Sunday, June 29, 2008

Funny Signs & strange Places

We have decided that we will create a new online albumn that has funny signs and strange places because it'll be just fun for us... and maybe for the people who read this blog too.

Oh yeah... to help my web site: Ameriplan

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Lobstah fun...


Wow. Exeter, NH is a great New England town! We really enjoyed getting "the tour" from our friend Catherine. Last night we drove down to Portsmouth, NH to eat some lobsters (pronounced "lobstah" in this part of the country) which we have been craving for about a month now. We have arrived at our new summer hang out for sure.

Here's some fun pics of us, Catherine and her son, Brandon ( who is a great guy too!)


This is Brandon. He just got his driver's license today so we all had reason to celebrate! Not that we really NEEDED a reason :) He was showing me the proper way to wear a bib to be fully protected from Lobster Juice. HA! Boy, were they good.












To prove we really ARE here. Behind us is the train station where one can catch a 45 minute round trip train ride to Boston for $14, or to a few other destinations for a few bucks. Oh yeah... we WILL be riding that train to Boston one day :)

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

We fought the Law...

Whew! We arrived in Exeter, NH about 7:30pm last night after deciding to drive about 350 miles from our last spot. Of course it POURED all the way... and I mean literally ALL the way. Traffic was going about 30MPH in some areas because it was raining so hard. Our aux braking system for our toad was acting up, so we stopped about 3 times to try and fix THAT problem, but finally I just disconnected the thing. Sigh.

Our friend told us that we would be able to boondock in an abandoned parking lot across the street where she lives, but when we got there, we couldn't get in the lot because we are too big. Uh oh. Now what do we do?

We disconnected the toad, and I sent Kathy ahead of me with walkie talkie in hand as a scout to be sure we could drive out of the narrow streets we found ourselves in. We finally made it out of the neighborhood and back on the main road where we found and empty lot right next to a Dunkin Doughnut shop! SWEET! Both of us were worn out from the drive, so we parked it in the lot.

About 11PM we have bright lights shining in the window and Exeters finest was walking around the RV trying to figure out what the hell we were doing parked there.

Someone had called us in as a "suspicious vehicle." WHAT? US?? Suspicious?? Get outta here!

Of course Elvis is barking his head off, Kathy is digging for ID's, I'm begging the officer to PLEASE let us stay the rest of the night and we'll find another place first thing in the morning - I promise! Being the staunch enforcement officer that is expected here in Exeter, the officer called his station to ask his sargent for permission to let us stay ( It IS private property after all. Just a 2 acre blank piece of black top with a big freaking "For Sale" sign in front. It WAS the local McDonalds lot until they moved about FIVE YEARS AGO).

No answered the phone ( hmmmm I wonder where they were at 11:15pm on a Monday night?) so he let us stay! YEAH!

Now I have to find another place to park before someone calls in to report us as a "suspicious vehicle" again. HA!

We're off to visit, sight see the area and eat a BIG lobster tonight for dinner :))

The good news - I get to have Dunkin Doughnuts and coffee in the morning (parked about 50 feet from the door)! Oh yeah - our coffee pot broke yesterday after falling to the floor so I NEEDED a good cup of java anyway...

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Last Day in the Adirondacks

Well, this is the longest we've stayed in one place so far. Nine nights/10 days. It's been a good experience. We've learned a lots of do's and don'ts.

Do lots of Internet homework first and read the campground reviews! They have been extremely helpful. Take this place, for example. The owners (hosts) have been great............new owners, and really take pride in their camp. We have been very lucky to have such a nice camping spot (about 1/4 acre site, which is rare).

Do stock up on food before you get to campground. We had to go 25 miles to a WalMart, or an IGA Grocery Store, but it's all a pretty ride, so that's no big deal.

Don't expect to not get cabin fever. It has just set in on us yesterday. We've had a string of rainy days, and combine that with only 3 TV channels, well, you get the drift. We have watched every DVD we own, which isn't many.

DON'T camp too far from civilization. At least a town large enough to have a movie theatre, a haircut and nail salon (I mean really, I never knew there was a town without a nail lady!) We miss the simple things.

DO have the most wonderful husband in the world. He doesn't care if I want to read all day, or veg, or whatever. I really hit the jackpot there!

So, in our last night here, we're taking it easy. We've got clean sheets, and a clean dog and are on the road again tomorrow morning!!

Still miss Jax a lot and will see you all in the early fall!!!!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

What day Is It?

A funny thing happened on the way to eat Thursday.

We had been told that a local resturant, The Buffalo Head, served a great fish fry diner every Friday so we planned on treating ourselves to a night out on Friday. We try to cook at home as much as possible, so going out to dinner is a little treat for us ;)

Thursday, Kathy asks me what time I wanted to eat at The Buffalo Head resturant and I just said, "Whenever you're ready honey!"

Sweet! We're going out to eat on Thursday AND Friday! I guess Kathy doesn't feel like cooking tonight. So off we go to get our selves something to eat...

On the way to the resturant Kathy asks me, "You are going to get the fish fry special aren't you?" Uh oh. Kathy thinks it's FRIDAY and it's THURSDAY.

"Uh honey... today is Thursday. I thought you were just tired and didn't want to cook diner tonight."

"WHAT?? Today's THURSDAY?? No it's not. It's Friday! It's gotta be Friday! If it's not Friday let's go back to camp and I'll whip us up some diner."

"WHAT?? You want to turn around just because it's Thursday? Oh no. I'm all geared up to eat a nice big juicy burger and besides... I'm all dressed up! I have on NEW socks!"'

"Well, I don't think today is Thursday. Let's just go get something to eat."

"Yes dear."

When we walk into the resturant, I casually ask the waitress, "When do you guys have your big fish fry? Today or tomorrow on Friday?"

"Tomorrow - on Friday's," she replied.

Kathy shakes her head, grinning at me, "I thought for sure today was Friday."

"What month is it honey?"

"It's JUNE!"

Yep. It's June. At least we haven't lost track of the month yet. hehehe

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

No Fed Exing of Cigarettes Please!

I just read what Steve wrote and I'm hoping NO ONE will take pity on him and send him smokes!!! Kidding, sort of. Anyway, the price was quite a shock. I'm hoping we can both put them down permanently. This could do it.

Anyway, this area of the country is so pretty; it's just incredible. We are going to explore some of the small villages up the road today.

Had our first campfire yesterday; we were in sweats and sweatshirts cause it was about 50 ° here!!! Woke up to the low 50's. It feels great. We sleep with our windows open and it's soooooooo quiet here in the forest. Love it!

Our big excursion was 25 miles to Utica, to go to a Wal Mart............whooppee!!!

We will post new pics of the train ride we are taking this weekend.

Take care, and stay cool; my sister says it's blistering hot in Jax!!

Kathy

Saturday, June 14, 2008

$27 Toll & $5.13/gal Diesel & $7 cigs

On our way from Niagara falls to our next stop ( somewhere in NH to meet our friend, Catherine) we took I-90 east across the state as it was the shortest route. Didn't know it was a toll road. We drove about 180 miles on I-90 and it cost us $27 to get off. I also didn't fill my tank up before I got on I-90, so I had to stop at one of the "service centers" to get some go juice. It cost me $5.13 a freaking gallon. Yikes!

And the cost of cigarettes! Yeah, yeah I smoke and I know I should quit. NY apparently passed a new tax law on June 6th 2008 that added a $2.50 TAX on a PACK of smokes. I went to buy a pack and it was $6.88 PLUS sales tax which put it right at $7.00. You have to be kidding me??? I need to get out of this state just becuse of that! Or maybe I should cut down on smoking a little? Naw... I'll have someone Fedex me a carton! That would be cheaper!

The campground where we're staying for a week (just killing time) is
http://www.campadirondack.com/ and it's very pretty! Someone had set up camp in our reserved spot, so I found myself backing up into another site which made me a little nervous as I had to "wiggle" my RV into the spot. Thankfully, I had 3 guys helping me back in.

We went to listen to a Blue grass band tonight, cooked steak & chicken on the grill and now it's bed time.


SEE CAMP PICTURES HERE >>

This campground is great. It's 25 miles from a major store and a few miles from any main road, so the only thing I hear in the morning are the chirping of the birds, the hammering of a wood pecker somewhere around here, and the hum of mosquitoes buzzing around my head. We can't get satellite reception here because of the tree cover, but we do get FOX, ABC & NBC through our antenna! I got to watch the US Open ( I was rooting for the other guy, not Tiger because, well... Tiger just didn't NEED to win again. But he did anyway. Sigh.) so I'm good. Reading & fishing are your best bets here.

I've also learned that only the real BIG black flys hurt when they bite you. The little one I just ignore :)

Saturday, we're off to Exeter, NH for 2 days to visit with a friend of ours from Jacksonville. Then we're meeting another friend from Jacksonville in Ware, MA for another 2 days. Small world!

After that, we want to find a place in NH, ME, VT, or MA where we can just park for a month or so and enjoy the cooler summers of the north!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls was nice to visit :) The FALLS were. The town itself is old and run down. Only takes one day to see it.
Niagara Falls fire ring and wash facilities! HA!Posted by Picasa

Niagara Falls; Day 1

So, it's 2 am; (ish) and I just find this is the best time to write. Steve is asleep and so is Elvis. I am wide awake. Maybe it's because I went to BED at 9 pm!!! Woke up and it is 68 degrees in the house! That's with the a/c off and just pulling fresh air thru the vents. What a difference from the 97 degrees in Gettysburg.

Left PA yesterday and to conserve $$$$$ (lest someone has to get a job whose name begins with Steve) we are trying to find free places to stay occasionally. So, we stayed at a "Flying J" truck stop last night. It was pretty scary. Big big trucks fly by you every minute or so. But it's safe and free, so I can adapt. We met a couple who travel with, yes, 16 dogs!!! I wonder what their motorhome smells like. So, left there and headed up here to Niagara Falls. I was only good for about an hour, then had to nap in the back. We thought we were out of the mountains, but Steve drove us thru 3 hours in the Allegheny's. He said it was best that I wasn't watching the roads. Pretty hairy turns and the lady (that's being nice) on the GPS keeps trying to take us on little roads that were apparently designed for go-carts. Suffice to say, we made it to Niagara Falls proper.

Found the campground easily; had a lot of trouble getting parked in the spot I wanted. But he did it! We took a short drive to the Falls, with Elvis, so we couldn't get out and take pics. Just wanted to see where we need to be tomorrow. We are doing the "Maid of the Mist" boat tour, and a couple of other touron (that's half tourist/half moron) sites. Leaving on Saturday. Am a little concerned that we are going on Niagara Falls on Friday the 13th. Not over the falls, but under. I am going to attempt the "Hurricane Deck" at the Cave of the Winds................if it's not too high up. It's the spot from the Marilyn Monroe/Joseph Cotten movie, "Niagara" which is my favorite Marilyn movie. Except that she has her husband murdered there. Don't worry Steve, I KNOW nobody in Niagara (kidding hon). We will post pics in a couple of days.

So very great to hear from everyone who reads the blog. We don't "blog" every day, which I know you may be grateful for.

Leaving here early Saturday to go to Kayuta Lake near Utica, NY. Will be there for a week. On a lake, things to do nearby so I am looking forward to that.

Other than that, all is good. I'm off to bed again, as we have a busy day tomorrow.

Miss you all...if anyone wants to send us their snail mail address, we would love to send more postcards!

Take care,

Kathy

Sunday, June 8, 2008

New Pics From Gettysburg

Hey all,
Still learning how to use this blog, and now, of course, Steve has a NEW way to download pictures...............so this is my learning curve. If you want to see ANY of our pics, click on the link to your right >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


We've really enjoyed Gettysburg. The town and battlefield are side by side, and it's really easy getting around. The actual town of Gettysburg is kind of like downtown Amelia Island, or St. Augustine, except larger.

So, all the newer pics are going to be found in the link at the top right hand side of the blog. I hope you will take a look!

Miss everyone, but not work!!!!!!

Kathy

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Gettysburg, PA



Gettysburg is a cool little town. There's LOT's to see and do here if you are interested in the civil war at all. We took a bus tour of the battle fields today and found it very interesting. This is pic is on top of a hill that once taken by the Union, changed to outcome of the war as it looks over the entire valley where this battle that killed 10,000 soldiers in 3 days took place.



Here's our camping spot for 7 days. It's a nice spot and we have trees all around that provide shade. when we 1st started our trip we almost bought bicycles, but all our camp sites have been gravel so far and who wants to try & ride a bike on gravel? Not us. There's very few places you'd be able to ride a bike, so we'll rent one if we ever want to ride around.

It's supposed to be 92 - 94 degrees here today (6-7-08)and that's HOT! Our AC's will be on full blast that's for sure. Our next stop will be Niagara falls, NY. We figure that we're on a big sight seeing trip right now, and these places are kind of on our way north ( to try and get to cooler temperatures), so we're going to stop and spend a few days at Niagara. Kathy has never been and I went in 1975, so it's been awhile for me too!

We have learned that finding a cheap place to stay ( $15-$20 a night) is difficult even trying to use discount memberships such as Passport America. Gettysburg costs $50 a day and the same with Niagara Falls... but these are tourist stops so you have to pay to play if you want to see them. When we leave here we're going to boon dock for a night in some Walmart or other parking lot. We need to find a place we like, that's fairly close to stores, maybe a movie theater, etc. that we can stay at for a month. Of course that'll be further north to get away fro this 90+ weather!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

The hardest thing about RV'ing...

OK, now I know what the hardest thing about RV'ing is (besides taking it like a man when it comes to paying my gas bill!) and that finding a freaking place to stay and go without spending a fortune.


Now the definition of "fortune" means different things to different people. Before we started this, we had a budget (yes - we actually had an estimated budget) of "around $500 - $600" a month for camping. Don't EVEN ask what our budget was for diesel cause THAT's been blown out the window as well.

We're finding that the good RV parks cost $30 a night and up. Oh sure, we can get 50% off with our Pass Port America membership IF we meet the following conditions:
  1. Discounts not valid on weekends or holidays. Only Sun. through Thursdays. ( at a lot of parks)

  2. Discounts not valid during race events ( like in NASCAR)

  3. Cable TV hook up is $2.00 a night extra.
  4. Oh want shade? That'll be another $1.00 a day.
  5. What? Oh - you want a site with a VIEW?? Oh boy! That's gonna be ANOTHER $3.00 a night!!!! Hey Mister - need electricity? hehehehe
Then, there's the 30 amp service only ( wee need 50 amp) or the fact that I can't get this big ass thing TO the park cause the roads too small!

So... what I find myself doing is planning camp sites about 4 days in advance. We search for bargains! Like we are staying at http://www.campnbr.com/index2.html at our next stop. BUT - if you stay for FOUR days, then the FIFTH day is free! SWEET!

At $41 a day, it's a really nice park, but a little pricey. But if we stay for 5 days, then it's only $32.80 a day!

I can literally spend hours trying to find specials, discounts, coupons, etc. in an attempt to save $$.

And THAT's the hardest thing to do for me so far!


Oh wait! There's the finding "special" places to eat too (that's hard!). Now, from the DESIGN of this place, you'd think that hot dogs would be their forte. But nooooooo - their hot dogs sucked! Come to find out their hamburgers are what they're famous for. Hey Pal's - put a HAMBURGER up there instead of a hot dog! You faked me out!