Leg 11 - April 18th - Weedsport, NY to Ottawa, ON or We're Home!

We were on the road at 9:00 a.m. - 11C (52F) although it quickly changed to 17C (63F). It was a nice, sunny day. We had another uneventful trip for which we're very thankful and arrived in Ottawa at Rideau Heights Campsite around 12:45 p.m. It was 23C (74F) on arrival and got up to 25C (77F). Someone was on the site that was reserved for us so we're in the site beside it and it works fine. It's a back in site and Gordon did a great job backing in. The sites are level and fairly spacious and we have a picnic table which we haven't had very much this winter.

We've sure seen a lot of police on the road since about Oklahoma.



The border crossing was a breeze. I had the total receipts ready and he just waved us on. One of the best crossings we've had.

The lineup at the border wasn't bad.


Crossing the last bridge into Ontario.


Here's our merge onto Hwy 401 in Ontario to head east.

Still some snow in the shady areas along the highway


We have a Rockport in Ontario too.

Along Hwy 416 going north toward Ottawa. Still a lot of water around.


Ottawa sign (bilingual).


There is still some snow here and there as you can see from the photos. Mostly in shady spots and also where they dump the snow and create huge piles. There's even some snow in the campground and up until yesterday a lot of the sites still had snow in them so we're lucky we just arrived today!

Here are some campground photos. We're backing on the new plant that went up two years ago. Before that it was all bush and brush behind us but at least now it's clear enough that we can see the satellites from this site.
We're here!

Looking toward the entrance. Our 5er is the third one on the right.

This is our site. Not a very pretty back yard but it will do!


Still some snow in the campground but it's a lot better than it could have been if the temperature hadn't turned warm over the past few days.


I didn't have enough cash to pay for our site so as soon as we were unhooked I went to the bank and brought back the cash that they like here. We've decided to stay here for two months as we have medical and dental appointments well into the end of May and we still don't know what sort of appointments Gordon will have coming up.

After all that was done, I had a nice shower and as is typical in Ottawa they went directly from winter into summer so I was hot and sweaty from all that rushing around. Traffic in Ottawa hasn't gotten any better since we've been gone and I sure miss being out in the desert where there was very little.

There are lots of nice nature trails around here but unfortunately none that I can walk to from the campground. We just have to get there in between now when it's muddy and when the mosquitoes come out.

I also put a phone call in to the travel medical insurance company to let them know we got home okay. They have sent a package so I'll have to get to my sister's to pick that up and get it in before the hospital starts calling us wanting their money!

For Gordon's web page for today, click here.

However, here we are, home again and I'm feeling good about it!

Leg 10-April 17th - Erie, PA to Weedsport, NY

When I got up this morning, Gordon had been on the internet trying to find an RV park closer to Syracuse so our drive today wouldn't be so short and tomorrow's drive to Ottawa wouldn't be so long. He found a place called Riverforest Park so away we went.

I took these photos of the pretty spring flowers at Hill's Family Campground in Erie, PA before we left this morning.



We left Erie, PA at 9:15 a.m. It was already 55F (13C) and along the way gradually went up to 74F (23C) which is what it was when we arrived at Riverforest Park. I had called first to be sure they were open and had a pull thru site. I also asked if they had wifi and was told 'no' but they did have a clear view of the southern sky.

Lots of grape vines on today's trip. It's a big wine-making area.

This is for Kelly of The Bayfield Bunch. Rochester is her home town.



We arrived at the park just before 1:00 p.m. The sign on the door said the office was closed from 12-1 - no problem, it was just about 1 but no one showed up at 1 so I called and soon there was a white car coming toward me. The man opened the office, gave me a card to fill out, took my money (it's a Passport America Park - $16) and said he would turn on the power to the site. Then he left. We drove into the spot, plugged in - no power and waited. Gordon finally went looking for him and found his son who is the owner of the park who finally got power to our site. Since there is no wifi, Gordon set up the internet satellite. This park is not one I'd recommend very highly although it is close to I-90 - only about 1 mile off. It seems to be set up for mostly seasonal people. Their pull thrus are in a grassy field and I was a bit worried that we'd sink into the ground and be here until Doomsday but it looks like we're okay.

Our site.

This is the pond in the campground.

Looking toward our site from the pond area. The RV's in the front look like they're stored there.

These are some of the seasonal sites overlooking the pond up on the hill.


So tomorrow is the final leg of our journey on our return trip. I'm ready to sit in one spot for a while and relax although we will have all kinds of appointments at least it won't be packing up and breaking down and making lunches every day!

After we got settled, I started preparing for our border crossing - got out the passports, Canadian money and finalized my receipts. I think we're ready except we don't have enough cash to pay for our campground for the month. Oh well, he'll have to wait till I go out to the bank. He doesn't take credit cards or cheques so I'll just go out after we get set up tomorrow.

We decided to get diesel this afternoon rather than wait until morning because we didn't know how far we'd have to go to get it. So we went into Weedsport and filled up at 4.50/gallon! YIKES! The station we use in Ottawa is 128.9/litre according to ottawagasprices.com which is the equivalent of 4.86 (assuming our money is at par) here so we might be doing more sitting than driving this summer!

The temperature here today actually topped out at 77F (25C). What a beautiful day!

For Gordon's synopsis, click here.

Leg 9 - April 16th - Delaware, OH to Erie, PA

We left Delaware, Ohio this morning at 8:55 a.m. under clear, sunny skies and 45F (7C). Along our route the temperature gradually rose to a pleasant 65F (18C). Again, not much to take photos of along the way but here's what I have.

Alum Creek - Alum Creek State Park is right across from Cross Creek where we stayed. We'll have to check this out one day.


I took a photo of this van as it says - A blind man is driving this van. Not sure of the significance of that but sure hope it wasn't true as he had just passed us.

An Amish horse & buggy crossing over I-71. It's pretty blurry so I made it a vignette.



Some Ohio green along the way.



Another Titanium passes us and then there was one at the rest area when we stopped.

Daffodils at the rest area on I-271.

A couple of construction areas.



Finally, Pennsylvania!



There are a lot of bridges being worked on in Ohio but only one caused a real slowdown and then not much of one. Other than that, we had another uneventful trip. We arrived at Hill's Family Campground at Erie, PA right on the dot of 1:00 p.m. and were set up within 15 minutes. We're getting really good at this but I have to say I'm tried of breaking down and setting up every day.

Hill's Family Campground is right off I-90 and the best description of it is 'functional'. It has 50 amp, full hook up, cable TV and wifi (they say it's only in the office and rec room) but from our site #7 we can both reach it. Gordon had planned to set up the satellite dish but decided against it when we were able to reach the wifi.

Here are a few photos of the RV park.

Our site - it's handy, just drive straight in. We had the same site last year.

Here you can see the office and the entrance. This motorhome came in right behind us. So this is our rear window view.


Here's the restroom/showers and some other sites.


I had planned to defrost the refrigerator today but I think I'll wait until tomorrow as we have a short drive to Rochester NY KOA tomorrow. Today I put some chicken legs in the crockpot and threw together some things to put in with it. I wound up with potatoes, 1 cup of chicken broth, a little white wine and some soy bouillon along with some seasoned salt. Let's see what turns out! It's my Chicken Surprise!

After we got set up, I called the only park in Ottawa that's open, Rideau Heights Campground. It is just off Highway 16 and he does have a site for us so we booked it for a month. It's $540/month inclusive. The campground isn't much but it is in the heart of the city so will be handy for medical appointments. Unfortunately there's a lot of traffic around there as they've built up the area south on Highway 16 but the road remains only 2 lane. Also, there are no sidewalks so not much place for me to walk. Oh well, you've gotta do what you've gotta do!

It was a relief to get that looked after although the sites available were not the ones we wanted, the manager assures us that we can reach the satellite from the site he's keeping for us. I told him we'd be there on Friday so Friday will be a long travel day!

Gordon got through to our doctor and has made an appointment for Monday morning so things are falling into place.

I went to the 'modern' showers to have a shower this afternoon. They are the pushbutton style. You push the button and the water runs for maybe 30 seconds, you push it again...another 30 seconds. I didn't really get any hot water out of it at all and neither did the other lady who was there at the same time so we're not impressed with the showers.

For Gordon's synopsis of today, click here.

Leg 8 - April 15th - Terre Haute, IN to Delaware, OH

After I posted last night, when we were having dinner, Gordon saw this little robin in her nest in the crevice of the tree right outside our window.


We left Terre Haute this morning at 9:20 a.m., 41F (5C) and sunny. There wasn't much to photograph on this leg of the journey, just lots of traffic. There was also some construction still going on around I-75 at Dayton but we made pretty good time anyway.

A scene along the way.



We arrived at Cross Creek Camping Resort at Delaware, OH at around 2:00 p.m. and got set up. We get a very strong wifi signal from our campsite (which by the way was $36 for full hookup). It's a nice place, we stayed here once before our first year on the road and even better it's 60F (16C)!

Here are some photos of the campground. They are paving all the roads within the campground so there is heavy equipment around and it's a bit on the noisy side.

Our site.


View from our rear window.

Pool area.


Sites.

Gordon has decided he wants one of the warming throws so I called the Walgreens here in Delaware and had them put one aside for us. After we rested for an hour or so we went in to pick it up and also get some bananas. Then back to the rig for wind down time!

Laying Low in Terre Haute, IN

This morning when I got up late (closer to 8:30 than 8:00) it was sunny but cold at 35F (2C). I walked toward the road that we came into the park on on the paved area and ran part way. Then I walked around the park ending up at the office where they have free coffee, muffins, danish and some breakfast items like grits. I came home with a coffee for Gordon and a blueberry muffin and danish for me.

Here are some photos I took around the park during my morning walk.

Another area of the park. It looks like these people have been here for a while.

Daffodils are starting to bloom.

The donkeys are having their breakfast.

These are fake storefronts which hide the RV storage area.

The KOA Kamping Kabins.
After breakfast, I changed the bed, vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom and washed the floors, and got the laundry ready. Gordon and I walked over to check out the laundry room and the showers. Someone was doing laundry so I came back and got the receipts ready for our border crossing. By the time I got that done the washers were free so I loaded them up, picked up some books from the book exchange and came back to read a bit while the clothes were washing. I took some of my books back for the book exchange and loaded the dryers then back home again.

It's nice to see the sun again but I sure wish it was warmer. My electric throw has been a really good buy in these temperatures!

The rest of the afternoon I spent on the internet and finished my latest book called "Vanish" by Tess Gerritsen which I left in the library here at the park.

I took this photo from my living room window this afternoon.

That's about it for my day!

Leg 7 - April 13th - Eureka, MO to Terre Haute, IN

I went to bed earlier last night and slept later this morning. Boy, was I tired! So I got up at 7:15 a.m. instead of the usual 6:30 a.m. for a travel day.

The gist of this morning's conversation on deciding whether to stay another day at St. Louis:

Gordon: It's going to be 31F (-0.5C) here tonight (St. Louis) and 30F (-1C) in Terre Haute, IN tonight and 25F (-4C) tomorrow night.

Sandra: So it's only 1 degree difference between here and there. If the weather forecast is right.

Gordon: Yes, if they're right.

Sandra: It's raining.

Gordon (after looking out the door): It's only sprinkling.

Sandra: You wanted to get through St. Louis on Sunday.

Gordon: Right.

Sandra: Then, let's boogie!

So then we had to go and get fuel. At our exit off I-44 fuel was 4.12/gallon so we drove to the previous exit and got it for $3.87/gallon. Might have saved a few cents.

It was 9:50 a.m. when we left the St. Louis West KOA. It was rainy and 36F (2C). When we got on the bypass it started to rain harder and we even had some heavy flakes. It rained on and off for the whole trip but luckily when we reached Terre Haute, IN the rain was still behind us.


Crossing the Mississippi River at St. Louis, MO.


Here's the cross at Effingham, IL.


There's quite a bit more green in Ilinois than there was in Missouri.


We got checked in to the Terre Haute KOA (at $40/night) and since we both need a break but especially Gordon we decided to stay here 2 nights so the cost was nearly $80. Again a nice park but no clear view of the south, too many trees and although we're close to the office and the wifi is supposed to be park wide, Gordon can only reach it from the bedroom. Since my computer is newer I can reach it from the recliners. He's not happy about that. Again, a nice enough park but not worth the price.

We are in the area of covered bridges here in Indiana so here is the park's contribution.

Today we officially reached the east as St. Louis is the Gateway to the West and we also got back on Eastern time when we crossed the border into Indiana so we arrived here at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. With no satellite dishes it only takes about 1/2 hour to set up.


Here's the entrance to the campground.


After set up, I went around the campground and took a few photos. They have a little barn here with three miniature Cross donkeys so I had to go over and talk to the donkeys and take their photo.

Here's the view from our rear window.


Here's our site and some of the other sites in the park.




Other than that, the plan is to relax for the next couple of days and get back on the road probably on Tuesday.

For Gordon's web site, click here.