Patapsco Valley State Park Trip, Day1

Binghamton, NY, Saturday, July 24, 2021, 122.1 Miles, 122.1 Miles For the Trip

A Familiar Stop

We did the "Thanksgiving in July" dinner on Wednesday, a 22 pound turkey & the fixings for 7 of us, including Mike and Kitty's contribution of Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish. Every real Thanksgiving I hear multiple discussions on NPR of Mama Stamberg's relish, including the recipe, but never tried it. I'm a firm believer in plain jellied cranberry sauce, and never tried to make it. Mike offered to bring some, and I have to admit it is very good (although adding horseradish to cranberry sauce sounds strange, as well as the pink color).  I still use jelled for sandwiches, but it was great with the meal. 

 After that it was trailer packing time.  I don't know if starting from scratch is better than already having half the trailer still packed from the last trip; I guess I'll find out!  In any case, I spent the morning packing the "must wait for the last minute" stuff, watered the plants, & headed out around 11:30.  The usual unexciting trip down I 81 to Binghamton & Anne & Guido's. 

Dinner will be a Spiedie Endwell sandwich.  Spiedies are a Binghamton speciality.  Originally marinated lamp on Italian bread, but now lots of combinations based on pork or chicken, including salads.  The Endwell is a chicken, cheese & mushroom sandwich. 

Tomorrow we are heading to the Jonestown KOA, another often used overnight stop.  Patapsco Valley State Park is close enough to Binghamton that we don't really need to use Jonestown as an in between stop, but since we already made reservations coming & going, we will have shorter than normal drives.

Until Tomorrow -

Goings On

 I finished work on the gray tank, putting a layer of epoxy over the plastic weld to add some strength, and after that a layer of EternaBond tape.  I filled it with water & let it sit for a couple of days.  No leaks, so I hope it will hold.

EternaBond Tape

Not a lot going on - have been making my "Meals on Wheels" deliveries, and picking blueberries.  Lots on the bushes, but most are not yet ripe.  I did freeze one 6 cup (the size for a pie) bag.  I freeze them on a tray, then after they turn into frozen berries, put 6 cups in a vacuum freezer bag.  They keep well for a couple of years.  I may not do too many since I still have 4-5 bags from last year.

Picked the date for Thanksgiving in July - the 21st.  For the last couple of years I've been putting together a turkey dinner in July.  Since I'm usually in the south in the trailer for Thanksgiving, and like to cook a turkey, that is what I've been doing.  While I would prefer a Fresh Plainville Turkey, one of the best available, they are difficult to get unless it is late November.

Glad I have the Mini Split air conditioner since this has been a hot summer.  Much more powerful & much quieter than the old window AC, and cooking a turkey heats up the kitchen!

Until Next Time - 

Pohick Bay Trip, Day 9

 Oswego, NY, Sunday, July 4, 2021, 120 miles, 929.5 Miles For the Trip

Sorry to be late posting the last day of the trip.  I was surprised by the light traffic on I 81 on the 4th.  It was a pleasant drive home.

I parked the trailer with the driver's side as high as I could get it to make it easier to get underneath to work on the broken gray tank.  The soldering iron type plastic welder arrived while I was gone, so after a bit of practice I headed under the trailer & using 6 12" sticks of plastic welding rod, the hole & crack are filled.

The Repair

While I suspect the plastic weld will hold, I'm going to add some strength to it by coating the entire repair with some JB Weld Plastic epoxy, and then a final layer of EternaBond tape.

So the end of an interesting trip to the DC area.  We will be doing it again in two weeks, this time to visit with my daughter's family in the Takoma Park area.

Until then - 

Pohick Bay Trip, Day 8

 Binghamton, NY, Saturday, July 3, 2021, 127.8 Miles, 809.5 For the trip

My Escape

Anne & Guido's Scamp

Another day of driving north in the rain, almost all of the trip on I 81.  The traffic was no where near as bad as yesterday.  Some slow downs because of the rain, but no stop & go.  

We arrived at Anne & Guido's early afternoon, and I quickly unloaded what I'd need for the night - its is still raining off & on.  Guido left the Scamp in the street since he is heading out again in two days. I'm staying in the house this time. Of course, I made at least 3 trips - I kept forgetting something.  At least is is a short walk, but for some reason, it starts to rain as soon as I get outside.

Dinner was Shrimp Scampi.

Pohick Bay Trip, Day 7

 Locust Lake State Park, Barnesville, PA - Friday, July 2, 230.8 miles, 681.7 Miles For the Trip

Anne & Guido in Site 85

Me in Site 84

Lots of rain overnight, some heavy.  It did cool off, reaching 72°F by morning.   Around 4:00AM I shut off the AC for the first time while at Pohick Bay.

We packed up the trailers in a drizzle, dumped the tanks, and headed out around 10:30.  We decided to avoid the interstates, hoping for less traffic (didn't happen) and for better scenery.  Heavy rain at times.  I really felt bad for the guy on the motorcycle in front of us during the heavy outbursts.  He finally gave up & headed for an exit. Saw one head on accident that was causing one of the back ups, but the rest were for no apparent reason.  With the rain & heavy traffic if felt like much more than 230 miles. Lots of stop & go & 25MPH driving even on the 4 lane roads.

We arrived at Locust Lake State Park around 5:00.  It took a bit to wedge myself into my site (#84).  Both of our sites were reasonably level side to side, and a bit sloped front to back.  By backing within 1' of the tree behind my trailer I was able to leave the truck hooked.  The site is electric only, with the garbage dumpsters miles away, and the bathrooms almost as far.  $45.50 including a $6.50 transaction fee.

We were all a bit tired from the drive in the rain and heavy traffic so after setting up the trailers we immediately started dinner.  It is actually cool here - we all put on long sleeved shirts.  At 68°F it probably shouldn't feel cold but after a week of 95°F plus, it did.  

Dinner was grilled planked salmon & creamed spinach with Tillamook ice cream sandwiches for dessert.

Until Tomorrow -