What does a mish-mash look like?

July 26-27, 2021

 Riverside CG,   Montgomery, PA

It may look like a mish-mash, but it works.  50 amp service that is consistent even with both ACs running along with the convection oven.  And the water pressure is good as well, even though it also is a mish-mash of hoses.  Dad smiled a sigh of relief when our hose JUST reached without digging out an additional piece to add.  Now the sewer line made him frown.  It is a LONG run ..lots of pieces put together....without much grade.  

Hey, Momma?  What's baking?  Are Aunt Carol and Uncle Steve joining us for dessert?  I hope she remembers to bring my cookie bone treats.  I'll gladly swap her dog treats for the peach cobbler!!  

Our campground in Montgomery is about 10 miles from Williamsport, PA,  where the Little League World Series is held each year for children 10-12.  Thus the statues in the downtown area.

Tomorrow is travel day.  Maybe we will have a tad more elbow room at our next campground....and some lush grass to run in.  I have my paws crossed....here's hoping. 

I'm Chloe

Parking on a dime

 July 26, 2021

Roversode CG, Montgomery, PA

Now this is sad.  We have left my beautiful. sweeping, lush front lawn for.....well....no lawn and close quarters.  I have to admit, it's a good thing Dad can park on a dime because that is what we are parked on....and he slid it in the spot like a pro...one smooth shot.  The neighbor came out when we arrived and suggested that he could move his truck and maybe the neighbor across the road could move their car but Dad, being on his game today and a pro-parker amazed the neighbor as he backed right into our resting place.  " Wow, he's good!" was the neighbor's reaction.  

This campground may just have potential though, as I looked out the back window and spotted two potential playmates.  Black, furry with long ears....two rabbits.  I'm sure they would want to play with me.  After all, I have a nice white shiny coat once again.

Yesterday, the temperature was perfect for a tubby.

I not only have the softest fur, I smell like .....well,  I just smell clean, fresh and lovable.  If you were here, you'd surly want to pet me.

Today we bumped our way on I-81 in Pennsylvania. Dad said they sure don't spend any money on their roads in PA.  Momma thought for sure the turn-table in the microwave would be off kilter but amazingly enough, it was still centered and in place.  

We are only here for two nights as a pass thru location on our way to more adventures.  And true to form, this campground is situated with a railroad nearby.  As the two-legged were playing a game of Fast Track, we all heard the train whistle blowing.  Ninety percent of the time, there is a train close enough to the campground to hear that whistle blow.  This track doesn't sound to be overly active though.  I'm sure we will all sleep well.

I'll be dreaming of playing with those black rabbits....

I'm Chloe

My favorite campground

 July 24, 2021

Belden Hills CG, Harpursville, NY

I wonder if Momma picked this campground just for me?  Just check out my front yard.

And I have been making use of it chasing after my ball.  I can really stretch out and get up some speed .....and make my tongue hang out.  Whew!!  Thank goodness there is a breeze with temps in the 70's.  Just perfect....it doesn't get much better!!

Well, maybe it would be better if Dad wasn't tied up next door.  

Something about replacing a slide motor. It pays to carry an extra with you for an occasion just like this. 

So Momma and Aunt Carol kept me busy with my ball.  I mean, who could resist such a perfect set up?  Friendly, smooth check in and a nice LONG pull thru site.....and for us....a huge yard with nicely mowed grass.

Would you believe who we met?  We hadn't even gotten totally set up when a Veteran stopped by because he has a Vilano like Uncle Steve's and Aunt Carol's....and then we discovered he lives in Silver Springs, Florida.  Small world indeed.  He summers here and stores his rig here while he spends the winter months at his home in Silver Springs.  We tried to tell him he should bring his rig south and camp with the Golden Triangle gang but..... his loss

I'm Chloe

Wellesley Island

 July 23, 2021

Swan Bay Resort, Alexandria Bay, NY

And they are off once again....this time taking the big bridge over the St. Lawrence Seaway/River to Wellesley Island, one of the larger in the chain of 1,864 islands.  The mission is to locate Hart House.

Hart House, which has recently served as a historic B & B on Wellesley Island, was actually built on Hart Island in 1871.

Here's a mind boggling thought.  Put yourself back in time 121 years ago, during the winter, when the St. Lawrence River was frozen under a thick layer of ice.  Then picture yourself as a very rich, self made millionaire who just purchased Hart Island with a house on it that was in the way of the Castle that you wanted to erect for the love of your life.  Solution:  Move the house to a nearby island on a another piece of property that you own.  Yes, George Boldt dragged Hart House from Hart Island to Wellesley Island across the frozen St. Lawrence. Hard to picture that 8 bedroom house with all those chimneys being moved in the cold winter months without collapsing.

Locating the next 1890's Victorian mansion wasn't as rewarding.  In May of 2021 it was puchased for $3.6 million and is a private residence with an entrance gate.

George Boldt's grand daughter inherited the 9,444 sq foot home from her mother, Clover and lived in it until her death in 1963.  

And then there was the Post Office that was never located.  The GPS announced,  'You have arrived!'  But there was no blue PO box hung on the trees as far as we could see.  No problem, we knew where the Post Office is located in Alexandria Bay.  Back over the bridge and no GPS guidance needed to send the mail.  

I was delighted to see everyone return for noon playtime!!  They didn't even attempt to cross the last bridge into Canada.  The signage said 'essential travel only' and Dad thoughts were that it is ESSENTIAL to zip into a Canadian Walmart for a big bag of Robin Hood multigrain bread flour that is not sold ...or even shipped...to the US.  Uncle Steve told him he really didn't think that would go over at the customs crossing so no multigrain bread flour on this excursion.  

They didn't hang around the campsite for the whole afternoon as they had to fit in a visit to the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton before departing tomorrow.

What beautiful woodwork and craftmanship.

Once fiberaglass became available, the wooden boats were forgotten.  

But volunteers and enthusiasts have brought numerous wooden crafts back to life.  They were polished to a rich, glowing shine!!  I think Dad enjoyed checking out the old motors as much as the grain in the wood!!

And of course no trip to the St. Lawrence would be complete without a toe dunking for Aunt Carol.  Are the fish biting?

I'm Chloe

Heart Island: A love story

 July 22. 2021

Swan Bay Resort, Alexandria Bay, NY

Today's adventure was all about a love story.  In 1900, George Boldt, a self made millionaire,

purchased Hart Island, which he renamed to Heart Island, and began construction on a 'Castle' for his wife, Louise. 

With 6 stories and 127 rooms, it was an elaborate undertaking with no expense spared.  In January of  1904, his wife died and George sent word to cease construction and he just walked away. 

 After years of neglect and vandalism, Boldt Castle is slowly being restored to the splendor of the early 1900's.

It is jaw dropping gorgeous with lots of attention to detail.  Even the organ in the ballroom was spectacular as was the stained glass skylight dome.

I'm certain, had Louise lived long enough to reside in the castle, there would have plenty of entertaining in the dining room with seating for 22 and a good sized kitchen to prepare the 9 course meals that were common back then.

  But the castle had been vandalized over the years by the weather and humans as can be seen on the upper floors that have not undergone restoration yet.

The tour was self guided with a script available on an app downloaded to your phone and in print and audio format.  Well done!!  Take it at your own pace.

Boldt Castle, being located on Heart Island, surrounded by the water of the St. Lawrence is only approachable by boat.  Uncle Sam Tours is one of the companies who deliver tourists daily.  The ride over was on the smaller shuttle

While the return was on the larger boat.

The weather was perfect for a day on Heart Island whether standing on the entrance steps

Or taking taking that well framed photo by the water's edge.

I think you'll agree, this story had a lot of heart!

Too bad pets aren't allowed on the island.  I think I would have enjoyed romping in the lush grass and prancing on the marble and wooden floors.

I'm Chloe

  

Thousand Islands: we have arrived

 July 21, 2021

Swan Bay Resort, Alexandria Bay, NY

 

Poor Uncle Steve and Aunt Carol.  We were in the lead on the road traveling from St. Johnsville, NY to Alexandria Bay.  Uncle Steve has this adversion to having to turn around so he runs 2-3 GPS units.  Well, his GPS's had a hissy fit with the route we were taking. Turn here, recalculating, make a U turn, turn right NOW.  But he held the course, ignoring all the pestering directions, fearlessly following the lead (us) rig as we headed north toward the St. Lawrence River and the Thousand Island area.  And we didn't have to make a single back-track to our route.

This park was an old KOA at one time. We have stayed at other campgrounds that had previously been KOA's but we have never stayed at a campground that emailed 13 pages of rules before arrival. Of course the rules are only good if people take the time to:  number 1~ read the rules and number 2~abide by those rules.  I have  already observed serveral rules being violated.  The gal at checking told Momma that earlier in the day, someone failed to follow the 'one car thru the gate at a time' rule and tried to make it before the security gate dropped down.  That was a $100 mistake.  Maybe she just said that to impress us with the one car at a time thru the gate rule?? 

The new owners of Swan Bay have improved the sites with cement slabs with gravel on the site entrance. 

From our site, we can take a peak at the water.  

As you walk down by the river, you can view all the boats docked at the marina.  I guess you could call it a boat motel as many of the boats have sleepers.

It's a camper with a keel instead of wheels.

And there are smaller boats as well. But all of these boats are dwarfed by the huge ships that travel the St. Lawrence with their heavy loads being transported.  If we get our timing right, we might even spot one or two traveling the waterway.

But we aren't campers who spend much time in our rigs.  We tend to travel to new areas so we can explore the sites.  I like to explore the local grass.

  Aunt Carol and Mom checked out Alexandria Bay while the guys headed in the opposite direction on NY 12 toward Clayton in search of a barber.  Even though Aunt Carol and Momma shopped til they dropped....or ran out of quarters for the parking meter....

they beat the boys back to the campsite.  

I was ready for a game of ball toss!!

I'm Chloe

Mohawk Valley Days

 July 19, 2021

St. Johnsville Marina and CG, St. Johnsville, NY

Momma has accused me of handling the computer with sand in my paws.  I told her the computer isn't acting funky from anything I did.  I'm a model dog and handle everything with care.....well, except when I get overly excited and forget myself.  But you have to realize, it has been ages...as in over a year...since I've seen Heidi's parents Bob and Kathy and I just had to give Bob a big old sloppy hello as I licked his face.  You see, he's a real dog lover and he's known me since I was a pup.  He's known my father longer as they were buddies in school, but he and his wife Kathy are cool people.  Momma, why didn't you take a picture of them?  

I was a tad more mannerly when I met Steve's son, Jay who came to visit and play card games.  

I was really hoping he had come to play with me, but no such luck.  I think he came for Steve's pancake breakfast.  

The bonus was meeting Momma, Dad, Bob and Kathy.

We are in the Mohawk Valley area staying in a campground near where Momma and Dad grew up, and where Dad's school buddy still lives.  We were only there for a short time but they did manage to see some other long time friends while in the area.

One evening, everyone loaded up in their vehicles and headed to Granny's.  It had been raining off and on but it didn't stop them from stopping at Granny's for an ice cream treat.  Can you guess what Dad had?

Momma was trying to keep her cone from dripping and by the time she had it under control, Dad's banana split was history!!  I knew they should have taken me along.  I could have licked on the cone while Momma snapped a shot of all that whipped cream topped ice cream, layered over the bananas with strawberry, pineapple and chocolate sauces..completed with a cherry on the top!

Cooperstown, NY,  where the National Baseball Hall of Fame is located, was an easy drive for a day trip.

Aunt Carol got decked out in her Ray's shirt just for the occasion.

This exhibit of baseball cards was novel...labeled:  'The cards your mother threw away'

Cooperstown is located on Otsego Lake.  There is also a state park on the lake; Glimmerglass.  They claim to have the oldest standing covered bridge...of course it is NOT available to be driven over/thru.

Next stop is Alexandria Bay....the 1000 Islands.  On the road again....

According to the news, the hazy look is a result of the fires in the western states.  At least it doesn't smell smoky.

I'm Chloe