Returned....

Well, returned to Twin Ells Campground in West Chazy, NY. As mentioned before, we liked it here so much that we booked the week after Escapade. Now we have booked a second week as well. Wonderful riding area, quiet and clean campground with wonderful management and convenient location.

We had another uneventful trip from Essex Junction, VT to here last Sunday. Setup was easy - we knew the spot well (yup, same site). We had been set up for a couple of hours and our friends from Canada, Char & Billy, arrived. Now they camp - not like us. LOL!

Monday was a rain day and our friends planned to relax from their trip. We opted to run errands and see a movie. After recycling the battery out of our old Trip-Lite UPS (replaced with a newer, larger APC UPS) at Lowe's, mailing a package (sending off a prize to a winner of my book promotion for Paradise Down), we headed to the mall to see the new Star Trek movie. Neither of us had any idea of the plot and both greatly enjoyed the movie. Afterward, we walked the mall for steps and took a few minutes to enjoy this:

I also got a kick out of this place, we knew our younger grandkids would have loved this place.

Our final stop was Sam's Club and Wal-Mart for groceries. We spent the evening walking around the campground with Char & Billy, then sitting and chatting till the bugs drove us all inside.

Tuesday, the trio set off for a scenic ride on the bikes while I stayed behind. I needed a day to catchup with laundry and other chores, including making reservations for our leisurely trip back to DE & MD. That accomplished, I tackled some back emails. Here are a few photos Billy & Stu took...note Char's excitement at the ice cream stop!

Wednesday we all headed out to ride the islands that dot the middle of Lake Champlain. I opted to leave my camera behind and just enjoy the scenery. Sorry (not really - LOL). It was a great day, first stop at the little New York state welcome area where we picked up more maps.

We ended up in Burlington - HOT, HOT, HOT with about a gazillion tourists/pedestrians. We finally made it to the ferry and I napped while we spent an hour crossing back to New York. All in all, a wonderful day!

From there we headed to Five Guys, a first for Char & Billy. Bellies full, it was back home for showers and rest.

Thursday Stu did chores while our friends rode to Ausable Chasm for some hiking. Friday, it was time for goodbyes, no, see you laters! We sat, enjoying our coffee while they packed up the camper and trailer. Soon, they headed out....till next time, friends!

Our plans for the next week are simple:

• See the new Jason Bourne movie
• Keep tackling all those little chores that never disappear
• For me, WRITE!
• Get in at least one or two more scenic rides

Ciao for now!

Wrapping up at the Escapade

We are not your typical Escapade attendees, at least not anymore. We used to be, back when we still had a lot to learn. Neither of us attended any seminars this time around. I had hoped to go to Chris & Jim Guld's (GeeksOnTour) blogging seminar but ended up sticking around the rig while our new awnings were being put up.

But we did do one thing typical of most attendees - spend money! In our case, quite a bit of money. First was new awnings all the way around as well as new slide toppers. We also added two new window awnings over the garage windows, something Stu wished he had done originally.

We used the folks at Shade Pro RV Awnings (800-328-5100). Ken Thompson did an amazing job! Professional job and we are really pleased. Oh, and our original awnings were brown but had faded to a tacky green color. I love having the brown back!

The next was a tire pressure monitoring system. Based on personal recommendations and previous experience with the vendor we chose, Stu bought a Tire Traker system with sensors for each tire as well as an extender (due to our extreme length). Daryl & Cheri Lawrence know their stuff, stand behind it and encourage you to call anytime if you have issues. That's how they've taken care of our Progressive on-board EMS system, too.

We also had a tech out to get our automatic Directv (rooftop) dish working. We haven't been able to use it since we upgraded to the Genie last September. Poor Stu had to set up a portable dish at every stop. Now I have to remember to power it up and down. LOL!

The final expense was for a CCW (concealed carry weapon) class for Stu. All that is left for him to do is get his fingerprints taken and mail the application, photo (taken in the class), fingerprint card and money to the state of Florida for his non-resident CCW. When we get back to FL, he will do some shooting and purchase his handgun.

What else have we done? Well, we are getting ready for our fourth dinner out with friends. The first night, Monday, we ate with Bill & Dottie (Stu's old partner and his wife). We last saw them in Gettysburg for breakfast. We each drove an hour or so to Montpelier for dinner at Sarducci's. Great Italian restaurant and I got to take some nice flower photos.

We also had a peek-through view of the capital building.

Tuesday we went to dinner with friends Steve & Peri who we first met in Ecuador. They planned to stay forever but health issues forced them back to the US. They bought an RV and headed north to the Escapade, our gain. We had a great dinner chatting about everything, just getting to know each other better.

Then Wednesday we went Italian again, having dinner with our friends Charles & Chris Yust. Tonight we are back to Texas Roadhouse (steak is always good) with our good friends, Chris & Jim Guld.

We also got in a nice motorcycle ride on Sunday, a day off for me since I planned to write as much as possible during the week days. All I wanted was ice cream...and the GPS obliged, dumping us right at Ben & Jerry's. Yum!!!

We've attended one social gathering with the Full-Time Class of 2007. I first met these folks in 2007 at the Goshen, IN Escapade that year. We've decreased in numbers due to death, health and going off the road, but that hasn't slowed our enthusiasm when we're together (especially when food is involved).

No idea what Bridget & John Hatch were doing - playing hide & seek?

Co-director of the Escapades, Bob Pinner with Norah Glover on the right, enjoying the food.

Linda Fleeger addressing the group.

The weather has been good other than a big storm on Sunday late and another about an hour ago. Nice enough that I've been able to grab two nice sunset photos.

Today may be closing day here, but we're not done. Tomorrow we go on a HOP (Head Out Program). Our day will consist of maple syrup, cruising Lake Champlain and ice cream. Yum!! Saturday is our rest day before we head back to Twin Ells campground on Sunday.

Life is good!

Ciao for now!

Quick Overview of Escapade Arrival

A quiet night  Saturday and Sunday morning we headed over shortly after nine to check out the vendors. Stu wanted to get our awning replacements set up ASAP. We need the two big awnings, all three window awnings and all three slide toppers replaced. Talking to the Ken Thompson of Shade Pro RV Awnings (800-328-5100), we also decided to get window awnings for the two garage windows. Sometimes we'd love to leave the windows open during a light rain and now we can.

Next stop was talking to the satellite TV guys. There were two vendors - I went to one and Stu went to the other. We haven't been able to use our automatic dish since we upgraded to the Genie last September. We hope this will be a minor fix.

Final stop for Stu was Daryl Lawrence's booth to buy a new tire monitoring system. Our current one is the one I bought from now retired Mike & Pat McFall back in March 2008. It has served us well but it's dying and the technology has improved dramatically. We had chatted with Daryl when we had dinner with him and Cheri back in FL (oh yeah, Nick & Terry Russell as well as Charles & Chris Yust were there, too). We talked about the tire monitoring system Daryl sold and found out that was the one Nick was using and recommending.

Daryl is the one who sold us (and installed) our Progressive EMS system at one of the Gypsy Journal Rallies that Nick & Terry used to host. It has saved us time and time again from electrical disaster (we highly recommend getting an on-board electrical management system).

We also managed to get in some hugs from Charles & Chris Yust who were busy with insurance questions & quotes as well as Chris & Jim Guld, our good "Geeks on Tour" friends (who also scuba dive).

A final walk down the Chapter and BOF tables and we headed back for the night. Here are a few photos...













Will post more on Thursday, last day of the rally. All our purchasing should be done, most meet & greets done, too. Friday we are on a HOP to visit some local things - an all day event. Saturday will be a full rest day!!

Oh, so far I have gotten just under 2000 words written in Almost a Touch (book three in my Klondike Mysteries) - no more done today since I've been helping a friend with some blog issues. ;)

Ciao for now!

We made it to the Escapade!

We managed to get out of Twin Ells park by 10:30, only 30 minutes after our target time. The drive was scenic and took us through some pretty little towns. Two bridges to get across Lake Champlain and then we were on the interstate. A fuel stop, that just "happened" to have a Dunkin' Donuts attached, and we arrived in Essex Junction between 12:30-1:00ish.

The parking crew was amazing! What a great job they did, got us parked where we could easily unload the bike. It was quite warm as we set up, but shortly after two we walked over to the registration area. Registration was quick and easy, we got our badges and what we need for our HOP at the end of the Escapade. 

We met several friends along the way; John Hatch, Jan & Bill Mains as well as Barb & Tom Westerfield. We are greatly missing Nick & Terry Russell, Jan & Greg White, JC & Bev Webber, Jim & Ellie Meacham, Renee & Dave Zittel, Mike & Elaine Loscher and many more who couldn't make it here this time. We hope to see all of them again as we travel the next couple of years. 

I took a lot of great photos along the way, not sure if I can get them to load in this app (I'm writing this on my iPad Mini). If not, they will be in a later post. 

Well that seemed work...here is a scary bridge. No height markings but we cleared it. Phew! 

As we walked outside after registration and chatting with friends, this was the sight in front of us. Yikes!

We made it back before it hit...here is a composite photo. 

Well, time to relax for the evening. Tomorrow we will check out the vendors and meet more friends, both old and new!

Ciao for now!