New York back roads

First stop in New York = Niagara Falls! I had been there 45 years ago and remembered it as being too commercial. It now has parks on both sides of the river and I'm so glad I went! 

I drove from Pennsylvania to Niagara Falls on a toll road, intending to get off at Erie and see a park on the lake. The toll road had few exits and I bypassed my exit and thus headed on to Niagara Falls. But I also decided to stay off the interstate highways as much as I could for a while.

I stayed for free in the Senaca casino parking lot at Niagara Falls with a few other RVs. It worked out well. I walked to the Falls and then across the Peace Bridge into Canada! I thought the view from Canada was better! I opted out of the boat ride to the foot of the Falls, not wanting to get wet and cold!

The next day I explored Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, NY, an old fort built in 1726.

It was built by the French. The British gained control in 1759 during the French-Indian war. They held the fort during the American Revolution and yielded it in 1796. The fort was recaptured by the British in 1813 and again returned to America at the end of the war of 1812. During the Civil War the fort was a border outpost. It was a training station for soldiers during WWI and WWII.

They had demonstrations of the uniforms and weaponry for some of the time periods.

I also glimpsed a distant view of the Toronto skyline across Lake Ontario.

That night I camped at Lakeside Beach NY State park in Waterport, NY on the shores of Lake Ontario. 

I rode my bike around the campground and saw a beautiful sunset over Lake Ontario. Friendly neighbours gave me ideas of places to visit in New York.

I drove to the Finger Lakes area from Geneva to Watkins Glen, driving on back roads and seeing immaculate farms along the way. The terrain was quite flat near Lake Ontario and gradually changed to hills. I stopped at a roadside farm stand for fresh corn and fruit. I occasionally came across an Amish buggy on the back roads.

I drove along the shores of Lake Seneca and camped at Sampson State park in Romulus, NY. Another great sunset over water! The site was a WWII training facility.

The next day I went to Seneca Falls and the Women's Rights Historic Park. Seneca Falls was the site of the first Women's Rights convention in 1848. It was interesting to reflect how many advances women have achieved in my lifetime. (I wanted to be a park ranger, a field not open to women when I graduated from high school.)

I stopped to admire a waterfall at 

Taughannock state park on Lake Cayuga.

Cayuga Lake

I camped at Buttermilk Falls state park in Ithaca, NY, and hiked along the paths. 

The next day I drove back roads from Ithaca to the Catskills Mountains. The roads were through small towns and picturesque country...and very hilly! I camped at a pretty spot right on the lake at Little Pond Campground in Andes, NY. I had to go on narrow roads to get there, but it was one of the prettiest campsites I've been in!

I had hoped to connect with Kayla's brother at Chester, New York. Kayla is a friend from Alderson Hospitality house and was raised in the Bruderhof community. Although it didn't work out to visit the Bruderhof community, I had a great time seeing the area. I visited Sam's Point at Cragsmoor, NY, and hiked some of the trails. It was quite a view!

I stayed at Winding Hills Park Campsite on a lake not far from Chester.

I visited the presidential library and home of Franklin D. Roosevelt at Hyde Park. It was an interesting afternoon and I left with great admiration for what President Roosevelt accomplished! He pulled this country out of the Great Depression and led the U.S. In WWII. And he also struggled with the affects of polio. He did a great deal!

The next day I went to Eleanor Roosevelt's home and site of Val-Kill industries. I learned much about her life and contributions to our country.  She was a remarkable woman!  We would do well if we had someone like Franklin or Eleanor Roosevelt running for office today!

Needing an electric hookup, I camped at a "resort", Camp Waubeeka, in Copake, NY. This campground had swimming, crafts, poker, music, dancing, a bonfire and more! It was an experience! Many drove to the music event with their golf carts! 

My last New York campground was a traditional state Park on the New York - Massachusetts border, Taconic state Park at Copake Falls. I went swimming in the old ore pit that had filled with spring water after the mine closed. It was 40 plus feet deep! 

I hiked to the Bash Bish Falls that was actually over the Massachusetts border.

Now it is on to Connecticut!

On the road again!

After my month in rural West Virginia, I was eager to be a tourist again! I enjoyed being at the Alderson Hospitality House and especially the people I met there, but I am ready to roll!  First stop was close by at Greenbrier State Forest while I had my tires checked out. I had a fried green tomato sandwich at Jim's drive in at Lewisburg, which was good!

Next stop was the state capital at Charleston, WV.  The gold dome was pretty impressive! (They say that gold leaf dome was not paid for by the taxpayers). It was a beautiful building with much marble on the inside.

Yelp took me to a free campground at close-by St. Albans, with water and electric (donations only) on the Kanawha

river. It was great to watch the barges on the river. But it was on a very noisy road and trains ran on both sides of the river! I was so glad to leave in the am!

I had read about Blennerhasset Island state Park in Parkersburg WV and spent a great afternoon there. I took a ferry ride to the island and then toured the mansion.  The Blennerhassets were friends with Aaron Burr and built the estate in the early 1900's.

From Parkersburg I headed across the Missouri River to Ohio to a gorgeous campground -Leith Run in the Wayne National Forest.  This was a quiet campsite right on the river and I again watched the barges go by.  

I headed North up the Ohio side of the Missouri and then cut across to the top of West Virginia.  The terrain changed markedly as I traveled North, leaving the steep valleys and forests of Southern West Virginia and seeing rolling hills and much more farmland. The area looked more prosperous also, with the houses painted and the farms tidy.

I stopped briefly in Pittsburg, PA and rode the incline to the top of Mt Washington.

Then I headed out of Pittsburgh before the commute traffic hit and camped outside Pittsburgh at a lovely forested site at Racoon Creek State Park.

Next state to see will be New York.  I've been to New York City a few times and am looking forward to seeing other parts of the state!