Heat Wave to Firepit Weather - Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York

We spent two nights traveling through Ohio.  Our first stop was in Chillicothe and we had reservations at a private campground.  When we got there, the owner said they were without electricity.  We went to our site, it was in the full sun, the feel like temps were about 105.  We quickly located another park that had electricity and moved on.  And we had shade!

We did go visit the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park.  There are mounds of various shapes and enclosures often built in geometric patterns that dot the landscape of the Ohio River Valley.  These earthworks were used not for living quarters, but for a variety of ceremonial and social activities between 200 BC to AD500.  They refer to this location as the Mound City Group.  It was included as part of Camp Sherman, the massive World War One Army training facility.  The military graded most of the earthworks flat; however, the ceremonial building floors beneath the mounds was below the ground.  So when the war was over and Camp Sherman dismantled, archeologists were able to study the burials below the mounds.

Almost lost this history!

 Our second night was at Barkcamp State Park where we had full hookups.  Barkcamp derives it’s name from the logging industry.  Apparently, they used to strip the bark from the trees here.  It’s a very pretty area.  The nearby town I was impressed with as the houses all had front porches and it appears that folks actually use the porch. 

 In Pennsylvania we spent only one night at Lake Pymatuning State Park.  It was a nice park.  We had some good thunder and rain.  We enjoyed visiting with our neighbors, but after we left I realized I did not take any pictures in Pennsylvania.  Oh well.  Maybe on our way home.  One of the good memories from this state park was of an Amish family camping in a tent with solar panels.

 Next up is New York State with our first park being near Jamestown New York, the home of Lucille Ball.  Of course we went to the Lucy Desi Museum.  Fun.  Brought back lots of fond memories of this super great TV show.  Our site at Chatauqua KOA was very nice; however it’s a windy day and finally cooler temps and less humidity.

 

Replica of the studio

Yes the furniture in real life wasn't black and white lol!

Sunset from the campsite

Next stop is Branches of Niagara RV Resort on Grand Island.  I didn’t realize that this is grape country. Lots and lots of grape vines here. Not so many wineries.  Our campsite here is super nice!  We drove over to Niagara Falls State Park and walked trails and viewed falls.  It’s pretty awesome.  It’s a cool weather day!  I didn’t realize that this is the oldest state park in America!

 

Yep we're going to do that boat ride!

Today we did the Maid of the Mist boat tour and how awesome was that!  Just imagine (if you’ve never been here) what 600,000 gallons of water every second sounds like!  A lot of water crashing!  You get wet!  And you’re looking up and it’s a big WOW factor!

 

I had to let him win!

You get cold and wet!

Our next stop was Mexico, New York at a Jellystone Park.  But I’m the first to say – we backed up on the Salmon River.  It’s beautiful and the sound of the river tumbling over the rocks was so peaceful.  More vineyards and apple orchards.  We went for a view of Lake Ontario at Mexico Point.

 

Our back porch view on the Salmon River!

Our last stop in New York is in the Lake Placid area.  It was a rainy, cool, beautiful drive over here.  We have scored a nice campsite again.  And temperatures are super cool! The next day we took a ride up the Veteran’s Memorial Highway to the top of Whiteface Mountain.  I decided we were going to ride the elevator to the top due to my bad foot.  You walk 400’ through a tunnel into the center of Whiteface Mountain and then ascend 27 stories by elevator to the stone Summit House. We couldn’t see Lake Champlain due to the clouds, but we had great view of Lake Placid and the Union Falls area.  This mountain is New York State’s fifth-highest peak, 4,867 feet high.

 

Lake Placid view from the top

Well tomorrow we arrive in Montreal, Canada.  I will let you know how that border crossing goes.  Historically never well as they make a lot of assumptions about a Texas license plate.  We have driven 3,326 miles since we left our home in Texas.  This includes our driving route, but also our sightseeing route.