Nomad Airstream:
Mary and I had decided that since we were going to be living in our Airstream for almost 6 months a year, we did not like the dinette area and functionality and elected to replace it with a pair of recliners. These recliners we purchased on-line through Camping World, and involved a trip up to Chichester, NH to pick them up. I did the work of removing the dinette area pieces and Nomad was going to install the chairs, clean up the exposed wiring, and install console between the chairs. Our appointment with them was for Aug 14 and it was supposed to be about a 5 hour job. Not. When Mark and Guillaume got a look at what Airstream had done with wiring, the 5 hour job stretched in to 2 days as they had to completely fabricate a new cover for the now exposed front compartment and then fabricate a metal cover to go over exposed wiring. When it stretched in to 2 days, they graciously moved the trailer outside, hooked us up to 30 amp electric, plus water. We spent night one in Nomad's parking lot. Mark had indicated that he would probably need most of the next day to complete the job, so we were up bright and early next day and off to kill time and a day. We began with a nice breakfast at Gus' Red Hots, just down the street from Cumberland Bay State Park. From there we went to Cumberland Bay State Park and did a tour of the place. Satisfied, we made a reservation for that night. From there we took the Ferry to Vermont and drove up to North Hero. What better way to kill time than to do it by fishing. First stop was to Stoney Point Access Area.
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| The Boat Launch Area at Stoney Point |
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| Stoney Point |
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| One of Mary's paintings waiting to happen |
We spent about an hour at Stoney Point and then headed south to Kings Bay Access Area off Lake Shore Drive.
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| Pic of fisherman getting skunked |
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| Me helping a guy launch his boat |
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| Mary captured this family of ducks with her camera |
From there we headed north, stopping at Rouses Point Area for lunch and a chance to walk Molly. Got some nice pics while we were there:
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| Rouses Point area with Fort Montgomery in the background |
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| Rouses Point Bridge |
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| Fort Montgomery |
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| Rouses Point Access Area |
We got back to Nomad around 3:00. The job was still not done. So we waited. Good thing the both of us were in the middle of good books. We did a lot of reading. Around 5, Guillaume came out to get us to tell us the job was finally completed and to come inside to have a look. When we did, we were impressed and glad that we had had them do it. Until I got the bill. Both Stephen and Guillaume were sympathetic to us - they had not anticipated all the work that they had been forced to do because of the way Airstream had located wiring on our particular model trailer(they insisted that it is not usually done that way). The labor charge was almost 3 x what we had been quoted. Anyways, they appeased us by doing some adjusting to the normal hourly rate and a promise of some "help" if we decided to come back to them for solar panels installation early next year. Plus they gave us a break on pricing for their up n coming Columbus Weekend "party". While I was in "paying for the work", Stephen gave Mary a tour of an Airstream Motor Home that they were completely remodeling for a political campaign vehicle for an Ohio politician. She was blown away. Pics of this unit are on their Facebook page.
After hooking up and saying our goodbyes we were off to Cumberland Bay State Park for the night. And a little relaxing in our new chairs. We definitely did the right thing. It is so much more "Homey" now. And yes, Rebel IPA and Pinot Grigio, what a nice way to celebrate!
Here is a look at Cumberland Bay State Park. We were very impressed with it. The sites were clean and had plenty of room. Our neighbors were mostly Canadians and do they know how to party. The ones opposite us looked like they were really having a good time.
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| Site 103 at Cumberland Bay State Park |
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| Our Neighbors at Cumberland were mostly Canadian |
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| The Beach at Cumberland Bay State Park |
Philadelphia, NY
On 8/16 we traveled to Philadelphia, NY from Plattsburgh to spend a few days with Carl & Hope Thies, Mary's brother and sister in law. The trip was EVENTFUL and I'll leave it at that. We got to Philadelphia, mid to late afternoon and, after getting trailer leveled, steadied, secure, water added to tank, and plugged in to electricity, we joined Carl & Hope for a couple of cold ones and a nice meal. Everything with them was great. As usual. The next day, Carl and I headed out to Black Lake for some fishing in his new boat and Mary and Hope went to the Mall in Watertown to take in a movie: The 100' Journey with Helen Mirren. Another great 'happy hour' followed by a great meal and we were ready for another night in our Airstream. All three of us(Molly is #3) were beginning to get quite comfortable in it. Especially Molly. She sleeps well now.
The next day had Carl and I fishing Lake Bonaparte, a small lake located on the eastern boundary of Fort Drum. You could tell we were close because for most of the morning we could hear Artillery fire coming from the base. Strange. Eerie!
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| Boat Launch at Lake Bonaparte |
Fishing on day # 3 at Philadelphia was at Lake of the Isles- DeWolf Point State Park on Wellesley Island. Getting there was pretty scenic, as were some of the houses:
Fishing was so-so, but irregardless, just being out on the water with Carl and his new boat was awesome.
Fishing on day 4 took us to Chaumont Bay
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| sunrise at Chaumont Bay Boat Launch |
Carl and I have some work to do in figuring our Chaumont Bay. Even though we had fish jumping all around us, we could not catch them. Although Carl caught a few nice largemouth at the tip of the Island, we never caught a smallmouth. And this place is famous for them. This is the challenge for our next trip - to go to Chaumont Bay and catch more than just a couple of fish. Especially smallmouth.
Cayuga Lake State Park
Thursday, Aug 21 rolled around and got us headed to Cayuga Lake State Park and the initial inspiration for this trip: The Bass Elite Series Tournament on Cayuga Lake. We left Philadelphia, NY around noon. Carl & Hope traveled in their vehicle(they were joining us for the trip, but were staying in a motel in Seneca Falls- not far from where we were camping). We headed to Watertown, NY and then on to Interstate 81 to Syracuse where we got on the NYS Thruway heading west. About 40 miles later we were off and headed to Cayuga Lake State Park and site 26E.
What a beautiful park. We were so impressed with everything about it- from the sites, neighbors, cleanliness, accessibility, shade trees, everything. What follows are pics taken from and around our site:
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| Carl, Hope and I relaxing |
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| Our fishing neighbor after day 1 |
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| Don & Debbie Miller's vehicles - our neighbors |
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| Don & Debbie Miller |
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| Our neighbor: Rick Clunn |
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| Rick Clunn's rig |
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| Carl meditating on Cayuga Lake |
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| And then there were 2 airstreams |
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| A view of the campground |
Camping next to and meeting Rick Clunn was a lifetime highlight. It was awesome. I was sorry for him that he didn't do better in the tournament, but he did tell me where he is camping for next year's tournament in Waddington, so will have another chance to meet up with him. After he left a couple from North Carolina occupied his site for one night. They had just come from Niagara Falls and were on their way back to North Carolina. They had a couple of dogs that were VERY well behaved and from their owners comments, really liked traveling and sleeping in the camper(or anywhere for that matter).
On sunday night we had a pleasant surprise as another airstream showed up and parked right behind us.
I didn't get to talk to them very much, but did learn that they were from Louisiana and were in the midst of a 3 month vacation - traveling. They had also just come from Niagara Falls. Probably why we didn't spend much time with them was the fact that they recognized that we had a dog and their dog was just getting over a bout of kennel cough. I guess both of us thought it was probably good to keep our distance. Just in case. Too bad as I would love to have talked to them about Louisiana.
Mary & Hope:
On friday, they made the pilgrimage to Seneca Falls and the Womens Rights National Historical Park, and from conversations, both agreed it was time well spent. This trip was top of the list for Hope's things to do while in the area.
On Saturday, it was Mall day as they went to the Very Large Array of Factory Outlet stores in Waterloo. One of the highlights of this days trip was Mary finding the Corning Factory Outlet, where she found lids for the lid-less grab it bowls back home(the previous ones had disintegrated from age). Turns out, the Corning Store was also a highlight for Hope too. She was also shopping for grand daughters. They also discovered Justice store where there is glitzy, expensive clothes for little girls. Mary had never heard of the store, but then again, she doesn't have grand daughters. She has said she will probably never go in to another one again.
Meals:
We ate pretty well while we were there and it was an opportunity to try out all of our "stuff", like the microwave, the Weber Q100 grill and associated table. We also utilized one of the 2 propane tanks to cook up corn on a propane cooker that Carl brought with him.
Meals included:
Southwest caserole, which Hope had pre-prepared and we heated up in our microwave oven
Corn on the cob and salad
Hamburgers, corn on the cob, green salad and a dessert of Black Forest Cake which one of our neighbors so generously provided.
*** we inadvertently left unused ears of corn outside under trailer that night which provided a feast for the resident raccoon. We got to deal with the remains the next morning.
A night out for pizza at a nice Italian Restaurant in Seneca Falls.
Finally a few pics of our main reason for being there: The Bass Elite Series Tournament on Cayuga Lake.
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| Self Explanatory |
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| 6:00 am Day 2 start for 107 anglers |
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| Bernie Schultz fishing in water at Cayuga Lake State Park boat launch |
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| DJ & Wendy from Geneva- a couple of friends we made at the event |
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| the final 12 after day #3 |
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| The leader starting day #4 |
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| Mary at her first final 12 weighin |
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| a partial view of the grounds at the weigh in site |
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| Greg Hackney weighs in 23 lbs on day #4 |
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| Greg Hackney wins |
What a great tournament on a great Lake. Everyone was impressed. Talk was that next year the NY stop for the Elite Series will be back up at Waddington, NY and that very possibly, the following year it would be back here at Cayuga. I look forward to both locations. Rick Clunn mentioned that for next year's Waddington event, he will be staying at Coles Creek State Park, so without doubt, I'll be making reservations there. The Park is only 3.5 miles from the Event site. I'll coordinate with Don & Debbie Miller so that we can camp in the same general vicinity again. And with the Thies' about 50 miles away, we can get together with them again too, and maybe Carl can even bring his boat up so we can get some on water action. Can't wait for December to come around so I can make the reservations......
We left Cayuga State Park reluctantly. All 3 of us really enjoyed it, living in our Airstream, and the people we met. After hooking up, doing the final inspections, and saying goodbye to Don & Debbie, we headed out for the 6 hour trip back to home base in Vermont. Happily I can say that the trip was uneventful, as opposed to the eventful trip we had to start out. But, again, we are not talking about it.
Once home, we got sheets changed, bathroom cleaned up, gave Zia a bath, and are getting ready for our next trip: Columbus weekend trip to Plattsburgh and Nomads big "Party". And then a week after that, the big trip. To Arizona. Till then.....
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