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.