OUR FIRST CAMPOUT FOR 2011 COMING UP!

MONDAY:
The start of another week.  We kinda had a "food hangover", from Easter Dinner.
While doing the washing, I worked on the computer.  In an effort to inform a potential new camping member for our Chapter, I had many e mails to send out.
Bob started grouting the tile.  Almost finished, he ran out of the paste and had to wait until Betsy came home from work to go get more since our car is at the garage.   The diagnosis of our car is a rusted pipe line that carries the fluid to cool the transmission.  They have promised to have it finished by Wednesday when we hope to hook up to the motor home and head for The Villages @ Turning Stones in Utica.  I started a list of things to pack.  Then I made piles of stuff to take out to motor home as it has rained most of the day. 
TUESDAY:
Our area was covered in fog this morning.  Then it rained.  Then more fog.  Then more rain.  We did see the sun for awhile and the temperature did go over 70o. 
Today was load the camper.  The first trip is always the hardest with the reloading.  Spices, medicines, soaps, paper products, food, water etc.  We just have the computer and printer to unhook and load in the morning.  Then we drive up to the college to hook up the car, as it's much safer than on our street.  Bob received a call about 6:15 tonight that the car was fixed and it could be picked up.  So that relieved some tension.  Yes, the price of repair cleaned out my "slush" fund! 
WEDNESDAY:
We backed out of the driveway about a hour later than planned due to some phone calls.  Up at the college everything went good. (turning signals, brake lights and running lights all worked)   I watched to make sure the hitch pins went into place and that the tires were turning and then boarded the bus for take off.   How exciting!  We drove for about an hour and a half then stopped at Port Byron for a sandwich and to check the outside hookups once more. 


Rindo's site 

 We arrived at Turning Stone at 2:30, and went to the reserved 500 loop which is a cul-de-sac with a huge fire ring in the middle for groups.  We just had time for check in, set up, have a cup of coffee and change clothes  before driving to Utica College to pick up our grandson, Eric.   The VFW was only minutes away from campus.  Our "Chicken Reggie" dinner was delicious!  The Varsity football players served and cleared tables.  They had a real good turn out.  Bob was "moaning" (Our favorite saying is; "okay Moana") because he couldn't see any chicken.  We couldn't either.  They must grind the chicken up.  The sauce is a white base with just a little tomato of some kind for color and flavor.  The dinner ticket was printed as if Vodka was used in the dish. I have to go on line to search for the recipe as it was so good.  Since then in talking to other people, they also make it with sweet or hot peppers.  Eric's football coach talked to us during dinner.  He has finished his Master's degree and will be moving on to pursue his career in Criminal Justice. 
After dinner the three of us drove around the college and Eric explained all the buildings.  He also has his room assignment for next year so he showed us where his dorm will be. He had homework to finish so we left him off and returned to camp.  A big day for us, so we vegged out in front of the TV.        Several times during the evening there was terrible thunder and lightening and heavy rain. 
THURSDAY:

On TV this morning there was still storm warnings.  Many schools were closed or had a 2 hour delayed opening because of flooded streets.  They showed the Utica bridge downtown that had water up to the bottom of  the bridge, and so it had been closed.  We did not see any damage around our camping area. 

There was a lot of William and Kate pre-wedding stories on TV.  

This sign used to point to the factory.  All business was shipped overseas.



The big sales are not always available.  They have special weeks.

 We had breakfast and drove over to Sherrill to visit the Oneida Company Store.

This is an outlet for Oneida products: silverware, pot and pans, china and some glassware.   Then we drove to Wal-Mart for a couple of things that I forgot to pack.  Soap for the bathroom you can’t go without!  Bob needed a TV hookup part; he couldn’t get cable to work right and there was 72 channels advertised.  One has to get them all, ya know!  On the way home we stopped for an ice cream cone which substituted for lunch.  One of the campers had been there and had free cone coupons, we wanted them dipped in chocolate so we had to pay for that portion.  When we returned to camp the Chapter 100 campers totaled 7.  Later Maria & Craig Donnelly arrived with their big beautiful semi rig, motorcycle, and 5th wheel camper.  Some of the Chapter 100 members were going to Vernon Downs casino for the dinner buffet.  Some one mentioned that the machines pay better at the Vernon Downs in comparison to Turning Stone Casino.  I fixed a a salad and spuds while Bob cooked a steak for supper and we watched a video for the evening. 



Vernon Downs Casino

FRIDAY:

 We went over to Vernon Downs to try our luck.  They had a promotional card for three days; after you put $10.00 in the machines they would give you a $10.00 voucher to use.  I had won $31.00 and Bob had lost his $10.00 so we went for the voucher.  No luck.  I cashed out and stuck the winnings in my wallet and we left.  The casino was in a one floor building and it compares to the one in Batavia.  They painted the ceiling black and moved in the machines.  That's it, they were in business. 

We returned to camp for 4'oclock cocktails.  The Parkhill's and Sendker's from our Chapter 12 had arrived.  As we were unloading stuff from the car, I noticed a screw in our tire.  Would you believe it?  So while deciding what to do, Bob reached down and touched it and it came right out.  We were lucky, it wasn't in deep enough to cause the tire to go flat!  30 campers signed up to go out for the Fish Fry at Joel's Restaurant.  Returning to camp, we passed on the campfire because it was bitter cold out by then. 

SATURDAY: 

We had a Continental breakfast down by the fire ring.  The higher officers had a Counsel meeting at 10:00 to go over the plans for Region 1/NY St. Rally.  Our day was spent back at Utica College with our grandson, Eric, for the Moose A Polasa event.  We went to the bookstore first to shop.  Then to the carnival area, and then to the football field to watch the drills, and scrimmages.  This years' freshmen are trying out for the varsity team.  Eric's roommate and parents joined us for dinner downtown.  It was a big day.  We returned the boys to their dorms and said goodbye.  Back at camp, we went to campfire for a couple hours to visit with everyone. There was a total of 20 camper rigs at this outing.  That's a good turn out! 

My Star Magnolia Bush at home.

SUNDAY:

Another Continental breakfast and then pack to go home.  The time went so quickly. We arrived home safe about 2:30pm.  Betsy helped us unload the camper and had supper planned.  Grandson, Alex stopped by to pick up some things and to play with his dog, Cocoa who we are babysitting this week while our son and wife are on a cruise. 

We had a great week and trip and it was great to get away from the remodeling mess.   Thanks for reading this and hope you enjoy our stories.

Golden Gram