Before leaving Massachusetts, we decided to visit the spit of land that is Cape Cod. It was not what we were expecting. I think we were expecting a spit of land with viewable beaches either side.
We drove about three quarters of the way up, visiting a few scenic spots and beaches, but the road was tree lined and no views. Had we gone further up it may have changed. We did spot these along the way, something different from pictures of nice houses, don’t you think?
Our route across to our next spot took us through Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York State and into the north east of Pennsylvania. A campground called Timothy Lake South.
On the way across we stopped off at Camping World to get a new antenna fitted, as we had stopped receiving any channels whatsoever. An expensive stop, but as long as we get some News & Weather channels we are happy.
We went to a Cracker Barrel in August and we came across Xmas, ya’ll know what I think of Christmas!!! It’s bad enough in December let alone the summer month of August, bloody commercialism!
We also overnighted in a Walmart carpark, which was well worth it, as we spotted this young Osprey getting ready to leave its nest.
On the way across we had to stop to top up the RV with fuel. Now bear in mind our rig overall is 54 foot and the pumps on this forecourt were about 6 foot apart, so there was no way not to block one side while we filled up. So when some woman drives onto the forecourt in her lived in van, with at least 6 cats and starts on us with a verbal foul mouthed tirade for blocking the pumps on one side, I was a little at a loss for words, (Only for a short while). I did try and explain the size issue, but I don’t think she was listening. I did say to her that her language wasn’t very lady like, her response? “I never said I was a f*****g lady” So I wished her well and told her where to go!!(In the same language she used). The drivers up here have been a tad rude, but this one receives first prize!
The RV has been stuttering a little in its first 20 miles after a lay-up, so while at the campground, I changed out the fuel filter, don’t you just love Youtube! I have become quite the mechanic, willing to try to fix most things since doing this..LOL
One of the early nights at this campground we were awoken at 3am with what we thought were fireworks behind the rig, we got up and there were flames a leaping from some structure 50 yards behind us. We didn’t know what it was so we quickly mentally planned an evacuation in case it spread. Luckily the emergency services got there and suppressed the flames. It turned out to be a winter retreat place for someone.
We had a great storm come through on one of the days here, it came so quick and looked quite scary!
Above is a short video of a storm coming in, I hope it works, normally I just put a link in for videos.
This is a still shot of it I managed to take before the wind and rain hit us.
On Tuesday the 12th we took a day trip into New York. We last went there in 2003, when they were still clearing the site of the Twin Towers, so we wanted to go back and see the memorial.
Guess how our trip went?
It started at 05.30 on the road down to Dover to catch a train into Manhattan, the tickets cost us $28 in total for a 100 mile round trip for the 2 of us! British rail take note. A good start don’t you think?
We then headed toward New York only to go past 4 stations and for the train to break down…here we go, the Waddup’s travel disaster strikes again!
We had to get off train, cross the tracks and wait for another train to pick us up, which it dually did, we were off again, back on track as they say. ½ an hour behind schedule.
We entered the tunnel under the Hudson and near the end we were stopped again, the train in front of us had derailed, (made the news too).
https://abc7ny.com/penn-station-derailment-train-nj-transit/13771950/
Our train then had to back up out of the tunnel about a mile and a half, and wait for 4 trains to pass us before we could switch tracks and continue. Arriving in the end about 2 hours late at Penn station, New York, which is attached to Maddison Square garden.
The issues continued on our way out too. We had to go to a totally different station and take a different route initially back to Dover. But we did get a great view of Lower Manhatten that we had not seen before.
I shall have to investigate this large face on the net, I just think it is a stunning image.
The main reason we went into NY was to see the 9/11 Memorial;
We started walking uptown and came across this…
We then for a “stroll’ from the memorial towards the “High-line walk” which first started taking shape in 2009 on an old elevated railway line. It is now a lovely green walkway, an oasis in an urban jungle.
It was then back on the subway up to central park for a walk;
A few random pictures of some of the central park features above.
There are lots of these cycles around Central Park, but I never realised how expensive they were to take a ride on…..$4.99……PER MINUTE, as Robert Redford said in “A Walk in the Woods”..”YOU GOTTA BE SHITTING ME”!!!! That would equate to just under $12,000 a WEEK. No wonder there is a cost of living crisis, not for these guys clearly!
And I am glad we did not drive into NY.
Anyway, apart from that we are doing a lot of walks and hikes, a bit of shopping and lots of reading outside in the chairs when the weather permits on our campsite…Oh, and a few alcoholic drinks occasionally.
Until next time, stay safe and we miss you all.
G&T x
Terry, Gill & Kathryn in the US of A 