Athens PA (Watkins Glen, Susquehanna, Thumbsucking, and a Surprise Visitor)

July 17-23, 2012

(My next few posts will go back in time to wrap up the highlights of the past few weeks.  Between being busy, blog lazy, and poor internet connection, I’ve fallen behind quite a bit.)

We enjoyed a tourist day with Dan and Tricia by going to Watkins Glen NY.  Dan drove the Suki since he is familiar with the roads.  That sure was nice.  We first did a quick ride to see Watkins Glen Raceway for all you racing fans.  It was closed for a car club (Porsche) to use so we didn’t really see too much.  Next we enjoyed a picnic on the shore of Seneca Lake which is one of the Finger Lakes in NY.  It was a very hot day but there was a nice cool breeze coming off of the deep water.

 

Our next stop that day was Watkins Glen State Park.  We parked in the main lot along with a few hundred other folks and walked along the Gorge walkway.  It was a nice cool breeze there at times also.

 

I absolutely love waterfalls so you know I fell in love with this spot.  There are several waterfalls along Glen Creek which formed this Gorge thousands of years ago.

  

  

Dan enjoyed walking the whole trail while the rest of us went at a much more relaxed pace.  He found the Suspension Bridge first but Tricia and I found it also.  Unfortunately, Gin got a little overheated and went back to the car for some ice water (that darn MS).

 

On another day of this enjoyable visit, we floated on the Susquehanna River right from the family farm.  It was not nearly as touristy which was fine with us.  We enjoyed holding on to Dan and Tricia’s Paddleski since he had put a trolling motor on it.  I call it “Dangineering”.

 

 

We saw about eight Bald Eagles flying along the shore.  Some of you might think that we saw the same bird eight times but we actually did see three at one time so I know it was a good number of them.

 

On the last day of our visit, we all went to a working dairy farm.  Dan’s friend Doug had invited us over to see some of their new calves and get our thumbs sucked.  Boy, they have some powerful suction!

 

I love animals but I’m not real comfortable around the big ones.  Horses make me nervous but I had to rub this beauty.  I also had a chance to mike a cow without getting kicked!  Thanks Doug!

 

While sitting outside on the morning of our last day, we enjoyed the wildlife.  There was always a hawk squawking, a deer grazing, or a chipmunk running around.

 

I don’t know how Pauline managed it but she had a surprise visitor show up for us.  Running up one of her driveways and through her back yard was a Black Bear.  I had our little camera out so we have proof (click the pic to enlarge).

 

It ran right by the blackberries which is where Dan and his mom were at the time.  Dan had seen one earlier in the week during a morning walk.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time here with great friends and their family.  It’s a very nice community and we felt very welcomed.  I love the summer weather but I think the winters would be a bit too cold for us.

This shot is especially for Tumbleweed.

The End.

Highlights of Cedar Point

Lazy Days RV
Seffner, FL

That’s right…we’re still alive and we’re at Lazy Days getting some warranty items taken care of.  I didn’t want to publish our intent to come here for reasons to be disclosed in my next post.  Leave ya hangin’ on for more.

Our internet connection hasn’t been the best in the world lately but I want to share some highlights from our recent time with Nancy and Bill at Cedar Point.  Needless to say, we sat around discussing the world’s problems and came up with several viable solutions.  I just don’t know why the politicians and other powers to be don’t understand how simple the solutions are.  I bet they don’t spend any time chatting around a campfire or going camping for that matter.  We played cards, Sequence, Hand n Foot, and ladder ball.  Gin and I lost most of the time but enjoyed the friendly competition. 

There were a couple of day trip activities that were really the highlight of our time together.  We paddled on the White Oak River one day launching at Haywood’s Landing and another day, we went to Bear Island which is part of Hammock's Beach State Park.

First our river paddle.  Haywood’s Landing is about 11 miles from the campground off of Hwy 58.  You turn onto a forest service road which is gravel but in pretty good shape.  Travel another couple of miles into the woods and make a right at the stop sign.  (Yes, there’s a stop sign in the middle of the woods…for the educated deer ).  There is no road noise at all when you take this paddle.  After lending Bill one of our paddles, we launched our SeaEagles.  That’s right…Bill left their paddles at camp.  Nancy usually doesn’t paddle much due to her bad shoulder, but Gin got real lucky since Bill used her paddle.

 

Roamin never uses a paddle either and he really liked his spot up front between Gin’s feet.  Not a bad view of the tall grass growing at river’s edge.

 

As you can tell, there was only water and trees.  Beautiful day and very relaxing.  Not that much wildlife but there was the majestic Osprey looking for lunch and the typical turtle on a log.

 

Since we were well inland, we didn’t have to try and figure out the tides.  It was a very nice and relaxing paddle.  On another day, we went to Hammock’s Beach State Park in Swansboro, NC and took the passenger ferry boat ride over to Bear Island.  This was our first time there so it was an adventure indeed.  There is quite a bit of walking on the island when you get off of the ferry so I’m not real sure we would do it during the hot, humid summer.  We’re spoiled.  After a while, you approach the facilities.  There are several covered picnic tables, a bath house, and a concession stand that is open during the summer.

 

While Gin and Bill were surf fishing, Nancy and I walked towards the Bogue Inlet point of the island.  We all felt like we had the place all to ourselves.

 

It’s an unspoiled island but they do have about a dozen tent camping sites that are right on the dunes.  You would have quite a distance to go to get to the bath house but you are the first one to see the sunrise.

 

Seagulls were plentiful but we did manage to capture a few other shorebirds.  I know Nancy took many more pictures, but here’s an Oystercatcher and a Black-bellied Plover.

 

It was a wonderful sun-filled day at the beach that I would gladly do again.  Put on lots of sunscreen and keep the Springtime temperatures and breezes, and I’m there!

Thanks for dropping by, and enjoy your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Maiden Voyage and Soapbox

Driveway
Clayton, NC

We enjoyed our maiden voyage of the PaddleSki 435 with Tricia and Dan on Monday at Falls Lake.  They are staying at their NC “home” for a few weeks and we enjoyed visiting with them some before going down the road to a put in that was in a quiet cove.  It was a breezy day so it was nice to be sheltered some.

  

No, they weren’t hitting each other in the head! 

We just can’t take a “proper” photo.

The sky was a beautiful clear blue which complimented the Spring green colors of the trees wonderfully!  I had commented to my Mom a few days ago that I have enjoyed the “greening” of Spring more this year than any other time.  She immediately knew what I was talking about because she said, “It’s because you’re retired!  You have time to enjoy it!”.  She is so right!

So we are still here in the driveway taking care of the money pit (aka house).  The garage door opener quit working so we called someone to come fix it.$  Then the air conditioner in the house was not blowing cool air.  Called someone to add coolant.$$  Now there is a beaver in the pond that no one wants to claim as their pet so we have made a call to have that taken care of.$$  Good to get these things done while we are here.

I did want to say thanks to Bill and Nancy for buying their Journey at Lazy Days.  LD sent us a nice gift card for referring them so we used part of it to pay for a seafood dinner with Gin’s parents.  They had come to see us and bring the new quiet water pump we had ordered.  It was a good meal.

(Stepping up on my soapbox) We have voted by absentee ballot today in the upcoming NC Primary.  We ordinarily wouldn’t bother with who is going to be our party’s candidate, but there is a referendum to add a NC Constitutional amendment to “provide that marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.”  There are already laws in this state that ban gay marriage.  Why do we have to put it in the Constitution too?  My personal opinion (which I seldom voice) is that it’s just plain discrimination!  I’m sorry if one’s religion doesn’t approve.  I can understand that.  Really, I do.  Don’t allow a gay couple to marry in your church.  However, marriage is a legal entity.  Many straight couples get married outside of their church but their union is still legally recognized!  So it should be with any two consenting adults!!  Why can’t a gay couple just go to the justice of the peace, exchange vows, and be legally recognized?  It’s just plain discrimination!  It should NOT be in any Constitution!  (End of rant…stepping off of my soapbox)

Thanks for dropping by and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.

Much o’ Nuttin and Paddle Ski

Driveway
Clayton,NC

Ok, so I’ve been lazy about posting.  I apologize but we really haven’t been doing anything blog worthy.  The house and yard are in great shape thanks to the neighbors.  Mark and his son Jordan spread pine straw here to give it that curb appeal.  Jordan is keeping our grass cut too.  We’ve enjoyed reconnecting with them all while we’ve been here.  We relaxed on the back porch and listened to the bullfrogs in the pond one warm afternoon.

 

We’ve enjoyed fresh asparagus from the garden area and we’ve had a rose or two in the MH.

 

These are all things that we otherwise would have missed out on if the house were already sold.  Still, I wish we had our freedom.  I keep telling myself that it will happen soon.  We lowered the price now hopefully that will spark some interest.

The Sea Eagle Paddle Ski 435 came in yesterday so we unwrapped it today and got familiar with it.  We hope to take it out on Falls Lake in a few days.  We’re excited about that!  Step 1, 2, and 3.

 

My last scheduled dental appointment is coming Tuesday so we plan to go somewhere soon after that. We need to act like full time rvers instead of displaced home owners.

Thanks for dropping by and enjoy each day of your life’s journey by finding beauty in the ordinary.