'21/#40 Atlantic City Slots Give Out Jello!

Not really. We are near Atlantic City and we did drive through but we were seriously underwhemed. Hotels and casinos on top of each other surrounded by slums on one side and rich beach homes on the other. Oh yeah, there is supposed to be some sort of a boardwalk but we decided not to fight for a parking spot near the casinos or fight our way out of the neighborhood slums.

Any way that was the end of our day. It started out great with a trip down to Cape May to see the lighthouse. Pretty lighthouse with a cute artsy community nearby. Neither of us felt up to climbing the lighthouse so pictures would have to suffice. Driving back we stopped and saw the Hereford Inlet lighthouse in Wildwood. Cute lighthouse in a cute beach neighborhood with lots of new condos. Pretty, but we just are not beach people any more. Then it was on to Atlantic City. I've already told you what we didn't like, but there was a bright spot. At the north end of the city, the not so good part of town, we found the Absecome Lighthouse. We didn't stay long since they were closing up for the day and we didn't want to stay in that neighborhood too long. 

We headed home for some dinner and discussion. The topic was our itinerary. Not much more we wanted to see here and the trip to our next destination was our longest of this journey. Why not leave a day early, stop half way, and arrive rested for our next extended stay with friends in North Carolina. Atlantic City didn't pay out big money but we did hit the "jello" jackpot. Yes the jello that our plans are written in. Shake the jello and get those wheels rolling. Another positive note is that we don't have to leave before the crack of dawn. 

So those are the new plans and this is the rare two blog day. This is also my second goodbye today from our home in New Jersey because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#39 A New Direction

We left Connecticut early to accommodate the traffic we would encounter on the way to New Jersey. If you look at the map you will see that just about any route will take us near New York City and involve metropolitan area traffic. Also the road conditions that are inherent around any major city. I'm talking about pot holes and the quick patches that are made to not impede the 24/7 traffic around the city that never sleeps. Having grown up near here the traffic didn't bother me. Taking our time took care of dealing with the pot holes. So everything was fine until you figure in the human factor.

The human factor is us! Everything was going fine until confusion between the GPS and Google maps confused this driver even more. Next thing I know we are on the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey. The first thing I noticed was the lack of big trucks on the road. Our rig is 57' long and 13' tall, just like a short tractor-trailer. This concerned me so we pulled into a parkway service area and asked the employees there and were refered to the map of the parkway. Yep, it looks like we shouldn't be on this route so..... We turn around, double back and get on the road we should have been on in the first place. It wasn't too far but what can I say? Another little adventure along the way.

We finally make it to Pomona NJ. We are here to see the Cape May Lighhouse, some of the Jersey shore, and maybe look around Atlantic City. Our stay here is only two days and then it will be back on the road. Anyway, the trip from Connecticut to New Jersey definitely took a southward turn so we are certainly on our way back to Florida. I will sign off now from our home in New Jersey because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#38 What's A Little Rain?

Yesterday was rainy all day but did we let it stop us? No! We slept in a bit while the rain pattered on the roof and made plans for a rainy day excursion. We had heard and read about the Submarine Force Museum in New London and felt it would be a great indoor activity.  We were right. The museum shows the history of the US Navy's submarine force and it's impact on the history of the United States. Technological developments and the people behind them were showcased as well. The sailors below the surface served in less than comfortable conditions to protect our country. 

This is also the home of the decommissioned USS Nautilus, the first nuclear powered submarine. It was built and launched from Groton Connecticut and after much debate Preident Carter sided with the local groups that it should be permanently displayed where it started it's historic journey. Upon boarding the Nautilus, and bumping my head more than once, we saw the actual living and working quarters of a nuclear submarine. Our RV living space is spacious compared to living on a submarine. Our bathroom is larger than a 6 bunk room on the Nautilus!

After the museum we drove around New London and found a of couple lighthouses. The Pequot Ave. light is on private property so can only be seen from the street or the water. The New London Ledge Light is off shore and accessible by boat only but can be seen from Pequot Ave. as well. That makes two more lighthouses on Mary's list. 

With the rain still coming down we found someplace for lunch and decided to head home for one more indoor activity....laundry. Today the weather is more promising so we will head out to Mystic Seaport after breakfast. So long until the next blog from our home in Connecticut because.....

Home is where wwe parkk it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#37 This Time The Rain Is Real

New York is behind us and we are on our way. The roads out of Itica were quite steep and curvy. The were typical mountain roads but with patience and caution we had no problems. Some of the roads could have used some repaving which we found out when we stopped and found the trailer's contents had been rearranged, but that is life on the road. We were looking for a truck wash and missed the turn off. Oh well there will be more, but that route put us about an hour out of the way. The best tool in an RVer's tool box is flexibility.

Anyway, we continued down the road through Pennsylvania back into New York and finally into Connecticut with Mystic as our destination. Mystic Seaport is a neat place we have been to before, but there are a few new things we want to see. Of course Mary will see a couple of lighthouses, but I want to the Submarine Force Museum in Groton and the restored Charles W. Morgan in Mystic. The oldest submarine shipyard is in Groton Connecticut and the Electric Boat Co. sold the navy it's first submarine in 1900. So where better to see the history of US submarines. Farther on down the road we will see the first submarine used successfully in combat when we get to Charleston. But more on that later.

This morning it is raining as it has all night which has put a literal and figurative damper on our plans. It was easy to sleep in with the patter of rain on the roof and when we get cleaned, fed, and dressed we will make plans for the day. Hopefully the rain will let up and we can start being tourists instead of hermits. Well I am ready for my second cup of coffee so I will sign off now from our home in Stonington Connecticut because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#36 Local Small Town Sights

Don't anyone jump down my throat for calling Ithica a small town. I am just referencing it to the cities that Mary and I grew up near like New York City and Washington D.C. If you follow us you know that we have been hunting waterfalls in the area and have been quite successful. 

Now we are looking for some man made attractions. We left western New York after the Appleumpkin Festival and traveled east to central New York and like the area we left it is apple season. New York agriculture is well known for the variety of apples that are grown here so of course there will be local festivals and farmer's market showcasing the local produce as well as the crafts that are made by the local talent. Yesterday we went to the Ithica Apple Festival at Ithica Commons. Streets were closed and booths were set up for everyone to buy and enjoy all that this time of year brings. There was pumpkin pie, sausages, fries, cotton candy, and of course everything apple. There was apple pie, apple butter, caramel apples, candy appples, apple cider, apple chips, apple wine, and of course bins and bins of apples of all kinds. Everything looked so good but we couldn't buy it all. We did get some cider, pumpkin bread, apple cinnamon bread, and of course a few apples. 

 We drove onto Cornell University's campus to find two more waterfalls but the roads were tight, twisty, and almost vertical. That and the limited parking was not big truck friendly so we called it a day. At home we made plans for an excursion to a farm and craft market on Saturday. And now we are caught up. 

 The temperature is almost up to 50 degrees so we will start getting ready to head out to explore and shop some more. Tomorrow we will be leaving the Finger Lakes region and heading farther east. Our next stop is Connecticut, but for now this is so long until the next blog from our home in Trumansburg, NY because..... 

 Home is where we park it, Frank and Mary

'21/#35 Water, Water, Everywhere!

 

We are spending a few days in the Ithica NY area in search of waterfalls. There are rumored to be at least a hundred of them nearby and we will try to see as many as we can in the next couple of days. Waterfalls are right below lighthouses on Mary's list of things to see and I also find them some of Mother Natures greatest creations.

It turns out one of the falls is just a few minutes from our campground so we started there, at Taughannock Falls. We were able to drive right up to the falls with only a short walk from the parking lot. This turned out to be the norm for most of the falls we saw.

Our next stop was Robert Treman State Park. There we would find the Lower Falls and Lucifer Falls at opposite ends of the park. Entrances at either end allowed us to drive in from both sides and limit the hikes to comfortable strolls. The lower falls look like a cross between a fountain and a wedding cake. Apparently it is a swimming area but not for us. Mary stuck her finger in the water and commented "BRRRRRR".

Smiling and why not? 

Lucifer Falls was more of a hike but the trail was pretty level with steps and bridges blending into the scenery for easy access. I'm not sure of the origin of the name but going over Lucifer Falls will not end well. Again it was an easy stroll with plenty of view points to observe the falls.

The next two falls were right in the town of Ithica. Buttermilk was right off the main road with another cold swimming area and Ithica Falls was in the middle of a neighborhood. Ithica falls was used to power local industry in the 1800's and the residential area grew around the job market it created.

With a good amount of walking and lots of fresh air we called it a day. A little shopping on the way home, some dinner, a bit of TV time and we were done. It was an early night and we slept well. Today we will head out to Watkins Glen State Park to see what it has to offer. We are getting ready to go so this is goodbye from our home in the Finger Lakes Region because....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'21/#34 Always An Adventure

 In life a little rain must fall and also in the life of an RVer. We left Corfu and took the scenic route instead of the super slab known as I-90. Yes, I have my EZ Pass for that but why look at miles of concrete when we can see America the Beautiful? State road 20 took us through farm land and small towns that have been established since the late 1800's and gave us some ideas of things to do when we come back. The scenic route only added about 30 minutes to our drive and still got us to our destination well before dinner time.

Now the "rain". Turning south between Lakes Seneca and Cayuga our multiple route planners had us on SR 96a. It was a pretty road running along the Lake Seneca shore. The only thing that ruined the scenery was a sign saying "12'10" bridge". That is a problem since our trailer is almost 13'6"! We pulled into an empty lot and started to check maps, GPS, Google Maps, and our atlas and soon found a way to our destination. That meant turning 57' of RV around, doubling back about 10 miles and cutting accross to route 414 and then, route 96 (not 96a!) and head south again. 

Except for that little hiccup we were able to get to our campground and get set up in time for dinner. It wasn't that long of a day, but it was our first day on the road in months and it took it's toll on us. After dinner and a little TV time we called it a day. Wednesday we will search for waterfalls.

So until the next blog goodbye from our home in Trmansburg because....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary