Day 6 & 7: 7/24 & 25

Day 6 & 7:  Cousins Camp Cool-Lea - Odessa, NY

Mile:  1,545.5

Relatives:  8

Features:  Conversation, food, play and daddy-long-legs

Cool nature thingy:  Saprophyte: a plant that does not use photosynthesis.   

Memories:

Rose:  Going out on the boat with Gordon, Grace, Adam, Hugh and Danny with the wind whipping in our hair; a visit from a friend before leaving for camping.

Hugh:  Basketball with  Adam and Danny at the campground playground; Grace driving the boat in a huge loop before bringing it back to the dock.

Grace:  Driving the boat.  Making charcoal drawings on flat rocks.

Danny:  Playing legos with Hugh; going on the boat; waking up Grace.

Sarah:  Listening to Therese read at the campfire; the kids playing at the goodbye breakfast.

Adam:  Grace driving the boat from the landing to the lake and back to the dock.  Hugh shouting:  "Danny (Dannie?) get your gun!"

Therese:  The cousin's van coming up the road to the campsite; sitting on the swing with Sarah watching the kids play at the lake. 

---------------

We bid a bittersweet goodbye to our friends at the B&B.  It was a wonderful, relaxing stay with a lot of memories.  We probably won't be back this way again.

With one last delicious made to order breakfast behind us we headed out around 11:00.  It was going to be an easy day of driving so we weren't concerned about a late start.

We took the scenic route and drove through rolling hills and charming small towns.  I was able to replace my old unraveled Amish basket with a new one. We also stopped at a roadside farmer's market and loaded up.  We took a gamble on sweet corn: early in the season, but you never know.

The campground was one of those older places with a sweet beach, playground and many RV-regulars who spend every summer there.  Tucked up near the woods were rustic campsites where we stayed.  With a camp store that used the honor system for ice and firewood and grand-parenty owners, we felt right at  home.  It was nice to have all the amenities within a short walk and still be located in a rustic area.

As soon as the cousins pulled up, Danny and Hugh paired up and were inseparable for the rest of the visit.  With the same interests and a similar sense of humor and mischief, the boys had a blast.  

Grace and Rose bonded over a Kindle edition of the Guinness Book of World Records.  Did you know the worlds smallest dog was six inches long and three inches high?  

I've discovered that the best way to cook sweet corn is to wrap it up in foil and cook it over the camp fire.  The corn along with the rest of the contributions made for a delicious late supper.

Earlier in the day I had been lamenting bringing so many cold-weather clothes as the weather had been quite warm.  But every layer came in handy on our first night at camp. It was freezing!  I don't think I ever got warm.  My nose was a block of ice all night long.

I made crepes the next morning for the gang; the rest of the day was dedicated to playing and catching up on two years worth of time since we were last together.  As the weather warmed up, the kids shed layers and got soaked in the lake. Later, Adam took boatloads of kids out on his rowboat.  The kids got a real kick out of his electric motor which was mellow enough that everyone could take a turn driving the boat and navigating around the lake.  Sarah and I took this opportunity to spend about 11 minutes talking and catching up.

A potluck dinner was highlighted by expertly grilled, wonderfully smokey pork-chops a la Adam.  I made a polenta dish and astonishingly, everything was ready at the same time.  Everything but the kids.  So, miracle of miracle, the adults sat down and ate together.  We even recruited a kid to photograph this rarity.  I also need to give props to Adam who, after hearing me wistfully wish for a beer, disappeared for 20 minutes and came back from town with a six-pack!

Of course marshmallows factored in one way or another each evening.  We also contributed glow-sticks and the freaky fire color changing thingys.  The Chandler family brought super cool sparklers for the last night.  

I tried to get a little e-reading in on the last night as the time has been so busy and passing so quickly that I haven't  managed to do any of the leisure activities I brought along.  After a few minutes, Daddy-long-legs started dropping on my reader.  I figured I was better off not knowing what was creeping along above me so I turned out the light.  One more dropped down on me as I dozed off.  I only realized after I picked it up and whipped it away that I was aiming right at Grace's head.  Oh well...the ignorance of sleep is bliss.

Our visit came to an end all too soon and we broke camp while the Chandler crew made us breakfast.  Pancakes and eggs and bacon, yum!

A few last photo-ops, making sure we had the right two kids in the car, and off we went.  We wanted to get an early start as we had a very long drive ahead.  Or so we thought...

Day Five: 7/23/14

Day Five:  7/23/14

Miles: 43

Laundry: 2 loads

Doritos consumed: two small bags (none shared with parents)

Wildlife spotted:

Many gold finches

Deer

Chipmunks

Frogs

Mama turkey with a brood of 12

Loons

Minnows

Wildlife caught:

None

Breakfast:  Awesome

Lunch: Fabulous

Dinner:  Subway - Meh

The long awaited, much anticipated breakfast did not disappoint.  

After eating our fill, we took our relaxed selves 1/2 hour south through the rolling foothills of the Adirondacks to the home Sandy and Lois built.  When poor health forced them to move to the city they sold the land to very good friends, Paul and Ruth who we visited today.

The land is part of a nature conservation cooperative, flanked by state land.  It will never be developed and the lake will never be motorized.  It was a beautiful spot to share memories and hear new stories about Sandy and Lois.

The kids got a big kick out of a picture on the refrigerator of a bear who paid a recent early morning visit to the bird feeders.

 Paul pointed out his mounted bear trophy in the living room.  He told us that when he proudly showed Sandy and Lois this enhancement to their former home,  Sandy said: "Well, it's your house."

Our excellent breakfast was equalled by the lunch Ruth "threw together".  It was topped off by a beautiful and delicious apple pie and a visit from a hungry deer.

After lunch we toured the land and Paul showed us the various summer and year-round properties tucked into the woods.  He shared more stories about Sandy and Lois' love for the place.  Paul recommended a quick hike to "the most beautiful view of Cedar Lake."  Halfway there we were caught in a downpour; our first rain of the trip.  

By the time we got down to the lake, the sun was out along with the deer flies.  The kids, who had been tugging our sleeves asking to go back, suddenly could not be extracted from the beach.

We headed back to Paul and Ruth's and wrote down memories of Grandma Lois and put them in with her ashes.  They will be buried with her in the fall.     

Paul shared an article from the local paper, published shortly before Lois died.  She had been nominated for a very prestigious award, but in her usual quiet, modest way, had not told anyone about it.

Warm goodbyes and an exchange of e-mails and it was back to the B&B.  

I headed out to do laundry while the kids watched a video during the rain.  Dinner, games and bed tonight.  One last soft mattress before we camp again!

                          

Day Four: 7/22/14

7/22/14

Day 4

Total Miles:  1258

Countries: 2

States: NY

Coffee consumed:  approx. 36 oz

Screen Time:  0

Memories:

Danny:  My Ninjago birthday presents

Therese:  Pulling into the B&B

Grace:  Saying goodbye to Niagara Falls

Gordon:  Dinner at the Blackbird Cafe

The morning got off to a chilly, damp, hazy start.  By the time we had the car loaded up it was nearly 90 degrees and we were ready for a change of scenery.

We planned a big surprise for the kids: MagiQuest at the Great Wolf Lodge.  We planned to let the kids play for a few hours before we headed out on today's 5.5 hour drive.

At the very last minute I thought I should call to confirm that MagiQuest is open to the public.  Well, turns out this is the only location where you have to stay to play.  Good thing I checked.  I can only imagine the 90 degree meltdowns we would have encountered having to turn back at the lobby.

With the kids blissfully ignorant, we made a quick trip to the Roots store at the outlet mall across the street and picked up some clearance threads.  We love our Canadian clothing.

                                                       Good Bye Niagara Falls

The drive was boring, boring, boring.  We consented to listen to Diary of a Wimpy kid but then insisted on Harry Potter for the rest of the trip.  When we pulled  in for gas about midway, Danny of course remembered that this was where we stopped last time and there was a farm stand selling fruit.  And what do you know, there was a farmer's market selling fruit again.  So we loaded up on fresh berries and added that to our cooler lunch.

                wrestling at the rest stop

Side Note:  For a traveling treat, I bought the Trader Joe's "Cookie and Chocolate" spread which I thought was their version of Nutella.  Well it's not.  It's a million times more addicting. It's like cookie dough and chocolate soft enough to spread.  I hadn't tried it until today.  But after feeling the sugar granules crunching between my teeth, I immediately made my self a sandwich.  No wonder the kids have been eating cooler lunches without complaint.

We pulled into the B&B we've stayed at before.  The place is in the middle of rolling hills of farmland.  Literally amber waves of grain.  We relaxed on the patio while Danny opened birthday presents I'd ordered and had sent here.  There was a brief, tense moment when Grace couldn't understand why she didn't have any packages but it didn't last long.

The owners are very kind and sweet and told us that since they had no other guests we were welcome to stay in both rooms.  Grace and I are sharing a room.  Grace was wandering around the room exclaiming over everything.  "Look, it's a painted tin wastebasket.  We have our own box of tissue.  We have a bathroom that's attached to the room!  We have a desk with a pen.  We have these....um...things."  At this point she picked up a coaster which, evidentially, she has never used in our home.  

So here I am at the sweet little desk next to my queen sized bed in which I alone will sleep.  The air conditioner is on.  Grace is crashed on the fourposter twin bed on the other side of the room.  Danny and Gordon are across the hall.  We are all clean.  Breakfast cooked by someone else will be ready at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

We have two days here:  Heaven.

Day Three: 7/21/14

Day 3: 7/21/14 - - Danny's Birthday!

Miles:  6

Birthdays: 1

Wake-up call:  7:38 in the form of the Canada Pacific train rolling through about 20 feet away.

Breakfast:  Pancakes, berry compote, sausages

Let's get the most important thing out of the way first:  after three years, I have perfected the camp coffee system!  I used to get up, get water, heat up the stove, boil water and whip up a quick Starbucks Via instant coffee.  Invariably, the minute I took my first sip someone would be up.

Flash forward to today.  I now have a super intense looking thermos which I fill up with boiling water while I'm making dinner.  The water's still extremely hot the next morning and works perfectly with my camping press pot.  

So here I sit with my piping hot coffee and several more cups in my coffee sippy cup, happy as can be.

We woke refreshed on Day 3.  Some of us (one of us) slept through the roaring train that makes its way past the "budget" campsites at 7:38.  It's pretty cool to have a train rumble through in the morning.  It was nice not to have any pressing engagements after two days of hard driving.  Since we've seen all the attractions on both the New York and Canada side of Niagara Falls in previous years, we knew our favorites did not require an entire day's worth of touring.

After a relaxing breakfast, time on the bouncy pad and a quick connection to the outside world at the WIFI hot spot, we headed out...to lunch at the campsite. Yes it was a lazy day. 

It was also baking hot. We huddled in the sliver of shade our econo-site provided at midday. This is the first time we've been to Niagara Falls where we weren't chilly.  The kids got to make good use of their spray bottle/fans which were just the ticket.

After a quick bus ride, we were at the Falls.  Grace and Danny had two very specific things in mind.  They love the 4-D movie about the making of the Falls which comes with snow, rain, earthquakes and lots of water.  Because it was sweltering outside, the kids and I decided to forgo the complimentary raincoats.  It was great fun anticipating the cold wind and driving rain and splashes from the falls.  We felt like old pros among all the other tourists quivering under their ponchos.  Afterwards we headed, shivering, back outside to dry off and walked out the door into...rain!  The winds had shifted and the mist from the falls was raining down on us.

Still, we warmed up quickly and our reward for the sudden rain was seeing beautiful rainbows over the waterfalls.  We all agreed that it was a fitting way to say goodbye to Niagara Falls.

But wait...not so fast...the kids still had one more memory they wanted to relive.  We headed to Golly Lolly to purchase two giant jawbreakers about the size of small oranges.  The only saving grace is that they come on sticks so the level of gross is kept to a minimum.  The rainbow photo speaks volumes about the kids' priority on today's visit.

Back to the campsite where Danny rode on the hay wagon while I made dinner: spaghetti and meatballs and edamame and, most importantly, s'mores for dessert.  We sang Happy Birthday to Danny over  sticky, gooey, chocolaty deliciousness.

At one point in the evening Danny came back from the gift shop with a tube of six glow sticks which he had purchased for $2.  I sent him back immediately because I had packed a tube of 100 glow sticks ($6).  He said he wanted to exchange them for the stuff you throw on the fire to make it change colors.  Ha!  I had packed a dozen of those as well.  A very satisfactory payoff to planning ahead!

We watched the really cool, almost hallucinatory, color changing fire until we couldn't keep our eyes open.  By the time Grace and I got back from brushing our teeth, the birthday boy was passed out cold.

Tomorrow: a cold breakfast and a birthday surprise!

Day Two: Mile 936

Day 2:

Miles:  364

States/Provinces:  Michigan, Ontario

Kid harmony level:  7

Memories:

Gordon:  Breakfast at the D&L Cafe

Therese: Switching Campsites after the tent was already up

Danny:  Bouncy Pillow at the KOA

Grace:  Watching Fireworks over Niagara Falls

Life is good when the thing a person complains about most bitterly has absolutely no impact on the overall satisfaction of the journey.  And so it went with Hotel Hell.  In hindsight, the haunted house across the street should have served as an omen.

Even a howling, digging dog above us and lumpy mattresses below us and a very unresponsive front desk couldn't ruin our day.  They kept trying, though.  The next morning we were distressed to see that the complimentary "breakfast" consisted of half a dozen gooey hostess "blueberry"  cupcakes.  I asked about the rest of the breakfast and was told that this was all they had been putting out for the last several days.  I'm pretty sure the very cupcakes we were looking at had made an appearance every day.

We left with the kids protesting that the muffins looked just fine: mother knows best.

A quick call to my own mother who did an an internet search landed us at the D&L Heart &Soul Cafe in Lansing.  Totally worth all the previous disappointment.   The food was so good we had to photograph it.  We hardly noticed the old guys at the next table blaming President Obama for everything that was wrong with the world.  We were in Michigan after all.

                                           Girls' food

                                         Boys' food

Another pleasant surprise was that he navigator had included the time change in the travel calculation. What was listed as a 7.5 hour drive took us just 6.5 hours.  So after a very quick stop at customs we found ourselves at our campground around 4:00 pm.   Aahhh...a fire-pit and communal showers never looked so inviting!

I know it's not roughing it, but the wonder of the KOA is that the kids can wander safely and explore the bouncy pillow and playground on their own.  They even have wrist bands so they can be delivered to us just like our firewood if they happen to get lost.

Those who know me will not be surprised that we relocated our tent to a more desirable site about 100 yards from the original spot.  I mean, the tent was already set up, but our current spot is so much nicer and the front desk was cool about it and Gordon can put up the tent in his sleep so...

There was a brief surprising moment when the kids actually deliberated about whether they wanted to visit Niagara Falls at night to see the Illuminated Falls and fireworks or have S'mores and a camp fire but the 'rents finally prevailed.  I think this is a sign that after three annual visits, this seventh wonder of the world has been fully absorbed.

We celebrated Danny's B-Day minus 2 hours, by giving in to an overpriced light-up thingy and Danny's joy was worth every penny of the ten-dollars-that-would-cost-a-dollar-anywhere-else!

Gorgeous fireworks, peaceful campsite, bed: grimy but very happy.