We left Findley State Park as planned and headed to LaGrange, Indiana for our minor repairs plus "free" camping in the parking lot of Indiana Interstate Enterprises. Roof leak turned out to be where the TV antenna (not our Dish) went up through the roof. I'm surprised we didn't have leaks before but maybe it took the 20 inches in Hershey to finally force the issue. On Wednesday, we left LaGrange and traveled the 20 miles to Elkhart for the installation of the generator. We had been told that it would take all day and it did plus another four hours so we camped in one of the parking spots provided by Cummins/Onan. Finally, on Thursday we left to start heading south after making a quick stop back in LaGrange to have a lock replaced.
Our plans were to camp the weekend at Ouabache State Park near Bluffton. Of course, it was pouring rain when we got there and after the rain settled down to a drizzle we tried to set up camp. However, this is an older park and is definitely NOT designed for big rigs. We tried three different sites but couldn't get the camper into any of them--too many trees and too much standing water/mud. Fortunately, the park officials were nice and gave us a full refund and we headed back north (wrong direction, I know) and pulled into a park that we have used in the past at Auburn, IN. They have level pull-thru sites with 50 Amp and full hook-ups (YEA!). Later today we are going to see George and Ruth in Bluffton who Pat has known for many years. Tomorrow will probably be laundry and maybe another visit with George and Ruth. Sunday morning we will depart for Southern Indiana and a two week stay at Charlestown State Park while we visit with kids and friends as well as our 6-month doctor and dentist appointments.
I would really like to see the sun again. It seems like we have had rain and more rain since our stay in Wellsboro, PA over Labor Day weekend. Maybe Southern Indiana will live up to it's reputation as the "Sunny Side of Louisville". :-)
EASY LIVING!!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Findley State Park (Wellington, OH)
Since we left Hershey on September 19, we made an overnight stop at Gaslight Campground in Emlenton, PA. This turned out to be a decent campground close to Interstate 80 but far enough away that we couldn't hear the traffic. The next morning, we left and drove to Findley State Park in Wellington, Ohio. We arrived early afternoon with NO rain. The site we had reserved was way too small for our RV so we had to wait until the check-in ladies returned from some errands. We were able to switch to another site which turned out to be a very nice site with shade all day. The deer were plentiful the first day but went into hiding as the weekend campers started arriving.
Our primary purpose for stopping in the Cleveland area was to see Susan's family. We visited with Robyn and Dale on Wednesday and attended a flag football to watch their daughter cheer. On Sunday (today), Valerie and Jim and Marc and Rachel drove out to the campground for a visit. We fixed a Smoked Sausage Stew in the slow cooker. It must have been pretty good since we had no left overs!!
Tomorrow, we leave Ohio for LaGrange, Indiana to have some repairs to our RV--a roof leak and the automatic awning gave us problems in Hershey. On Wednesday, we will be in Elkhart, IN to have a generator installed. No more worrying about whether or not we have electric power!!
EASY LIVING!
Our primary purpose for stopping in the Cleveland area was to see Susan's family. We visited with Robyn and Dale on Wednesday and attended a flag football to watch their daughter cheer. On Sunday (today), Valerie and Jim and Marc and Rachel drove out to the campground for a visit. We fixed a Smoked Sausage Stew in the slow cooker. It must have been pretty good since we had no left overs!!
Tomorrow, we leave Ohio for LaGrange, Indiana to have some repairs to our RV--a roof leak and the automatic awning gave us problems in Hershey. On Wednesday, we will be in Elkhart, IN to have a generator installed. No more worrying about whether or not we have electric power!!
EASY LIVING!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Rain and Rally (Hershey, PA)
Last week (September 7), we left Wellsboro, PA in the rain and drove south all in rain. Our projected trip was supposed to take about 4 hours. However, as we approached Harrisburg, PA the rain kept coming down harder and harder. We made it around Harrisburg and turned east towards Hershey still in rain. The closer we got to Hershey, the more water there was coming out of the sky and staying on the roads. We made it to Hershey and couldn't go anyfurther--our turn-off from one road to another was closed due to a collapsed road. We followed our on-star directions and turned down a street, went up a hill and came to a sudden stop--the other side of the hill was flooded with water and other things flowing across the street. Pat got out of the truck and walked back to tell other drivers that the road was flooded. Obviously we were not going anywhere soon and it was still pouring. Finally, we managed to move enough cars out of the way so Pat could back up into a business parking lot. We went back to route 422 which is the main street of Hershey--it was crawling due to flooding. In this picture, you can see the top of a car (police car, I think) which is under the trees. Later we discovered that the car was actually on a street! I guess 20 inches of rain (yep-20 inches) will cause all sorts of problems.
Finally, we turned on a street that would take us to the road we needed to be on. However, after going two blocks, a temporary traffic control person wouldn't let us go any further and we had to turn down a narrow street with the camper. Pat handled it very well and we managed to make it to a bank parking lot to try to figure out what we could do. Since we drive two vehicles, I left to scout out a possible route. By this time, the rain had stopped for a while and I found a way to get out of Hershey. We finally arrived at the campground as the rain resumed at a horribly heavy rate and in the dark. With some help from a very nice fellow camper, we were able to get into a spot without floating into the pond. WHEW!!
The next morning we were able to assess the situation. The campground roads were in pretty rough condition and the area roads were still closed. Our friend, Judy, came out from Harrisburg to spend a few days with us and we did some touristy type things such as going to the Chocolate World and the Civil War Musuem.
Sunday, the RV-Dreams Rally led by Howard and Linda Payne started. The campground managed to repair many of the roads so all the attendees as well as other campers were able to enter and establish camp. The rally was an educational seminar to help both old and new RVers with various topics ranging from RV safety to making the decision of what type of RV to buy to the emotional issue of moving from a stick & brick house to an RV. This was a first class rally that was worth every penny. We learned a lot and made lots of new friends.
EASY LIVING!!
Finally, we turned on a street that would take us to the road we needed to be on. However, after going two blocks, a temporary traffic control person wouldn't let us go any further and we had to turn down a narrow street with the camper. Pat handled it very well and we managed to make it to a bank parking lot to try to figure out what we could do. Since we drive two vehicles, I left to scout out a possible route. By this time, the rain had stopped for a while and I found a way to get out of Hershey. We finally arrived at the campground as the rain resumed at a horribly heavy rate and in the dark. With some help from a very nice fellow camper, we were able to get into a spot without floating into the pond. WHEW!!
The next morning we were able to assess the situation. The campground roads were in pretty rough condition and the area roads were still closed. Our friend, Judy, came out from Harrisburg to spend a few days with us and we did some touristy type things such as going to the Chocolate World and the Civil War Musuem.
Sunday, the RV-Dreams Rally led by Howard and Linda Payne started. The campground managed to repair many of the roads so all the attendees as well as other campers were able to enter and establish camp. The rally was an educational seminar to help both old and new RVers with various topics ranging from RV safety to making the decision of what type of RV to buy to the emotional issue of moving from a stick & brick house to an RV. This was a first class rally that was worth every penny. We learned a lot and made lots of new friends.
EASY LIVING!!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Lions, Tigers, and Bears--Oh MY (Wellsboro, PA)
Well maybe no lions and tigers but bears are in the area. Unfortunately, with the Labor Day crowds and the continual rain since Monday, we did not see any bears. Our current stay has been at Stony Fork Creek Campground in a valley surrounded by mountains.
Before the weather closed in on us, we did go to see an area called Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. More beautiful scenery as you can see from the pictures:
Saturday was unseasonably warm with no breeze. Because of the full campground with everyone running air conditioners and also because the old power lines leading to the campground, most of the campground lost power for several hours. Thank goodness we have a built in surge protector--the power would come on but because of low voltage, it would go off again. This continued from about 3 pm until 10 pm. In this case, the campground's wiring was not at fault and the utility company is in the process of upgrading the lines. They just haven't gotten as far as the campground yet. Rather than eating at home, we decided it would be a good idea to go out. We had a very delicious meal at The Steakhouse in Wellsboro.
Sunday was warm as well but with a good breeze there was no issue with the power. By Sunday night, the rain moved in and we stayed in the camper except to walk the dogs. Of course, neither Duke nor Abby like to get wet so walks have been extremely short!
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we move to Hershey, PA area for close to two weeks. We will be busy visiting long-time friends, attending an RV rally, visiting with family and going to the Hershey RV show. I hope the rain ends and the sun shines!!
EASY LIVING!
Before the weather closed in on us, we did go to see an area called Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. More beautiful scenery as you can see from the pictures:
Saturday was unseasonably warm with no breeze. Because of the full campground with everyone running air conditioners and also because the old power lines leading to the campground, most of the campground lost power for several hours. Thank goodness we have a built in surge protector--the power would come on but because of low voltage, it would go off again. This continued from about 3 pm until 10 pm. In this case, the campground's wiring was not at fault and the utility company is in the process of upgrading the lines. They just haven't gotten as far as the campground yet. Rather than eating at home, we decided it would be a good idea to go out. We had a very delicious meal at The Steakhouse in Wellsboro.
Sunday was warm as well but with a good breeze there was no issue with the power. By Sunday night, the rain moved in and we stayed in the camper except to walk the dogs. Of course, neither Duke nor Abby like to get wet so walks have been extremely short!
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we move to Hershey, PA area for close to two weeks. We will be busy visiting long-time friends, attending an RV rally, visiting with family and going to the Hershey RV show. I hope the rain ends and the sun shines!!
EASY LIVING!
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