Tuesday, June 27, 2017

It's on the internet - it HAS to be true...


We left the campground this morning, stopping to dump holding tanks on the way out.  Our routing took us back through Cleveland - the view is different from the height of the motorhome vs the CR-V...


Some interesting curves on the Interstate, especially with a semi in the lane next to you...


We could not find a back road that didn't meander a bit too much to make time, so we are on I-90 today.  Looking at the GPS, we are very close to Lake Erie...


But, looking out the windshield, it is heavily wooded and no view of the water...


We stopped for lunch at a Mickey D's, next to a Pilot... where we bought gas for $1.94 instead of the 50¢ more per gallon that Gas Buddy told us we'd find in Pennsylvania...


I shot that photo, not because it was a McDonald's, but check out the curved lines for parking - that is not lens compression, the parking sites are curved, for easy in and out for big rigs.

It is going to be a "three state day" again today...


Well, mostly because it is only 45 miles through this part of Pennsylvania.  I found myself stuttering as I tried to pronounce this town...


And then, finally, a glimpse of Lake Erie...


Into New York State...


This took us past lots of vineyards and wineries...


When we're down for a week in the area north of the Finger Lakes, we'll get to see and tour some wineries... and, see some of the sights again from our time on the Erie Canal.  We are both looking forward to this!

For today, we were just making some miles.  Joan found RV parking at the Erie Fairgrounds.  New York doesn't have exit numbers that match up with mile markers on their Interstates, so 3 exits may be 50 miles.  We stopped at a Service Area (on the tollway on I-90), and the guy at the Visitors Center told us the fairgrounds have a "nice campground."  Back on the road, and a Text Stop...


Yeah, kinda like a rest area, but no toilets... and you can text.  We didn't see anyone in there - they were all texting while they were driving.  An informal poll of the texting offenders:

Most (about 80%) were female.
Of the males, more seemed to be talking on the phone rather than texting.
Putting a number on it, in at least 25% of the cars passing us, the driver was on the phone or texting.

Scary.  Being in the motorhome, I can see them swerving in their lane as they pass us, never looking up.

We made it to Hamburg, our intended stop for the night.  Check out how you get off the Interstate, pay the toll, and get into town...


That could not have been more convoluted.  Joan had the address for the fairground programmed in, and navigated us right to it.  It is a large, very nice fair complex, with a casino on the premises.  The campground guide said the camping would be south of the Casino.  They lied.  We checked at the Events Center (Joan saw someone inside as we drove by)... the doors were locked.  I walked up to the casino and asked the guard inside the entrance.  He listened to all I had to say, then sent me to the main security desk.  The nice gentleman there did the same, then turned me over to the manager who said, "I've never seen any RV camping here."

There is an RV show being set up on the grounds.  I asked a couple guys who were power washing rigs for the show... they told me, "Camping World in town has RV stuff."

No, we're not looking for "stuff," we'd like a place to spend the night.  The casino guard gave me a phone number for the Event Center.  I called and spoke with a nice young lady... who had never heard of any RV parking.  She put me on hold, and another nice lady came on the line: "I don't know who told you there was RV camping here, but that is only during the fair (in August)..."

I put on my Mister Nice Guy voice and explained that we are just looking for a place to get off the road for the night, we won't be bothering anyone, we are self-contained, and "absolutely, it says in the campground app that you have RV sites with hookups."

The nice lady put me on hold again, then came back and said, "OK, I checked.  We do not have RV parking, but since there seems to be some confusion about this, we will let you spend just tonight on the fairgrounds..."  She gave me lengthy instructions about where to park (this place is HUGE), then said, "I'll meet you at Delivery Gate 2 and take you to a spot where you can spend the night.  You are self-contained, right?"

"Yes, ma'am, and we certainly do appreciate this."

I had Walmart (who has "No Overnight Parking" signs in their lot) as a backup.  Camping World used to allow overnight parking, but since they have gone into the RV sales biz, they have all their RV for sale filling their lot.

By this time, the rain had begun and was now pounding.  We met the nice lady at Delivery Gate 2 and followed here past about a dozen buildings, where she pointed at handicapped parking next to a building.  We thanked her and questioned about taking up about 6 handicapped parking spots - she let us know that no one else will be around here.

She didn't say it, but I think they were putting us in a spot where we can't be seen from any passing road...


The parking spot isn't particularly level, but our jacks took care of that.  From the time we pulled into the lot until we actually got a space was well over an hour... we are glad to be down for the night.

Little Izzy had a couple of nice long walks in the grass at the last park... that isn't going to happen tonight, thanks to the rain.  On the bright side: it is quiet here, we are on pavement, and if the west wind that blew all day comes up tonight, we have this building to block it.  We are close enough to Buffalo that we have good TV and data.  The rain has stopped, for now.

Last night, we ran heat - it got down to 52º.  It was a cool, windy day today; not bad for driving.  Looks like it will be 54º tonight... may need some heat again.  Never the same thing twice.


2 comments:

Erie Canal fan said...

Welcome to western New York - I think! Hope you enjoy your time in the beautiful Finger Lakes region and that any RV parks you've chosen really do exist.
We met when you were on Wild Blue at the Holley Canal Park and I brought you some Zweigles white hots.
Safe travels and a couple chin-chopper scratches for Little Miss Izzy.
Barb (& Bridgetender Don)

Captain Jim and the Blonde said...

Hi Barb - nice to hear from you again! Of course we remember you and your visit to Wild Blue... and our first time with white hots. Traveling the Erie Canal was one of our highlights with Wild Blue, and we're excited to be back in this area with the motorhome.

Best wishes,
Jim, Joan and Izzy