Tampa and the New RV

We made a BIG mistake at the Good Sam Rally.  We looked at new RV's.  After that, we couldn't get the new 2014 Tiffin Phaeton RV out of our mind.  So we called the dealer in Tampa that we had bought the Allegro from in December and we made a deal!  They said if we could get down there by the end of the month they'd throw in a $1000 gas card so off we went!

The new Phaeton is 6 feet longer than the Allegro, has a king bed, stacked washer and dryer, dual pane windows, dishwasher, outside TV, heated floors, is a 450HP ISL diesel, and it rides and drives like a very big powerful golf cart.  The ride is smooth as you can't even feel shifting, nor hear the rear engine.  It is a dream!

So after a week at the dealer, we visited family and friends in Sun City Center for the fourth of July.  Had a fun time there, as always, then off the Disney Fort Wilderness with grand daughter Sophie.

42 Feet of diesel burning love!

Are we there yet????

The outside TV on the new RV.

Bumper to bumper traffic for about an hour.  Paul went and took a nap while I sat it out.  

A Sun City Center lovely with embellishment.  

Finger Lakes Region, NY and Bully Hill

This blog post is dedicated to a wonderful person who was more family than friend, Rob Stanis.  We lost Rob suddenly last year, way too soon.  In honor of Rob we went to the winery that he loved so much, Bully Hill.  The Billy Goat label below was drawn by the founder and owner of the winery that produced one of Rob's favorite wines named  "Love My Goat Red".  We spent many a good time laughing and making memories with Rob and "Billy Goat" was usually there.  We loved you Robbie, and you loved us well.

The region of the Finger Lakes is hilly with deep valley lakes.  There are microclimates on the hills perfect for growing grapes for the wineries.  The small towns around the lakes are quaint yet bustling during the summer but are near deserted in the winter.

We stayed as a small private campground, Camp Elmbois, that sat in a serene valley of pines and huge deciduous trees.  I regret not taking many photos of the camp, but I guess I was too lazy and relaxed.

On the day we went to Bully Hill winery, it was sunny yet cool.  We had gotten off track...left the GPS in the RV, yet we ended up taking a stunning drive thru the hills overlooking Keuka Lake.  We rounded a curve and low and behold, the universe had put us in Bully Hills lap!

As we walked up the front walk to Bully Hill, I kept feeling tears well up in my eyes.  Robbie meant so much to us and I knew he had walked these grounds.  Many times during that visit, my nose would turn red, eyes get teary and I finally had to explain to the tour guide why.  We had a fabulous time at the winery, filled with memories, laughter and a few tears...just as Rob would want it.  We ate at the restaurant overlooking the valley, raising our glasses to Rob, did some wine tasting and walked around the museum.  An all around great day.
Thanks Robbie.

Walter Taylor, owner of Bully Hill, was quite a character.  

Good Sam Rally, Syracuse, New York

Paul and I had never been to an RV "Rally" before and since we wanted to see the Finger Lake Region of New York, we decided to go Syracuse for the Good Sam Rally.

We had an interesting drive through upper New York from Letchworth, sun shining the entire way, thru the mountains and into lovely valleys.  In the RV, we sit very high above everyone else on the road, except truckers.  Seeing over guardrails, especially on bridges is a wonderful perspective to have. You can see so much better than in a car.  Of course, when you only get 7mpg, there should be some perks!

The rally was being held at the New York Fairgrounds but since it had rained most of the week, the fairgrounds were flooded.   By the time we got there, they were having to tow RV's out of the mud at the fairgrounds and no other RV's were allowed to park there.  So, we were told to park at Destiny Mall about two miles away.  Imagine then, about 500 RV's parking at the mall, no electricity, plumbing or water hook ups.  Being that our rig can do well without hook ups (we carry 80 gallons of water, have a generator for electric, have gas for cooking and to run the refrigerator when not hooked to shore power and we have large grey and black water holding tanks), we were fine being at the mall.  But some RV' s are not self sufficient and it was tough for them to be sent to the mall.

Anyway, most everyone took the change in location in their stride and had a good time anyway.  There was entertainment , classes and lots of vendors to visit and we had a good time.  I'm not sure we will go to more rallies...it just not our cup of tea, but I am glad we had the experience.

An interesting occurrence from the rally - we randomly met some people on a shuttle bus who turned to be the brother and sister in law of our neighbor here in Indiana.  Small world!

Cool rig.  Love the flag.....

There we are in a sea of RV's.

Not our prettiest "camping" spot but we had a good time anyway.  And wine tastes good anywhere!

Allegany State Park, New York

Along the New York, Pennsylvania border lies beautiful Allegany State Park.  The park is huge with miles and miles of bike and walking trails.  Lakes, streams, woods, pine forests, meadows, mountains, flat lands....it's got them all.  It is one of those parks that I can envision families of the early 1900's enjoying a picnic, ladies in long skirts, men in suit shirts with their sleeves rolled up sitting on a blanket with a picnic basket of food.

The buildings of this park are old but beautifully kept, retaining their history and early days aura.  Walk in fireplaces, single pane windows, knotty pine walls with high beam ceilings.

And the flora....just as I like it, wild and hardly manipulated by man.  There is an alpine feel here with  flowers small but prolific.  Columbine everywhere and fields of wild phlox.  I must, someday, live in a wooded area like this.

Can you see the deer?

So serene.  One of many lakes here.

I'd hate clean these windows!  But they are beautiful and I love that they are original to the lodge.

Walking/bike path lined with wild phlox.  I wish I could post the aroma.  (Of the flowers, not of me and the dog.)

Rosie the pig who lives in an RV with her human, and a dog and cat.  She wears a cow bell and is very friendly.  175 pounds of pure love!

Smudge and Rosie became friends.  I think he is in love.  Willow wouldn't get anywhere near Rosie.  I think she thought " that is the fattest, ugliest schnauzer I have ever seen!".

I love the bridge stone work.  This photo was taken from an old covered bridge.

Heading for a New York State of Mind

We decided to head for the finger lake region of New York to attend our first Good Sam Rally.  Good Sam is an organization for RV'ers and they own Camping World stores, one of the many places to spend money for RVing stuff.  We have never been to a rally before and don't really know if it our cup of tea, but the journey to the Syracuse rally will take us through some beautiful parts of our country.  And life is about the journey.....

We choose to only travel about 200 to 250 miles a day, so we have time to relax and enjoy where ever we land.  We left Indy and traveled to Homerville, Ohio for our first stop.  We have an app for campgrounds and it looked like our best option was a KOA.  It was a peaceful, scenic drive thru rural Amish country with tidy, simple farms to the campground.  Driving down the road, we passed Amish horse drawn carriages and they smiled and waved at us!  I didn't wave first and it was warming to my heart that although we were in a big, techno buggy, clearly with different beliefs, they recognized us as just fellow human beings.

The campground had been a working farm before converting the acreage into a KOA.  We had not had a good experience at the one other KOA we stayed at.  It was not scenic nor quiet and was clearly just a parking lot to put your rig at so you could enjoy the area, St. Augustine, FL.  We much prefer state parks or RV resorts.

Anyway, this KOA was nice and the owners could not have been more cordial.  There were lakes to fish and swim in, a pool, a ball field, a stream, meadows (I LOVE meadows!) and more, in a stunning rural setting.  All in all, a good start to our trip.

Homerville, OH,  KOA

Look what Smudge found in the meadow :)

Letchworth State Park, Genesee, New York

On the way to Syracuse for the Good Sam Rally, we stopped at Letchworth State Park.  Called the "Grand Canyon of the East" it is a stunning example of a glacial cut canyon.

Driving into the park, I had no warning about the hairpin turns with sharp drop offs of 300 feet or more.  There were no guardrails just 150 year old stone walls, and me being skittish about heights, I was, lets say, expressing my fears.  Poor Paul, he is trying to maneuver the RV and tow vehicle and I am squealing like a pig going to slaughter.  He has the patience of Job.

Letchworth is exquisite.  It is an old park which has been lovingly preserved.  There are no modern fences, just low walls and bridges of local rock.  Wildflowers have been allowed to prosper and careful attention has been paid to keep invasive plants out.  And the falls were so cool and misty.  Although it rained each day, I appreciated to sweet calm the moisture put over the land.  Everything was lizard green, washed from the rain.
I will let the photos do the talking......

Some guy I picked up.....38 years ago.

The Grand Canyon of the East

Notice the people at the top of the photo in order to get the scale of the falls.

The Glenn Iris Inn where there is a five star restaurant.  Yum!

Tourist

Paul drinking wine...hard to see the gallon jug.