Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park, Day 12

 Sunday, July 16, 2023 - Home, Oswego, NY, 211.3 Miles, 1047 Miles For The Trip

We never got the heavy rain that was predicted, although it did rain a bit off & on all night. We packed up and were out of the park by 10:30. Most of the trip was on I470 & I81. A few stop & goes when it went to single lanes, but most of the trip was OK. I arrived at Oswego around 3:00. The blueberries are ready for the first picking, but the tomatoes and beans have a while to go. There are flowers on the cucumbers, but no fruit as yet.

The Tomatoes Are Still Green

The Pole Beans Are Climbing

The Blueberries Are Ready For The First Picking

Home And Parked

Dinner will be a trip to Rudy's for a shrimp plate.

Trip to Bolerama and Takoma Park, Day 11

 Saturday, July 15, 2023 - LeHigh Gorge Campground, Day 2, 0 Miles, 835.7 Miles For The Trip

A very slow day. I did walk around the campground. Most of the roads are gravel, and hilly. With the heavy rain yesterday & last night, some of the steeper roads were quite washed out. During the morning a tractor with a scraper/plow was rebuilding them. If that happens with every heavy rain, it looks like job security!

Other than sitting out reading, the walk was the only thing I did. We decided to have our main meal at lunch since storms were predicted for dinner time. A turkey Burger for me, and Bubba Burgers for Anne & Guido. Around what would have been dinner time, Anne & Guido went to the grocery store for water, etc.

Around 8:00 distant thunder was rattling, so we put in the awnings and headed inside. As I said, a slow day.

I do have a photo I can add - Karin sent me a copy of the one she took as she was getting ready to leave Cherry Hill on Thursday:

Jon, Ken, Lorna, Anne, Guido

Trip to Bolerama and Takoma Park, Day 10

Friday, July 14, 2023 - LeHigh Gorge Campground, 225.1 Miles, 835.7 Miles For The Trip

We left Cherry Hill on time, hit a few traffic slowdowns, bypassed one of them, and arrived at LeHigh Gorge around 3:00. We are in sites 5 & 6 (me in 6) pull through full hookup sites on gravel for $60.00 per night. I'm using the campground WiFi (although there is an AT&T signal) since it is fast (83Mbps down & 11Mbps up). After hooking up the utilities, I fired up the AC to cool down the trailer from the 85°F it reached during the drive here. While warm outside, it is far cooler than yesterday's 95°F at Cherry Hill. The predictions for tonight is down to the 60's, so sleeping might be comfortable & quiet!

Me in Site 6 (and the Guidos visiting)

Guidos in site 5

By the way, while Cherry Hill has the best showers of the trip, it isn't perfect. Lots of road noise, both day & night, and the flight path of a small airport goes over the campground. Still, for a campground in the middle of a DC suburb, it is surprisingly comfortable. While there are not any trees or other screening shrubs between sites, there is a good batch of them between rows, making it feel more like a state park than a commercial campground.

We were sitting outside of my trailer planning dinner, but what started out was a few drops of "is that rain?" turned into a thunderstorm. We are now back in our trailers. 

The plan for dinner is hamburgers since the tomato I bought the other day is just hanging in there. The heat has been rough of some supplies - we discovered that almost all our rolls are moldy, even an unopened package. 

Still not sure what is going to be for dinner. The rain (and lightning) keeps stopping, then starting, but with breaks too short to set up a grill & cook. It might be leftovers....

So the rain started up in earnest, so at least for me, dinner will be a Saffron Road Chicken Biryani microwaved bowl.

Trip to Bolerama and Takoma Park, Day 9

 Thursday, July 13, 2023 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 3, 0 Miles, 610.6 Miles For The Trip

Another warm night - I left the AC on until around 2:00AM, then switched to the Maxx Fan. After my morning walk I sat outside my trailer in the shade, sipping iced tea & nibbled on a Entenmann Minis Crumb Cake. After that it was a quick breakfast inside, then Karin arrived for a visit. We hung out for awhile, then the Guidos joined us. Karin headed back before lunch and we chased the shade under my awning.

Ken & Lorna came over late afternoon & we headed to the Cafe for dinner. I got a grilled cheese, bacon & tomato Panini, while Anne ordered another turkey club sandwich - they didn't get any smaller so she will be eating the remainder for the next couple of lunches. Karin joined us just as we finished dinner. Back at the trailer we had lemon melange pie for dessert, then everyone headed home. No photos for the day, at least until Karin sends me the one she took of us after dessert.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip to Bolerama and Takoma Park, Day 8

 Wednesday, July 12, 2023 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 2, 0 Miles, 610.6 Miles For The Trip

A very warm night. I got the trailer down to 72°F before I shut off the AC & went to bed. The temperature at the head of the bed was 68°F and as it warmed up the outside temperature slowly dropped. Around 4:00AM the inside & outside temperatures were the same at 70°F so I turned on the Maxx Fan & opened a window. 

After a walk around the campground I sat out in the shade at a pleasant 72°F. I read a bit, then went in and ate a bagel for breakfast. I took my coffee over to the Guido's shade and Karin & Zoe arrived around 10:00. We sat around and talked, and all took turns taking a few photos:

Karin & Zoe left around noon to head for lunch & one of Zoe's summer camp sessions. I headed for the showers, which I give an A+. Separate drying area with a bench, shelf, & plenty of hooks, a second shelf right next to the shower curtain (in my case it had a bottle of body wash, conditioner & a plastic scrubby, but I suspect someone left them behind). In the shower a normal showerhead, adjustable temperature with plenty of hot water, a shelf, shower curtain and a 6" threshold to keep the water out of the drying area.

After that it was back at the Guido's site in the shade with a 22" fan blowing hot air across us. I'm now hiding in the air conditioned trailer starting today's page & eating the remainder of my quesadilla for lunch.

After lunch Anne's cousins stopped over as well as a former colleague Ken & Lorna. We sat around chasing the shade until around 4:30 when Anne, Guido & I headed to Karin's for dinner. It was the first time seeing her house - very nice. 

We had chicken kabobs, baked potato & corn on the cob. Since I don't see all that well after dark, we headed back to the campground just after the birthday cake Karin provided for Guido's birthday. We got back to the campground around 8:45.

Until Tomorrow - 

Trip to Bolerama and Takoma Park, Day 7

 Tuesday, July 11, 2023 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, 220 Miles, 610.6 Miles For The Trip

We got started out of the campground on time, and were able to drive across the bridge (they were not working on it) so that saved about 5 miles of windy narrow roads. Some very slow & stopped traffic on I 80 due to spraying along side the road - backed up traffic for miles. 

We arrived at Cherry Hill around 3:30 and checked in. We are in sites 1407 & 1409 (me in 1409), full hookup sites on gravel, more level than yesterday, but still off by an inch side to side & needing a 3" drop on the tongue. Sites were $89.10 per night for 3 nights.

Me in Site 1409

The Guidos in Site 1407

After setting up we headed to a nearby Giant grocery store to do some shopping. A huge store (at least compared to what is available in Oswego) but far more expensive than upstate NY. We bought a bunch of stuff, then headed back to the campground. 

We decided it was too hot to cook anything for dinner so we headed to the campground Cafe. A golf cart type bus stopped and gave us a ride most of the way, but we walked back. Expensive, but huge servings that were excellent. 

After that is was sitting outside in the shade doing some reading. The AC cooled the trailers down enough to be comfortable, but I really don't want to run it overnight. We will see - at 9:00 is is still 81°F outside & I really like to sleep under 70°F.

Dinner was a chicken quesadilla for Guido & me and the largest club sandwich I've ever seen for Anne. None of us finished our dinners - looks like the remains will be tomorrow's lunch!

Until Next Time - 

Trip to Bolerama And Takoma Park, Day 6

 Monday, July 10, 2023 - Woodland Campground, Woodland, PA, 202.9 Miles, 390.6 Miles For The Trip

We left Long Beach around 10:30, made a quick trip to the border where we waited in line for over half an hour. The sign for RV's & trailers was at the row of check stations, which was not much use since we got in line a half mile before. The young woman at the check station pointed out the sign to the Guidos, but didn't mention it to me. Maybe a sign further back towards Canada would help. In any case, they let us back into the US.

The rest of the drive was mostly on US 219, with a short bit on I 80. We had to deviate from the GPS with instructions from the campground to get around bridge work and arrived at the campground around 4:40. We are in sites 13 & 14, (me in 14) full hook up pull through sites on gravel for one night at $54.00. Not all that level at 2" side to side & needing to raise the tongue 3 1/2". Still, I was able to leave the ball connected to the truck so hooking up in the morning will be easy.

The Guidos in Site 13

Me in Site 14

After setting up we sat outside & let the air conditioners cool down the trailers. It isn't all that hot outside, but the trailers got warm on the way here.

Dinner was leftover Anne's chicken chili and fake lobster rolls made of hot dog rolls & seafood salad. Not quite the same as Maine lobster rolls (although I have to say the best lobster roll I've ever had was at the Digby Lobster Bash in Digby, Nova Scotia - also the cheapest!).

Trip to Bolerama and Takoma Park, Day 5

 Sunday, July 9, 2023 - Long Beach Conservation Area, Day 4, 0 Miles, 186.7 Miles For The Trip

A little warmer overnight, but still reasonable sleeping weather. It did rain a bit off & on, but not enough to leave puddles. I discovered that I've been spelling Bolerama wrong everywhere; I blame the Fiberglass Trailer Forum since I copied the name from there. It is Boler, not Bolar. I hope I fixed all the pages, although I couldn't change the names of the links.

In other news for the day, there really isn't any. I do have a shower report. Large individual shower rooms with separate drying areas, 3 hooks and a bench in the drying area, a large shelf in the shower area which has a strong stream of unadjustable (but hot) spray controlled by a long delay push button. The only complaint I have is the shower head is aimed at the drying area & enough gets under the shower curtain that most of the drying area floor is wet. Overall a B+.

We spend most of the day sitting in the shade of the Guido's awning reading. We both showed our trailers a couple of times, and around 5:00 headed over to the pravilion where last night's barbecue was held for an "after-the-barbecue-finish-the-stuff" gathering, which served as dinner. 

A couple of photos of folks leaving, and the dinner get together:

Leaving

Dinner

Trip to Bolerama and Takoma Park, Day 4

Saturday, July 8, 2023 - Long Beach Conservation Area, Day 3, 0 Miles, 186.7 Miles For The Trip

A comfortable cool night - down to 57°F outside by morning, and 62°F in the trailer. After my morning walk I spent some time on the laptop reading forums and a ton of email, then sat outside reading.

During the afternoon I made the huge move over to the Guido's trailer for their shade. Now I'm inside putting together the start of both the Boler & travel web page updates.

Since we had so much stuff for the barbecue, we drove the truck rather than walked. I set up my new aluminum table for the first time and 6 of us sat around it. While it looked like rain, and a couple of drops probably fell, we were under a tree and didn't get wet. Lots of food and door prizes handed out afterwards.

The Barbecue

We got back to the trailers around 7:00, and while still a bit gloomy, other than a few drops, the predicted rain never happened.

Lots more photos added at the Bolerama 2023 page.

Trip to Bolerama And Takoma Park, Day 3

 Friday, July 7, 2023 - Long Beach Conservation Area, 0 Miles, 186.7 Miles For The Trip

While today is the first official day of the rally, there are many fiberglass trailers all over the park with most of them in the group area.

A warm night - the trailer never got below 70°F with or without the AC. By morning it was 70°F both in and out. I went for my usual walk this morning then headed back to the trailer to make at least one pie. Since it only warmed up the trailer to 82°F, I made the second. By the time the second pie was out of the oven it was up to 86°F in the trailer, although cooler than yesterday, and less humidity. After the pies, I headed over to register for the rally.

We made a run to Canadian Tire for some new hooks for Guido's trailer. The low hitch on the Sienna destroys them. The folks at the store couldn't find them, and finally announced that they were only available on line. Guido thought about it & asked if they had chain. They went to the chain section and there the hooks lived. 

Meanwhile I went next door and found my Quaker Harvest Crunch. I bought a box the last time I was in Canada and loved the cereal. Only problem is it is not available in the US unless you want to order it on line for $15.00 per box. One other minor problem - there are a bunch of varieties. I think I had the original, but there is also a raisin & a light version. I bought two of the original and one raisin.

After that it was back to the trailer and sitting around in the shade watching the Bolers arrive.

Alf & Mary Anne joined us for brats & beans, bringing some grilled zucchini & New York onion sauce. 

After dinner I made a round of some of the trailers. I shot 60 photos & used 43 on a web page for the rally. It took some time, but all of them uploaded. I hope my data stream to the US will last long enough to photo most of the rally. There are many more on my rally page for Bolerama 2023. Here is a sample:

Bolerama, Day 1

Trip to Bolerama And Takoma Park, Day 2

 Thursday, July 6, 2023 - Home, 186.7 Miles, 186.7 Miles For The Trip

Anne & Guido arrived yesterday in time to hit Rudy's for dinner (our local on-the-lake fish & Texas Hot stop). After that  we sat out on the back deck keeping the birds away from their feeders. 

We left Oswego around 10:00 this morning and headed west on rt 104, south on 14 and onto the Thruway, crossing into Canada at the Peace Bridge. An easy crossing - they never even asked about beer & wine, although the usual "do you have any guns?" was asked. 

We arrived at the campground just in time for the shift change, providing a 20 minute wait, but it was a short drive to our sites. I'm in site 71 and the Guidos are in 93. While it sounds like they are far apart, they are next to each other.

Me in Site 71

The Guidos in Site 93

Large 15 Amp sites on grass with water & electric for $40.00 Canadian per night. We are here for 4 nights. I walked around the campground; it is filled with fiberglass trailers. Most are Bolers, but here are representatives of almost every make.

After that we sat under the awning running the air conditioners to try to get the trailers down below 80°F - it hit 92°F on the way, but here by the lake it is in the high 80's. Since they are only 15 amp connections, we were pushing the limit withe either the AC or microwave - no way to run both at the same time. My EMS showed 16 amps with the microwave on full power & 13 amps running the AC. We managed not to trip the site breakers, which is good because they are in a locked building.

About 5 minutes of barely noticeable rain after dinner.

Dinner was Anne's Chicken Chili.

Trip to Bolerama And Takoma Park, Day 1

 Tuesday, July 4, 2023 - Home, 0 Miles, 0 Miles For The Trip

While I did a 3 day trip to visit my brother in Maryville, NY (the Catskills) I didn't add it to my website, just a couple of postings to my travel blog at Google.

Now I'm getting ready for a longer trip - off to Bolerama in the Long Beach Conservation Area, Wainfleet Ontario. After that we will head to Takoma Park to visit with my daughter's family and see their new house. Anne & Guido are making the trip with me. 

I got much of the trailer packed yesterday & today, leaving the last minute stuff for Thursday morning. I hope my blueberries hold out until I get back. I picked a half dozen this afternoon, but most of them are still very green. I also have some green tomatoes starting & the pole beans are climbing. Again, I hope everything waits until I get back in 2 weeks.