I’ve managed to transport myself from New York to Quebec without even starting my engine or burning an ounce of gas. Pretty amazing if l do say so myself.
Are you curious at all how l did this feat? It really is quite simple. Quebec did all the heavy lifting for me. They all came down to New York to the KOA Campground. The campground is only a couple of hours from Montreal, and it is the Canadian Long Weekend, so they headed to this beautiful spot.
When l went to Wal-Mart in Plattsburgh, l was amazed at how many Quebec plates were there. I think Plattsburgh is the equivalent to Buffalo for us Ontarians.
The park filled up quickly for a Friday afternoon, and fifth wheels seem to be the trailer of choice.
In a previous life l sold books. I used to do book fairs for a company, where l would go into corporations and set up a display of books (quite a big display – equal to a mini store) in their lobby, break rooms, meeting rooms, etc. Why does this matter? Well, during that time l learned the value of an elastic. Silly as it may seem. Since everyone has a few uses for an elastic. I perfected it to an art.
I would use them to bind a set of books together, which was the whole reason l had the elastics. Then l branched out and used the almighty elastic for so many things. I would close bags of chips with them, bind wires together to keep them all orderly, l would use them to keep my rolls of coins from flying around my cash register, wrap up my extensions cords…the list is endless.
Living in a Class B Camper van, l find that previous life melds nicely into this current one where elastics are concerned. I use them to hang hats to nobs, keep all my electronic wires for my gadgets organized, l have them around files that l am working on, so if l forget to stow everything before l take off; l don’t have a mess when l put on the brakes or take a corner, hold my garbage bag to a lower kitchen knob.
I also use them to hold my towels to my hooks. I pinch a bit of the towel and spin the elastic around the pinch a few times and my towels are secure for transit. I don’t have to worry about them falling to the ground when l drive in a damp mess.
Today l lost it. Have you ever spent time looking for something when it is right there in front of your face? Well, in my case, l had two elastics out for my towels. After l secured the first one, l had to search for the other elastic. I searched for a few seconds (which is an eternity) before l realized l had it in my mouth. I have Certifiably LOST IT….OK, l found the elastic, but l believe l have lost my mind!!!
I was over at a blog that l follow on a regular basis http://travelswithmiranda.uskeba.ca/, the author Rae has just gone through an experience that l hope never to go through, she was rear ended while travelling in West Virginia with her Class C and toad. The toad was a write off, and the RV suffered some damage too.
She is heading home to Quebec on a trip planned before the accident, and has just arrived, safe and sound. She made a comment today about the consideration of other drivers, or shall we say lack of. And l have to agree with her.
I was driving yesterday, in the Adirondack Region of New York, in my Class B Falcon, traveling from Wilmington to Lake Placid. The terrain is hilly, and lets face it, my old girl is a wee bit slow on the uphill ride. I’ve actually figured out that l can go faster if l am on cruise control (who ever invented cruise, l will forever love you!!!) then if l just jam my foot on the gas peddle. I pretty much go to a crawl if l am not on cruise when l hit a hill. I don’t know if the Falcon has a guvnor on it restricting it from switching to high gear when not on cruise when climbing a hill, or if it is something else(anyone know – feel free to chime in).
So yesterday l was going 45 MPH uphill in a 50 MPH zone, when l was passed shortly after, which is fine with me. I understand, l can lumber along and usually just stick at the speed limit. What l don’t understand, is about 150 yards after this guy passed me, he put on his brakes to make a right hand turn. Really? You couldn’t wait an extra 30 seconds to get there, you had to pass me???
I always get out of the way of traffic behind me if l am going slower then posted speeds, l always stay in the right lane, and l am putting it out there, that if you are stuck behind me and l am going to slow for you, l apologize in advance. 
Four more trailers are in the park. I expect it to grow quite a bit tomorrow being that it is Friday.
Today was a nice day, a bit on the cool side, nothing to complain about as the sun shone all day.
The cats are settling in, enjoying the outdoors and all the cool spots to go sniffing. Charlie hasn’t brought home any creatures yet, l trust eventually she will find someones hiding spot and enjoy a snack. Ah nature.
Our home for the next two weeks
This is the troupes’ home for the next couple of weeks. Not too shabby if l do say so myself. I finally have arrived at a campground that IS a campground. There are no seasonal sites here or any long termers, it’s rustic and very naturally beautiful.
To get here l had a really tough time putting up with the scenery.
New York State ....of mind
The roads were quiet, and every once in a while l would get a good view of the moutains up ahead.
Peace and Quiet
This is the view that l have from my van….l wonder what it will look like on the weekend? There might be a trailer or two blocking my view 
I had been up since 5am, and was starting to fade really quick around 6pm tonight, so l threw on my running shoes and went out exploring the park. It’s pretty empty right now. It is the Canadian long weekend this weekend so they expect it to be very busy. They are only 2 1/2 hours from Montreal and Ottawa. And us Canadians LOVE our May 24 (pronounced Two-Four – like a case of beer) weekend. It is the official kick off of our summer….and we LOVE summer!!
Len-to
On the site map l had seen an area that said Lento, and this my friends is a lento. The sign you can see inside says that it is against the NY law to pitch your tent inside the Lento…..so are you just supposed to be in your sleeping bag in this thing? With the side open to bugs, and BEARS????? I will have to do some fact finding this weekend.
Au Sable River
Past the Lento’s l could hear these rapids calling to me. We has just had a short thunderstorm, but l am sure these bad boys run this fast all the time. Very pretty!!!
Very Cool Staircase
This cool staircase is part of the lodge at the campground. Very unique. It is made out of trees harvested right here from the campground. Too bad pictures never do anything justice!
Don’t let that pretty little face fool you. She is an escape artist and a speed demon. She choose to do it at a rest stop last night. I have come to the conclusion, Charlie really doesn’t like travelling at night. I don’t know why. During the day she will snooze as we drive around whether on short or long hauls.
At night, it’s a different story, she gets restless, wandering around at the front of the cab, looking out the front and side windows, hopping on my lap, just like she had a shot of caffeine.
So it was a bit of a game of chase last night at 10pm in a busy rest stop. I’m happy to say that l ultimately won the game and we are now sitting cozy in the camper van. Charlie is trying to look all innocent, but l know better!!!!!
A nice hot shower with endless running water after 6 days of Sponge Baths.
I always remember when l would go camping ….in a tent…..one of the best things was coming home and having the first hot shower in days. It seems like such luxury, and so many of us are so use to it, we take it for granted.
I guess l am just like our ancestors having sponge baths, when it was only a Sunday event to have baths. Actually l remember my Dad would have a sponge bath every other day when l was a kid, at least in the beginning. He grew up in Holland, and when l visited there when l was 15 (Yoowzers – 30 years ago), l remember how much of a chore it was to have a shower. It was in the back porch, which was very cool in the winter time, and they would have to fire up the water heater, then wait.
Kind of like what l have to do now…..lol
Yesterday I enjoyed my afternoon watching a high-school rugby match. It was a beautiful sunny day, and it was at the field where l have spent some time this past weekend. Didn’t understand the rules of the game, but it was interesting.
They were loud enough to scare the bejesus out of my cats, so they never got out in the fresh air that was the original plan, at least not until all the kids left.
I’m sure the cats are counting down the days until they can get out and play at the campground.
I have to say, l am quite impressed with myself and how little water l use now. Of course, it is by necessity, but not really a hardship.
I have filled up my on-board water tank (not sure how big it is, maybe 20 gallons). At first l couldn’t get the pump working, it was running, just wasn’t pushing any water through it. A friend of mine looked at it. The same friend who has helped me in the past with issues in the van. I am pretty handy, what l have learned, l have learned from him….so imagine how much knowledge he has!!!! I haven’t even learned the tip of the iceberg compared to him.
He unhooked it from the tank to see if it was pumping, it was, and water started to come out, he hooked it back up and Wal-la, l had water. It must have had a hard time sucking a prime, and that little undoo-ing helped it out. I flushed out the tank, since l had put some bleach in it a month ago, filled it up, and haven’t looked back.
My city water hook up worked fine, it was just my on-board tank pump that didn’t. Now that is all fixed, life is good. Well, it always was good, it just got liquidity good.
I left the last campground on Wednesday last week, and won’t be at the other one until Wednesday of this week, so a whole week without services, and l survived. Quite nicely too.
I’ve been staying in various spots, sleeping like a rock. Although last night after l had batten down the hatches, closed my eyes and was just about to nod off, one of my blinds decided to whip up and retract. You would think that my heart would have jumped through my chest. It didn’t. I opened my eyes to see what happened, wasn’t too concerned. I guess l feel really safe in my little home. As Martha Stewart says, “it’s a good thing”.
Yep, proud to say l spend a fair amount of time at McDonald’s. Not eating their food mind you, just using their Internet. Okay, when l am not outside in the parking lot, but inside the restaurant, l do purchase a hot tea and a muffin. In Canada, it’s only $1.46, a pretty damn good deal. AND they make the tea properly. By properly l mean, open the tea bag package, put that lovely tea bag in the cup in Canada l can actually get my Earl Grey too), then ad the steaming hot water. Perfection.
Funny thing, everywhere l have been in the USA (we are talking McDonald’s here – not Starbucks- Starbucks does it right), they put the hot water in the cup and place the tea bag on the side. It doesn’t hit the hot water until l place it in. Not the end of the world, l agree. If l am just grabbing the tea and high tailing it out of there, l then have to put the bag in myself and play with it, until it is steeped enough, then pull the bag out and throw it in the trash. Not the end of the world, sometimes it’s the little things that make a day!
I would like to officially Thank McDonald’s for the brilliant idea of Free Internet, and any other companies out there doing the same thing!
