08/22 - 08-26 The Villages at Turning Stone
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| Oh, did I tell you about construction? Make that 4½ hours |
Verona (called Te-o-na-ta-le, "pine forest" by the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois League was named after the town in Italy and settled by European American in 1792 after the Revolutionary War.
The Villages at Turning Stone RV campground in Verona, NY, gave a very nice first impression, one that had not diminished as I proceeded through registration and setting up on site 318. Once I settled in with the 30 amp electrical service, awning extended, the general housekeeping chores were completed leisurely. I didn't have to hook up water as I'll draw from my 26 gallon fresh water tank for washing and flushing. I use bottled water only for drinking, cooking and coffee. I and Tony/Doreen, a half hour later, were the last of our group to arrive. The remaining afternoon was spent photographing and acclimating myself to my surroundings. Neighbors, John/Dawn on the site next door and Roberta, across the road, were already setup. Across the pond, Ray/Kathy and Walt/Fran had also arrived and were already set up. They would require bikes and/or their vehicles to make the short trip around the pond to join the group.
Immediately, one can tell that this is an old campground that is neat and well maintained. The abundance of well placed trees surrounding the paved sites, the placement of garbage cans on posts on all sites, fire rings complete with adjustable grills supported the idea that this was a well planned layout. The weather only added to the wonderful feeling of living outdoors in pleasant surrounding with people you know. Although the busy CSX railroad runs nearby, the required warning whistles approaching crossings is soon disregarded, especially when you've grown up with that characteristic and familiar sound. Clouds came and went, the breeze and sound of cicadas was constant.
Speaking of cicadas, one decided to meet its maker and posed for me. Just over an inch, they are fascinating creatures.
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| John & Dawn |
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| Roberta |
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| Tony/Doreen |
On Friday, some of the group made connection with the Casino's shuttle for a pickup right at the end of our loop. They took the five minute ride just to look around at the casino, shops and restaurants. The casino is owned and operated by the Oneida Indian Nation (OIN) and opened in 1993. It has golf courses with both an indoor golf dome and an outside PGA tour quality course, an amusement arcade and of course, the RV Park. There's an interesting history involving the legalities the Nation faced regarding issues with site occupation, gaming, liquor, and smoking on premises. One issue that struck me was the water tower...better described here from Wikipedia:
In 1997 the OIN paid for construction of a water tower near the casino and donated it to the Town of Verona, as one of their community contributions. The water tower has a capacity to hold 1,000,000 gallons of water. In 2005 the OIN consumed 600,000 gallons per day, which was four times the amount guaranteed to them under an agreement with the Town of Verona. In about July 2005 the Town of Verona notified the OIN that after 5:00 p.m. on August 2, 2005, the water would be shut off after the tribe had used the 150,000 gallons of water that is guaranteed under the agreement. Just hours before this deadline, the OIN began paying for a new water pump to be installed to provide the needed water capacity for the casino and resort.[5]
According to the campground brochure, there are thirteen restaurants to choose from in addition to the shops, spas, bars/nightclubs and lounges.
Some views around my site.
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| Part of the cleanup crew seemed to be what I thought at... |
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| ...first to be crows but their brown shaded heads made them... |
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| ,,,appear to be cow birds but these were much larger. |
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So, I'm going with ravens. Unlike crows who travel in groups,
ravens more often travel in pairs such as these. |
By the way, I didn't get to study them in flight but their tails also help identify crows vs. raven. A crow's tail is shaped like a fan, while the raven's tail appears wedge-shaped. There. Sleep better tonight.
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| Striding along the shore of the cat-tail marsh was a heron. |
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| It didn't appreciate my presence so I couldn't catch its extended neck. |
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| Setting up the "Gathering Place." |
Saturday morning the men traveled to Camping World in not-so-nearby Syracuse with no specific purchases in mind. As one would expect, we all came home with some doodads, whatchamacallits or gizmos that would always be put to use sometime in our RVing future. A special sales event going on allowed us to enjoy hot dogs, chips and a drink for lunch. Back at the campground, the ladies enjoyed their favorite past time playing Mexican Train. By the time we returned, they were ready for a trip over to the Casino for some dinner and another opportunity to win some money. For me, it was the first time I set food into a "casino" with the intention of "gambling." A call for the shuttle and we were there in no time.
Yippee, as you know, I live on the edge. Well, as a first timer I registered and received my Rewards Card, I proceeded to the kiosk to randomly pick the amount that would be transferred to my card, courtesy of the casino. Yesterday, Kathy and Ray each chose #4 and received $50.00, so tonight, I'd do the same. Ta-da. I too received $50.00 and off I went to seek my fortune. (joke) I didn't travel too far into the casino but I played the 1¢ and 5¢ machines. I figured I lose my (their) money slowly. Overall, I think most of our group not only enjoyed the experience but did walk away either breaking even or with a few $$ ahead.
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All digital. Your money came and went onto the card. The sound of
coins crashing down into your eagerly awaiting cup is replaced by digital
sounds and flashing lights. When done, a voucher with your winning amount
was printed. A visit to the ATM was where the coins clanked down into the cup.
A very nice sound, I might add. |
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| A winner... |
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| ...and another winner. |
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Under the watchful eye of my
caretaker, Doreen, who showed... |
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...me the ropes, I cashed out at the ATM and
walked away with $52.00. |
Meanwhile, back at the "ranch", a.k.a. Campsite...
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| Roberta's blueberry bread pudding (no leftovers) |
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| Fire building 101 |
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| Yes, lit with just one match |
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| The Last Campfire |
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| This is how total relaxation looks when you're camping. |
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| L to R: Kathy, Nina, Roberta, Fran, Doreen, Dawn |
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| John & Tony |
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| Really, Ray's a very happy camper. |
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| John |
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| Tony |
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| Really, I'm a very happy camper. |
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| Hours of (talking) learning and playing |
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| ...a card game whose name is but a memory. |
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| Roberta |
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| John & Dawn |
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| Tony, Doreen & Ray (yes, he's a very happy camper) |
And so, in the blink of an eye, this get together quickly came to an end with all of us going our separate ways by 11 am Monday morning. I will meet the Hudson Islanders again up in Wurtsboro, NY at the Catskill Adventure Resort from September 6th through the 9th. I'll leave earlier for my trip to Belfast, Maine once again with an overnight stop in Henniker, NH. But, before then I'll travel up to Middletown, RI and meet friends, Vicki/George and Trish/Craig at the Meadowlark Campground from August 30th to September 2nd. Lots of travel and good times await me and I can't wait to blog and share it all with whomever. If you're interested in my 2019 Summer Itinerary, or what's left of it, click on the link in RED. Thanks for reading.
The Villages at Turning Stone RV campground in Verona, NY, gave a very nice first impression, one that had not diminished as I proceeded through registration and setting up on site 318. Once I settled in with the 30 amp electrical service, awning extended, the general housekeeping chores were completed leisurely. I didn't have to hook up water as I'll draw from my 26 gallon fresh water tank for washing and flushing. I use bottled water only for drinking, cooking and coffee. I and Tony/Doreen, a half hour later, were the last of our group to arrive. The remaining afternoon was spent photographing and acclimating myself to my surroundings. Neighbors, John/Dawn on the site next door and Roberta, across the road, were already setup. Across the pond, Ray/Kathy and Walt/Fran had also arrived and were already set up. They would require bikes and/or their vehicles to make the short trip around the pond to join the group. 
Saturday morning the men traveled to Camping World in not-so-nearby Syracuse with no specific purchases in mind. As one would expect, we all came home with some doodads, whatchamacallits or gizmos that would always be put to use sometime in our RVing future. A special sales event going on allowed us to enjoy hot dogs, chips and a drink for lunch. Back at the campground, the ladies enjoyed their favorite past time playing Mexican Train. By the time we returned, they were ready for a trip over to the Casino for some dinner and another opportunity to win some money. For me, it was the first time I set food into a "casino" with the intention of "gambling." A call for the shuttle and we were there in no time.
