After checking out our options, we declined Harper's begging to go on a 3.5hr bus tour (costing us $80) and instead chose to purchase a 3-disc Auto Tour set which takes you on a tour of the battlefield. Likely just as long as the bus tour, but at our own pace and in our own vehicle.
We then figured out where we were going to stay the night. I made 3 calls to the campground which was our first pick, but kept getting voicemail. So, onto our next choice, who happened to have availability. We showed up 10 minutes later, picked out our spot (the one with trees, so we were NOT out in the open sun), and set up shop. I wisely shut my hand in the door of the truck as we began to unpack. I had to be hurt so Melissa isn't the only one getting sympathy.
After a quick lunch, it was off to the pool, where the girls swam, Harper getting back to actually swimming, which she can do, but often lacks the confidence. Finley was showing all sorts of confidence in her flotation device, falling backwards into the pool from the side.
After the pool, we headed out on our Auto Tour. First, Harper was crazed and non-cooperative. But she settled down when we reached a spot where a film crew was using a flying camera - it had a series of helicopter-like rotors on top of it and was radio controlled. It was pretty awesome, and I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of it.
Next Finley lost her mind at Little Round Top, where she refused to stay with us and kept running off.
Finally, as we neared the end, Cadence's bladder invaded her mind, and we finally quit, just 1 stop from the cemetery and the conclusion of the tour. If we can, we'll try to finish it tomorrow morning before heading out.
Not 10 minutes after returning to the camper, everyone is in bed, quiet and/or asleep. I'm about to join them.
Tomorrow, we embark on a challenging trip to the coast of Virginia to get our beach on. I'm (naively) hoping for sleeping in the truck. I'm (wisely I think) going to seek out a route that avoids Baltimore.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Norfolk Southern is Following Us
At home, there is an active Norfolk Southern line that runs right down through Georgetown. I can honestly say you get used to it - the sounds doesn't bother me (or anyone else in the family) anymore. In fact, Finley still yells "Thomas" when she sees one.
Right next to the campground here at Hershey, there's an active train line. Guess who??? Norfolk Southern of course!
It appears we're being followed.
Today we're off to Hershey Park. We'll be waking the girls up shortly.
Pray for me... :)
Right next to the campground here at Hershey, there's an active train line. Guess who??? Norfolk Southern of course!
It appears we're being followed.
Today we're off to Hershey Park. We'll be waking the girls up shortly.
Pray for me... :)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Long Drive = Short Post
Drove from Niagara to Hershey today. Girls did quite well, though there was less napping than I would have preferred.
Biggest memory for today? Pennsylvania has a series of road sign encouraging good driving. They are bright yellow and say things like "Stay Alert." We laughed about them most of the way, because if you go more than 2 or 3 miles, you'll see them.
Tomorrow is Hershey Park. Wish us luck!
Biggest memory for today? Pennsylvania has a series of road sign encouraging good driving. They are bright yellow and say things like "Stay Alert." We laughed about them most of the way, because if you go more than 2 or 3 miles, you'll see them.
Tomorrow is Hershey Park. Wish us luck!
Niagara Take 2
Our second day in Niagara Falls started off pretty relaxing. After a night of heavy rain (could use some of that at home) we took the bikes off the rack and took a riding tour of the campground.
We came across a Jumping Pillow. I recall seeing these things online or on TV, but I'd never seen one in person or tried one. As I posted mid-day here, this thing was pretty cool. Seems like it would be a lot safer than a trampoline. I know everyone enjoyed it - even me as evidenced here.
After that workout (stiff today due to it, I think) we headed for some lunch. I enjoy local places, versus always frequenting the chain restaurants you know. We located a little sub shop called John's Pizza & Subs. The girls were a bit worked up, so we sat outside. Harper got wings (of course) and the stain on her shirt for the rest of the day attested to her approval.
While we're eating out a lot, we are still keeping the camper stocked with food for when we need it (snacks, meals on the road, etc.) which necessitated a stop at a local supermarket (the only one on Grand Island, apparently). Our errands done, we stopped quickly at the camper and then headed back to the Falls.
We began The Falls v2.0 at The Aquarium of Niagara. This was a tiny little aquarium (probably the smallest I've ever been to) but it was very nice. Well kept, and the we got there at an apparent lull, as we had no issue getting to and seeing all the exhibits. Things crowded up around 2:30 when the sea lion show started, which lasted about 10 minutes - but it was the quietest 10 minutes for Harper for the whole trip - she was amazed and loved it.
Upon exiting, we logged a Did Not Find geocache (too many muggles). For more info on THAT see one of my first blog posts here. After conceding defeat, we headed for Rainbow bridge.
So, traveling from New York into Canada at Niagara Falls is not what you would necessarily calls an "international" experience, but we DID cross an international border AND we got our passports stamped. So, we'll take it for what it's worth, and Cadence and Harper will be able to claim they were in Canada over the summer.
Several things we learned in Niagara Falls on the Canadian plan:
1. Parking at Niagara Park is VERY expensive. We paid $18 to park, versus $5 we saw later...
2. Clifton Hill (where a lot of the more commercial, touristy, Gatlinburg-ish stuff is) is a LONG walk from Niagara Park. And after paying $18 for parking, we weren't in a hurry to un-park. (we never made it to Clifton Hill on foot - btw)
3. IHOP at the Sheraton closes at 3pm on weekdays. This is, of course, after talking Hungry Harper (she's a different person when she's hungry) into pancakes. Uggh. We ate at an Italian place in the Sheraton. Why - because it was right there, and it was OPEN.
4. There is a geocache located very close to the top of the incline railway (which we rode) which got us our first international geocache!!! (here's a clue for those who geocache and might be there sometime)
Our Canadian adventure coming to an end, we headed back towards Rainbow bridge. The signage isn't all that good to get to the bridge, but due to that we DID get to drive up Clifton Hill, which showed Melissa I was NOT crazy, and there was a lot of stuff there, if we had just been able to keep going and get there...
Crossing back into the USA, we all (individually) recounted our country of citizenship to the border agent, told him 4 times we lived in Indiana, etc. Feeling safe and protected from dangerous Canadians, we headed back to the camper.
We came across a Jumping Pillow. I recall seeing these things online or on TV, but I'd never seen one in person or tried one. As I posted mid-day here, this thing was pretty cool. Seems like it would be a lot safer than a trampoline. I know everyone enjoyed it - even me as evidenced here.
After that workout (stiff today due to it, I think) we headed for some lunch. I enjoy local places, versus always frequenting the chain restaurants you know. We located a little sub shop called John's Pizza & Subs. The girls were a bit worked up, so we sat outside. Harper got wings (of course) and the stain on her shirt for the rest of the day attested to her approval.
While we're eating out a lot, we are still keeping the camper stocked with food for when we need it (snacks, meals on the road, etc.) which necessitated a stop at a local supermarket (the only one on Grand Island, apparently). Our errands done, we stopped quickly at the camper and then headed back to the Falls.
We began The Falls v2.0 at The Aquarium of Niagara. This was a tiny little aquarium (probably the smallest I've ever been to) but it was very nice. Well kept, and the we got there at an apparent lull, as we had no issue getting to and seeing all the exhibits. Things crowded up around 2:30 when the sea lion show started, which lasted about 10 minutes - but it was the quietest 10 minutes for Harper for the whole trip - she was amazed and loved it.
Upon exiting, we logged a Did Not Find geocache (too many muggles). For more info on THAT see one of my first blog posts here. After conceding defeat, we headed for Rainbow bridge.
So, traveling from New York into Canada at Niagara Falls is not what you would necessarily calls an "international" experience, but we DID cross an international border AND we got our passports stamped. So, we'll take it for what it's worth, and Cadence and Harper will be able to claim they were in Canada over the summer.
Several things we learned in Niagara Falls on the Canadian plan:
1. Parking at Niagara Park is VERY expensive. We paid $18 to park, versus $5 we saw later...
2. Clifton Hill (where a lot of the more commercial, touristy, Gatlinburg-ish stuff is) is a LONG walk from Niagara Park. And after paying $18 for parking, we weren't in a hurry to un-park. (we never made it to Clifton Hill on foot - btw)
3. IHOP at the Sheraton closes at 3pm on weekdays. This is, of course, after talking Hungry Harper (she's a different person when she's hungry) into pancakes. Uggh. We ate at an Italian place in the Sheraton. Why - because it was right there, and it was OPEN.
4. There is a geocache located very close to the top of the incline railway (which we rode) which got us our first international geocache!!! (here's a clue for those who geocache and might be there sometime)
Our Canadian adventure coming to an end, we headed back towards Rainbow bridge. The signage isn't all that good to get to the bridge, but due to that we DID get to drive up Clifton Hill, which showed Melissa I was NOT crazy, and there was a lot of stuff there, if we had just been able to keep going and get there...
Crossing back into the USA, we all (individually) recounted our country of citizenship to the border agent, told him 4 times we lived in Indiana, etc. Feeling safe and protected from dangerous Canadians, we headed back to the camper.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
A Physio-Electric Power Plant
After a day at Niagara Falls, it has become apparent to me that, while electricity is generated at Niagara Falls, it is not hydro-electric power, but physio-electric power. While the amount of energy contained within flowing water is substantial, the amount of energy released by tourists in the area is of a higher level of magnitude. I believe they extract it from you as you"tour."
I'm beat.
We began the day at the campground in Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. Nice spot, really, and for $43 a night for a lake-front full hook up, a very good deal. I was up at the crack of dawn, and it took a couple hours for the rest of the brood to burrow out from under their blankets.
Coffee in our $9.24 Target coffee maker was passable. Not as good as Alan's at the farm, but better than the percolating pots we used to use camping. I love electrified campsites - if for no other reason than to have decent coffee in the morning.
We did a quick visit to the playground (3 swings and a slide), and then started to pack up to head out. That weather forecast that predicted dry weather? They were apparently smoking something of the fungicide family. It rained on us the whole time we were putting things away.
Finally on the road around 10:30, and we made decent time to Grand Island. We're staying at the Grand Island, NY KOA. We didn't get a premium spot, though. Next time I'm thinking we splurge. We're parked directly next to someone, and while it's ok, it would be nicer to have more room.
We set the camper in park (put down the jacks, put in the tire chock, hooked up water, electric and sewer) and then went to get some lunch. Harper needed it. You can always tell when Harper is hungry - because she becomes even MORE unreasonable.
We found a hot-dog shop. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of hot dogs, but we were just looking for something quick, relatively inexpensive, and nearby. Name was Theodore's Red Hots. It was very good. I had a foot long with chili, cheese and pickles. Finley had fries.
From there, we headed to Niagara Falls, and the extraction of energy began. It took some time to find a place to park. The nearby parking was full, so we ended up a few blocks away. Then we fought our way to where I THOUGHT we could buy Maid of the Mist tickets, only to find out that THAT spot only sells package deals at $70 a person. No thanks.
Found the Maid of the Mist ticket counter, and we were in luck. The ride on the Maid of the Mist was a blast. The girls loved it, and were pretty soaked, despite the ponchos. We took lots of pics, but they are on Melissa's camera. The iPad (thankfully) stayed dry in Melissa's purse under her poncho.
After the Maid, we did the "crows nest" that is right nearby there. You disembark from the Maid (USA side) and then walk towards the American Falls. You can then climb concrete steps into the mist. Well, let's call it a drenching.
So, now we're twice wet, and we started towards the Cave of the Winds area. Harper really wanted to go. We walked, and walked, and walked, and then we rested, before we walked, and walked some more. Finally arriving, we doled out nearly as much for the Cave as we did for the Maid.
One thing I will say for the Cave. You get some pretty nice shower shoes. One thing I can't say for the Cave - It's a Cave. Because it's not. It's a bunch of decks. Granted, you get pretty wet (with "free" water, by the way), but there is no cave. And this is not explained until a sign at the END of the walk. Apparently the cave collapsed in 1920. Hungry Harper (we're hours since our last meal by now) is not pleased. And since she can't see the cave (that no longer exists) she wants to go through AGAIN.
The promise of food finally draws her away from the (non)Cave (which has a TON of baby seagulls nesting on that rocky hillside, BTW) and we walk some more. TGI Fridays is seen in the distance (notice distance - not close) and we're off walking again.
Dinner was good. Children were crazy. Beer was needed and was ingested.
Back to the camper. Sleep is near (I hope). Another day down. And you can thank me for the electricity you are expending reading this post.
I'm beat.
We began the day at the campground in Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. Nice spot, really, and for $43 a night for a lake-front full hook up, a very good deal. I was up at the crack of dawn, and it took a couple hours for the rest of the brood to burrow out from under their blankets.
Coffee in our $9.24 Target coffee maker was passable. Not as good as Alan's at the farm, but better than the percolating pots we used to use camping. I love electrified campsites - if for no other reason than to have decent coffee in the morning.
We did a quick visit to the playground (3 swings and a slide), and then started to pack up to head out. That weather forecast that predicted dry weather? They were apparently smoking something of the fungicide family. It rained on us the whole time we were putting things away.
Finally on the road around 10:30, and we made decent time to Grand Island. We're staying at the Grand Island, NY KOA. We didn't get a premium spot, though. Next time I'm thinking we splurge. We're parked directly next to someone, and while it's ok, it would be nicer to have more room.
We set the camper in park (put down the jacks, put in the tire chock, hooked up water, electric and sewer) and then went to get some lunch. Harper needed it. You can always tell when Harper is hungry - because she becomes even MORE unreasonable.
We found a hot-dog shop. Now, I'm not the biggest fan of hot dogs, but we were just looking for something quick, relatively inexpensive, and nearby. Name was Theodore's Red Hots. It was very good. I had a foot long with chili, cheese and pickles. Finley had fries.
From there, we headed to Niagara Falls, and the extraction of energy began. It took some time to find a place to park. The nearby parking was full, so we ended up a few blocks away. Then we fought our way to where I THOUGHT we could buy Maid of the Mist tickets, only to find out that THAT spot only sells package deals at $70 a person. No thanks.
Found the Maid of the Mist ticket counter, and we were in luck. The ride on the Maid of the Mist was a blast. The girls loved it, and were pretty soaked, despite the ponchos. We took lots of pics, but they are on Melissa's camera. The iPad (thankfully) stayed dry in Melissa's purse under her poncho.
After the Maid, we did the "crows nest" that is right nearby there. You disembark from the Maid (USA side) and then walk towards the American Falls. You can then climb concrete steps into the mist. Well, let's call it a drenching.
So, now we're twice wet, and we started towards the Cave of the Winds area. Harper really wanted to go. We walked, and walked, and walked, and then we rested, before we walked, and walked some more. Finally arriving, we doled out nearly as much for the Cave as we did for the Maid.
One thing I will say for the Cave. You get some pretty nice shower shoes. One thing I can't say for the Cave - It's a Cave. Because it's not. It's a bunch of decks. Granted, you get pretty wet (with "free" water, by the way), but there is no cave. And this is not explained until a sign at the END of the walk. Apparently the cave collapsed in 1920. Hungry Harper (we're hours since our last meal by now) is not pleased. And since she can't see the cave (that no longer exists) she wants to go through AGAIN.
The promise of food finally draws her away from the (non)Cave (which has a TON of baby seagulls nesting on that rocky hillside, BTW) and we walk some more. TGI Fridays is seen in the distance (notice distance - not close) and we're off walking again.
Dinner was good. Children were crazy. Beer was needed and was ingested.
Back to the camper. Sleep is near (I hope). Another day down. And you can thank me for the electricity you are expending reading this post.
Who needs a wake-up call?
When I was 12, I could sleep until noon. Or 1pm for that matter. Seems that has changed.
2 days into vacation - and my body/mind doesn't seem to know it yet. Between 5:30 and 6:00 my mind gets up. Day of the week, status of work/vacation etc. doesn't seem to phase it.
Perhaps it's age. Perhaps between the time I was 12 and now something physiologically changed that no longer allows me to sleep much past 6 (unless I was up until well after midnight the night before). Or, perhaps the realities of life weigh heavier on my mind (conscious and sub-conscious) than I realized.
While traveling cross country with 3 kids in a rig 50ft long doesn't sound relaxing to most, it IS my hope that on this trip I can find some time to relax.
Perhaps that time will be 6am.
2 days into vacation - and my body/mind doesn't seem to know it yet. Between 5:30 and 6:00 my mind gets up. Day of the week, status of work/vacation etc. doesn't seem to phase it.
Perhaps it's age. Perhaps between the time I was 12 and now something physiologically changed that no longer allows me to sleep much past 6 (unless I was up until well after midnight the night before). Or, perhaps the realities of life weigh heavier on my mind (conscious and sub-conscious) than I realized.
While traveling cross country with 3 kids in a rig 50ft long doesn't sound relaxing to most, it IS my hope that on this trip I can find some time to relax.
Perhaps that time will be 6am.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Day 1 - Covington, Ohio to Erie, Pennsylvania
Surprisingly calm. That's the description of our first (and hopefully longest) day on the road. I hope all of our days go this smoothly.
We departed the farm at about 9:30am. Our dogs were sad to see us go. So was my uncle Alan, who will be watching the mutts during our extended adventure. While I'm sure Alan will miss us, I'm also pretty sure at least part of his emotions upon our departure were related to him having to deal with our animals...
We had planned to stop at a rest stop near Mansfield and make sandwiches for lunch. But as we approached, we saw a sign for Skyline. Knowing it was unlikely we would see another Skyline during our trip, we decided 4-ways was a better choice.
Now, most Skyline parking lots are not designed for big rigs, and my 50ft setup is pretty large. But, we did a drive-by and decided to chance it. In the end, we got our Skyline, and we left there staying on pavement the whole time.
Around 4 or so, we hit the Pennsylvania line. We stopped at the first rest stop, checked for geocaches, and none were listed close by. But, as we are learning, Cadence has an uncanny ability to find caches. In fact, as she walked toward the restrooms, she stopped and pulled a cache, apparently placed but not yet posted online, from a sign. We signed it (First to Find BEFORE even available!!!).
6 miles later we pulled off and headed towards a campground. Nice place actually. Without a reservation, we got a lakefront spot.
We checked in, setup, and headed for the "beach" which is more of a rocky shore. The girls got a good dose of Lake Erie water, without bathing suits, of course. Showers all around, and then movies. Thank goodness for TVs in our camper.
For 6+ hours in the truck on the road, it was a pretty good day. Tomorrow we'll check out of here and set off toward Niagara Falls.
We departed the farm at about 9:30am. Our dogs were sad to see us go. So was my uncle Alan, who will be watching the mutts during our extended adventure. While I'm sure Alan will miss us, I'm also pretty sure at least part of his emotions upon our departure were related to him having to deal with our animals...
We had planned to stop at a rest stop near Mansfield and make sandwiches for lunch. But as we approached, we saw a sign for Skyline. Knowing it was unlikely we would see another Skyline during our trip, we decided 4-ways was a better choice.
Now, most Skyline parking lots are not designed for big rigs, and my 50ft setup is pretty large. But, we did a drive-by and decided to chance it. In the end, we got our Skyline, and we left there staying on pavement the whole time.
Around 4 or so, we hit the Pennsylvania line. We stopped at the first rest stop, checked for geocaches, and none were listed close by. But, as we are learning, Cadence has an uncanny ability to find caches. In fact, as she walked toward the restrooms, she stopped and pulled a cache, apparently placed but not yet posted online, from a sign. We signed it (First to Find BEFORE even available!!!).
6 miles later we pulled off and headed towards a campground. Nice place actually. Without a reservation, we got a lakefront spot.
We checked in, setup, and headed for the "beach" which is more of a rocky shore. The girls got a good dose of Lake Erie water, without bathing suits, of course. Showers all around, and then movies. Thank goodness for TVs in our camper.
For 6+ hours in the truck on the road, it was a pretty good day. Tomorrow we'll check out of here and set off toward Niagara Falls.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Day 0.5
Started the day at a work function, which ended at approx. noon. Then, we were off. Re-packed the truck, waved goodbye to Milford and shot north for the farm, and our camper.
6 or so ours later, we're just about ready... for bed that is. Bikes are locked and loaded on the back.
Some food is in the fridge.
Clothes are put "away" (don't judge).
And, most importantly, the coffee maker is ready for the morning.
Tomorrow, we hook the wagon to the horses
and we'll be on the road. At least until someone has to pee.
6 or so ours later, we're just about ready... for bed that is. Bikes are locked and loaded on the back.
Some food is in the fridge.
Clothes are put "away" (don't judge).
And, most importantly, the coffee maker is ready for the morning.
Tomorrow, we hook the wagon to the horses
and we'll be on the road. At least until someone has to pee.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Then, I Died
The vacation doesn't officially start until tomorrow afternoon, but this evening we drove from home to Cincinnati. We're staying with Melissa's parents for one night, with a work event in West Chester for me tomorrow, and then, we're off.
The drives on this "road trip" vacation could be very interesting in the cab of the truck, especially if Harper continues to tell her stories. Seems everything she tells a story (they were doing "dreams" at one point), it ends with "and then, I died."
Let's hope we all survive...
The drives on this "road trip" vacation could be very interesting in the cab of the truck, especially if Harper continues to tell her stories. Seems everything she tells a story (they were doing "dreams" at one point), it ends with "and then, I died."
Let's hope we all survive...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Let's get rotten luck out of the way
I'm hoping for good luck on our rather lengthy camping vacation. We don't need mechanical problems, overly hot, cold, or wet weather, poor navigation, road construction, etc... Of course it's inevitable that something will go wrong, but minor is better.
A few weeks ago, we finally bit the bullet and got Melissa some new tires. We'd put about 50k miles on her vehicle since we bought it at CarMax, and so her tires were pretty worn. There was slippage on wet roads and lots of squeaking on recently topped pavement. Finally one of them started to leak air - so we knew it was time.
It took me 3 stops to find a tire place with the right size (you wouldn't think that tires for a Ford Expedition would be hard to locate) - Sears didn't have them. Neither did Raben Tire. Finally found them at Ken Towery, and they only had 1 set (Cooper). Almost $1,000 later, I was headed home with 4 new tires and an alignment.
Today, flat tire. Come to find out there was a nail in the interior side wall of the passenger rear tire. And guess who DIDN'T buy the road hazard coverage for the new tires.... Uggh. Tire ruined - no plugging a hole in the side wall. So, another tire to buy...
Well, now we have road hazard on all of them, AND, instead of a buy 3, get the 4th free deal (which I DIDN'T get before) we are now sitting at a buy 5, get 4 tires deal. Plus, I've bought the road hazard (another $80).
Lets hope by buying the extra and insurance on those tires, I've satisfied our share of bad luck for awhile, and we can avoid any major issues on the road over the next 2.5 weeks. I guess we'll see.
A few weeks ago, we finally bit the bullet and got Melissa some new tires. We'd put about 50k miles on her vehicle since we bought it at CarMax, and so her tires were pretty worn. There was slippage on wet roads and lots of squeaking on recently topped pavement. Finally one of them started to leak air - so we knew it was time.
It took me 3 stops to find a tire place with the right size (you wouldn't think that tires for a Ford Expedition would be hard to locate) - Sears didn't have them. Neither did Raben Tire. Finally found them at Ken Towery, and they only had 1 set (Cooper). Almost $1,000 later, I was headed home with 4 new tires and an alignment.
Today, flat tire. Come to find out there was a nail in the interior side wall of the passenger rear tire. And guess who DIDN'T buy the road hazard coverage for the new tires.... Uggh. Tire ruined - no plugging a hole in the side wall. So, another tire to buy...
Well, now we have road hazard on all of them, AND, instead of a buy 3, get the 4th free deal (which I DIDN'T get before) we are now sitting at a buy 5, get 4 tires deal. Plus, I've bought the road hazard (another $80).
Lets hope by buying the extra and insurance on those tires, I've satisfied our share of bad luck for awhile, and we can avoid any major issues on the road over the next 2.5 weeks. I guess we'll see.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
4 Days and Counting
Our long awaited summer adventurcation will kick off in 4 short days. Much is already done and ready to go. But much is still to be done.
Today we've been discussing how much clothing to take. Its a foregone conclusion that we'll need to do laundry at some points, just a question of how much. The girls (especially Finley and Harper) tend to go through a lot of clothing if allowed. Now, we could take 2.5 weeks worth of clothing...
but I think we're looking at maybe a week's worth of clothes. Part of the reasoning is I'm not sure Melissa and I have much more than that (if we even have a week) in our wardrobes. Finley (being the youngest of three sisters) has what amounts to likely several months... With a week's worth we can stop and do laundry when convenient during each week. Smaller loads will be easier to deal with anyway.
Of course the most challenging thing I expect will be my patience with the girls while we're driving. The constant bickering, mixed with little girl screeches will be a true test for me personally. Distraction will be our number one weapon in that battle. Melissa has a list of games and activities she's been amassing... Let's hope they work.
Squirrel!!!
Today we've been discussing how much clothing to take. Its a foregone conclusion that we'll need to do laundry at some points, just a question of how much. The girls (especially Finley and Harper) tend to go through a lot of clothing if allowed. Now, we could take 2.5 weeks worth of clothing...
but I think we're looking at maybe a week's worth of clothes. Part of the reasoning is I'm not sure Melissa and I have much more than that (if we even have a week) in our wardrobes. Finley (being the youngest of three sisters) has what amounts to likely several months... With a week's worth we can stop and do laundry when convenient during each week. Smaller loads will be easier to deal with anyway.
Of course the most challenging thing I expect will be my patience with the girls while we're driving. The constant bickering, mixed with little girl screeches will be a true test for me personally. Distraction will be our number one weapon in that battle. Melissa has a list of games and activities she's been amassing... Let's hope they work.
Squirrel!!!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
A Summer Vacation Adventure
I haven't posted a blog post for quite some time. I could blame it on work... But really LIFE has gotten in the way.
In less than a week, our family will be embarking on what may prove to be an exhilarating or, alternatively, a disastrous experience. We will be hooking the camper (2011 Jayco JayFlight 2 32BHDS)
to my truck (2005 F250 Lariat CrewCab with 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel)
And hitting the great American "road." No reservations, just a directional plan. No timetable. We'll be going where the wind blows, so to speak.
While we've had the camper for a little over a year, it has spent all of its life at our family's farm, and has not, as of yet, ventured out on such an experience. Likewise, my experience pulling the beast (a little over 36 feet long including tongue, plus we'll be extending the bike rack off the back. Adding another 3 feet or so) is limited to moving it around on the farm and moving it from the dealership to the farm initially (quite an ordeal, which I may share someday).
So, the pulling of the camper itself will be an adventure. But, on top of that, we expect we will be spending hours in the truck cab (group of 5 - Melissa and I in the front, with all 3 girls in the back seat) driving. This will be our first trip of more than about 4 hours in the truck. It could be fun! (uh huh...)
But, the loose plan we do have should take us to some good spots for the girls. We're considering Niagara Falls, Hershey, PA, Chincoteague, VA, and Colonial Williamsburg, VA. In fact, we amassed that list of destinations based upon trying to include something for everyone. Cadence asked for a roller coaster (Hershey), Harper asked for a beach (Chincoteague), and Finley went back and forth copying them (she couldn't decide, apparently). Melissa has wanted to go to Colonial Williamsburg for some time, and I have been to Niagara Falls, but it has been some time, and I thought the girls would get a kick out of a ride on The Maid of the Mist (which I have never actually gotten to do).
If I can keep to it, I plan to try to log our "Adventures" here for others to share. These may include posts about enjoyable family experiences, or rants about excruciating disasters. Time will tell.
The good thing is, with no formal reservations, we can always just turn the rig around, and head home. But, we've been looking forward to this trip for some time, so I suspect we will keep to it, and enjoy it no matter what happens.
Wish us luck!
In less than a week, our family will be embarking on what may prove to be an exhilarating or, alternatively, a disastrous experience. We will be hooking the camper (2011 Jayco JayFlight 2 32BHDS)
to my truck (2005 F250 Lariat CrewCab with 6.0L Powerstroke Diesel)
And hitting the great American "road." No reservations, just a directional plan. No timetable. We'll be going where the wind blows, so to speak.
While we've had the camper for a little over a year, it has spent all of its life at our family's farm, and has not, as of yet, ventured out on such an experience. Likewise, my experience pulling the beast (a little over 36 feet long including tongue, plus we'll be extending the bike rack off the back. Adding another 3 feet or so) is limited to moving it around on the farm and moving it from the dealership to the farm initially (quite an ordeal, which I may share someday).
So, the pulling of the camper itself will be an adventure. But, on top of that, we expect we will be spending hours in the truck cab (group of 5 - Melissa and I in the front, with all 3 girls in the back seat) driving. This will be our first trip of more than about 4 hours in the truck. It could be fun! (uh huh...)
But, the loose plan we do have should take us to some good spots for the girls. We're considering Niagara Falls, Hershey, PA, Chincoteague, VA, and Colonial Williamsburg, VA. In fact, we amassed that list of destinations based upon trying to include something for everyone. Cadence asked for a roller coaster (Hershey), Harper asked for a beach (Chincoteague), and Finley went back and forth copying them (she couldn't decide, apparently). Melissa has wanted to go to Colonial Williamsburg for some time, and I have been to Niagara Falls, but it has been some time, and I thought the girls would get a kick out of a ride on The Maid of the Mist (which I have never actually gotten to do).
If I can keep to it, I plan to try to log our "Adventures" here for others to share. These may include posts about enjoyable family experiences, or rants about excruciating disasters. Time will tell.
The good thing is, with no formal reservations, we can always just turn the rig around, and head home. But, we've been looking forward to this trip for some time, so I suspect we will keep to it, and enjoy it no matter what happens.
Wish us luck!
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