Homeward Bound and Upper Midwest Adventure 2015 Followup

We departed Watkins Glen about the crack of noon on Friday.  We headed directly south and picked up US 15 at Corning NY.  We continued south on US 15 to Harrisburg PA where we jumped on I-81.  About then it began to rain and never stopped.








Unfortunately we missed the photo of the sign entering West Virginia.





After 380 miles and passing through 5 states, we stopped for the night at the Walmart SuperCenter in Staunton VA.  We were not alone.

A ground view of Camp SuperCenter

We often park at a Walmart at the end of a long mileage day, when we just need a place to crash.  We usually park after dark and leave as early as we can, in order to reduce our presence.  We parked at the Walmart SuperCenter in Staunton VA Friday night.  About an hour out we called ahead and asked "May we park our RV overnight in your lot?" The lady said  "You certainly can."  "Is there any particular part of the lot we should park in?   "You can put it anywhere you want to, Honey."  It's good to be back in the South.

An aerial view of Camp SuperCenter

The next morning we continued southbound on I-81.  About 1 hour before arriving at home my neighbor called and said one of our garage doors was open.  CRAP! Bob circles our house every day or so to check things out.  It apparently had been open only a few days.  He called the Sheriff's office, and they all walked through the house.  Thankfully they found nothing out of the ordinary.  The deputy said older garage door openers, like ours, can sometimes be triggered for unknown reasons.  When we arrived home a short time later, we confirmed that there had not been an intruder.  Well, maybe a squirrel scoping out my bird seed.  Note to self:  Unplug garage door openers before leaving home in the future.
 
All in all, we had a great trip.

Our route showing overnight stops

Our trip by the numbers:

• Departed:    July 16
• Returned:    September 26 
• Days on the road:   76
• Total miles driven (not including Honda miles):   3596 
• Gallons of diesel burned:   414
• Total camping costs:  $1285    $17/night
• Non-rally camping costs:  $590    $10/night   
• Rally camping costs:   $695    $41/night.   Rallies are not cheap!

Screen shot from our SilverLeaf engine monitor

We are glad to be home, but we won't be here for long.  We leave on September 30 for a 5-night rally in Marion NC.  Then we leave again on October 7 for a 5-night canoe club gathering at Hanging Rock State Park.

A rolling stone .....

Watkins Glen NY: Waterfalls, Wineries and Gorges

We arrived at the KOA outside Watkins Glen without incident.  We are here for 4 nights to attend a rally of Country Coach International.  This is not the first time we have visited this KOA.  We attended another Country Coach rally here in September 2007.  You can read about that adventure here and here.

This it NOT Dorcas

The slogan for this rally was Waterfalls, Wineries and Gorges, Watkins Glen NY, September 21-25, 2015.  We have the T-shirt to prove we were there.

Stumbling on to the bus.  At least we weren't driving!

On Tuesday we boarded buses and did wine tasting tours.  There are eleven NY Finger Lakes, so-called because together they look like the fingers of a human hand.  The Finger Lakes are a huge wine producing region.  Watkins Glen is located at the south end of Seneca Lake, one of the larger of the Finger Lakes.  There are 40 wineries on Seneca Lake alone.  I wish we could have gone to all of them, but we went to only 4 for tastings

This one also had a brewery on site.  I had an Oatmeal Stout.

Dorcas is happy.

Hazlitt produces Red Cat, the most popular wine in NY

Red Cat wine has its own chant.  It's a little bawdy.

In case you can't understand the lyrics:

Red Cat.  Red Cat.  It's an aphrodisiac!

Red Cat.  Red Cat.  It'll get you in the sack!

Watkins Glen State Park claims to be the Number 3 highest rated state park in the US

We spent a few hours walking the gorge.  It is 1.5 miles from the lower parking lot to the top of the gorge.  There are 840 steps and about 550 feet elevation gain.

The Heart-Shaped Pool

They told us it had been a dry month here, and there was little flow in Glen Creek, through the gorge.  Apparently the waterfalls are much more spectacular when there is water.

A shuttle runs from the upper parking lot back to the lower parking lot, but it apparently doesn't run on weekdays in late September.  We returned via the Indian Trail, which runs along the ridge of the gorge.

Dorcas trying to stay dry

I love the look of a red canoe!

 Watkins Glen is a racing town.  Even before the speedway was built there was road racing through the countryside and the town.  The finish line still exists across the highway in front of the county courthouse  There are monuments to famous drivers from the past.  I looked for a monument for Stirling Moss, my favorite vintage Gran Prix driver, but didn't find one

Back in the USA: Touring Niagara Falls

We departed Camp Walmart SuperCentre in Parry Sound on Saturday and headed south towards Toronto and the border at Niagara Falls.  At Barrie ON we pumped 255 liters (67 gallons) of diesel.  This was our only fuel purchase in Canada.  We actually had enough fuel on board to cross the border into Niagara Falls NY, but we would be very low when we arrived.  The generator pick-up tube in the fuel tank will not draw if the tank level is below about 1/8 full.  We knew we would be dry camping at Niagara Falls, and we would need to run the generator.  We didn't want to go searching for fuel after crossing the border.

We were concerned about the traffic and getting through Toronto.   The quickest and easiest way was to take a toll road ETR 407 around town, but we estimated that would cost us over $30 in fees.  There was a series of limited access highways that went closer to town.  Google Maps showed some delays, but they seemed to be short.  Since it was a Saturday we took the gamble and avoided the toll road.  Heck, we're retired, and we're in no hurry. There were a few delays and slow downs, but we had no problems.

Entering Niagara Falls ON

Just before crossing the Rainbow Bridge into the US

The Niagara Falls border crossing.  What's that car doing in my RV lane?

Our border crossing was very quick and easy.  Our wait was only about one minute.  The officer asked us a few simple questions and waved us through.  A piece of cake.

The American Falls from Goat Island

On Saturday afternoon we poked around on the American side.  A thunderstorm struck about 5:00 PM, as forecast, and the tourists scattered.

Camp Seneca Niagara Casino

We camped for two nights at the Seneca Niagara Casino in downtown Niagara Falls NY.  Two more nights of free camping!  Life is good.  Our park was within walking distance to the falls.   Since the casino was the tallest building in town, we had no problem finding our way back home, no matter where we were along the river.

American Falls on left, Horseshoe Falls on right

The brink of the American Falls

 The Niagara River splits around Goat Island above the falls.  Since the brink at the American Falls is at a slightly higher elevation, 90% of the river flow goes over Horseshoe Falls.  Perhaps due to the higher flow, Horseshoe Falls has retreated a considerable distance further upstream than the American Falls.

We looked hard, but couldn't find the pot of gold

The Rainbow Bridge looking towards Canada

Is it called the Rainbow Bridge because it is shaped like a rainbow?  Or is it because you can often see rainbows above the water?  Ummmm ....

On Sunday we walked back across the Rainbow Bridge to explore the Canadian side of the Falls.  The border crossing was super easy.

The American Falls looking from Canada

Horseshoe Falls viewed from Canada

Horseshoe Falls

Horseshoe Falls

All of the water from 4 of the 5 Great Lakes flows down the Niagara River and over Niagara Falls.

Into the mist on the Maid of the Mist

You can't really call it a "selfie".  It's more like a "groupie".

You couldn't walk down the sidewalk without getting whacked in the head with a selfie stick.   At least these folks were efficient: 7 for the price of 1.

My "Sweetie"

It was a beautiful afternoon, and it was a Sunday.  The hoards were out.  At some places if you wanted to see the falls you had to be a little rude and push the guy with the selfie stick out of the way.

Just plain tuckered out!

Can you see the bumblebee butt sticking out from the fuchsia?

Many of the cabs in Niagara Falls ON were Toyota Prius hybrids.  Go Canada!

Dorcas on the Rainbow Bridge

It took us much longer to re-enter the US on foot than it did to enter in the motor home the day before.  The line in to US Customs was backed out the door, and it was not moving.  After about 15 minutes and no motion, things suddenly started moving.  There must have been some issue with a party ahead of us.  Once we got to an agent, we were out in 15 seconds.

Tomorrow we will pull out and head to Watkins Glen NY for a Country Coach rally.