Home Again

Tuesday, 9/14

A 10 minute drive to Gansevoort (there must have been a Dutchman somewhere in the woods who insisted this tiny town be saddled with his name) and “Walt’s” home where we parked in his driveway while the AquaHot system was serviced. Bingo! Home heating and hot water once again … for a price, of course.
In less than an hour, we roll across the border and into my old hometown, Rutland, Vermont. First thing was to drive up to my sister’s door (literally) and fill our 100 gallon water tank with the best water in the nation. Then, backing up the country street, we parked under the leafy maples, almost invisible to the residents of this upscale community. “Setting up house” in the Green Mountain State, it seemed like we’d never left since our last RV journey here 4 years ago.  It was good to be back in one of the prettiest states in the Union.


Some Vermont welcomes were not especially friendly.  These geese must have known that Doris was viewing them as tonight's dinner entree.



Leaving The Lakes For The Spa

Tuesday, 9/14

Our AquaHot (a combination water heater and furnace) has returned to being intermittent ... and a nuisance that we've committed to repairing.  Lucky for us that our saviour/repairman is on the route to Vermont.  Not knowing how long it'll take for him to return us to AquaHot bliss, we leave early, driving through more rolling, green hills, using the interstate and back roads.  Nothing like the quiet of rural New York driving to bring peace to us ... until we roll down a hill and see a warning sign ahead, stating that the bridge we are about to pass under has a clearance of 12'10".  Uh oh.  A long time ago, I measured this buggy and concluded its height was 12'6".  Having made a mistake or two in my life, I couldn't remember if measuring our coach was one of them.  As we slowly roll toward potential disaster, we see a big tractor-trailer on the other side of the overpass, slowly rolling toward his appointment with the potentially roof-shearing overpass.  From our vantage point, we could light between the top of his trailer and the bottom of the overpass and signalled the driver that he was OK.  Wheww!!

Then it was our turn.  With trepidation, we eased down the center of the highway toward the overpass.  Still unsure if the preceding trailer was the regulation maximum height of 13'6", thus proving that we could make the journey with sufficient inches to spare, we eased up to the overpass.  If our TV satellite dome could make it, then we knew the solar panels, air conditioners and fan shrouds would survive.  For a moment, there was near silence ... and then we knew we were safe from our home-on-wheels looking like an open can of sardines.

The RV shop in Amsterdam, NY would have us wait for a day, and then who knows how long it would take to remove the gremlins attacking our heating system.  A reference to an independent repairman closer to our Vermont destination caused us to move on to Saratoga Springs, NY for an overnight at the Elks Lodge.  Good choice!  Friendly people in a pretty town known for its horse racing, spa and natural beauty.  Taking a city bus to downtown, Doris found a sushi restaurant that satisfied us, the first restaurant asian food of the trip.  Yum!  Difficult to equal Doris's cooking, but this meal was a fair substitute.

It's Another Day of Traveling in Bliss

Monday, 9/13

The coach is vacuumed, dusted, laundry done, heating system being scientifically tested by us and found to be OK.  So, what to do?  Ah, more wine country touring.  We head out, traveling northbound along the east side of Seneca Lake before crossing over to the WEST side of Cayuga Lake.  Bright skies with puffy clouds gave us special views of the lakes and an understanding why this area is so popular with vacationing easterners ... at least during the summer/autumn periods.  The winters are severe.  Just ask those who attend nearby Cornell and Syracuse Universities.  How these vineyards survive (much less the human residents) is a question we did not ask. 

A roadside stand provided huge tomatoes and concord grapes at bargain prices.  I grew up being fed both, but Mom overdid the availability of Welch's Concord Grape Jelly.  Even saved the jars while I became very un-fond of the taste.  Peanut butter couldn't kill it in a "Sunbeam" brand white bread sandwich.  Decades later, today's freshly picked grapes brought back strong memories of a great childhood on the farm and a renewal of the original desire for concord grapes.  Trust me, I won't over indulge this time.

A non-resident on her way to a lake shore vineyard.  Will work for concord grapes.

Lunch on the deck of the Ginny Lee Restaurant was most tasty (AKA, we both recommend), complimented by a perfect view.  Halfway through the day and we already call it a great one, leaving ample time to catch up on the blog, so far an enjoyable task.  Thank you again for your continued supportive comments.  And remember, if the picture is too small, click on it and it'll grow in size, just like me.

Decadence at high noon.  I can barely stand it.

Nascar, Salt, and Wine

Sunday, 9/12

Cool temps, overcast with drizzle started the day and made the 30 minute drive to Watkins Glen easy.  No traffic, back roads, tiny villages nestled in the leafy greenery of New York's low rise mountains.  Loved it!

Watkins Glen operates our RV park that overlooks a marina almost in the center of town.  The town is on the southern tip of the very long and narrow Seneca Lake, one of 12 that I count on the Finger Lakes map.  The lakes are separated by these low mountain ranges.  Mountains and lakes were carved by the glaciers that caused the east to enjoy today's much lower mountains than those of the Far West that are still growing.  Watkins Glen is one of the larger towns in the area, and is home to Watkins Glen International, a Nascar race track.  An old town, it also is home to both Cargill and US Salt operations.  Interestingly, there is a major salt dome beneath the area.  To access it, hot water is forced down into the dome.  Salt rises to the surface processing plants.  Product is shipped via truck and rail.  Your next Morton's Salt container may be filled with salt from this area.

With so many inducements to travel the local "wine trails", we had to drive roads parallel to Seneca Lake.  What a treat!  Rolling hills, more corn fields, and verdant grape vines supplying dozens of wineries.  We tasted some of the product, bought a few bottles, learned that a pinot grigio (white, slightly sweet) can be successfully paired with spicy food (What?!!).  OK, I already knew that tossing some sugar into a pasta sauce with too many of my favorite chile peppers does offset some of the heat.  So we ran home and Doris prepared spicy riblets.  Oh boy!  Good cooking with a decent wine.  Experimenting in the kitchen can be so fun ... and so waist-enhancing.  In the heat of dining, I always forget Dad's diet:  Push away from the dinner table halfway through dinner.  Guilt for not adhering to his spoken word doesn't work either.

I'll let you write the caption.  I'm busy with Acid Reflux.

Horseheads, Glass and Spray On TV

Saturday, 9/11

Time flies when one is retired and on vacation at the same time, but not fast enough for us to have forgotten 9/11/01 - 9 years ago.  All too vividly we remembered the moment that Doris' dad called us to say the Twin Towers had been hit by airplanes.  We were still preparing for work while Lexi is readying to be taken to school.  Turning on the TV, we saw the scene of horror.  Holding each other, I remember telling Doris and Lexi that this country and the world would never be the same. 

Our office was in semi-shock.  None of us really knew what to say, nor did we know what we should do if more such incidents occurred.  We did gather together, held hands, had  a minute of silent prayer which became tearful.  The closest to such feelings of fear and helplessness came once before when JFK was assassinated.

Today, 11 years later, the feelings and thoughts are still there.  Too, it seemed a bit wrong in enjoying life as we do, especially when there is so much suffering.  However, we must continue living and providing what we can to others less fortunate.  We do that. 

On this Saturday, we also met Don and Lucy, our Walmart neighbors from Maine.  Fun stories of mutual backgrounds in business:  tour business; truck driver; RV lovers.  3 months on the road from Maine to Yellowstone and returning home for 3 months before heading out again.  When we left them to get our $9.99/day rental car, we promised we see each other again, probably in Maine. 

Maine's Lucy & Don "captured" by Doris

Where was the car?  In nearby Horseheads, NY.  I told you not to ask me how it got its name.  Nobody seems to know, but they sure have a great car rate and a great Walmart Supercenter almost next door.  Surrounded on 2 sides by expansive lawns to view from the front, we were staying a night in a more resorty space than many that cost big $$.  This one only cost the purchase of a 1/2 gallon of milk.  We feel soo guilty.  Yeah, riiight.

Then its off to an awful lunch of what I delicately label "Airport Chinese Food".  Fast, oily, tummy-rumbling stuff, timed to "do its thang" sometime after departure so that you can't return to pay your true respects for a meal gone wrong.  In Doris's case:  Very Wrong.

But, we traveled on to the Corning Glass Company's Museum in (can you believe it?) Corning, NY.  Beautiful location and another incredible museum of glass products dating back to BC times.  Familiar pieces and mind-boggling creations of the last 30 years.  We also enjoyed viewing and being educated by superb glass blowing demos, flameworking, and optical fiber glass demo.  The latter gave us the opportunity to sit down ... and we did, very coincidentally, behind Don & Lucy from Maine.  What a surprise when I extended my hand between the two of them, handing them THEIR business card!  Ha!  They are the second fun couple that we've met more than once on this trip.  It's a great and small community in which we travel.

Corning's classy & glassy wine drinker impressing his female companion 

Back to the coach.  With approaching rain, I super-sprayed our satellite dome with a chemical to keep the TV picture in storms.  Without the spray, rain causes electrostatic buildup on the dome, just the same as precipitation does on airplanes.  (We pilots know that and make sure that the static "wicks" that protrude from the trailing edge of the wings and tail are in good shape before takeoff, thus assuring radio and navigation equipment continued reception/transmission.)  Sure enough, the rains came and the TV picture remained perfect ... while I remained Doris's hero for another day.

Rock & Roll: Ohio & New York Style

Friday, 9/10

Cleveland has been the recipient of questionable superlatives.  We're here to tell you that we found that driving through downtown gave us a positive view of an architecturally diverse city, navigable streets that don't contribute to divorce proceedings between driver and sign-reading spouse, and a Lake Erie waterfront filled with special sites.  Those included the Port of Cleveland, the Cleveland Browns Stadium, The Cleveland Science Center, The Great Lakes ore carrier, William Mather (also the name of a fellow Monaco owner friend), and the Rock & Roll Museum ... the latter being our touristy destination for the day.

Downtown Cleveland

Rolling up to the museum, I spotted another coach and told Doris that I would park alongside.  As we turned the corner, one of us (to remain un-named) determined that it would be necessary to drive across the sidewalk and up a few steps to park next to what was Johnny Cash's converted MCI 9 coach, a donation to the museum and parked outside the front door.  After having toured the coach (1982 version costing more than a half-million, with no slide outs, and questionably tasteful decor), I still think we should have parked next to it.  The admission fee to ours and the praise received would have more than paid for the damage to our sidewalk/step ascent to join Mr. Cash's pride & joy.  My navigator still disagrees.

Johnny's home on the road.  Great musician.  But blue velvet seats and no shower?  Eewww!

So ... inside this museum is a sound and sight feast that takes more than the 3 hours recommended.  From before R&R, came gospel, real old (older than me) country music.  Then, debate whether The Beatles or Elvis started this phenomenon, Rock & Roll took roots and we're overwhelmed, literally overwhelmed, by the displays in this museum.  Well worth continuing our delayed schedule, we thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment and the education.

Doris and R&R history.  Special.

It must be time to dine; this Great Lakes ore carrier is still larger than I.

Lunch on board our private Rock Star Bus with sidewalk viewers wondering, "Who's in there?", we then departed eastbound on I-90 for fuel, debugging the windshield and somewhere east of Ohio.  No more tolls, a tip of Pennsylvania, and then into the Empire State ... New York.  Relying on the interstates to make up for time lost, Doris took the wheel for an hour, continuing the development of her chauffeuring expertise.  I found myself not ready to lunge for the wheel, "Jake" brake, service brake and emergency brake.  Instead, I'm sitting at the dining table, answering emails, voice mails and singing a tune, "We're no longer seeing corn & beans.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, America is Beautiful Again.  Yeah!  Yeah!  Yeah!"

But, then there's the interstate system.  Wonderful invention.  Terribly torn up.  I'm amazed this second home has survived over 75,000 miles of this abuse.  Poor Doris.  It's either brain pureeing, or it's navigating between orange cones that turn a freeway into a slalom course made for fast, narrow sports cars as the DOT tries to repair age old highways for today's high volume, high speed traffic.  Doris did a great job.  I took over and the road turned smooth ... for awhile, and then it was my turn to vibrate my eye balls while trying to locate the road.  Talk about Rock & Roll! 

Ultimately, we chose another, expensive resort, Horney, NY's Walmart SuperCenter.  Don't ask how this town got its name, because I'll then have to explain the next town's ... and I can't.

Pulling into the lot, we chuckled when we saw our California licensed coach parked next to one from Maine.  Ha!  We're going to Maine. Are they headed to our coast?  The answer will wait until tomorrow.  We're just happy to be here in central northern NY, free of corn & beans ... and in the beautiful, green, low mountains on a clear, evening. 

The Buckeye State

Thursday, 9/09

We're beginning to think that gremlins are silently but effectively entering our coach.  This morning, we moved from our RV park to a shop next door to have a peek at our front slide.  Seems it needs a very slight adjustment (AKA known as "BIG $$$) so that it moves out at the proper vertical angle.  We'll wait 'til we return to our favorite mechanic, but we did have another, smaller gremlin join the dearly departed for a not so dear contribution to the local economy. 

Late leaving The Hoosier State, we joined the easterly flow of traffic into Ohio.  My God, the tolls kept mounting, right along with the miles.  Fortunately for us, raising the third axle on our coach reduced the fees by about 40%.  Still, we're poorer by $45 to make it from the west side of Chicago to Cleveland.  AND, we had to content ourselves with viewing the reason for the heretofore mumbled "... forever waves of grain" part of "America The Beautiful".  Beautiful she is, but can ya' change the words to "...corn and soybeans"??!  We're patriotic to the bone, but the truth is that's what fills the last 76 states we've traveled, and we're gettin' just a bit eye-glazed with the scenery.  Oh, and how about those grain trucks?!  Patriotic men & women certainly drive them, what with all the flags and "God Bless America" or "America, Love It Or Leave It" paint jobs, stickers, etc. on their rigs.  However, they're more numerous than RV drivers at the Walmart parking lot and they're slowing down on our escape to ANYWHERE BUT CORN & BEAN FIELD, AMERICA!

We (that is, I) am calm now because we made it to Elyria, Ohio, just short of Cleveland.  Too pooped to pop both corn AND beans, I parked at another 5-Star RV Parking/Walmart SuperCenter.  Gotta love 'em because they're friendly, convenient, level, and have "something" we absolutely must have.  Great location next to a 2-year old strip mall with only a nail salon, video game store and a DMV office.  10s of thousands square feet remain dirt floors and bare walls.  Delirious Elyria shows the suffering economy.  We felt guilty under the strong parking lot lights & heavy security cameras protecting us from the less fortunate.  Two other coaches like ours park alongside.  Surely one of them has a 50-caliber machine gun to supplement our security.  We're secure and happy after another of Doris's creative dinners and a long walk.  The Buckeye State continues to be a favorite. 

Tomorrow will solidify the affection.