A Hitch In My Plan

Nothing happening with Pumpkin.  It's still asleep.  I am planning on getting a new trailer hitch installed right after Christmas.  It has a 3500 lb hitch now but it needs a 5000 lb hitch to tow Coors.  Coors is a silver Jeep Wrangler, a silver bullet.  Thus the name Coors.

Looks like the new hitch will have to be custom made.  I found a guy near Kissee Mills that will do it.  I've got to get Pumpkin over there to see just what it will take - and cost.  Once the hitch is installed, I'll order a tow bar and base plate (used to mount tow bar on Jeep).  The above photo was actually taken after I installed the tow bar and base plate.

I don't plan to take Coors with us every time, but some trips like out West or to Florida would be much more fun to have some extra wheels along for touring areas without having to break camp.  Joyce wasn't too keen on a towed vehicle (toad), but I think she'll like the idea once we get past the initial expense.

Shhh! Pumpkin is sleeping

We got Pumpkin winterized a few days ago and none too soon.  It has turned off cold with temps dropping well below freezing.  I guess Pumpkin will stay that way until March when Dusty wants to go to Petit Jean State Park.

Lake Wappapello State Park

Lake Wappapello State Park

We stayed at Ridge Campground because the main campground was closed for renovation.  We picked a site on a relatively isolated loop.  It was a bit tricky backing in and getting level.  But, Tom, Jr. had given me a couple of vehicle ramps which worked out quite well.

Nearing the end of our trip, we are tired and crash early.

We'll be home tomorrow.

The Narrows Campground

The Narrows Campground

Another nondescript park.  I think I remember, but not sure.  If it is the place I'm thinking of it is a Corp of Eng. park.  The lake was high.  We got a site on one end of the outer row next to the water.  But, not that next.  The water was down a grassy slope.  Nice place but full!

Chief Logan State Park

Chief Logan State Park in West Virginia - pretty nice park.  It's a large general recreation park nestled in a narrow valley with swimming pool, miniature golf, tennis courts, walking trails, a boccie court, amphitheater and lodge.  But, it's Wednesday early in the season and the campground is located quite a ways from the recreation facilities.  I wouldn't mind spending an additional night here, but we'll move on tomorrow.

Keystone State Park

Keystone State Park

Once again, I don't remember this park, so we'll move on.

Heading Home

Buckaloons Recreation Area Campground again.  I told you we liked it.  But, still a bit rainy.  We're tired from a hard weekend camping with the girls so we're hitting the sack early tonight.

Wellesley Island State Park - 5/21/10-5/24/10

We're camping with the New York Kerr's at Wellesley Island State Park on the St. Lawrence River up by 1000 Islands area.  It's a huge park.  Julie managed to get two sites side-by-side right on the corner of a couple of lanes and only a short distance from a shower house.  Good pick!

The campsites do not have power, but we don't need it.  It is plenty cool enough so we don't need A/C and plenty warm enough so we don't need heat.  We dragged up the two picnic tables end-to-end and have a nice eating/sitting space between the two campers.

The girls brought their bikes and a few yard toys.  They have a huge beach ball about 2 feet in diameter, maybe even bigger.  Playing "don't let it touch the ground" was a lot of fun.  However, don't attempt it when you are an old man wearing Crocs next to the road.  Going back for a long one I tripped up and fell on the pavement.  I managed to hit on my butt and roll, so I didn't break anything, but I sure thought my hip was a goner for a while.  I'm sore!  Silly old man.

Located where we were, we could see the road coming down a slow slope to the intersection where our lane tied in.  On that slope was a patch all the way across like they had dug it up to lay down a pipe.  The patch created a bit of a bump across the road.  The hill was just right for kids to coast down on their bikes or make a good skateboard run.  A lot of them tried it.  Quite a few didn't make it.  We sat there entertained, placing bets on who was going to make it and who was going to crash.  One kid even had to have an ambulance.  We think he may have broken his arm.

I borrowed one of the girl's bikes and we took a few rounds about the park.  The hills about did me in, but I managed not to spill on the "killer" hill.

What a great time we've had.  Scrabble, Pit and other games plus good food and marshmallows at the campfire.  Lots of laughs and lots of love.

Altmar, New York - 5/15/10-5/20/10

We made it to Tom & Julie's.  Having a very good time.  Pumpkin is parked out behind Tom's garage so we can get some peace and quiet now and then.  However, the girls usually come out and have been sleeping in the upper bunk most nights.  I don't mind.  I love my girls.

With all the rain coming up, we found we have a leak over the cab area.  Water has been draining out and dribbling down just above Joyce's door.  It is so bad she has to poke paper towels up there to catch it.  Must have gone through a roll of towels.

I ripped the headliner out just above the windshield.  It was totally saturated.  I decided to leave it down until we get back home.  It looks like we have a pretty nasty leak somewhere over the bunk.  Oh well, can't let it ruin our trip.

Buckaloons Recreation Area Campground

Buckaloons Recreation Area Campground is one of our favorite campgrounds.  Quiet secluded sites along the Allegheny River.  Lots of noisy chipmunks to keep Ditto agitated.  But, it is rainy so we're stuck inside with no TV reception and no Internet service.  Scrabble night.

We'll make it on into Altmar tomorrow night.  Looking forward to seeing my "girls"

Salt Fork State Park

Salt Fork State Park

This is another "I don't remember" parks, but once again, it must have been okay.

Pennsylvania is next.

Starve Hollow State Recreation Area

Landing at Starve Hollow State Recreation Area in Indiana for tonight.  Since I'm entering this a year late, I don't remember anything about this park.  But, that could be good since if it were bad, I probably would recall it.

On to Ohio

Trail of Tears State Park

Here we go, 1st stop on a trip to New York.  Trail of Tears State Park is located on the Mississippi River.  It's small, but nice enough.  We didn't have reservations, so we were lucky to get in as it was filling up fast.  The campground is right on the river with a railroad between it and the river.  This seems to be a main line from St. Louis to Memphis and there also seems to be a train about every 5 minutes.  The river is up and still rising.  The camp ground is not at risk of flooding, but a low place in the road to it is.  So, we may have to clear out before the night is over.

Next day:

Well, we made it through the night and our feet are still dry.  We're heading out for Indiana this morning.

Pomme De Terre State Park

We met Dusty and family at Pomme De Terre State Park for the weekend, our first spring outing.  Well, Dusty was there, what can I say?  It rained nearly all weekend.  I took the boat, hoping for some good fishing and we got a little fishing in, but only after having to bail out the boat after a rainstorm in the night.  The bilge pump wouldn't work so we had to bail.  Well, actually, the pump worked, but the hose leaving the pump was plugged with a dirt daubers mud ball and we didn't have what we needed to dig it out.