Day 14, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 14, Monday, September 15, 2025, Home, Oswego, NY - 167 Miles, 802.9 Miles for the trip.

We left Riverside around 11:00 and had an easy border crossing with no wait at the booth. Took the NY Thruway (I 90) to NY 14 then up to NY 104. Arrived in Oswego around 2:30. I spent a couple of hours unloading the essential stuff. Since I'm heading to Hungry Mother State Park for a rally in about 3 weeks, I left what I could. Of course I missed stuff and was heading out to the trailer in my PJ's during the night.

The petunias in the front window box survived, but the tomato plants in the raised bed look very dried out. There are still lots of cherry tomatoes, but only a few full sized ones. I did get a couple and had one in a sandwich for dinner.

Until Next Time - 

Day 13, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 13, Sunday, September 14, 2025, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 5 - 0 Miles, 635.9 Miles for the trip.

A quiet night & a short morning walk - we were heading to Betty's for breakfast. There is a bike race on the street in front of the campground so it was a bit difficult to get there but we made it:

Breakfast at Betty's

Back at the trailer some reading, talking and sitting around. I packed up the door mat and dumped the tanks getting ready to leave in the morning. Still some stuff to put away, but that can wait until tomorrow.

We had Johnsonville Cheese Brats and tortellini salad for dinner with some donated apple pie left over from the pot luck.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 12, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

 Day 12, Saturday, September 13, 2025, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 4 - 0 Miles, 635.9 Miles for the trip.

A warmer night & morning - it was 62°F for my morning walk. 

We are still having new arrivals - Another Escape 23 arrived last night & a Trillium pulled in this afternoon. A photo from last night's campfire, the "free" blue tarp, and folks making the trailer tours.  As usual, more photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

I gave a couple of tours of the Escape 21, and checked out some of the other trailers. A very light rain fell around 11:30; just a couple of drops.

An exciting afternoon. A very light rain started so I decided to run out the electric awning. I haven't used it in over a year, and when I turned on the power switch it ran out 1' and stopped. No problem - I'll get the remote and run it out the rest of the way. Problem - no remote. Not in the drawer it belongs, not on the hook Escape provides, not in any of the other possible locations. I tried shaking the awning so the automatic wind sensor would run it back in, but no luck. Put new batteries in the sensor, no luck. This would make an interesting drive back to NY. 

With some bystander help found the manual cranking connection (at the rear of the awning) and with a 10mm socket managed to crank it most of the way closed. A bit of parachute cord to tie the front a bit more closed & I'm ready to travel. Hope the replacement remote is expensive enough that it will make me change to a manual awning. I never liked the electric awning but it was the only one available in 2017.

A great pot luck supper, as usual.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 11, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 11, Friday, September 12, 2025, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 635.9 Miles for the trip.

A somewhat warm night at 58°F but a cool morning in the trailer - the campground breaker tripped during the night so the electric heater didn't come on. It was down to 61F in the trailer by morning. I suspect the converter, electric heater & the electric water heater all came on at once, tripping the breaker. With all three it should have been under 30 amps, but the breaker might have been a little soft. Anyhow I reset it when I went for my morning walk.

After breakfast and a little reading I started baking the pies. The blueberries are still frozen but that usually just means it will take a bit longer in the oven. Still cool enough outside at 72°F that the MAXX fan is keeping the trailer under 80°f even with the oven at 400°F. If it gets any warmer I'll have to fire up the AC.

Two Escape 5.0's as well as a Trillium arrived last night & this morning so we are up to 16 trailers. 

By the time I started the third pie I broke down and started the AC. While 78°F in the front of the trailer it was 84°F at the back where I'm sitting waiting on the timer. Speaking (well, typing) about the timer it is time for a new one. About 1/2 way through the second half (I turn the pie around in the oven half way through) it started switching between the timer and the time of day. If you caught it at the right time you could see the remaining time, but it is hard to trust it.

Another Trillium arrived around 1:20 so we are up to 17. During the afternoon a couple more Escapes including a 23 arrived, along with another Boler & Bigfoot. I think we are up to 24 trailers + 1 class B van. More photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Went to the showers around 4:00. Not a lot good to say about them other than they are roomy. Very weak spray but still half the drying area floor gets wet. No hooks, just a plastic lawn chair in the drying area. There is a shelf in the shower. No better than a C-

Dinner was the rest of the pork loin soaked in barbecue sauce, a salad, beans & applesauce.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 10, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 10, Thursday, September 11, 2025, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 635.9 Miles for the trip.

A warm night with a low of 56°F & 62°F for my morning walk. 

The Bigfoot fleet arrived around lunchtime as well as another Escape 21, a Boler, and another Bigfoot so we are now 13 trailers.

I wandered around ant took a few photos:

More photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

A comfortable 73°F outside & 78°F in the trailer with the MAXX fan running. Partially cloudy so the trailer is staying cool enough not to need the AC.

We sat around for the rest of the day. Dinner was a pork loin, asparagus, baked beans & applesauce. We also finally finished the strawberry shortcake.

After dinner there was a group campfire.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 9, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 9, Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario - 129.2 Miles, 635.9 Miles for the trip.

Another somewhat cool night, going down to 46°F, and 51°F for my morning walk. We took our time packing up & getting out. Most of the drive was on Canada 3. A couple of pit stops and we arrived at Riverside Campground at 2:30. I'm in site 41 & the Guidos in 42, both full hook up sites on grass. Mine was close to level side to side, and a 2" drop for the tongue. The utilities are at the road, so with the trailer deep enough into the site so the electric can be plugged in without an extension there is room for the truck parked parallel to the road. We are here for 5 nights at $57.90 per night US.

Me in Site 42

The Guidos in Site 41

We sat around, chatted with Alf & Mary Anne (the hosts for the rally) and read. So far there are 6 trailers here for the rally including an Oliver. Around 4:30 the Guidos headed to Foodland for taco supplies.

Dinner was tacos with left over strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 8, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 8, Monday, September 9, 2025, Dalewood Conservation Area, St Thomas, Ontario, Canada - 108.4 Miles, 506.7 Miles for the trip.

Not as cold overnight, only down to the low 50's & 55°F for my morning walk. We packed up the trailers, hooked up the tow vehicles & unhooked the utilities and were out of the park a little before 11:00. One of the fastest check throughs at the border - no cars in front of us and only asked about guns.

We made one stop, and arrived at Dalewood around 2:00. We are in sties 70 & 71, back in water & electric on grass for $77.57 Canadian or $52.79 US per site.

Me in Site 71 (Although Guido is in the Picture)

The Guidos in Site 70

We set up, sat around for a bit, then headed to the Foodland grocery store in St Thomas for some stuff, including a strawberry shortcake for my birthday.

Dinner was chicken Bubba Burgers, carrots & broccoli, and, of course, the shortcake.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 7, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 7, Monday, September 8, 2025, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 6- 0 Miles, 398.3 Miles for the trip.

Down to 46°F last night & 51°F for my morning walk. The campground has lots of open sites this morning, although the one behind me is now occupied. The trailer was dropped off last night, then the tow vehicle left - still not back this morning. 

Not much going on today. I spent most of it reading. They clean the bathrooms from 3:00 - 4:30, however they were done by 3:15. It must go fast when the campground is empty. I put away my entry mat & the hummingbird hangers, then headed to the showers a little after 4:00. Another lukewarm shower with only one hook in the drying area, Still worth a B.

Back to the trailer and more sitting around reading. Started dinner around 5:30, which was a shrimp broccoli spinach pasta Alfredo dish that Anne put together. My 1 gallon propane tank stopped working my two burner stove with both burners on even though it feels at least half full. I replaced it with a disposable tank & it worked fine. Not sure what the problem is but we will probably get another chance to try it.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 6, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 6, Sunday, September 7, 2025, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 5 - 0 Miles, 398.3 Miles for the trip.

A cold night going down to 48°F by morning and only 51°F during my morning walk. I took a photo of a freighter on the St Clair River with my iPhone during the walk, then headed back to the trailer for breakfast.

A Ore Hauler on the River

Around 11:00 I grabbed the Nikon Z8 and walked around the campground. Some folks leaving, but many staying for another day or two.

More at today's LakeshoreImages page or the Algonac Rally page.

Most of the afternoon was spent in the Clam watching the boats go by, the campers coming & going, and reading. I finished the first Mo Hayder Jack Caffery book in the series, Birdman. I've read some of his other books, but none of this series. Pretty good - I just started the second The Treatment.

Around 5:30 we headed to the Catch 22 restaurant for dinner. I had the English Fish & Chips, which, while good, was more than I usually eat.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 5, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 5, Saturday, September 6, 2025, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 4 - 0 Miles, 398.3 Miles for the trip.

Only a bit warmer, 55F for my morning walk. Yesterday I labeled & priced a bunch of stuff for the Shop & Swap this morning, enough stuff that I drove the truck to site 194 to drop it all off. I managed to sell a bunch of stuff, but had to bring a small bunch back home. After the Shop & Swap there were hot dogs for all. Some photos, but many more at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Sell & Swap

Hot Dogs

Around the Campground

Hot Dogs

After the trailer tours we sat around for a bit, then did dinner.

Dinner was a shrimp sausage broccoli honey & lemon dish over Orzo. Very good!

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 4, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 4, Thursday, September 5, 2025, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 398.3 Miles for the trip.

A windy walk this morning. A bit warmer at 58°F, but heavy clouds. Back at the trailer I ate breakfast, then put the dry rub on the ribs I'll be cooking for dinner.

Around 11:30 I made a walk around some of the loops taking photos. Lots of folks still in their trailer keeping out of the wind but I found a few, including some "ducks" floating in one of the few ponds left over from yesterday's rain. I started a page for the rally, but I'll add the same photos here as well as on the rally page.

Here are a few photos - the rest at today's Lakeshore Images page or the Algonac Rally page.

Now, at 12:45 it 67°F outside, but still very windy with gusts stated to be 35MPH. I hope I can keep the grill going at the low flame necessary to cook the ribs.

Most of the afternoon was taken by cooking the ribs. 71°F but still very windy. I ended up putting the propane grill in the Guido's firepit - it was deep enough to get it out of the wind. It only blew out once when I had it set on the lowest flame on one side only. I finally sat by it and tweaked the setting to keep it at 300°F. Three an a half hours later they were done. Dinner was ribs and asparagus.

After dinner I headed to the showers. A 2" fine spray shower head with adjustable water temperature. The problem is it never got hot enough to take it off fully cranked to hot. While there was no lip or shower curtain between the drying area & the shower, the floor slope was good enough to keep at least half the drying area floor dry. 2 hooks & a bench. Overall, a B-, the minus because it didn't get quite hot enough.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 3, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 3, Thursday, September 4, 2025, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 398.3 Miles for the trip.

While the rain didn't start as early as predicted, it did manage to continue throughout most of the night. For a flat campground, there was little water in most of the sites although at least one now has a private lake, complete with rubber ducks.

I went for my morning walk wearing long pants & a sweatshirt since it was 52°F, a big change from yesterday. The fiberglass trailers are scattered all over the campground rather than is a "bunch" at the northern end of the campground as in previous years. Since they made about half the sites full hook up & got rid of the older bath house at the north end of the campground, those that wanted to be close to a bathroom had to move south. We have a good view of the river from 2 rows back, and as long as there is a walkway to the bath house without going through someone's site, a short walk to the bathrooms. 

After lunch we made a trip to Krogers for the stuff we either forgot or ran out of. It looks like the Walgreens has closed. 

Back at the campground we watched folks arrive chatted with some, and sat around reading. Still cool at 63°F and only brief peeks of the sun.

We watched a couple of freighters go by. 

Dinner was a chicken spinach tomato thing that Anne put together.

Until Tomorrow - 

Day 2, 2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Day 2, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI - 211.8 Miles, 398.3 Miles for the trip.

We didn't want to get an early start since Algonac State Park doesn't let you into the sites before 3:00. We left around 11:00 and expected to get there around 3:00, but with the usual stops, arrived around 4:00. The entry station was closed, so we will have to get our tags & MI Park sticker later.

We are in sites 84 & 86, full hook up sites on gravel for $52.33 per night. We are here for 6 nights.

The Guidos in Site 88

Me in Site 86

A very windy drive. Both out trailers were bounced around a bit, although nothing serious. At least most of the time it wasn't headwinds so the gas mileage was still OK. An easy entry back into the states although a bit of a line - only one standard station open.

It was still windy at the campground so we didn't do much sitting around. By the time we set up it was time to cook dinner. I discovered that I forgot to do my "end of season" grill scrubbing and it was pretty gross. A half hour of scrubbing & scraping got it clean enough for burgers.

Dinner was Bubba Chicken Burgers, beans, and a salad. We even had home grown tomatoes for the burgers - they didn't ask about them going into Canada.

Until Tomorrow - 

2025 Trip to Algonac, MI & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

 Day 1, Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Long Beach Conservation area, Wainfleet, Ontario, Canada 186.5 Miles, 186.5 Miles for the trip.

OK, we are off on another trip to Michigan for the Algonac Fiberglass Trailer Rally, then on to Niagara Falls, Ontario for the Niagara Wine Escape Rally.

We left Oswego around 11:00 and had an uneventful crossing at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo. We arrived at Long Beach Conservation area around 2:30 and set up, me in site 171 & the Guidos in site 173. Although I found a level spot side to side, I had to unhook & lower the tongue 3 1/2 inches to level the trailer front to back. Water & 15 amp electric for $77.57 Canadian or $52.79 US per site. 

The Guidos in Site 173

Me in Site 171

After setting up I ran tests on both Verizon & AT&T. Both fairly slow download and non existent upload. I set up the Starlink Mini, and after updating the software it performed well with 90Mbps down & 12Mbps up.

After setting up we sat for a bit then Anne cooked cooked dinner which was spaghetti & sausage, & Guido & I danced around a couple of tables to find some shade & a level place to cook.

Blogger had an "experimental" AI produce links from the page content so I tried it.  It seemed to produce more links to ads than useful ones, so I don't think I'll continue to use it.

Until Tomorrow -