2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 14

Tuesday, July 23, 2024 - Home, Oswego, NY, 119 Miles, 1031.2 Miles For The Trip

A slow morning. After coffee & waffles, I headed out to Oswego around 11:00. Some stop & go on I81, and surprisingly enough on NY 57 (they were repaving).

I discovered that the downstairs freezer might have died. Kyle moved the stuff to our two refrigerator freezers, but while the blueberries were only half thawed, I decided to toss the frozen dinners since I had no way of knowing how warm they got. I started it back up & it seems to be cooling down, but making more noise than usual - time to look for a new one.

I unpacked most of the trailer, although I almost always find things that I forgot to move to the house.

The next planned trip will be to Pickin' in the Pasture, a bluegrass festival on a sheep farm in Lodi, NY towards the end of August. Anne might put together a weekend trip between now & then, and if my brother's house ever arrives, a trip to the Catskills will be in order.

Dinner was an Amy's enchilada dinner (one that was in the upstairs refrigerator freezer that didn't thaw).

Until next trip.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 13

Monday, July 22, 2024 - The Guidos, Binghamton, NY, 128.9 Miles, 912.2 Miles For The Trip

We didn't get an early start, but didn't have a long drive. During a stop for gas I managed to crack my driver's side taillight, another $50.00. At least a Chinese version is a lot less than the same thing from Ford, and the one I put in the passenger side is working after a couple of years.

We arrived in Binghamton around 2:15. Guido parked their trailer and mine is in front. 

The Scamp

The Escape

Most of the afternoon was spent inside ducking thunderstorms sitting inside the Guido's house. We went to a Speedie place for take out dinner - I had a half Speedie sub.

Back at the house TV for the first time in 2 weeks, then some reading.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 12

Sunday, July 21, 2024 - Lakewood Park Campground, Barnesville, PA, 177.7 Miles, 783.9 Miles For The Trip

We spent the morning saying goodbye & packing up the trailers. We left Cherry Hill around 10:00, By the way, a shower report rated those in Restroom Building #2 an A. Five showers, one handicapped. Soap dish in the shower, single handle adjustable control with a low flow standard shower head. The only fault was it was a bit small. Large drying area with a bench & 5 hooks, good separation from the shower & a shower curtain long enough to keep the drying area dry.

Some photos that I received from others:

All of Us

After Dinner at Mama Lucias

Asher

The Golfers

The Golfers

The Golfers

We headed north on I 95, I 83 & I 81 to the campground. They upgraded us to pull through "buddy" sites, although they are pretty far apart to be buddy sites. In any case, in gravel, requiring 2" side to side & a 3.75" raise for the tongue. My site has a steep in & out, although the center is reasonably flat. $70.00 each, a bit strap, although full hookup sites.

Me in Site 76

The Guidos in Site 75

Distant "Buddy" Sites

After hooking up we sat around reading until dinner, which was Brats & left over salads from yesterday.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 11

Saturday, July 20, 2024 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 5, 0 Miles, 606.2 Miles For The Trip

I went to breakfast with Karin & Asher, then back to see their "Glamping Pod". Bigger than I thought it was. After that we went to play a round of miniature golf. I did better than last time; even got a birdie. 

The Glamping Pod

The Golf Crew

After golf we walked back to the pod & trailers, then sat around for the afternoon. I made a trip to an Exxon gas station to fill the truck, then back at the trailer showed the trailer to one of Karin's friends. We sat around in a light rain that the awning, but hooded chairs kept most of it at bay. It rained for most of the afternoon, slowing down around 5:00.

Dinner was all of us with a mix of steaks, turkey burgers, Beyond burgers, salads, cherries, strawberries, even a mango that we never got around to opening. We did eat half of a blueberry pie.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 10

Friday, July 19, 2024 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 4, 0 Miles, 606.2 Miles For The Trip

We hung out during most of the morning sitting in the shade of the Guido awning. Guido went to an auto window place to have his mirror reinstalled. They had the experience & glue to make it work. He got back just in time for a visit by Ken & Lorna. Ken was the TD at Oswego for part of the time I worked there and is now living in Alexandria, VA. We had a nice visit, then went to lunch  with them at the Cafe here in the park.

Back at the trailer we hung around until 3:30 when Ken & Lorna had to leave. I headed into the trailer to make a blueberry pie. A bit hot for baking, but the AC kept the trailer down to 78°F while the oven was blasting at 350°F and the outside temperature was 89°F.

Karin, Brian, Asher & Nova arrived around 6:00 & we headed for dinner at the cafe. I had a grilled cheese sandwich.

After dinner I headed back to the trailer to finish cleaning up after the pie making, did my 7:00 eye drops, then headed to the pool where Karin, Brian & the girls were swimming.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 9

Thursday, July 18, 2024 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 3, 0 Miles, 606.2 Miles For The Trip

Much more comfortable temperatures, although still hot by Oswego standards. We went to Ashton & Dempsey's for lunch with Anne's cousins, then to their house to sit around while Guido tried to reattach the rear view mirror that fell off the Sienna. It lasted until he tried to adjust it, then the new glue failed. 

Back at the trailers we actually sat outside and read for the first time here in Cherry Hill. 

Around 6:00 we headed to the Mamma Lucia restaurant just down the road from Cherry Hill Park to meet Karin, Asher & Nova for dinner. I had a couple of slices of pizza.

Us at Mama Lucia

Back at the park we sat around until dark, then called it a night.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 8

Wednesday, July 17, 2024 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 2, 0 Miles, 606.2 Miles For The Trip

Since it didn't get below 78°F overnight, I ran the AC all night. It reached the point where it only ran at the lowest speed, and cycled the compressor every couple of minutes. Overall comfortable for sleeping, although those sensitive to noise might think otherwise.

I did a 1/2 mile walk around the campground at 9:00 - it was already 90°F. After breakfast I drove to Karin's house. No problem with the roads including a 3 mile section of I 495. Lots of construction on the secondary roads - they are building a Metro section that will make it nicer for Karin & family, but it is a multi year project that is making a mess.

We hung out at the house for a bit, walked up to a sandwich shop for lunch stuff that we took back to the house to eat. It is nice to be in a place where you can walk to restaurants, etc - in Oswego it is at least 2 miles from my house to anything. 

After lunch we went to the National Museum of Health & Medicine. It is a Department of Defense museum established in 1862 with an emphasis on tri-service American military medicine. Lots of exhibits of bones with bullet wounds, early medical equipment, etc. An interesting place.

After that we stopped at a Takoma Park bookstore, then Karin & I drove to the campground & hung out for a bit. Around 6:30 she headed home. While the prediction was for severe thunderstorms, we had just a bit of rain & thunder, and it cooled it down from 101°F when we got to the trailer to 78°F when Karin left.  More rain is predicted overnight.

Meanwhile, the Guidos were visiting relatives in Highland, MD. They didn't make it back for dinner, but I still had half my lunch time turkey sandwich, so that's what I had for dinner.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, Day 7

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 - Cherry Hill Park, College Park, MD, 222.7 Miles, 606.2 Miles For The Trip

I ran the AC in the trailer most of the night, shutting it off, opening windows & starting the Maxx fan around 5:00AM. It did get down to 66°F but took a long time to do it.

We left Woodland around 10:00 & followed the GPSs to Cherry Hill. For some unusual reason, both my Matilda and Anne's GPS agreed with each other, at least until the last 15 miles. On the way the truck outside thermometer recorded 104°F. At Cherry Hill it shower 101°F while the thermometer in the ladder storage box under the trailer shower 97°F. No matter which you go by, too hot! 

They changed our sites by a couple rows. Closer to the bathrooms, but further from the pool & snack bar. I'm in site 1618 & the Guidos have a corner lot on 1620. The bathrooms are across the street. Sites are full hookup standard back in on gravel, just deep enough for the trailer & tow vehicle. I needed 3 1/2" of side to side leveling, and none front to back. Since I'm sure we will be taking the truck over the next 5 days, I unhooked anyway. Five nights at $101.00 per night (same as I paid for a "deluxe" site back in March on the way back from Arizona. While this is the most I've ever paid for a campsite, it is in a Washington DC suburb with buses to all the attractions, nice sites, good bathrooms, free putt putt golf, a large pool & a snack bar that we will probably hit a lot. 

Me in Site 1618

The Guidos in Site 1620

I plugged in the power cord before I finished setting up the trailer & fired up the AC to cool down the trailer from 97°F inside. A fellow forum member wanted to know how the 9600BTU Houghton worked under real conditions, so I kept track - 3:00 97°F, 3:20 90°F, 3:30 85°F, 4:15 78°F. 4:30 77°F. By 5:30 it reached the set temperature of 72°F with an outside temperature of 99°F. At 8:00 it is still 97°F outside. I didn't track the humidity, but the outside is 74% and in the trailer it is 40%. The inside temperature is still dropping. The AC is running on automatic - the fan runs in high continuously & the compressor the same.

We made a quick trip to CVS & a Giant, then back to the trailers. Headed over to the cafe and discovered that it is closed on Tuesdays, so off to the nearest Pandora for dinner. I had a Greek & Chicken Salad.

After getting back to the trailer I turned down the AC fan speed to low.  We will see if it can keep the trailer at a decent temperature.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Woodland Campground, Woodland, PA, Day 6

Monday, July 15, 2024 - Woodland Campground, Woodland, PA, 196.6 Miles, 383.5 Miles For The Trip

We finished packing up the trailers, and around 10:00 the Guidos headed for the dump station. I pulled in behind them, but don't have enough in either tank to make it worth dumping. I may need to add some tank chemicals to keep the tanks from stinking during this hot weather (it hit 98°F on the way here), but without at least 1/2 a full tank it doesn't really dump fast enough to do a good job.

We arrived at Woodland around 4:00 just before a thunderstorm. We managed to set up before it hit, then headed into the trailers during the rain. The good - it cooled things down to around 78°F outside. The first thing I did was plug in the trailer power & start the AC. A good test of the new 9600BTU Houghton AC - on Automatic it took the trailer from 89°F down to 75°F in an hour. After that I set the fan speed on low to see if it can keep the trailer at 75°F without running the fan on medium or high. On low it is very quiet. The compressor adds to the noise level when it cycles on, but the fan alone is less than the one in my electric heater. Unfortunately, it slowly creeped back up to 79°F with the fan on low. Now, the sun is peaking out, and the outside temperature is back up to 87°F.

We are in "Buddy" sites, ie our doors & awnings face each other. I'm in site 25 & the Guidos are in 24. Full hook up sites on gravel with picnic tables & a fire ring on the lawn, level enough that I didn't need to unhook. $52.47 per night.

Sites 24 & 25

Dinner was Butterball Turkey Burgers & tortellini salad.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Long Beach Conservation Area, Wainfleet, ON, Canada, Day 5

Sunday, July 14, 2024 - Long Beach Conservation Area, 0 Miles, 186.9 Miles For The Trip

Bolerama is over, and many of the participants packed up & left. We are heading out tomorrow.

For those that make long advanced planning, next year's Bolerama is here at the same park July 11 - 13.

As for out day, it was spent sitting around reading & chasing the shade. We did pack up what we could early, the Guidos took down their Clam, but really, an unproductive day.

When I tried to post today's journal & Bolerama update, I was not able to make a connection to my site at 1&1. While it might be because I've used up my Canadian data allotment, no message on the modem to that effect, and that is what usually happens. I did one speed test while here and the download speed was 67Mbps although it feels much slower when reading web pages. In any case, I will have to wait until tomorrow when I'm back in the US to post this & the Bolerama update.

Dinner was a pork tenderloin.

I tried to do an update this morning (7/15) before leaving Long Beach, & still no connection. Here is the attempt at Woodland Campground on AT&T.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Long Beach Conservation Area, Wainfleet, ON, Canada, Day 4

Saturday, July 13, 2024 - Long Beach Conservation Area, 0 Miles, 186.9 Miles For The Trip

Another warmer than comfortable night. I should add that I like to sleep with temperatures near 60°F, so for most, the 70°F overnight temperature would be fine. I did run the AC for awhile to cool the trailer down to 70°F from the 80°F it was when I finished dinner.

I took the camera with me on my morning walk and adds a bunch of photos to the Bolerama page. After breakfast I sat outside and read. I finished Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George, but had to put the 4th in the series on hold. I had already downloaded book #4 in the series, A Suitable Vengeance (there are 20 of them) so no problem getting it. I usually have a 2 - 4 week wait on the next book in a series that should be read in order, so since it was available, I downloaded #5, For the Sake of Elana. With a 21 day loan I should not have a problem reading both.

So, after an afternoon of reading, trying to find the limited shade available, around 4:30 we loaded the truck and headed to the barbecue. Hamburgers or hot dogs, potato salad, strawberries, watermelon, and a single blueberry pie that didn't make it through 1/4 of the line. Should have made a couple, but it was awfully hot... Lots of photos on the Bolerama Page.

Dinner was the barbecue.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Long Beach Conservation Area, Wainfleet, ON, Canada, Day 3

Friday, July 12, 2024 - Long Beach Conservation Area, 0 Miles, 186.9 Miles For The Trip

While it wasn't all that much cooler overnight, it didn't rain. By morning it was 69°F outside & 73°F in the trailer. 

During my morning walk I registered for the rally - $20.00 Canadian. After breakfast I sat outside in a very light breeze, although more than one got in the Clam. The "no'see'um" mesh works great for keeping the bugs out, but blocks some of the air.

We hung around, showed both trailers, and watched some new arrivals into the swamp behind us. The park brought in 5-6 tractor bucket loads of gravel to fill in the worst of it, but one of the arrivals tried to park in the gravel & sunk in 6". They moved to higher ground.

After lunch more sitting around. I headed for a shower. They have 4 unisex showers with doors on the outside of the building, and there are three inside the men's side of the washroom. I chose the inside shower with a standard shower head (the only one of the 7). A single push button that runs for at least 2 minutes per push. I thought it was never going to shut off. Good temperature, but no shelf or hooks in the shower. One hook in the drying area and a small shelf. The same floor for both the shower & drying area, but with enough slope that only a little of the drying area floor gets wet. There is a shower curtain, but it is 6" off the floor and the shower aims at it. Overall, a C+.

I made a lap around the camping area with the camera & took a bunch of photos. A few here, but more at the Bolerama page I started today.

Dinner was Anne's Chicken Alfredo.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Long Beach Conservation Area, Wainfleet, ON, Canada, Day 2

Thursday, July 11, 2024 - Home, 0 Miles, 186.9 Miles For The Trip

A wet & warm night. It finally got down to 68°F by 6:00AM, but even with the Maxx fan running it was still 73°F in the trailer. The rain mostly stopped - a heavy mist during my morning walk around the campground. 

There are already around 10 Bolers here in the campground, most in the most favorable spots along the lake. One other Escape & a couple of Bigfoots.

The misty skies have kept the temperatures down; while still quite humid at 96%, it is still only 67°F at 11:15 AM. Even with the low voltage (115V AC with a 5 amp load this morning) I had to turn down my refrigerator; it is 33°F in the bottom & -7°F in the freezer.

During the afternoon three Bigfoots arrived in the serviced sites next to ours. Folks we have met at a number of rallies. After saying some hellos, the Guidos went shopping. I decided to make a blueberry pie today rather than tomorrow when it is going to be 8 degrees warmer & sun. Right now the pie is in the oven & it is 74°F out & 79°F in. The pie was done by 4:15 & the trailer only got up to 80°F (still 74°F outside). Of course both the stove power vent & the Maxx fans were running at full speed & most of the windows were open. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the Clam reading. Current book is Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George. I haven't been posting my books lately, but have been enjoying the "Cork" series by William Kent Krueger, both on the Kindle & as audio books.

Dinner was chicken tacos.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Long Beach Conservation Area, Wainfleet, ON, Canada, Day 1

 Wednesday, July 10, 2024 - Home, 186.9 Miles, 186.9 Miles For The Trip

We eventually left Oswego, hopped down rt 34 to the Thruway, and crossed at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo. Some rain on the way, but better than what we left. Lots of tornado warnings for Oswego.

We are in sites 76 & 74, both very wet. There is a small lake at the front of the sites. 15 Amp electric & water, although I couldn't reach the water without every hose I own. I had to use my 30 amp, 30' extension cord combined with the trailer cord to reach the power pedestal. Very low voltage. My power monitor shuts off the trailer power due to low voltage (under 105V) when ever the AC compressor kicks on. I bypassed it for awhile just so I could bring the inside temperature under 87°F. $200.00 Canadian for 5 nights - $146.80 was charged to my card or $29.36 per night US. It would be worth it if they were really 15 amp sites - my AC only draws 11 amps, but pulls the voltage down to an unsafe level.

There are a couple of 30 amp sites behind us, but the campground reservation page described them as poor.  Since they are either underwater or have 1' deep ruts in them, I can understand the rating.  I wish the power pedestals were at the back of the sites; we could sneak power from them, but the posts are by the road.

The Guidos set up their Clam on one of the high spots between our sites.

Dinner was cheese brats, Bush beans & applesauce, one of our "go to" meals on first nights since i7 is so simple to put together.

Until next time.

2024 Trip to Bolerama & Takoma Park - Getting Ready

Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Home, 0 Miles, 0 Miles For The Trip

I made a 3 day trip to Delta Lake State Park with the Guidos just to get the trailer out of the driveway. No web pages, just a daily report at here at my Blogger site. This will be a longer trip - 2 weeks, starting with a trip to Bolerama in the Long Beach Conservation Area, Wainfleet Ontario. The Boler is credited as the first fiberglass egg trailer, started 56 years ago in Winnipeg, Manitoba. While the trailer has been out of production since 1998, there are many of them still around. Bolerama is a rally that attracts many Bolers as well as fiberglass trailers by other manufacturers. After the rally we are headed to Takoma Park & the Cherry Hill campground to visit with my daughter's family.

As usual for a trip, I printed up my 4 page check list to help make sure I bring everything I need for the trip. About 3/4 of the stuff is checked off & in the trailer, but there is a bunch of stuff I can't pack until the day we leave.

Since we plan to cross into Canada at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, the Guidos are spending the night parked in my driveway. We will leave Wednesday. 

While I have finished the peas & pulled 10 heads of garlic, much of my raised bed garden will probably ripen while I'm away. I have managed to vacuum pack & freeze 8 6 cup bags of blueberries (the amount I use to make a blueberry pie). There are still lots on the bushes. A good year for blueberries & black raspberries; not so good for the apples & cherry trees - almost no fruit.

Some of the Garlic

The Squash & Beans

Our Mini RV Park

Dinner was a trip to Rudy's - the local fish stand on Lake Ontario.

Until next time.