I departed from Crazy Acres Campground on 5/4, and headed north and west to Cherry Hill Campground in Darien Center, NY. I traveled along State Routes 23 and 80 making my way north and west to US Route 20. Then followed that, all the way west to the Campground. The route was quite scenic in spite of all the rain. I made one stop to see Seneca Lake in Geneva, NY. This area would have been beautiful to explore more but torrential rains and fog made that impossible. Dodging a few rain drops I was only able to grab a single pictures.
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| Seneca Lake from a welcome center |
At Cherry Hill I had reserved a site for two nights. I pulled into the campground to find that I was expected, but when she saw what I was planning on staying in she felt bad for me. She said “You requested and RV site. So you don’t have a bathroom?” I said that there was nowhere on there reservation website to indicate that I was dirt bagging my way across the country. She told me that the reason she asked was that the bathhouse and showers were all under renovation. They were working on the floors and recent storms had prevented them from putting them back together. I said no problem I was prepared with a "luggable lu” (5 gallon bucket with plastic seat and plastic bags) and a privacy tent and I would make do. “Well,” she said, “We’ll see if we can’t get at least one up and running by tomorrow evening. Then she informed me that the site I had requested was totally flooded out, and giving me a map told me to drive around picked the driest I could find and text her the new site number. I had the choice of any with the exception of one. There would be another rig coming later that night. So in the drizzle I drove around until I found one and backed in. I took the opportunity in a lull in the weather and got my privacy tent up and the lu all set as quickly as I could. I then sat in the cab of the truck until the rain abated cooked a little dinner and turned in for the night.
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| Campsite at Cherry Hill Campground |
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| Early the next morning |
The following day I was up early and when the sun came up it was clear skies and glorious sunshine. I drove to Niagara Falls. I haven’t been there since I was in Hamburg, NY surveying for a client who was setting up a TND (Traditional Neighborhood Design) back in the late 80's. What a wonder this place is. There are really no words, although breathtaking comes the closest. It was sunny and in the sixties and I hiked all over the American side where as to be able view the falls from all angles. I visited the cave of the winds at the base of the falls. Quite amazing to view it from below. Many pictures were taken, and I did manage to kick out a couple of sketches as well.
Back at the campground I got meet the only other folks staying there. They were a young couple in there 20’s. They had just rejuvenated and older model RV tow behind and were on the same adventure I was on. Almost the same itinerary as well. They were from the Belgrade area of Maine and had stayed on Peaks Island a couple of times and even gotten there dog who was with them from someone on the island. Way too small a world.
Off to the Cleveland area- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park!
