October 2, 2008 - October 7, 2008
Lazy Lakes Resort Niagara - Lewiston, NY
Oct., 2008
Back in August it was a tight squeeze getting the trailer into the driveway. The space was just as tight getting the trailer out. I managed to destroy one security light on the side of the house.
The Queenston-Lewiston border crossing used to be my favorite, but now, with increased truck traffic, it tends to be the slowest. This time we had no choice; we were only going to Lewiston, NY.
The line was slow. The motor home in front of us was pulled over for inspection. We were asked the normal questions plus: "Are you traveling with that motor home in front of you?" I replied quickly in the negative. Even if had been my father and mother I would have answered the same. I did not want to go through a lengthy inspection.
Lazy Lakes Niagara is still as we remember it - flat and damp. We drove by the entrance twice before cluing in to where it was. Of course that process involves finding a place to turn around with the trailer. Live and Learn.
They have added some nice looking cabins. Supper was scheduled for Friday at 6 in the club house. We arrived with others at 6:20 to find the food gone. They were about to substitute with spaghetti. Back to the trailer for steak.
Lewiston is quaint. Always enjoy visiting there. Historic homes and buildings surrounded by changing fall colors.
One building scheduled for demolition reminded me about a popular scary story that I tell. The main character is a boy who takes a dare to sleep in an abandoned house. The other characters are animals. Usually I use a squirrel. A couple of squirrels come in to room where the boy is stretched out and they start talking. They finish their conversation with "Just wait until Charlie comes." Squirrels continue to enter. They are of increasing size and always end the conversation with "Just wait until Charlie comes."
Of course, the boy never remains to see Charlie.
This old house had young squirrels poking and racing through every nook and cranny of the building: through cracks, broken windows and holes in the roof. Rather unsettling.
The glorious find this time was Bob's Olde Books on the main street. Quality material for collectors. He has a delightful display of the decorative covers from the 1800's. The displays are not to be missed.
Pymatuning Valley Resort, Williamsfield, Ohio
Oct. 2008
This is a very large resort with indoor and outdoor pools. The sites are large and inviting. However they require some concentration and luck to get parked in them. The culverts are just begging to grab a tire or two. A neighbor helped me park. I have already plotted my escape route.
There is nice hollow with one those tree-surrounded meadows that collect the sun on a cool autumn day. The changing leaves, and rippling steam made it a delightful glen where a leprechaun might spring up at any moment. A lot of nice looking cottages for rent here.
You have not experienced an Edgar Allan Poe moment until you have come around a corner on a back-country road on a frosty morning and seen vultures on a barn roof with their wings spread to dry in the sun. These dark silhouettes send shivers up your spine.
We were on our way into Meadville, PA to visit the local Unitarian Universalist congregation. Wonderful historical building. Cathy asked directions to the washroom. I laughed at the response. No water is allowed in the historic church. The washrooms are in the parish hall. The directions were complicated. We both smiled as we remembered our experience at the Savannah UU church. A GPS is needed to find their washroom!
Some Amish in the area. A picturesque group of boys were walking to school early Monday morning. All of them attired with a blue shirt, blue jeans and straw hats.
There is always a friendly wave from the Amish whether they walking along side the road, standing in the yard or driving the black buggy down the highway.
Not many people around the resort. The family next to us are here for a couple of weeks. Mom home-schools the four children. I never ask why. That kind of conversation never has a good ending – with me involved.
The oldest of the boys was attached to his bike and was often by our trailer. When he saw that we were doing something he would stop and ask if we needed help.
I have seen some McCain/Palin signs on front yards. I find my self wondering what kind of people live there. Don’t think I want to know.
A Town to Come Back to – Marietta, Ohio. pop. 25,000
There are two trailers here in the main parking lot of the Washington County Fairgrounds. Ours has the Ontario license plate; the other trailer has Prince Edward Island plates.
“Knock, knock!” I introduced myself to the young man – the one with the bushy mustache and long hair. I wanted to trim that mustache kind of like I wanted to trim the hanging threads on that pair of cut off jean shorts that the waitress with the cowboy boots in the brew pub was wearing – don’t confuse her with the waitress in her 20’s who was one of nine children and studying Marketing at the college - but I digress.
Tom is on his way back to Mexico, Belize and Guatemala from visiting his daughters in PEI. We started sharing stories. His were much better than mine. He drives back to the Maritimes for a month each year. He wanted to share more stories over a beer but I had left Cathy sitting in the truck and it was time to get back to her.
I picked a spot near the Roller Rink and set up the trailer. While I was pulling out the awning Joe Matthews stopped to exchange pleasantries. He is the former Mayor of Marietta and had just performed a marriage ceremony in the Roller Rink. He received a special government dispensation to do that since he is no longer mayor. We talked about North Carolina. He has a daughter in Asheville; loves the city. We confess that we, also, are partial to Asheville.
Joe said he had been to Pigeon Forge over in Tennessee. I smiled and started to say that I don't give much ear time to people who want to talk about Pigeon Forge - it is kind of an amusement park as opposed to a town - but then he said he had been there with the Shriners. Yes, Shriners and Pigeon Forge would complement each other.
He was disappointed that his visit to PF had caused him to miss the Marietta Firemen's Festival on the previous day. At the end of the parade all the fire trucks in the region circled around the fairground parking lot. Thank heaven I had not been here a day earlier.
We wandered downtown and looked at the flood levels marked on the walls of the historic area. Reminds of the ones I saw in Paducah, Ky many years ago. What is that old saying: if you build your house by the side of the river, it is sure to come.? Something like that.
We wandered in and out of the stores having wonderful conversations along the way.
We nested in the Brew Pub for a long time. ( Happy Hour and supper. Did I tell you about the waitress in the cowboy boots? ) Now, our waitress – not the cowgirl – is from one of the more established families in the county. So much established that the family tree reconnects by marriage a few times. I almost gave her a hug. My family tree is like that as well. There is nothing like inbreeding to.. whatever.
Met Sue and Pat while we were snooping in the cattle barn to see what was happening. They are on the Fairgrounds Board. Floods, dog shows, Labor Day Fair – we covered it all.
I do not know what is happening in the Roller Rink tonight. Cars come and go. Have to be careful stepping out of trailer – you don’t know when a car will come in to park beside us. I guess one should expect that when you are settled in a parking lot – in front of the main door to the roller rink.
Our drive here was all in the rain. Tomorrow we get to our first long stay campsite: Riverview.
Thursday 6:30 am : I start to hear cars pulling into our "campsite". There is some talking as cars keep coming. Must be some cultic meeting this early in the morning. I look out the window and see many cars parked neatly in rows. The people, young and old, are all walking over to the Shriner's Building. Then I remember: this is the first day of the flu shot clinic. Sue and Pat had warned us yesterday.
There are full service campsites all around the fairgrounds. The cost is $20. You pay on the honor system.
As we get ready to leave Tom and Becky come over to wish us well on our journey and we wish them the same has they head to Central America. Becky gave me information about FREE CAMPING in the southern Ohio area. The power company is reclaiming old mine sites and putting acres and acres up for public access. Each campground has water access and pit toilets. For those who like to boondock, this is a delight. You need a pass but it is free and you print it out from the internet. Here is the link: http://www.aep.com/environmental/recreation/recland/
(If the link doesn't work, just cut and paste it into your web browser.)
Off to Lakeview RV Resort in Bluff City, Tennessee.
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