A Day Without Travel

MacDonalds Wi Fi Again

Cheryl: It’s 4:40 on Friday afternoon and Frank is asleep on the couch with his “Used-to-be-Bad” jacket draped across his torso, his boots off and deposited precariously at the end of the couch, and my blue shawl over his face. It’s warm enough this afternoon to have the air conditioner humming and the puppies are asleep in their beds. I must admit to just waking up from a nap myself. Finally we’ve had time to unwind and get some rest after traveling all the way across country in eight travel days.

Frank decided we needed to do something for all the people in RVs who show up at the rally expecting a nice place to park their rigs. We once again investigated the facilities at Blackthorn resort, the site of the rally. Convinced that there are only three sites with full hook-ups and maybe five sites with water, power, but no sewer, we began our tour of the area’s campgrounds, so those arriving will have alternatives. We visited Brookstone, Rip Van Winkle, Whip O Will, and will include the one where we’re currently parked, Blue Mountain RV. Frank has collected GPS coordinates and miles from the central rally site at Blackthorn for each of the other RV parks. He has also drawn a map with each of the sites pinpointed on it. When we find a printer to use with our computer, he will print a comprehensive list of places for people to park their rigs that can be handed out to rally participants when they arrive. While Blackthorn has at least 100 RV sites, all but the eight we found are inhabited by seasonal park rigs.

Our tour of campgrounds took most of the morning, and we stopped to eat lunch at the Log Cabin Café. The food was tasty and the young couple who own this sweet little place were delightful. The owner/cook helped Frank with his mapping project, while his wife and I talked about the restoration they did at the “log cabin” when they bought it in 2003. This place is so inviting down to the stained glass chandeliers, the restroom featuring two tree limbs leaned in a corner with decorative little owls perched on them, and a soap dispenser shaped like a pinecone that squirts heavenly smelling soap. And talk about clean, this place is immaculate! The Log Cabin Café is also a New York deli with ham, roast beef, cheeses, and luscious pieces of pie occupying their display case. This little place gave us good reason to upgrade our opinion of this exclusive resort area with its winding tree-lined roadways and thriving venues. We’ve seen some “estates” in the woods here that are right out of some gothic novel, impressive and palatial.

Tomorrow, Saturday, we’re moving to the Rip Van Winkle RV Park where they have WiFi and lovely wooded campsites. The young host has been working at this family-owned campground since he was a boy when it belonged to his grandfather, who opened it in 1962. It’s an excellent place to stay with a swimming pool, swimming hole in the creek, a fishing lake and trails through the forest. We’ve finally found our home for the week and, Greg and Betty, you can relax because we won’t be there early after all!

More Norton Empire Rally news as it happens. Please stay with us, surely something exciting is bound to happen sooner or later. Remember, you read it here first!

Love, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and the Press Pups