Two Lakes, Two Countries & the Falls

Meandering toward Niagara Falls, we caught glimpses of Lake Erie on our left and vineyards on our right.  This area is New York wine country.  On a Sunday morning, we didn't see any open that caught our interest.  We were Falls bound.

Our approach to Niagara was along the coast of Lake Erie through Buffalo.  Arriving in Niagara Falls, we were stumped by Google navigation as we searched for the designated RV parking lot.  Ahh, a line of campers tipped us off as we rounded the block. Just follow them!

The bridge crossed the rapids. We were awestruck!

Rapids at Niagra

After parking, taking a short trolley ride, and walking to the lookout, we were mesmerized by the Falls. So much water! What power!

The mist floated high, dusting our faces. 

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Venturing to Canada, we walked through metal gates with scary signs posting warning messages. Check: we have our passports; no weapons, not even a pocket knife.

Flags flying above Rainbow Bridge

Niagara Falls

The wind was ferocious atop Rainbow Bridge, which carries vehicle and pedestrian traffic between the two countries.  The view was worth the wind!

Rainbow Bridge

We arrived in Canada at shift change, and waited patiently for the officers to motion for us to enter. We had nothing to fear, but we had just watched the all-American couple in front of us be whisked off to another room. Hmmm.  The officer scanned our passports - no stamp these days - and we passed through.

The broad sidewalk on the Canadian side of the river provides the best views of the Falls, as "everyone" had told us.  Stunning!

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

At Queen Victoria Place we dined on a second story balcony overlooking the Falls.  What a lovely Sunday lunch! I'd do this trip again.

Lunch on the patio with a view of the Falls

Our return to America was uneventful, thankfully.  Our border agents were good humored and polite.

Our campsite destination was just 120 miles away, about a two hour drive. And it was still early enough to sightsee along the way. We took the scenic route, stretching the drive into nearly four hours, toward Lake Ontario.  Vineyards, cherry orchards, quaint New York villages, and our fourth Great Lake (two last summer, two this trip). 

Fruit stand where we purchased some local produce

New York cherries

What should have been a scenic route along the shore of Lake Ontario turned out to be an abandoned highway.  We knew as soon as we got on it that it was a mistake -- weeds were growing in the cracks of this four lane Lake Ontario Parkway. The sign said "Rough Road Ahead"; boy, was that ever true! We took the first exit we could. The bumps were too much for us and our travel trailers.

We set up camp in a newly renovated park along a creek, Creek-n-Wood, in a rural community south of Rochester.

View of Lake Ontario

Creek at Creek-n-Wood campground is nearly dry

Lake Erie Highlights

Our West Virginian neighbors suggested an Ohio Amish restaurant for breakfast on this Saturday morning.  Not only was breakfast delicious, but also the goodies from the bakery were too tempting to pass up: homemade bread, fried apple & peach pies (which tasted like Krispy Kreme doughnuts!).

Breakfast view in Ohio Amish country

Not until we visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame did I realize I actually know a few names!  I suppose that's a result of growing up with three athletic brothers and a single television channel.  Bob Griese, Merlin Olsen, Terry Bradshaw....

Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

Becky & John

Mary & Jamie

A Pennsylvania rest area provided the backdrop for our picnic, with some Tennesssee Volunteers and an Ontario motorcycle club as our neighbors.

We arrived in Erie mid-afternoon and toured the Maritime Museum, learning some War of 1812 history.  Sly Americans on the U.S. Niagara crippled two British warships simultaneously. 

U.S. 19 ends (or begins!) in Erie, so we detoured a couple of blocks to ride a short stretch of it.

19 North runs a block or two from this point; 19 South, hundreds of miles!

From Erie to our campsite in New York, we passed numerous vineyards. This is wine country!

Our home for the night is nestled along the bank of Lake Erie near Westfield, New York.  The water is rough, splashing against layers of flaking rock.  So powerful! So beautiful!

Becky & John exploring the shore of Lake Erie

Rocky shoreline at Lake Erie

Water crashing on rocks at Lake Erie

The sunset over Lake Erie offered a peaceful opportunity for reflection.

Aiming for Ohio Amish Country

Long haul today from Lexington, Kentucky, to Winesburg, Ohio.  The first half of our drive was interstate.

We stopped at a store to pick up a few items and grab some lunch from the deli. It seemed like we stayed a bit longer than we should have.  The sky was growing ominously dark and we still had miles to go.

Ominous sky ahead

We made it safely through a torrential downpour and wind.  As always, though, God's timing is perfect.  When traffic on our two lane road came to a standstill, we discovered significant damage: a large tree blocked the road and a crumpled tin roof lay in a field.  Had we been there sooner, we would have been in the midst of the storm.  Now I know "why" I forgot the bathmat at home & needed to shop a few extra minutes during our lunch stop today.

Wind damage evidence in a field

clearing a downed tree from the roadway

We continued on our journey, arriving in authentic Amish country - not the tourist area - at rush hour on a Friday afternoon. We met dozens of horses and buggies trotting along the road.  Our Google Map claimed to be taking us on the fastest route; I seriously doubt this route qualified as such, but we were happy with the result.

Rush hour in Ohio Amish country

Buggies on the move

Our four lane freeway turned into a two lane highway, then into a narrow road, before becoming a country lane winding through cornfields and bean fields dotted with homes and barns.  Bicycles, buggies and vehicles shared the road.  So picturesque, but few pictures taken - we were on the move.

Hay stacks in Ohio

Our home for the night is Amish Country Campsites.  Tight spaces! Glad Jamie is an expert at parking and making turns! Friendly neighbors, too.

The temperature has dropped: 64 degrees this afternoon. We enjoyed dining outside this evening, but as the sun set, the cool became cold to us. Our windows are open; no air conditioning needed!

Fireflies are darting about! 

The cooks busy preparing dinner

View from our campsite

Horsin' Around

Destination: Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington

Green pastures and meticulously manicured fence lines welcomed us to Horse Country on this overcast, rainy afternoon.  Fortunately, the rain kept the temperature lower, and our morning travel was spared the stress of driving in inclement weather.

The Parade of Breeds showcased several types of horses and even a miniature trick performing horse who may be a better mathematician than some second graders - he added, subtracted & multiplied! The Palomino reminded me of Sandy, our family horse from my childhood.

Breeds Barn at Kentucky Horsepark

Parade of Breeds

A zigzag bi-colored mane

We visited with the farrier, who paused a bit while he was shoeing a draught horse. Growing impatient, this gentle giant turned his head to us as if to say, "Hurry along, folks." 

Visiting the farrier

Our farm boys were intrigued by a display of antique farm implements, pointing out ones they had some experience with in their youth.

Strolling through the barn, we saw several championship retirees who've made their home here at the Horse Park.  Their accomplishments were posted on the stall.  Some of them were older than our kids!

Becky & John with Secretariat

The museum traced the history of the horse, from prehistoric to modern times, and celebrated the various competitive events of horses. 

Horsin' around with the blue screen

Nearby we found a quaint restaurant for dinner.  Red State BBQ served up some deliciousness: pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and six distinctly different sauces. I slathered Alabama Show Horse and Kentucky Small Batch on my pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw. Yum! 

BBQ - it's what's for dinner.

A happy granny waited on us.

Becky and I added to the wall graffiti at Red State. If you ever go there, maybe you'll find our additions. Our window seat provided a view of a gorgeous stacked stone fence that reminded me of ones I've seen in England (oops--I failed to take a picture of it for you, Sandra!).

For the record, J&B won all three games of Rummikub after dinner. Oh, well, there will be a next time.

A Bang, a Boondock & a Dam Good Time

City of Camilla fireworks were pretty awesome for a small town celebration. We are grateful for the freedom and liberty we have as Americans. This year, the finale signaled the start of our summer sojourn.

At precisely 11:11 PM, the SolAire and her keepers departed Millerest, northbound.  The four hour drive was most pleasant: very little traffic, dry highways and two large coffees-to-go; only a slight fog clouded the roadway as we neared Atlanta.

We arrived at our first campsite - Cabela's parking lot in Acworth - to find plenty of space; just one camper, a few scattered vehicles and a couple taking a stroll on the sidewalk. At 3:00 AM.

Cabela's parking lot near 3:00 AM

Traffic was light during this late night run

Boondocking in a parking lot was a first for us!  We had prepped for a night without air conditioning by cooling the trailer throughout the day; we were in hopes some of that cool air would stay.

At 3:11 AM we laid our heads on our pillows, the window open and a battery operated fan running.  Moments later, raindrops tapped our roof, and a flood followed. God is good and His timing is perfect!  We were comfortably cool and had a restful sleep.

In the morning, we found a Dunkin Donut shop across the street. I ran in to grab some morning java and breakfast for us, while Jamie circled back around. We were northbound by 8:15 AM.

And by noon the SolAire was situated in a campsite at Norris Dam State Park near Rocky Top, Tennessee, awaiting the arrival of John and Becky.

Our campsites at Norris Dam State Park

Their route from Hiawassee wasn't quite as easy as ours.  MapQuest sent them on some curvy, narrow mountain roads in search of the park.  Lesson learned! 

After lunch, while waiting for an afternoon thunder shower to pass before sightseeing, we helped them set up their Google Maps in their smart phones so we can share routes and drop pins when we get separated. 

We couldn't help but hum a few lines of "Smoky Mountain Rain" and "Rocky Top" -- perfect for this setting!

Our foursome strolled across the Norris Dam, in awe of the engineering that holds a wall of water to create a reservoir along a river.  The rocky face of a lakeside mountain in the early evening was beautiful.

On top of Norris Dam

Looking across the lake from the top of the dam

  

We noticed the clarity of the lake water, a characteristic we agrarian southerners aren't accustomed to; runoff from a rocky mountainside is much cleaner than the runoff of a sandy field.

We turned in early, fatigued from our Fourth celebrations and sleep deprivation of the previous night and eager for our next day's travel and sights.

Becky, John & Jamie at Norris Dam in Tennessee

Benchmark on top of the dam

Looking down river

view from the bottom of the dam at river level

Anticipation

Fond memories of my grandparents plotting vacations on a worn Rand McNally atlas flooded over me as I planned our upcoming adventure. Whether it was to California, Maine, the Florida Keys or North Carolina's Outer Banks, my grandparents nearly always had a trip in the works.

Although we sometimes pull out a paper atlas to see the big picture of where we're headed, most of our routing is planned on Google maps, where we drop pins for lodging and sightseeing.

Sitting at the kitchen table together, my grandparents planned for months, sharing their enthusiasm with family and friends, making reservations, and saving a few extra dollars for that special something they hoped to find along the way.

Much like my grandparents, our planning began months ago. We identified a region we'd like to visit, then we began exploring potential sites.  With the choice to travel with another couple, we adjusted our route to include ideas they had.  Our route is generally set, but will remain flexible as we travel.

Recently, I came across this tidbit of wisdom: spend your money on experiences, not things; experiences have lasting value.

That sunk in.  I vividly recall a Sunday afternoon in Del Rio crossing into Mexico with my baby brother and grandparents; catching fish off the coast of Walker's Island in the Keys; riding a late night ferry with Jamie and the kids from Seattle to Bainbridge Island; walking alone down a lane in Corsham, England, to comfort a grieving friend; whizzing down the Virginia Creeper on two wheels with Jamie - no pedaling needed; and dabbling my toes in the clear, cool water of Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

Yes, novel experiences! That is why we travel.

Planning and preparation become a part of the experience.  Anticipation!

The SolAire is nearly ready. She's had a fresh cleaning, inside and out.  Her cupboards and closets have been reorganized and restocked.

Let the fireworks begin!

After the finale, the Chief will be off duty, and the SolAire will head north.

We'll be posting as regularly as stable internet allows...check in to see where we are and what we're up to!

Always love to see the SolAire moved to the "get ready" position!

Getting her shine on!  A bath is a good thing.