On the Road Again
Today we arrived at Turning Stone Village RV Resort near Verona, NY. Getting here was somewhat problematic. Our morning ritual in breaking camp was routine until I pressed the monitor button, after emptying the tanks, to check the tank levels and the cabin went dark. Yep, we had no 12 volt at all, nada, zip, nothing at all. We visited the local RV dealer where they were kind enough to assist me. Turns out a bin in the underneath storage bumped the kill switch located in that compartment. This was fortunate because I was envisioning a set of new batteries at the least, or a new power converter (mucho $$$$$$$) on the high side, assaulting our budget.
Turning Stone is on Indian land and is an enterprise of the Oneida Nation. There is a casino, spa, golf resort, camping resort, and numerous restaurants here. After settling in we showered and changed and called for the free shuttle from the campground to the casino. The Season’s Harvest Buffet is where we ended up dining. The food was okay, but not exceptional and I had expected better. Never having visited a casino before, I decided to experience the gambling scene for myself. The only slots on the machines were for a plastic card provided by the establishment. I put $20 on the card and selected a 25 cent machine. In short order I burned through fifteen dollars and called it quits. I put another $20 on the card and told Kathy to try her luck.
She selected a penny machine, popped in the card and began punching buttons. In about five minutes she won $200. Kathy enjoyed watching her winnings ebb and rise until we pulled the card out of the slot with $198 on it. We visited the cashier where we opted to pull $150 off the card and returned to the trailer with cash in our pocket. So, we had dinner, walked through the shops, spent a half hour in the casino and returned with more money than we started with – not a bad deal at all.
Tomorrow morning we will attend Gina’s graduation at Le Moyne College. We’ll stay here one more night and then point our truck toward Alton Bay, NH where we will join dad, Kris, and Terry at the family cottage, Pleasant Point. We might meet up with John and Terri as they are currently in Maine but are making their way to Alton Bay, as well.
Good night all.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Day Ninety-three
Wrapping Things Up
Well, we leave Thursday for Syracuse and Gina’s graduation. She has received her degree and is now a Physician’s Assistant. We are all quite proud of her accomplishments.
Kathy has been in a frenzy at her mother’s house wrapping things up there. The house is almost empty as her siblings, nieces, and nephews have taken most of the contents home. Donations of clothes and televisions have been delivered to Shore Winds Nursing Home and to the Viet Nam Vets in Rochester. We are happy to be concluding this phase of our journey. While some elements of our visit have been unpleasant, having the opportunity to be with family has offset any negatives. Also, seeing Kathy in full Grammy mode has been worth it all.
Last Friday we had a cookout here at the campsite. Kathy’s dad and stepmother were in town from South Dakota and they, along with brother Dave and wife Jan, spent the majority of the afternoon with us. We were also surprised by a visit from my sister Terri, and husband John, on Thursday afternoon and they were here for the festivities on Friday as well. We cooked red and white hots, chicken, and sausage patties on the grill. We played games around the picnic table and concluded the affair with a campfire. The weather was cool and gorgeous and the day was a great success.
Today, Kathy is finishing up at the house and nursing home and I have pulled everything out of the underneath storage compartment in the fifth-wheel to reorganize and get ready for our departure. The Coleman grill is clean and stowed and almost all items to go underneath have been placed and secured. We also had rain yesterday so we have some drying out to do – we want to avoid a moldy situation.
This evening we are dining with Glenn and Rita at their home in Webster. Wednesday, Kathy will cook a pot of sauce for supper at Danny and Kim’s while he and I play a last round of golf before Kathy and I depart. It has been great to be so close by and, no doubt, Kathy will suffer Brayden withdrawal soon after we leave town.
Our plans had also included a side trip to Ontario, Canada to visit our friends there at Beacon of Grace Church but it just hasn’t happened. We have learned that it is great to be mobile, and flexible, but we have discovered that we can’t go everywhere we would like. Retirement has been anything but sedentary and our plates have been full. One may retire from their previous employment but it is difficult to retire from life and the many challenges and opportunities it brings our way.
Well, we leave Thursday for Syracuse and Gina’s graduation. She has received her degree and is now a Physician’s Assistant. We are all quite proud of her accomplishments.
Kathy has been in a frenzy at her mother’s house wrapping things up there. The house is almost empty as her siblings, nieces, and nephews have taken most of the contents home. Donations of clothes and televisions have been delivered to Shore Winds Nursing Home and to the Viet Nam Vets in Rochester. We are happy to be concluding this phase of our journey. While some elements of our visit have been unpleasant, having the opportunity to be with family has offset any negatives. Also, seeing Kathy in full Grammy mode has been worth it all.
Last Friday we had a cookout here at the campsite. Kathy’s dad and stepmother were in town from South Dakota and they, along with brother Dave and wife Jan, spent the majority of the afternoon with us. We were also surprised by a visit from my sister Terri, and husband John, on Thursday afternoon and they were here for the festivities on Friday as well. We cooked red and white hots, chicken, and sausage patties on the grill. We played games around the picnic table and concluded the affair with a campfire. The weather was cool and gorgeous and the day was a great success.
Today, Kathy is finishing up at the house and nursing home and I have pulled everything out of the underneath storage compartment in the fifth-wheel to reorganize and get ready for our departure. The Coleman grill is clean and stowed and almost all items to go underneath have been placed and secured. We also had rain yesterday so we have some drying out to do – we want to avoid a moldy situation.
This evening we are dining with Glenn and Rita at their home in Webster. Wednesday, Kathy will cook a pot of sauce for supper at Danny and Kim’s while he and I play a last round of golf before Kathy and I depart. It has been great to be so close by and, no doubt, Kathy will suffer Brayden withdrawal soon after we leave town.
Our plans had also included a side trip to Ontario, Canada to visit our friends there at Beacon of Grace Church but it just hasn’t happened. We have learned that it is great to be mobile, and flexible, but we have discovered that we can’t go everywhere we would like. Retirement has been anything but sedentary and our plates have been full. One may retire from their previous employment but it is difficult to retire from life and the many challenges and opportunities it brings our way.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Day Eighty-three
Back in the Fifth-wheel
After six weeks in the house on Crossfield Road we are back in the camper and setup at Webster Park. It required a good part of the day but we managed to get everything back in the fifth-wheel though we have a good deal of organization to accomplish. Each time we hit the road after a hiatus it takes us awhile to get ship shape and travel ready. Camp is fully setup and we have already walked around the campground and met some of our neighbors. Hopefully, we can chill over the next ten days before setting out on our way east.
There is still some work to be done at the house before we wrap up things here in Rochester but we felt it would be easier to accomplish this by removing ourselves, and our stuff, from the premises. Kathy and her sisters will be sorting through what clothing remains to decide what will be donated to the residents at the nursing home. On Tuesday the local Viet Nam Veterans organization are coming to the house to pick up all the items left over from the yard sale and after that we are pretty much done.
We have a beautiful campsite here at Webster Park. Most of the trees here are old growth which makes for a wonderful canopy providing us with excellent shade and scenery. The campground is close to Danny, Kim and Brayden, Sandy and Larry, Glenn and Rita and Tina so our location is ideal. Yesterday evening Kathy and I did babysitting duty enabling Danny and Kim to have a much needed date night. Brayden was quiet and slept most of the evening except for several feedings. Kathy is in full Grammy mode and sure does love smooching on and hugging her grandson.
Meanwhile, back in Florida things are a little unsettled. Mom fell and was hospitalized for a few days. She, presently, is back in rehab for a few weeks while they attempt to help her regain her strength. As long as things go well with this effort, Dad will be going to the New Hampshire for a few weeks where we will meet him.
It is getting late and we will soon be ensconced in our Sleep Number bed for the night. Both of us are sore, and weary, so we are looking forward to our first night back in camper. Strangely, after being in a house for six weeks, we are experiencing the feeling of having returned home after a prolonged absence. We are so comfortable in this space. In a very real sense this fifth-wheel is now our home and we miss it when we are away.
After six weeks in the house on Crossfield Road we are back in the camper and setup at Webster Park. It required a good part of the day but we managed to get everything back in the fifth-wheel though we have a good deal of organization to accomplish. Each time we hit the road after a hiatus it takes us awhile to get ship shape and travel ready. Camp is fully setup and we have already walked around the campground and met some of our neighbors. Hopefully, we can chill over the next ten days before setting out on our way east.
There is still some work to be done at the house before we wrap up things here in Rochester but we felt it would be easier to accomplish this by removing ourselves, and our stuff, from the premises. Kathy and her sisters will be sorting through what clothing remains to decide what will be donated to the residents at the nursing home. On Tuesday the local Viet Nam Veterans organization are coming to the house to pick up all the items left over from the yard sale and after that we are pretty much done.
We have a beautiful campsite here at Webster Park. Most of the trees here are old growth which makes for a wonderful canopy providing us with excellent shade and scenery. The campground is close to Danny, Kim and Brayden, Sandy and Larry, Glenn and Rita and Tina so our location is ideal. Yesterday evening Kathy and I did babysitting duty enabling Danny and Kim to have a much needed date night. Brayden was quiet and slept most of the evening except for several feedings. Kathy is in full Grammy mode and sure does love smooching on and hugging her grandson.
Meanwhile, back in Florida things are a little unsettled. Mom fell and was hospitalized for a few days. She, presently, is back in rehab for a few weeks while they attempt to help her regain her strength. As long as things go well with this effort, Dad will be going to the New Hampshire for a few weeks where we will meet him.
It is getting late and we will soon be ensconced in our Sleep Number bed for the night. Both of us are sore, and weary, so we are looking forward to our first night back in camper. Strangely, after being in a house for six weeks, we are experiencing the feeling of having returned home after a prolonged absence. We are so comfortable in this space. In a very real sense this fifth-wheel is now our home and we miss it when we are away.
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