06/10 - 06/24 Croton Point RV Park

Greetings and welcome to Adventure #1. I added my photo above taken about 20 pounds ago. 

I wished I'd held up my Bombay Sapphire. 
This photo is included to show that I'm well on my
way to reaching my goal weight.

After beginning the process of reserving Croton Point Park (CPP) in September of 2020 for the Hudson Islanders June rally, the day finally arrived for us to gather at our first of four rallies. I’m writing this blog on a dreary, rainy day five days after everyone has left. I’ve extended my stay for another week. For our CPP rally, eleven sites were occupied. A very nice turnout that included:

Dawn/John – Site 12
Dorothy – Tent Site 12
Sue/Ray – Site14
Johnny – Site 20
Roberta – Site 32
Larry – Site 33
Charlie – Site 35
Doreen/Tony – Site 38
Fran/Walt – Site 39
Vicki/George – Site 50
Sharon/Bob – Site 57

Bob & Sharon

Larry

George

Fran

Todd

Beth

Sharon

For our September get-together we’ll keep the same sites and welcome others who were unable to make the June rally… their schedules permitting:

Noreen/Jack – Site 34
Kathy/Ray – Site 36
Carole/John – Site 21
Bernice/Bob – Site 16
Roberta/Erve –Site 40
Beth/Todd
John/Martine

Friday evening was our usual Meet & Greet followed by a beautiful Saturday and the Pot Luck Supper.

The annual meeting brought members up to date socially and financially. As always there was a discussion of future rallies. The club acquired for purchase iron-on patches with an application demonstration by Roberta.

Roberta - Tony - John Sr - Doreen

Placing patch on article of clothing

 

Tape patch down then wear article
of clothing to be sure it's straight

Place moist cloth on top of article after
tape has been removed

Press hot iron on top of decal
without moving the iron.

Turn article of clothing onto reverse side

And with moist cloth, press hot iron 
once again onto patch

Very neat looking finished product

A “small world” coincidence occurred when Julie and husband, “Doc” arrived at site 37 next to me. Turns out she’s the daughter of fellow retired Hen Hud elementary teacher, Carol Kane. With their home base in Georgia, their weekend stay at CPP was part of their travels to Massachusetts and points beyond. Always one of the highlights when meeting new folks is to learn of their travels, families and careers while enjoying the warmth of the campfire. Sorry, no photos. 😥

Another highlight for me was to be in the right place at the right time as some of the group on Sunday afternoon took their walk and wound up passing my site. This unexpected get together was the Happy Hour consisting of my gin and tonics and Larry’s homemade limoncello and grappa…or as some put it, “gasoline.”

Discussion

Leaders take off

The second heat

Bringing up their rear

Happy Hour at site 35

Fill in your own caption...I've got mine

Monday’s treat was at Sue and Ray’s site for a Dutch oven dinner made by Dorothy.

Chicken, peas and carrots topped with dumplings

Tuesday’s breakfast was again at Sue and Ray’s with Dorothy cooking eggs, bacon, cheese, on whole wheat English Muffins. A perfect day.

If you live locally and read my blogs, you'll be familiar with the following restaurants. Each are highly recommended so do take the time and click on the links to view their menus. Tuesday evening, Dawn/John and Doreen/Tony went to Piato Greek Kitchen in Croton.  I joined my friends, Diane and Bill at Sakura Garden in Hastings, NY, for sushi.

It's all Greek to me, so I'll call this Alpha...

...and this is Beta

This is an appetizer at Sakura

This is a Special Roll

 

Thursday we bade farewell (yes, I looked it up. Okay, we said goodbye) to all except for Vicki/George, Roberta, Tony/Doreen and me. That evening we enjoyed slices of pizza and (a portion each of) HUGE cream puffs from the Paradise Restaurant in Verplanck, NY.

Plans are already set for our second rally at Red Rock Ponds Campground in Holley, NY from July 7th to July 15th and at Junius Ponds Campground in Phelps, NY, from August 22nd to August 29th

Aside from the fantastic near-perfect days, I enjoyed campfires late into the evening. But, for me, the most pleasant memory…something I haven’t experienced in many years, was the presence and abundance of birds. Never have I heard nor seen so many different species of birds while camping here at CPP. Prominent among them were robins. Their beautiful song from early morning (beginning around 4:30 am) until dusk (as late at 8:45 pm) was a very relaxing experience; a treat for the senses. My hanging suet cage attracted the less shy sparrows, nut hatches, cat birds and starlings. The more brazen blue jays and grackles came as well. I saw crows, red-winged blackbirds and mourning doves. I heard but did not see cardinals. I captured on video one bird call I’m not familiar with; the video is a view while sitting outside my camper. Disregard the zoom to the tree. I did not see the bird. Perhaps a mention in the comments below from someone who knows will enlighten me. Listen for its response in the distance.

And so ends my very relaxing, pleasant stay at CPP. I'll return here for two weeks in August and again for a week in September...our second Hudson Islanders rally. Till my next trip to Red Rock Ponds in Holley, NY (just west of Rochester), I wish for you pleasant days and continued good health. Comments welcomed; try signing on as "Anonymous", see if that works.

 

 

 

A New Season - New Adventures

With a big thank you to long time friend and RV friend, Vicki, I'm pushing myself to get back into an RV frame of mind that includes writing blogs. For those who have forgotten or care to reminisce, my last RV trip of last season to Black Bear Campground in Florida, NY can be viewed from the link above. Sadly, because of circumstances, I did not make my annual trek down to the state of Florida this year, so I had to be satisfied visiting the city...in New York, 45 miles away. The good news is my calendar for January, 2022, is just about full. I wish I could stop thinking of that saying, "If you want to make God laugh? Make plans." 

Covid-19 was the story for 2020 and as of this writing, it looks like a somewhat normal traveling season coming up. I feel, however, my time during the past "hermit-season" was spent productively. To recap:

• I continued my trips to Fishkill to visit my mother, masked, three time per week. She turned 102 in March. 
  
  
  
• By reading well into the night, I completed the 14-volume Robert Jordan epic fantasy entitled "The Wheel of Time." A monstrous, 20-year endeavor of publishing with each novel averaging 870 pages. Robert Jordan, passed away in 2007 without completing his twelfth novel. Brandon Sanderson, another of my favorite authors and a big fan of Jordan was asked by the family to complete the series. Using notes, outlines and collaborating with Jordan's wife (his editor) Sanderson was able to complete the series.

• I continue to be blessed with a family that is doing well and is healthy. Granddaughters are doing what they love and love what they're doing. Beca's rewarding job is managing Smart Parke in Laguna Woods, CA, a dog boarding spa that would make humans jealous. 

  

  Beca & Izzy

  
  
• Sara, is working as a Sea Turtle Biologist for Dade County in Florida. Her richly rewarding job currently is to be part of the team that insures the safety of the hatching Loggerhead sea turtle babies as they make their way safely back to the ocean. Her late night and early morning vigilance makes sure nesting sites are protected during this hatching season.  

Sara holding her first sea turtle during the night. 
Not strong enough to make the journey to the sea, it 
was brought back to the rehab center and released the next night.

• Sara and Jason announced their engagement in February and are planning a 2022 wedding in Rhode Island. 

• Grandson, Aaron has completed his Freshman year at Indiana University and will be interning in accounting in the Boston area during the summer. 
  
  
  
• Food continues to be an important part of my life. Trips to Sakura in Hastings and Cosimo's in Poughkeepsie provided heavenly cuisine. Although the get-togethers were few and far between, being with friends outside my complex and neighbors within added a pleasing change of pace. But, as the term "Covid-19" evolved from referring to the year the SARS strain of virus began its spread to the pounds people were gaining, I made it my project to removes those poiunds. I'm doing it via the free iPhone app, LOSE IT. Since March, I've lost 16 pounds on my way to losing 44 pounds. I just re-read that last line....no way. But, we shall see. "What have I got to lose?"
• As this family is heavily into pets I've given 6-month subscriptions/gift boxes to each of the beasts. Bark Boxes for the dogs, KitNip Boxes for the cats. 
• 
  

Bruce is in Corona del Mar, CA

Ollie is in Poughkeepsie, NY

Kota is in Irvine, CA

Burleigh is in Miami, FL

Roxie is in Croton, NY

Stella travels between Croton, NY & Clermont, FL

Priscilla is in Fishkill, NY

Simon is in Fishkill, NY

Addie is in Fishkill, NY

Kylie is in Fishkill, NY

I'll end this blog with a listing of my Summer 2021 Itinerary as it stands as of this printing.

DATE	DAY	CAMPGROUND & ADDRESS
06/10 to 06/24	Thu Leave Fri	Croton Point Park Croton Point Avenue Croton-on-Hudson, NY
14
07/07 to 07/15	Wed Leave Thu	Red Rock Pond Campground 16097 Canal Road Holley, NY 14470
8
08/02 to 08/07	Mon Leave Sat	NYC/Newburgh KOA 119 Freetown Highway Plattekill, NY 12568
5
08/07 to 08/21	Sat Leave Sun	Croton Point Park Croton Point Avenue Croton-on-Hudson, NY
14
08/22 to 08/29	Sun Leave Sun	Junius Ponds Campground 1475 West Townline Rd Phelps, NY 14532
7
09/07 to 9/14	Tue Leave Tue	Croton Point Park Croton Point Avenue Croton-on-Hudson, NY
7
09/14 to 9/17	Tue Leave Thu	Sandy Beach Campground 677 Clement Hill Road Contoocook, NH 03229
3
09/17 to 09/24	Thu Leave Thu	Searsport Shores Camping Resort 216 W Main Street Searsport, ME 04974
7
09/24 to 09/25	Thu; Leave Fri	Brattleboro North KOA 1238 US Route 5 East Dummerston, VT 05346
9/25	Friday	Home

Wishing all my readers continue good health and happiness. I would love to hear your comments. Be sure you've got my new email address: acharlie42@protonmail.com

See you in Croton.