And the challenges continue

 August  30, 2022

Massena Internatioinal CG site 129

Massena, NY

Today's adventures turned out to be just as challenging and elusive as the rest of this stay in Massena.  Momma had consulted the on-line schedule for ships passing through the Eisenhower Locks and they headed off early with plenty of time to spare.  They knew that the closest bridge was out of service for repairs,

but that only added about 5 miles to the trip.  They arrived ahead of schedule to view

the stern of the ship chugging along after already passing through the locks.  WHAT????  Too late?? But we are early!!

The signage said the ship has to carefully navigate into the lock that is very close in width to the ship's beam (width).  Then it takes 7 minutes for the 22 million gallons of water to either fill or empty the locks (depending on which direction the ship is heading) adjusting the water level by 42 feet, making the total time in the locks 20 minutes. 

 Well they may post a schedule, but they obviously don't adhere to it.  But Momma and Dad weren't really all that upset about it as they have had opportunities to see other locks close up, in action and this overlook view was so far removed, it would have been advantageous to use binoculars.  Not very visitor friendly.

Momma said they were they only ones in the outlook viewing area besides the feathered friends.

Oh well, just another typical experience for this area for us.  Too late, too far, not available.

But the challenges don't stop there.  Let me recap dinner for you.  Remember that restaurant that was supposed to be open but was closed.  Well, they are short staffed so they take every other Monday off.  Tuesday, they were in full operation mode.

Momma and Dad settled into their booth and the server quickly took their order.  It's a good thing the dressing for the antipasto was served on the side as it tasted like...oil...even after being sure to mix it. Oh well, the meat and cheese were plentiful with a scoop of tuna in the center.  After a while, the waitress came by to say,  "The cooks are learning.  Your calzone is quite crispy.  They have already begun making you another one.  I'll bring the 'overbaked' one in case you want to pick at it while you continue to wait on your meal."  No problem.  Nothing less was expected after the last few days of challenges experienced. This fits right in.

Needless to say, they passed on this crispy, burnt offering saving room for the new and improved version.  

This 'medium' sized calzone was huge.  I guess the cooks must be learning about sizing as well??  I wonder what a large would look like.  Would they even have a pan large enough to serve it on?  

Dad said he sure misses Stavros's.  This calzone didn't even come close to measuring up to Stavros's standards. Maybe you're just getting homesick.  Just give me a taste Dad.  I'll see if it measures up to MY standards.  Why don't I help you out and eat that slice of cheesecake they gifted you with due to the issues with your dinner?

I'm Chloe

Challenges

 August 29, 2022

Massena International CG site 129

Massena, NY

It is becoming evident that this leg of our journey is full of challenges.  One of the main influences for camping here so close to the Canadian border was to obtain some of Robin Hood's Multigrain Bread Flour.  It makes wonderful bread!! 

We are close the the bridge that will take you into Cornwall, Ontario

where there is a Walmart....and Walmart is where we happened to locate the multigrain bread flour in 2018 and 2019 in Canada.  You may be asking yourself why not just purchase the flour at a Walmart in the lower 48. We tried.  Momma even had a conversation with Robin Hood's customer service and they informed her that they do no sell nor will they ship that multigrain bread flour over the border.  

Currently, to cross into Canada, you must download the ArriveCan Ap, register your proof of citizenship and Covid status, including dates for immunization and a picture of all these items.  Once all the registration is complete, you can complete a form to request permission to cross the border after stating your reasons as well as where and the means that you will use to cross the border.  Needless to say, seeing as it is a generic/good for all situations form, it is quite confusing.  "Where are you staying?"  No where..... but there is no place to indicate just a quick shopping trip.  

Well, Momma and Dad headed out this morning to attempt to secure some flour.  The first hurdle was a breeze, as the bridge fee sign listed the amount of Canadian money as $3.75 and American currency as $3.00.  The next stop was a tad more challenging

but with assistance from the border crossing employees, we were able to successfully complete the request to cross form and get our magic approval number . We were directed at the booth to park and go inside for assistance.   

Note: If we decide to cross again while in this area, we need to submit a new request and receive a different approval number.

The Walmart was easily located

and the next challenge was locating the baking aisle and the sought after flour.  WHAT???  All purpose, whole wheat, cake and pastry, unbleached, WHITE bread flour but NO multigrain bread flour??  Come on folks.  Do you know how challenging this has been?  Two additional grocery stores were checked out but all were left with empty hands.

At this point, it was time to be consoled with a Dairy Queen Blizzard before heading back across the border...flourless.

Yep, another $3 bridge toll and then on to the US Border Crossing Booth.  We had used our driver's licenses with the star on them as proof of residency on the Canadian side so we handed them over on the American side.  The crossing guard asked if we had our Passports.  The answer was.....YES....and we handed him those as well.  Now the question that is unaswered is: What would have happened if we hadn't brought  passports?  Why would Canada accept the enhanced driver's license and US border patrol ask for our passports in addition to the enhanced driver's license?  It rather defeats the purpose of the hoop jumping to get the star on the driver's license.  What good is the star?

The next unsuccessful mission revolved around a restaurant that listed on their webpage that they would be open at 3:30 but upon arrival later, it was obvious that they were closed.

That just meant Momma and Dad could come back to the rig and spend more time with me...... without teasing me with aromas from a take out box.

I'm Chloe

Not the smoothest landing today

 August 27, 2022

Massena International CG site 129

Massena, NY

Today was travel day heading north toward the St. Lawrence and the Thousand Islands.  I think Momma has been taking lessons from Dad....buy high.   The tank was below the halfway mark and the fuel signs had been reading $5.39 so when Momma saw a nice large, easy to maneuver station advertising $5.19 she turned on the blinker and followed up by turning the wheel and guiding us to the diesel pumps.  We only had about another 30+ miles to go, but you never know what may be stalling us around the next bend.  Besides that, they had some nice grass for a potty break.  

Now you may wonder what I meant by buy high when $5.19 is obviously lower than $5.39.  Wouldn't you know as we approached Massena, we saw a $4.99 sign....oops!!  It wasn't 'rig' friendly, but we were close to our destination.....or so we thought.... so we could have gotten settled and come back with just the Ram.  

BUT. when the GPS said "You have arrived!" and there was nothing there, we knew we were in trouble.  So we eased down the road as we scrambled to look up the physical address.  We had set up the GPS by campground name, not physical address.  No problem, we'll just use the physical address.

Fortunately, everyone was paying attention to the roadway and noticed that 13'-1" sign as we were attempting to enter an updated location in our GPS. There is NO WAY we can get under that and come out on the other side unscathed.  About that time, the updated address had been entered and the GPS said 'you can't be routed from here'.  No kidding!!  Thank goodness Dad was back behind the wheel as he calmly did a 3 point turn on what was fortunately a wide area with a tad extra off road area.

I'm sure you are expecting us to arrive at the campground.  I know we certainly were.  But the physical address brought us right back to our original destination and no matter how hard we looked, there was NO campground in sight.  

So, time to phone for assistance, which also turned out to be a frustrating challenge.  First, no service on the phone.  Reboot the phone to locate current cell towers.   Ahh service. .  Voicemail.  (^(^^%*&#).  

So just for giggles and out of frustration, Momma clicked on directions on her phone on the google campground page .....and .....6 miles to your destination.  Well, that sounded promising...maybe??   And then we saw a campground sign with an arrow.  Happy Dance Time!!   Until we saw the bridge out sign.  WHAT??  but signage said the road was open for the campground...as the REAL location of the campground is on the current side of the bridge.  No crossing needed.  Whew!!  

Now, being on the road for nearly three months, there is an expectation of a warm, friendly, let me help you settle in, I'm glad you're here greeting.  Well, all I can say is the actual check-in and the expectation were polar opposites.  Maybe the clerk didn't want to work on that particular Sunday afternoon?? Or maybe he's just a jerk??  He put the paperwork on the counter and when I hesitated said, "Any questions?"  Well, yes.  What site have we been assigned?  He pointed to a pink car tag

with an illegible site number. "Could you please tell me what that say?"   The other gal in the office gave him a glare so he proceeded to tell Momma the site number and showed her the location on the map, guiding us to drive through site 114 to turn our site 129 into a drive thru site.  it all sounded fine, until we arrived at the actual site location with a picnic table right smack dab in the middle of site 114. So we had choices:  Put the Ram in flight mode and jump over the table,  drive around the loop and back into site 129, or get out and move the table.  After consideration, option 3 was selected as you can see.

  Ah..h.. home for the next 4 nights.

And once again, there are plenty of empty campsites which equates to PLAY area for ME!!

Further investigation has solved the location issue.  The correct address has a -A after County Route 42 as the campground is located on County Route 42 extension.  Mystery solved.  

I told Momma to be sure to update the address in the GPS so when they head off galavanting, they can be sure to find their way back to me.  Maybe I should make sure my dog food bowl is full to the brim....just in case....

I'm Chloe

More ghosts and goblins

 August 27, 2022

Junius Pond Cabins and CG site 89

Phelps, NY

I try not be be a complainer, but with the temperature being just 69 degrees at 11 am at our shady site, it is a tad too cool, especially when that light breeze slides by.  I'm not allowed chocolate, so I can't warm up by sharing Momma's cup of hot chocolate, so Dad said he would get some friction going, grinding/trimming my nails, to add some warmth.  But Dad, I was saving those nails for the 'Halloween Look' that has taken over this campground this weekend.  Okay, so my nails really aren't all that long and don't look much like claws.  But we don't blend in at all.  Just look at all the ghosts, gobblins and monsters throughout the park.  

Even this pooch is dressed for the occasion.

but thankfully, I don't have to parade around in such a foo foo garment.  I think it would get in the way of my ball game.

I'm Chloe

Felt like a scavenger hunt

 August 25, 2022

Junius Pond Cabins and Campground site 89

Phelps, NY

Momma and Dad headed to Walmart in Waterloo this morning after breakfast.  I sure was hoping to see some LARGE dog bone treats in the bags when they returned.  All I've been getting every night is a tiny Chihuahua sized treat.  Hey, how do you expect me to keep my teeth clean with these tiny little things?  I told my green frog my sad tale.

Momma said she really gave her phone a workout at the store.  This Walmart had a totally different floorplan so she had to access the Walmart App to locate many of the items.  Actually, the floorplan really was agreeable once they figured it out.  Typically the pharmacy is on one side of the store along with the health and beauty items while the groceries are on the opposite side of the store.  This store was laid out with groceries on the far left and as you moved toward the right, you encountered the health and beauty along with pharmacy next, then clothing followed by housewares and finally, sports near automotive on the opposite side from groceries.  But the store wasn't as deep so the aisles of groceries didn't follow the typical flow and in-store locations.  The cheese wasn't on the outside wall.  The Arizona tea was hidden. The tissues were being elusive.  It wasn't a quick in and out trip, but they managed to fill a couple of paper bags. No plastic bags in grocery stores have been seen since entering New York State.

Now Dad has once again lived up to his reputation.  Why purchase fuel at the low price when you can wait a couple of days and pay more?  We really didn't use much fuel traveling to this campground so it just made sense to do the 'running around' before refueling ....and sure enough, the price went from just under $5 a gallon when we arrived to $5.09 a gallon.  So our current caculations show the average fuel price per gallon that we have paid is now $5.21 since we began filling the Ram tank in June.  Not quite as high as our expectations, but we still have a couple of months left in our adventure for things to change.  Will it be an improvement or will our average climb? 

Well, it's about time for the moment of truth.  Will I be getting another Chihuahua sized after dinner treat or something that will last longer than a couple of bites?  Lay it on me.....

I'm Chloe

Further east

 August 24, 2022

Junius Pond Cabin and Campgournd site 89

Phelps, NY

Now this campground looks more promising for playmates.  I saw three (3!!!) rabbits.  They really didn't pay any attention to me but if Dad lets me off this leash, I'll invite them for a romp.

It wasn't a very long pull today with just under 80 miles to travel.  Once again we are at a campground with many seasonal sites.  

These campers have quality art on their shed that I'm sure gets viewed often as it is located by one of the main campground interior roads.  There are loads of high speed bumps so you have to stop frequently when navigating the campground.  It gives a person lots of time to take in the campsites.  And this is definitely not flat land.  Lots of valleys, slopes and hills to add interest to the campground.

It is rather quiet as it is a weekday.  There is a small ticket booth affair at the entrance that they must man on heavier traffic days.  From signage, it appears you can have visiting guests for the day for $5.  They have a pool, indoor game room as well as an outdoor game area. Everything from corn hole, to bocce, to kick croquet, to ladder golf and the list goes on.  Only the pool was in use upon on arrival.

Now me, I much prefer a game of fetch with Dad chucking my ball.

I return the ball right to his hand.  Let's not waste any time in between throws.

While I rested up from my game, Momma and Dad decided to take a short drive into Geneva for a Mexican dinner of El Rancho Burritos.  They only ate half of their meals and were so stuffed they waddled back to the rig. Tasty left overs in the fridge.  Whatever happened to doggie bags?  Somehow I feel cheated.

I'm Chloe

What could have been a disaster

 August 23, 2022

Skyline RV site A3

Darien Center, NY

Dad introduced me to a new friend who was visiting our site and enjoying the view from Dad's knee.

I asked Dad why he didn't introduce me to someone who would PLAY with ME rather than just 'hang out' on his knee or our screen.

After all, there is plenty of play room here with so many empty sites.

Momma and Dad went to a Bulk Food store.  Traveling on the county road, there was a clatter on the roof of the truck. Dad has an antenna for his CB radio mounted on the roof via a magnet.  Well, it certainly is a good thing we were in the truck alone without the rig.  That low hanging branch struck that antenna and unseated the magnet from the roof, knocking it flat.  The antenna was easy enough to recenter on the roof but it would have been a disaster for air conditioners if we were pulling our fifth wheel.  That could have been our NEW AC mounted on front section of the 5er.  Whew!!  Escaped a possible disaster!! 

Momma was really impressed when they pulled in the parking lot of the store and deli.

The blooms were HUGE with such vibrant colors.

I guess she must have been impressed with the goods on the shelves as well, as she came home with several bags of goodies.  Is there something for me in one of those bags?

I'm Chloe

Halloween is here in NY

 August 20, 2022

Skyline RV site A3

Darien Center, NY

Have you ever wondered how a road gets its name?  Check out this road  named Telephone Road.

Do you even see a telephone pole or line anywhere?  Maybe instead of being named for something that is present, it was named for wishful thinking of something wanted?

This campground has a mixture of seasonal and short stay sites and seems to be family oriented.  Last Thursday, we saw a ghost hanging from the bushes at the entrance.  Dad asked when Halloween was.  Isn't it at the end of October?  Well, as the weekend rolled around, the seasonal sites became active with people and vehicles as well as Halloween ghosts and goblins.

It wasn't called Halloween in August just Monster Weekend.  But it really ressembled Halloween as the kids came around to the sites on Saturday afternoon with costumes on and buckets to collect treats.  Then in the evening, a haywagon full of riders made it's way around the campground.  I guess if you can have Christmas in July, you can have Halloween in August.

I think this campground is the most filled campground we have been at this summer, at least over the weekend.  There are plenty of empty sites during the weekdays as well as a lack of people staying at the seasonal/permanent sites. Rather like a ghost campground.   Boo!!

I'm Chloe

 

JELLO

 August 18, 2022

Skyline RV site A3

Darien Center, NY

Can you believe it?  They ran off and left me heading to neighboring LeRoy, NY for a Jell-O Gallery Museum?  I've never had Jello so I asked Momma what it was.  She said she was surprised to read about it's origin.

 Of course the process of creating a Jello dish to serve has changed over the years.....definitely an improvement for the cook.

The museum was full of information and pictures relating to the advertisement used over the years to market the product.  Early on, due to lack of sales, the business changed hands from the disgusted owner for $35.  Marketing was what really kicked off the sales in the early 1900's from the Jello Wagon to the Ladies Home Journal; from the Jello Girl to catchy slogans.

And the vote is in.  Strawberry is the favorite flavor followed by cherry.

They weren't serving any jello treats so Momma and Dad found a cute Ice Cream Parlor 

that was able to satisfy their appetites.

What would have really made their wallets happy was the gas pump outside the ice cream palor.  

Too bad it was just an antique and not still selling 29 cent a gallon gasoline.  There would have been $$ left over in the budget for extra dog bones for ME!!!

I'm Chloe