Aug 29, 2020 - Jonestown PA

We have stayed in the KOA here before. It is a convenient distance from home for a first day of driving. We were pretty tired and we left in pouring rain, so we were glad to arrive and it was a quiet first day of camping. The campground was wet and muddy in places but the evening was dry.

Aug 25, 2020 - Cowans Gap and Buchanan's Birthplace State Parks

Rolled out of Altoona around 10 and into Cowans Gap at 11:30. Plan was to hike the Standing Stone, Horseshoe, and Lakeshore Trails. Especially since I was feeling a bit weary from the previous days’ activities, some of the language in the trail descriptions almost psyched me out. “Challenging experience to the seasoned hiker” (Standing Stone). “Very steep and very rugged trail passes over loose stones on steep slopes”, “Experienced hikers only!” (Horseshoe). But a plan is a plan and what good is it if you don’t execute. I started out on the...

Aug 24, 2020 - Blue Knob State Park

Once again arrived at the park close to 11. Parked in the Mowry Hollow Picnic Area which is the trailhead for the Rock N Ridge Trail. Brochure describes beginning of the trail as a “steady uphill climb”. I’d say that is accurate. It gains 900 feet in elevation over about a 2 mile stretch ending at the Group Cabin Area. I took about a 20-minute break when I’d reached the top which is rare for me unless it’s for lunch. Picked up short stretch of the Sawmill Trail to the intersection with the return section of the Rock N Ridge Trail. This...

Aug 23, 2020 - Shawnee State Park

Arrived at the park around 11. Started with the Field Trail which I took until it intersected with the Felton Trail. Then follow the eastern side of the Felton Trial until it ended at a picnic area. There I picked up the Lakeshore Trail headed clockwise. Thunderstorm rolled in as I started this section and by the time I was crossing the dam rain was coming down fairly heavy. Got pretty well soaked. Sun came out for a while when I picked up a short section of the Forbes Trail to the fishing pier where it began to rain again but lighter and...

Aug 22, 2020 - Prince Gallitzin State Park

Great day! Caitlyn joined me today for the trip to Prince Gallitzin State Park. Weather was excellent. We parked at Muskrat Beach and took the Hughes and Troxel Point Trails out onto the Haddie Buck Peninsula. Troxel Point Trail ends at the tip of the peninsula so we turn around and back tracked but at the intersection with the Hughes Trail continued straight on Troxel Point until it met the Muskrat Beach Trail which we used to return to the parking. Had lunch in the beach area overlooking the lake. Then took the Lakeside Trail to the cabin...

Aug 21, 2020 - Trough Creek and Warriors Path State Parks

Very long day today. Left around 9 this morning. By the time I got situated at Trough Creek and hit the trails it was 11:30. I started at the parking lot for Balanced Rock. The map highlighted the Suspension Bridge and Rainbow Falls on the trail to Balanced Rock. Hiked the Raven Trail to its end at Trough Creek then double back past Balanced Rock to where the Raven Trail meets Ledges Trail. Ledges Trail ascends rather steeply then runs straight into Copperas Trail which ends at Trough Creek Road across from Copperas Rock. Hiked up the road...

Aug 15, 2020 - Swimming Lake Erie

Yesterday, as we were heading back from Niagara Falls, I really wanted to swim in a great lake before moving out west. I did a little googling and found a state park in PA called Presque Isle that had free beaches for swimming. We made it there just fine and I definitely recommend it for anyone wanting to swim in Lake Erie. We were able to find a spot plenty of ways away from everyone else. The water was cold at first but I quickly got used to it, even though it was a cool, cloudy day. I put on sunblock and hopped in and had fun playing in...

Aug 5, 2020 - Spy Glass Ridge Winery

2020-08-05. Escape Pod We have often referred to our RV as our "escape pod" because sitting in it, especially in the evening or early morning, you get the feeling of having left behind the drama and responsibilities of everyday life. Of course, with the internet and cellphones, the tether is ephemeral but, we left home hoping to stay socially distant and reasonably isolated while still enjoying what nature has to offer. Today, we drove only about 120 miles to Sunbury, Pennsylvania where we stayed at Spy Glass Ridge Winery, a Harvest Host...

Aug 2, 2020 - Raccoon Creek State Park

It was a short drive like most of the driving for our vacation. I like to get up late in the a.m. and get going around 11 am or so and drive not more then three or four hours. Like to get into a campsite around 2 or 3 that way we get to see the campground during that day and see what is in the park. I spend like maybe two or three days at the park,geocaching and munzee in the park and then slight seeing around town. The weather has been raining off and on most of the day and during the night off and on. We our just across the street from...

Jul 20, 2020 - Boating on Lake Wallenpaupack

What a wonderful day! I went to Susie & Kevin’s house just after noon and they and niece Amanda and son Jamison and I went on the lake for an afternoon of relaxation and fun. It was a gorgeous day and not too hot. After lounging for a few hours (I was on a tube for a long time!), Kevin took us around the back end of the lake to see eagles’ nests and rich houses on the lake. When we got back to the house, I thought I was going home but Susie invited me to stay for dinner – bbq chicken, zucchini, potatoes & onions, and coleslaw. It was...

Jul 14, 2020 - Buckingham on the Delaware

My mission for the day was to collect the billboards at all the accesses in the park. The furthest one away is Buckingham, PA, and it is one of my favorites. On this day, workers were repaving the access road and closed the access temporarily. I was able to us the port-a-john but could not get the board. I found out at that point that I had a set of car keys with only one board key and it takes two to open them! I drove down to Skinners, picked up a second key, then went back North to collect the boards from Kellams, Callicoon, Damascus,...

Jul 9, 2020 - Mount Pocono PA, Mount Airy Casino

Our trip to Mt. Pocono was good. We did run into some construction outside Hazelton PA (re-paving ), but, omg, a lot of the highways are in need of re-paving). It was a bit longer drive than we usually do, almost 280 miles, but we wanted to keep ahead of the tropical storm that is brewing off the NC coast. This is just an overnight stop. We plan to leave early tomorrow morning. Many thanks to the folks at the casino for allowing us to dry camp in their back lot once again. (We also stopped here in Sept of 2018). 2-Ole-Buddies & Bentley.