Campsites Are Like a Box of Chocolates... #28

Forrest Gump knew what he was talking about! You never know what life will bring.

Reviews are a very helpful aid in selecting places to stay, but they are also subjective.  I have often read reviews about parks I love; a guest may have had some sort of bad experience and it skewed their whole opinion. And then there are some people who seem to find fault with everything or have unrealistic expectations. Most of the time, I am a glass half full kinda gal. I make the lemonade.

We arrived in York, PA on a very rainy day.  We reserved Ben Franklin RV Park for two nights. This was sort of a last minute reservation as I was off a day when tentatively planning the trip home. (I was originally planning a return boondock back at Hollywood Casino - but then I realized I had an extra night not accounted for)  This is the type of park used as more of a home base to explore this area of PA; it is very close to Hershey, Lancaster. It is very inexpensive for this area - $40/night; and has full hook-ups including quite good WiFi, a bathhouse, laundry and a very nice patio and sitting area. That's about it.  It is very small and it is also apparent there are quite a few people who live here in run down rigs. We had actually been to York previously and visited the Harley-Davidson factory (unfortunately, not offering the tours at this time) so I was familiar with the location.

We were assigned site 290. This is a very difficult site to maneuver. Firstly, the lot drops off toward the back where the hook-ups are. There was a patch of grass that was totally gone (obviously, someone had placed a rug on the ground for a long period of time) and it had become a mud-patch with the addition of rain.  Unfortunately, we couldn't avoid walking through it. (Charlie had the brainstorm to use the foam tiles we had on hand to make a pathway - brilliant!) The hook-ups are in obscure areas and very hard to reach.  Charlie was getting frustrated. I had pretty much set up inside when he came in and declared this place is "shit" and wanted to see if we could move to another site. He couldn't reach the sewage with our fairly long waste tube and the threading on the spigot for the water had been broken and he wasn't able to attach the hose on far enough to keep it from leaking.  I had plugged in the electric and actually noticed the electrical box outlet was broken and wasn't sure I'd be able to plug in (but it was okay). This site had obviously been abused. I took a deep breath and responded "Let's just fill the tank with water, contain the sewage in our black tank and when we are ready to leave - we will attach the trailer to the truck and move it back to empty the tanks". And that's what we did and will do -  it has been fine. Lemonade. 

That was yesterday. Today, the sun has been trying to find it's way through the cloudy sky. Rain is not in the forecast and the temps a little warmer. We had a great night sleeping because the temperature was about 30 degrees less than it had been last week in Maryland. Our plans for the day; relaxing and laundry and tonight we are going to attend a York Revolution baseball game at PeoplesBank Stadium. They just happen to have a game tonight! I'm not a big sports fan but once in a while, it is fun! The last time I went to a baseball game was at McCoy Stadium in RI to see the PawSox; that was probably about 15 years ago!

Oh - and just a final comment.  Since we had self-check-in at BFRV and the office is apparently not regularly manned, I wrote a note on the registration/payment form I had to return through the mail-slot. in office door. I very nicely let them know we were disappointed with the site; I wasn't looking for anything - I just let them know the challenges we faced. I probably would try to avoid staying here again, but in the end, it was fine. (and I didn't get any response regarding my note) UPDATE: Received a very nice email.  And, we might reconsider staying again in the future (but at a different site)

Hi! We apologize that you were dissapointed with your site.  We're in the process of moving the electric and sewer connections together with the water at each site.  I know it's a typicall excuse going around, but due to Covid this past year, we hadn't been able to get many done in our slow season, as we're open year round.  As far as the water goes, we try to keep the hydrants lubricated and working easily.  We must have not gotten that one very well. I know you weren't looking for anything, but we gave a 10% discount on your stay anyway. We sincerely apologize, and hope you'll give us another chance next time you're in the area.

Sincerely,'
-Tom Lepore
Ben Franklin RV Park Manager

The District - #27

 Just sit right right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a trip at dusk

It started from the RV park aboard their brand new bus

The guide was a friendly learned man, the driver savvy and sure

12 passengers set out that eve for a 5 hour tour, a 5 hour tour.

The weather forecast was wrong again, the evening turned out fine

If we'd listened to the weatherman we'd be sitting on our behinds, sitting on our behinds

So join us here to view our photos of monuments and sky

The District is an amazing place to visit before you die!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Jefferson Memorial

                       

 

          

The Capitol

White House

Washington Monument

Jefferson Memorial across the Tidepool

Martin Luther King

The Tidepool

The Lorings

Cherry Trees by the Tidepool (my favorite photo)

FDA Memorial

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Lincoln Memorial

View From Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam War Memorial

A Dream Come True - #26

 The phrase "livin' the dream" has become trite but for me, it is a reality. As Charlie and I sat outside our travel trailer at the Penn National/Hollywood Casino parking lot lined up with a bunch of oversized vehicles overnighting it, it suddenly occurred to me - I was actually doing what I had dreamt and planned for, for so long! We were living on the road, traveling with our home in tow, stopping whenever we wanted and discovering and visiting new places.  Although most of our stops were prearranged, some were not and most of the time, we didn't have any plans of what we would do at the location until we arrived or just before. We are thankful everyday for the internet! 

     

We arrived a few days ago on Sunday 6/6 in College Park, MD camping for 5 days at the wonderful Cherry Hill Park | Campground near Washington, DC | RV, Tent, and Cabin Camping . We've stayed here a couple of times previously so I'm quite familiar with the layout of the property. We were assigned a great spot by the pond! A bathhouse is just steps away - which I prefer to use for showers.  I like the extra space in the shower, water stays hot indefinitely and the water pressure is much stronger than in our own RV. Charlie prefers showering in the rig.  This RV park has two wonderful pools, which we have fully taken advantage of and have been lifesavers during these hot days! We really enjoyed them! There is mini-golf, splash pad, playgrounds and an exercise room I plan to use today while I do the laundry. Their own Star Cafe is a place we frequent for our ice cream fix! It is great to have an option for a quick snack or meal right on the grounds, if you just don't feel like cooking.

On Monday, we visited my Mom.  She is doing just great! I'm so proud of her and soooo glad she has "returned" to her normal sweet self.  We will see her again on Thursday. She is so amazing for 96!

On Tuesday, we had a full day visiting family.  We drove to North Potomac to my sister and brother-in-law, had lunch and a short walk; then we all drove together to Frederick, to visit my nephew and his family. It was great seeing everyone!

Today is a day for ourselves. I love not having to rush in the mornings.  I like to enjoy my coffee slowly and read or write. Later this evening, we reserved our spots for a 5 hour Washington D.C. by Night bus tour offered by the campground. It should be really nice and I'm so glad that something like this is available while we are here! It's always a bonus when you can relax and let someone else do the driving in an unfamiliar area.

Tomorrow, after visiting my Mom, we will be "entertaining" family at our campsite.  This is something we haven't done very often and are looking forward to it and showing off our home and lifestyle.

The weather forecasted rain and thunderstorms for this whole week; we are so fortunate that rain barely came and the weather, while hot and humid, has been pretty good. I wish we had more time here but our adventure is far from over. We still have another 8 or 9 days on the road.

Arriving in PA - Bringing Back Memories... - #25

 When I was about 14 years old, my parents purchased property in a community in Milford, PA called Gold Key Lake and built a little house. They were already planning for their future retirement, a place to go, a reprieve from hot Brooklyn summers. It was a cute red shingled house with brick accents and white trim.  A long gravel driveway lined with rocks my Dad had placed and painted white to match the house, parted the woods that surrounded the entire property to give entry to the house. Off to the left, a large and comfortable deck hugged the side of the house and increased the living space.  The property was only a 1/3 of an acre, pizza slice shaped; the "crust" was the front which made the lot seem large; it came to a point towards the back where it met up with other property lines. Their woods had tall, mature trees my Dad was very proud of; we would frequently catch him looking up at and counting the trees.  Sounds funny but when you grow up in a world of concrete, trees are something very special. In June, wild blueberries would burst forth in a frenzy every where you looked! It was always fun filling up containers and containers with these blue treasures; my Mom would make delicious desserts. On the inside of the house a massive brick fireplace took centerstage. There were three tiny bedrooms, one and a half very small bathrooms, and the common area - a living/dining room combined with open kitchen. So much of my parents were in this house. From the heavy flowered drapes on the windows my Mom had designed and sewn, to the reddish brick vinyl floor tiles my parents together installed covering the entire main area of the house. They even built a couch out of a trundle bed; my father building "arms" out of wood; my mother fabricating a cover and giant pillows to make it comfy and cozy. The house was mostly furnished with yard sale items; later with new furnishings once they started spending more time there.  My Dad also built a small, decorative retaining wall off to the side of the deck; my Mom crocheted a hammock to hang between the trees.  They were a great team!

We arrived yesterday just after lunch in Matamoras, PA just a town over from Milford. Needless to say, I have very fond memories of this area. NJ, NY and PA all come together here - hence we are staying for two nights at the Tri-State RV Park. The park is set right on the Delaware River with a good view of the Pocono Mountains. The grounds seem to be well maintained, however, campsites are merely gravel pads on a big open field, spaced fairly close to one another. There is no landscaping or trees to provide even minimal separation and privacy. We have full hookups and the WiFi and cable TV work very well. It always feels like a treat to have these amenities when you have boondocked for a few days and have used electric and water very sparingly; even lights feel like a luxury! This campground is also literally right off Route 84 - an extremely busy - 24/7 - highway.  The noise takes a little getting used to, Luckily we have a ceiling fan in our bedroom to create white noise and block the sounds of the road. This park primarily caters to those RVers just passing through the area on their way to another destination. We met a lot of interesting people all heading in different directions and their different rigs. We have actually decided to make a reservation to stay here overnight on our return trip.

Whenever we come through this area, we always stop at the Milford Diner. The menu is tremendous and was a place I frequented with my family during the 30 years we summered here. 

The Pocono Mountains are really gorgeous and there is a lot to do in this area. The one day we had for taking in the sites we decided to visit Raymondskill Falls. I had actually never been there before and it didn't disappoint!  So worth seeing! After having lunch at the diner, I found a little veggie stand right across the street and bought two bags full of beautiful fruits and vegetables. And finally before heading back to the campground, we took a detour to a fireworks store and purchased a bunch of fireworks for the kids and us. I didn't hesitate to tell the salesperson who engaged us that "my husband was a pyrotechnic and used to make fireworks".  He is an expert in that field, after all!

June Road Trip Begins/Mohegan Sun-set - #24

Retirement and RVing is really a match made in heaven!

We left Tuesday, June 1st, a day earlier than originally planned.  Retirement and having the travel trailer ready to go - really gives us some flexibility to get on the road, enjoy the great weather and have some fun!   

Our road trip is as follows - a mixture of casino boondocking and RV campgrounds

We arrived yesterday at our first leg, Mohegan Sun. This casino is just so beautiful! The mosaics, artwork and glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly are truly breathtaking!

    

Mohegan Sun has really grown on us the past number of years. Initially, we didn't care for the dark, cave-like feeling. We have however, come to appreciate the restaurants, shopping area, entertainment, and the overall circular layout of the casinos - named after the four seasons, each flowing into the next. And, of course we enjoy the gaming!

Mohegan Sun actually has one of the most beautiful designated RV parking areas we've seen so far. It is high up on a hill, overlooking the Thames River. Although it is just a big, wide open parking lot, the views are really exceptional! Unfortunately at this time the Turtle Lot (as it's named) is currently closed and RVs and oversized vehicles have been relocated to the Cove Lot, within walking distance of the Winter entrance. This was necessary as shuttle service has ceased during the time of COVID. Right now, there are only a few RVs and a couple of tractor trailers sprawled out at this location. It is not scenic but it is quiet, level and we have Wifi! This will definitely do!

After a simple homemade dinner, we spent several hours walking through the casino, playing a little - winning a little, losing a little. The mask wearing vs. no mask was about 50/50 (we were in the mask wearing group) We feel everyone has to make their own decision - no judgement here.  After enjoying a cup of Ben and Jerry's ice cream, we grabbed a Starbucks on the way back to the trailer, and enjoyed watching the sun set, a great day coming to a close. We'll be back to the casino tomorrow(Wednesday); leaving on Thursday for Matamoras, PA - on the Delaware River.

   

   

And as always seems with me on the first day of a trip - whether it's excitement, or an active brain or just being out of my regular space - I can not sleep for the life of me! Well - it was nice seeing the sun rise at 4:35 a.m.! I'm sure I will sleep tonight!