Heading Home

We spent Sunday night at Santee State Park in Santee, South Carolina. This was just an overnight stop as we make our way back home to Florida. This park was an enjoyable peaceful place to spend the evening. The campground borders Lake Marion, a spectacular 171,000 acre lake. I was told this lake is the perfect spot for bass fishermen; cypress trees jut out from the center of the lake, which provides a perfect hiding place for the bass. From a photographic aspect, I found the trees to be unique. The next day we camped at our final stop, Gold Head Branch State Park. Gold Head Branch State Park, located in northern Florida, is a two time National Gold Medal winner and was voted one of America’s best parks. The park is also one of Florida’s first State Parks having entered the Florida State Park System in 1933. Gold Head Sate Park is a classic example of untouched Florida wilderness. An evening bike ride through the park allowed us the opportunity to reminisce about our journey and it certainly was the perfect ending to a fabulous time. Since this was the last stop on our trip this summer, I would like to thank everyone for following my blog. I also hope everyone enjoyed viewing my blog half as much as I did posting. We should be home late this afternoon; so until next time, have a fantastic summer everyone!

Luray Caverns

We arrived at Canyon Country Campground in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania late Thursday afternoon. This park was situated right next to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon; yet another canyon which is also referred to as, The Grand Canyon of the East. Although this area is considered the darkest quadrant on the east coast, the sun did not set until 8:00 pm and we were able to get a fantastic view of the canyon. The grandeur of the canyon appeared nestled between the treetops, faintly illuminated by the setting sun. Now, after viewing both Canyons which lay claim to being the “Grand Canyon of the East,” it is difficult to say which is more picturesque. Although these canyons are so different in appearance, both are a must see and equally Grand. The following morning we got an early start as we headed to Luray, Virginia home to the incredible cave known as The Luray Caverns. Honestly, we were not aware of the magnificence of the canyons, nor were we aware of their popularity. These canyons attract over 500,000 visitors annually. The Luray Caverns proved to be the most spectacular attraction on our travels, for these caverns have to be one of the most remarkable sights I have ever witnessed. The mile and a half long trail that winds through the cave led me on an amazing journey deep underground. The entire experience seemed somewhat surreal as I explored this subterranean wonderland. The Smithsonian Institution reported, “It is safe to say that there is probably no other cave in the world more completely and profusely decorated with stalactite and stalagmite ornamentation than that of Luray”. Additionally, one of the chambers houses an organ that is connected to a network of rubber mallets that strike stalactite matching a musical scale. We were even lucky enough to hear the mellifluous tones produced by this incredible instrument. The following day we drove to Holly Point campground in Wake Forest, North Carolina. There, I was able to visit my best friend Dalton, whom I have known since early elementary school. He moved to Creedmoor, NC recently, after accepting a position with a building supply company. It was fun having a chance to see him settled in and happy with his decision. Dalton is a hard and conscientious worker; I know he will do well!

Allegany State Park

We left Watkins Glen early Monday morning in search of what many people refer to as the “Grand Canyon of the East”. This canyon otherwise known as the Genesee Gorge splices through the middle of Letchworth State Park, in Castile, NY. The dramatic cliff face of the Genesee Gorge approaches 600 feet in certain areas. The Genesee River flows swiftly in the basin of the gorge, and plunges over three waterfalls, one being 107 feet high. After spending several hours hiking around the gorge, we set off for Niagara Falls. We arrived at Niagara Falls by midafternoon and found a perfect spot to park the RV just a stone’s throw away. The Niagara area was incredibly crowded, so it was fortunate to be so close.  Despite the heavy mist, we were able to get a fantastic view of the falls from Goat Island. Interestingly, 3,160 tons of water flow over the falls every second. This number seems unfathomable, until you witness it with your own eyes. After a quick walk around the island, it was off to our next stop, Allegany State Park. Allegany State Park is the largest state park in New York, encompassing 101 square miles. This park contains many beautiful sights including rolling hills, peaceful forests, glistening lakes and 80 miles of magnificent hiking and biking trails. During our hiking and biking excursions throughout the park, I was able to spot and photograph numerous birds as well as other wildlife. This truly was a birders paradise; just hearing a medley of birdsongs fill the air as we hiked along, was an incredible experience. Unfortunately, the last few days we had an intermittent overheating issue with the RV. Luckily, we were able to locate a service center in the neighboring town of Olean.  The repair shop allowed us to stay in the RV for two nights while waiting for the necessary parts to arrive, and the work to be done. Despite this minor setback, we were still able to stay busy and have fun. St. Bonaventure University had a wonderful paved bike trail, where I enjoyed a five mile run and my parents a bike ride. We also visited Sprague’s Maple Syrup Farm, where we were able to have an amazing breakfast and sample a variety of maple syrups. I never realized it took 40 gallons of sap, to make just one gallon of 100% pure and delicious maple syrup.

Watkins Glen State Park

We spent Friday night at Green Wood Campground in Vermont. This campground served as the perfect overnight stop before continuing west towards Watkins Glen, New York.  Nestled in the Finger Lakes region, the town of Watkins Glen is filled with stunning waterfalls, sparkling lakes and vast pastures which dominate the landscape. Additionally, as every motorsport enthusiasts knows, the town is also home to Watkins Glen International Raceway. We spent both Saturday and Sunday night at Watkins Glen State Park. The park was stunning, with magnificent views around every corner. The most spectacular feature in the park was an immense narrow gorge, which contained 19 waterfalls! We also had the opportunity to visit our friend Jenna, who recently moved to Watkins Glen from Sarasota, to work for the Farm Sanctuary. The Farm Sanctuary raises awareness for the inhumane conditions industrialized factory farm animals endure. The Farm Sanctuary offers beautiful pastures for rescued farm animals to roam and rehabilitate. Jenna gave us a fabulous informative and eye opening tour of the sanctuary. We also spent time with these farm animals and learned of their plight. I have always admired Jenna’s dedication and her compassion; Jenna will truly be the perfect spokesperson for these animals. Way to go Jenna!

Franconia, New Hampshire

On our way back from Canada, we spent Tuesday night at a small campground in Vassalboro, Maine. This was just an overnight stop and a place to unwind as we begin to head South. The following afternoon we arrived in Franconia, New Hampshire. Franconia is a delightful little town nestled in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We were lucky enough to arrive in Franconia for their annual Lupine Festival. Lupines are beautiful vibrant purple, white and pink flowers which become quite plentiful in fields this time of year. Many calendar photographers flock to Franconia to capture the hillsides blanketed in wildflowers. After photographing the Lupine, we stopped for lunch at Polly’s Pancake House. This quaint establishment has been serving delicious food for 75 years, and I highly recommend Polly’s famous pancakes. After finishing lunch, we went hiking in Franconia State Park. Our four mile hike consisted of steep, rugged terrain, but the magnificent vistas were well worth the effort. We were able to view numerous waterfalls, including the parks famous flume. The flume is a deep narrow gorge with waterfalls and rapids in its basin. The flume has attracted visitors since the 1800’s.

Canada

After a long drive through Maine, we entered Canada late Thursday afternoon. Our first stop was Fundy National Park in New Brunswick. Fundy was an excellent park with spectacular views of the ocean. That evening I was lucky enough to spot several humming birds just outside our RV. These beautiful little birds even allowed me to get close enough to capture a few photos. With so much to explore, it was unfortunate Fundy was just an overnight stop. The next day we drove to Porters Lake Provincial Park which is located just outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, that evening the tropical storm finally caught up to us. Fortunately, the heavy rain and 40 mile an hour winds occurred while we slept. The next day was gloomy with spotty light showers, but this did not hinder us from exploring downtown Halifax. I was surprised by the size of the city and felt right at home seeing every big box store we have in the U.S. On Sunday we took the ferry over to Prince Edward Island, commonly referred to as the gentle island. We drove both our car and our RV onto the ferry for a 70 minute ride across the ocean.  We were able to get out of our RV, walk around and enjoy the ride. Sunday night we camped at Brudenell Provincial Park on the eastern side of the island. We took time out from our sightseeing to enjoy dinner at a fabulous seafood restaurant named Clam Digger. The mussels were especially delicious along with the clams, scallops and haddock. Monday we moved along to the North Cape of PEI, and we are staying at an incredible ocean front site at Linkletter Provincial Park in Summerside. The sun was quite intense, so we kicked back in our lawn chairs and enjoyed the sun and ocean breeze. We welcomed the beautiful weather and an incredible rainbow just before sunset. Tomorrow we hope to visit The College of Piping; not sure why, but I have always been a big fan of bagpipe music!

Bar Harbor, Maine

We arrived in Bar Harbor, Maine on Monday afternoon.  Our RV exceeded the 28 foot restriction at Arcadia National Park, so we opted to stay ocean side at Mt. Desert Narrows campground. Once again, the view from our window was magnificent. The town of Bar Harbor is a fantastic little town. In fact, it was once the summer home of
the Rockefellers, Morgans, Fords, Astors, Vanderbilts and Pulitzers. This quaint harbor town is now home to a plethora of tourist type shops and several excellent restaurants. Of course, it is impossible to visit Maine and not sample the lobster.
Whatever way one chooses to have it prepared, this local delicacy is indeed delicious!
On Tuesday, we spent the majority of our time exploring the natural beauty of
Acadia National Park. Acadia is the first national park east of the Mississippi,
and the land was entirely donated by private citizens. Acadia National Park is stunning;
49,000 acres comprised of granite cliffs, cobblestone beaches, and glacier carved
mountains. The views from atop Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in the park
were breathtaking. The following day we continued to explore the park by land as
well as by sea. After a bike ride along the carriage trails, we took a boat ride
to view puffins, seals and several majestic lighthouses. The wildlife was fantastic,
and it was helpful to have a naturalist as our guide. It was also fascinating to hear the stories of the brave people that once kept these lighthouses burning. The weather was perfect for a boat ride. According to our tour guide it was a red letter day since this area experiences 270 days of fog each year. Although, once we headed for open water the
temperature dipped, and the current picked up. The waves rocked the boat and sprayed
the brave passengers that sat outside. I stood at the bow with my camera in hand,
enjoying every second of this truly exciting adventure. Currently, we are on
the road to Fundy National Park in Canada.

York, Maine

We spent Friday evening at Brialee Campground in Ashford, Connecticut. This park served as the perfect overnight stop on our way to Maine. We arrived at Libby’s Oceanside Camp in York, Maine on Saturday afternoon. Our site overlooked the ocean and the views from our RV were spectacular. The town of York is an exceptionally scenic village with many historical buildings, churches and points of interests. Most of the town is situated along the picturesque coastline. That evening we decided to sample some authentic Maine cuisine. Per our camp host’s recommendation, we dined at Dockside Restaurant. The restaurant overlooked a peaceful harbor with sailboats moored in the distance. Later we enjoyed a campfire along the water’s edge; the gentle crashing of the waves made the experience even more memorable.  The next day we visited several stunning lighthouses along the coast.  Afterwards, we drove to the summit of Mt. Agamenticus.  Mt. Agamenticus is not particularly high, being only 692 feet above sea level; however, the views from the top were breathtaking. We are now on our way to Acadia National Park on the mid Atlantic coast of Maine.

Washington, DC

We reached Cherry Hill RV Park in Washington, DC late Wednesday afternoon. We had just enough time for a quick bite to eat before we hopped on a tour bus for an evening of sightseeing.  The “DC After Dark” excursion, allowed us to see the city illuminated at night. This tour stopped at the Jefferson Memorial, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, White House, Washington Monument, Federal Triangle, Kennedy Center, and the Iwo Jima Memorial. The bus stopped for 20 minutes in each location, providing me with plenty of time to photograph each site. It also allowed Grandpa plenty of time to give the bus driver his take on history. In all fairness, she was quite enamored with him, and told us he was a very wise man! The tour ended at midnight and it truly was an excellent way to see DC. The following morning we drove to the Metro which took us to back to The National Mall, for even more sightseeing. We have been so fortunate to have such fantastic weather; it has been pleasant with highs in the mid 90’s. We began our day at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum which houses numerous rockets and planes, including the Wright Brothers first flying machine. Then we went to the original Smithsonian Institute, built in the medieval revival style of the 19th century, this museum resembles a castle. Afterwards, we toured the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. My mom especially liked the Hope Diamond, she is even willing to risk the curse supposedly associated with the wearer. Then we stopped for lunch at the Capitol Grill on Pennsylvania Avenue. We were in the company of many lobbyists and government officials who were all enjoying extended lunch breaks!  I can’t blame them, since the food was quite delicious. After lunch, we went to the Smithsonian American History Museum. I enjoyed the displays of the many fascinating machines from the Industrial Revolution. From there our final stop was the National Archives. We were able to view the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and many other historic documents. Currently, we are headed to Connecticut for an overnight stop.