Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 15

September 20, 2021, Oswego, NY - Miles, 159.6 Miles, 999 Miles For the Trip

Another cool night - great for sleeping at 55°F. The trailer got down to 59°F. I took my time getting up and "at em" since check out time was 11:00 and I only had around 150 miles to home. I found a pint of raw honey on my picnic table which is now in the trailer. I as I packed up the trailer a few of those that were still left stopped by to say good bye. I have an invite at Phil & Sue's for a stop anytime. Might be a great stop if I can do the drive through Canada heading to Algonac next year.

I finished packing up around 10:30 & hit the road. Since I still had some $ left on the EZ Pass, I avoided driving through Rochester by taking the Thruway to I 490 to NY 104 & home. I arrived home around 1:30, parked the trailer & unloaded just the stuff that had to be unloaded. I know I probably missed some stuff that I'll discover over the next couple of days, but since I'm leaving in a month for Arizona, I'm not going to unpack everything. I will need to redo the truck since I'll be adding my portable solar panel, the 900 watt propane generator & a 20 pound propane tank. I'm pretty sure I have the space, but will need to reconfigure where things go.

Since it was a short trip, I didn't keep track of averages, although gas mileage was around 13MPG. 

Dinner was an oven baked Amy's Veggie Loaf dinner.

Until Next Time - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 14

An Empty Campground

September 19, 2021, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 5 - 0 Miles, 839.4 Miles For the Trip

Cooler than last night, down to 58°F by morning. Clear skies so it warmed up quickly. After my walk I had breakfast, then watched most of the fiberglass trailers leave. The campground is 3/4s empty. The rest of us are leaving in the morning.

Sue sent me a photo of the fire starting team that includes me in the background, and since I don't have all that many photos with me in them (wonder why?) I added it at today's LakeshoreImages page.

The rest of the afternoon was spend doing nothing. I did make some phone calls, the rest of the time I read.

There are a few of us left, including the collection of Bigfoots, but this side of the campground is empty of fiberglass.

Dinner was a trip to Bigfoot land & steak, chicken, roasted potatoes, beans, carrot cake, ice cream, etc. Far too much. The excuse is stuff needs to go on the last day of the trip, but Bigfoot owners sure know how to eat!

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 13

How To Start a Campfire

September 18, 2021, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 4

While it was a warmer night at 65°F, there was a bit of light rain early in the morning, and fairly heavy clouds for most of the morning. I walked down to the dead trees filled with cormorants for some more photos, this time with a clear lens.

After breakfast I did some trailer cleaning, then spent much of the morning reading. Around 11:00 I made a loop of the campground, found a free tarp, so back to the trailer for some stuff to add. More walks & more photos.

Dinner was Mike's Tacos, after which a crew started a campfire using techniques the Boy Scouts might frown upon.  More photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 12

New Arrivals

September 17, 2021, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 839.4 Miles For the Trip

Another cool, clear night. I took my camera on my morning walk to take some photos of the Cormorants that hang out in some of the dead trees along the Niagara River. Unfortunately, it was cool enough for condensation on my front lens, so they are softer than I'd like. I'll try to balance the temperature of the camera tomorrow morning.

After breakfast I walked around the campground. There are going to be a bunch of new arrivals today, but none as of this morning. I did stop at the office and made reservations for myself & the Guidos for next year. We will be moving from the damp end of the campground to near the house, sites 41 & 42.

I did some reading during the afternoon, then took a shower. I cheated and used my own showerhead. Not any more water, but at least an even spray.

After the shower I made a loop around the campground looking for the latest arrivals.  Photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Dinner was a Banquet Country Fried Chicken Bowl. I will add a couple of "around the campfire" photos later.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 11

 

Walt Exercising

September 16, 2021, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 839.4 Miles For the Trip

It cooled off enough for a good night's sleep - down to 59°F by morning. I changed the sheets on the bed, then went for a 2 mile walk along the Niagara River Parkway. They have a walking path along side the road. After that it was back to the trailer for breakfast.

A few new arrivals, mostly stick built trailers, but a few fiberglass. The campground is fully booked, but lots of non fiberglass throughout the place. My next door neighbor was a Vue this morning, now it is a Four Winds Majestic Class C. A couple of other changes, including needing to move the Bigfoot Silver Cloud because what looked like one site was actually two, and the new folks arrived this afternoon.

I spent more of the afternoon sitting around chatting, and doing nothing. Pictures at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Dinner was a Beyond Meat cheeseburger, Bush Brown Sugar & Hickory Beans, and applesauce.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 10

Site 25

September 15, 2021, Riverside Motel & Campground, Niagara Falls, Ontario - 73.1 Miles, 839.4 Miles For the Trip

Rather than taking the 403, Phil & Sue suggested a series of province & town highways that take about the same time, but through more interesting countryside. 80km speed limits, but a shorter drive. We left around 11:00 and arrived at the campground around 12:30. With the 80km speed limit (50MPG) I averaged 14.4MPG towing for the day.

I'm in site 25, which is a full hookup site 2 sites away from the showers. A bit damp towards the back of the site, but they did have quite a bit of rain over the last couple of days. It is close to level side to side & I had to lower the tongue 3 inches. $50.60 US per night for 5 nights.

After setting up, I took a walk around the campground, meeting some folks I haven't seen in 2 years.

I headed for the showers in the late afternoon, and have to give them a pretty low rating. The good - large shower & drying areas with a soap shelf in the shower & a shower curtain. The bad - no hooks, no table, a plastic lawn chair that serves for both. Shower spray gets under the shower curtain & wets the drying room floor. Very low water pressure with a 10 minute wait for warm, not hot, water. I don't know if it the plumbing or planned, but plenty of cold water. Turn the handle towards hot and it dies down to almost nothing. In any case, I'm clean.

I am using my AT&T cell modem for connections (and cell calls over WiFi. The US is just across the Niagara River and while my phones sometimes pick up a Canadian cell tower, the modem can't roam & has a solid US AT&T connection - 38.1Mbps down & 13.8 Mbps up. I didn't check Verizon, but there is a fairly good signal on my Verizon phone. I'll probably stick with AT&T unless a problem develops since I've used well over 1/2 my monthly data allotment on the Verizon network.

Dinner was a pot pie with a piece of cake (thanks Sue) for dessert.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 9

 September 14, 2021, Phil & Sue's Back Yard, Wilsonville, Ontario, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 766.3 Miles For the Trip

We had great food all day long - tacos & delicious scones for breakfast, quiche & sausage sandwiches for lunch and pork loin sandwiches, coleslaw & potatoes for dinner. It is a good thing I'm leaving tomorrow or I'll end up breaking 200 pounds! Great food & company. We sat around both inside & around the pool talking about trips & places.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 8

Phil & Sue's

September 13, 2021, Phil & Sue's Back Yard, Wilsonville, Ontario - 159.7 Miles, 766.3 Miles For the Trip

Just a short post before I leave this morning - I don't know if I will have connectivity to post for the next day or two, so if you don't see anything, don't worry. While my phone plans include Canada, I have not had great luck with that in the past, so I may have to catch up when I am near enough to the US to connect. 

Later:

I guess I filled out the ArriveCAN app correctly - crossing the border wasn't any more difficult than without Covid and there was no line at the entry station. They did ask for the test results which was on my phone. The usual questions (and answers) and in 5 minutes I was on my way.

Mike, another fiberglass trailer owner that was at the Algonac rally is a friend of another Bigfoot owner who lives in Canada on the way to Riverside Motel & Campground in Niagara Falls. Phil & Sue offered a piece of their backyard for a day or two which works well for me since my reservation at the campground doesn't start until Wednesday. So, I pulled into Wilsonville around noon. Mike & others won't be here for another couple of hours since they had their Covid tests later & didn't need to cross the border by my 11:40AM deadline. 

We all made it & spent the afternoon talking & hanging out.

Dinner was a delicious tenderloin with all the fixing and a wonderful lemon dessert.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 8

Monday, September 13th 

Just a short post to let you know I may be out of touch for a bit.  While my phone plans cover Canada, I have not always had good luck with service, particularly data.  Don't worry if you don't see any posts until I get within range of the US providers.

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 7

 

Saying Goodbye

September 12, 2021, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 5 - 0 Miles, 606.6 Miles For the Trip

The good news is I passed my Covid test, so if I filled out the ArriveCAN app correctly, I should be heading into Canada tomorrow.

After my morning walk & breakfast, I took some "packing up" photos, although many are staying until tomorrow. There is a GMC motorhome rally that is starting to collect some beautifully restored motorhomes. Lots of big boat traffic on the river (although the photo is of one of the smaller freighters) even at night.  Photos at today's LakeshoreImages page.

I packed up the Clam - Reminder to myself - don't use the lower clips designed to attach the sides to stake down the Clam - tough to get out. Use the grommets for what they were designed for! While the Clam fits in the truck, I pretty much have to unpack the entire truck bed in order to get it in. Everything either goes next to or on top of it. 

Dinner was chicken Marsala over rice, a salad & applesauce.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 6

 

Dinner Get Together

September 11, 2021, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 4 - 0 Miles, 606.6 Miles For the Trip

Another beautiful morning, although it got windy enough that people were putting away their awnings and tarps. I took my garbage on the walk this morning. No recycling at the dumpsters, so everything went in.

After breakfast it was time for the "Free & For Sale" tarps. I gave away a bunch of stuff including 6 jigsaw puzzles, 5 that went quickly, and had a couple of items on the for sale tarp. A Hepvo valve, weather station & a set of trolling motor connectors were sold, so the rest will either go on the free tarp at the Niagara Wine Escape, or get hauled to Arizona for the Quartzsite rally in February. 

After that I made a round of the campground taking more photos. Check today's LakeshoreImages page for them.

I made chili for dinner using Impossible Meat - None of us could tell the difference between using it and hamburger. We ate dinner as a group - no pot luck. I did bring the blueberry pie & vanilla ice cream & it went quickly. 

No word on the results of my Covid test - I hope they work on Sundays! 

Until Tomorrow -

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 5

 September 10, 2021, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 3 - 0 Miles, 606.6 Miles For the Trip

Happy Campers!

After my walk & some time doing my usual morning reading, I headed to CVS for my Covid test. While the test went smoothly, CVS was having computer problems. Guido went with me to pick up a prescription for Anne, and he was still in line at the drug counter after my test was completed. We eventually got out of the store. 

Back at the trailer I made a blueberry pie. I forgot the brown sugar, so it won't be quite authentic, but should be OK. Since we are at a rally, I added trailers to the top of the pie (made out of left over pie crust) as well as my usual blueberry bush. While the pie was cooking for the second 22 minutes (in the trailer oven you need to rotate it 180° half way through cooking to get it to brown evenly) I headed to the showers. Individual stalls with a drying room that stays dry, has a bench & two hooks. The shower itself is large, adjustable temperature, and a medium volume spray head. There is a soap dish & the wall between the shower & drying room had the top of the cement blocks finished so you can place your soap dish & shampoo on top. It would be perfect except the spray head is a bit low. I used to be 6', but age has me down to 5' 11" and I had to duck to get the spray to hit me face. Still, and excellent shower for a state park. I'd rate it an A-.

I made it back to the trailer with 9 minutes to spare so I didn't burn up the pie. While it was cooling I made a round of the campground & took a few photos. The Silver Cloud is a rare 28' Bigfoot (only 12 were made during 1986 - 87).  Pictures are at today's LakeshoreImages page.

After that is was heading to the Guidos for a shrimp scampi dinner.

Until Tomorrow -

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 4

 September 9, 2021, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI, Day 2 - 0 Miles, 606.6 Miles For the Trip

Happy Birthday to me - 77 today. Only one card (since I'm on a trip) from the Guido's. They got even with me & gave me a musical card. I've been in the habit of choosing musical cards for everyone's birthday so now I got one.

I went for a walk around the campground this morning - didn't do my usual 2 miles, but only .8 walking up & down all the rows. After that it was breakfast & coffee, reading web pages and forums. We eventually got our acts together and headed to the Algonac Krogers for supplies. Somehow we filled a cart, but everything fit in the refrigerators & shelves. 

After that it was sitting in the Clam. It was a bit windy, so I decided it was a good excuse to try my side panels. I've had them for almost as long as the Clam, but never took them out of the packing bag. I got one added to the windy side and it started to rain. I added the other two panels during a break in the rain. I also ordered another set they come in sets of 3 which doesn't make much sense for a 6 sided structure that has a door that can't be covered, but since the 3 worked so well, the second set will be useful. I also learned that it is a bad idea to set up a Clam with the door pointing west. There is no shade for the evening sun.

Anyway, we sat in the Clam out of the rain for the afternoon eating cheese & crackers, chips & dip. The sun came out around dinner time, which was spaghetti & meatballs, and a salad.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario Day 3

 September 8, 2021, Algonac State Park, Algonac, MI - 269.6 Miles, 606.6 Miles For the Trip

A Freighter on the St Clair River

We got an early start (at least for us) and left the Kenisee Grand River Campground around 9:00. Los of interstate travel, including the first use of my E-Z Pass. I guess it worked - the gate went up getting on & off the Ohio Turnpike. The sign didn't tell m e what I spent or how much I have left in the account.

We got a bit mixed up in Detroit &I ended up 10 miles away from the Guidos & in a gated business parking lot. I managed to talk the guard into letting me through so I could turn around & onto 10 to eventually find I 94. Other than that it was normal busy interstate driving. Only a couple of stop & go sections of I 94.

We pulled into Algonac State Park around 2:00. C heck in was smooth, at least for me; they seemed to think that Anne & Guido were only staying until the 11th. That got straightened out and we settled into sites 130 & 128. We should have switched since my site has more shade (both Anne & Guido can't sit in the sun) but by the time either of us thought about it, we were set up. The sites are back in electric only that are a bit close to each other, and just deep enough for the trailer & truck for $29.60 per night, including an $8.00 reservation fee. We are here for 5 nights.

One of the interesting perks of the park is watching the traffic on the St Clair River next to the campground. So far today a couple of freighters, a Coast Guard buoy tender, and the usual small boats.

We visited with a few couples we met along the way that are already here, then sat around reading.

As I noted, there are already a number of fiberglass trailers here already.  Pictures at today's LakeshoreImages page.

Dinner was turkey Bubba Burgers, Bush Beans & a salad with jello for dessert.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario Day 2

Site 5

September 7, 2021, Kenisee Grand River Campground, Geneva, OH - 161.8 Miles, 337 Miles For the Trip

We didn't leave Misty Mountain until around 10:30. No hurry since we only had 160 miles to drive. We both showed our trailers to interested individuals. Funny how many of the owners of large RVs are ready to try something small.

Most of the drive was on I 86 & I 90. I was ready to use my E-Z Pass for the first time, but at least until Geneva, OH I 90 is still free. I suspect I'll get a chance to try it tomorrow.

We spent much of the day sitting outside. Our sites (Site 4 & 5) are next to each other. Full hookups on fairly uneven dirt & gravel (I had to jack up the front of the trailer 5") for $45.00 per night. We are under a bunch of Shagbark Hickory trees, so every once in a while we hear a clunk on the roof.

I headed for the showers around 4:30. Push button with a 20 second run, standard shower heads, but nothing for your stuff other than a small fold down bench and 3 hooks - nothing in the shower. The showers are set up so while there are 3 of them, they all have the same drying area. It gets wet if you use the middle shower. Overall, on the Vermilye shower rating, I can't give it more than a C+.

More sitting around until dinner, which was chicken chili, a Caesar salad, and peaches, washed down with a Blue Moon beer.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip To Algonac State Park & Niagara Falls, Ontario, Day 1

 September 6, 2021, Misty Mountain Park, Cuba, NY - 175.2 Miles, 175.2 Miles For the Trip

Site 23

Well, first I have to apologize for the abrupt ending of my posts on the trip to Pickin' In The Pasture. I planned to do a wrap up page when I got home, but things got a bit hectic & I never got around to it.

In any case, a new trip. Anne, Guido & I are heading to a fiberglass trailer rally at Algonac State Park in Michigan. They will return to Binghamton after the rally going back the way we came, while I hope to cross into Canada and head to the Niagara Wine Escape rally in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I say hope, because a Covid test is required within 72 hours of crossing the border & while I have a reservation for a test on Friday, the 10th, if the results take more than 3 days I'm toast. 

I packed the trailer using the latest revision of my 4 page packing list, and was ready to go at 10:00 this morning. Anne & Guido were at the Guido Labor day picnic at his brother's in Scriba, the town on the other side of Oswego so they drove to my house to start the trip.

The drive as far as Rochester was on NY 104, then 590 & 390, NY 30 & I 86 to Cuba, NY. The campground looks to be mostly permanent or long time sites, but they did find two with water & electric next to each other. I'm in 23, Anne & Guido in 22. Their site looks more like on of the dirt roads, while mine is on grass - $45.00 for one night. I had to unhook to get the tongue low enough to level front to back; side to side was OK. 

After setting up we sat around enjoying the nice weather. It was raining much of the morning and during the start of the trip, however now the sun is out and it is a pleasant 72°F.

The pleasant temperature dropped to 63°F just after dinner, and the mosquitoes came out in droves. By 7:00 I headed in to do my eye drops & don't plan on going back outside.

Dinner was Beyond Burgers, Potato Salad, and applesauce.

Until Tomorrow -