Sylvan Lake - Day 5 Update

For someone who is in a secluded area near a crystal clear lake you would think that I would be writing about everything and anything in sight and enjoying the experience. Well, not quite. Instead, it has become easier to enjoy the experience and dwell on the highlights of my days. Scenes down at the grassy beach area are idyllic as are the huge homes on the other side of the lake but as you know, they're a "you have to be there to appreciate it" experience. The panorama shot below doesn't do it justice. I didn't bring my good camera and must rely on my iPhone for photos. In addition, "if you've seen one lake, you've seen 'em all."

As written in my previous blog, Friday's dinner with friends began a wonderful weekend ending with a special Father's Day on Sunday. My daughter, Marybeth, picked me up at noon and I spent the afternoon with her and Carlo's family at Nick and Rose's house. The magnificent BBQ provided was awesome and plentiful...as was the heat of the day. The pool took care of the heat for the kids. As a guest, I was treated royally by Nick and Rosie and as a father I felt special spending an entire day with my daughter. Thank you MB for giving me that special gift a parent so enjoys; that of spending time with you. My son, Chuck, celebrating his Father's Day in Milan, Italy, found time to give me a call as well.

 This campground with most sites filled in this loop up in the meadow, is very, very quiet. Temperatures in the 90s probably influenced the RVers to remain indoors. I really haven't seen too many people. 

Monday, I had the pleasure of granddaughter, Sara, and her dad, John, come and visit for lunch.  My picnic table was in the shade until about 1:00 PM. That's when the sun travels overhead beyond the awning and begins to bake my tin can of a home.  The temperature reached 91° today. 

The Saravan

Sara will be leaving Wednesday with her friend Danny to fly out to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they will pick up a travel van and visit many National Parks during their two week adventure.  I wish I could drive out there and meet them somewhere along their carefully planned itinerary. It'll have to be just another item on my bucket list.

Speaking of a "bucket list"; while "confined" indoors to avoid the heat, I looked to see how I could add a few more destinations to my summer itinerary. The results can be viewed by clicking on the tab at the top of the page titled, "2016 SUMMER." I've decided to skip my 2017 Winter Adventure (January through March) and make it instead for the spring (after my mother's 98th birthday). I'll spend the winter here at home. That hiatus will be replaced by a six week itinerary beginning at the end of July that will have stops in CT, PA, VA, SC, and back through those states for a break and then on to Lake George, NY, VT, NH, ME and back home with an overnight in MA. I'll get to visit my cousin Kathy in CT and John, who summers in ME.

Sylvan Lake Beach RV Park 06/14 --> 6/24/2016

Sylvan Lake Beach RV Park

Mcdonnells Lane

Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

845-221-9889

Situated on 65 wooded and open acres along a scenic private Sylvan Lake Beach (click on link at top of page for details), this campground is a close and convenient escape for a short but relaxing camping experience. Except for environmental limitations placed on sewers near bodies of water, only the twenty tent dwellers will find themselves enjoying the rustic view close to the 120 acre, crystal clear, spring fed lake. Some tent sites have both electric and water hookups. There are 65 full hookup sites in the park. Upon checking in, I was able to switch my assigned site to one "up the hill in the meadow" to be close to friends Kathy and Ray who have just completed their two week stay and were, on Saturday, headed back to Croton Point's RV Park (CPP).  

As Friday, June 17th was the only evening we would be together and because of the proximity of friends Oscar and Maryellen in Wappingers Falls, I decided to host dinner for that evening.

Out came my vintage Coleman gas barbecue grill, propane tank, the beautiful London broil that had been marinating since I purchased it that morning, marinated red and yellow bell peppers, and baking potatoes buttered and wrapped in foil. Kathy brought the ears of corn from a local vendor and made a salad and Maryellen brought pastries from Tiramisu in Hopewell.  I neglected to take a photo of that Londron broil seared perfectly on both sides with the characteristic criss-cross pattern. I Googled a photo to demonstrate the end product. 

For my crowd of five, the piece was twice the size
and my seared grill lines looked better. Ha!

Microwave ears of corn on the cob

If you haven't already tried this, my preferred method for shucking and cooking corn on the cob is in the microwave...no shucking and no cleaning of the fine filament hairs. I placed three ears on the rack and three on the revolving plate below and set time for 18 minutes on high. I learned this 'trick' two years ago when viewing this two minute YouTube clip. Check it out here.

The Big O ready for some serious dining

 

Maryellen & Oscar

Although given the time off from cooking,
Kathy still prepared the salad.

Having visited Winnie in the past, this
is temporarily their "Wall of Fame" photo.

Ray and Maryellen

Next door neighbors Ray & Kathy packed up and ready to leave

Other RVers situated around an open field, I guess called "the Meadow"

As I write this entry, the temperature outside is 109°, in the sun, and my AC has been churning out cool air but is struggling to get the inside temperature below 80°.

Cheers...to your good health

Still it's very comfortable....indoors.  I'm reminded of a lesson learned early on: best sites for afternoon and evening are on the west side of the street/road/lane. New neighbors on both sides of me have set up for their RV experience here at Sylvan Lake.

"Snow" in the form of the Cottonwood (poplar) seeds being dispersed greeted my arrival. With little wind, these "snow bunnies" lazily drifted everywhere landing wherever they chose waiting for the next breeze to move them elsewhere. Their presence is at peak during the heat of the day. When the sun set, I noticed they too had called it a day and vanished. Watching them float with that gin and tonic made it a truly lazy, summer day to be enjoyed. Once again, thank you Mother Nature.

Tomorrow, if my hip allows, I want to walk down to the lake and take some photos. Today, a couple of live bands provided music for those in the beach area.

P.S. The blog site sent me a message indicating a change for a more secure visit to the website is in place. It may have also improved the ability for my readers to leave comments. Don't know it you've tried and failed but if a comment pops up give it a try and see if it gets through to me.  I use Google Chrome and it worked; prior to that message I had to view the blog in Internet Explorer in order to make comments.

The Social Side of RVing

Where have the days gone? After two weeks, I'll be packing up Winnie tomorrow and leaving Croton Point Park for awhile. Here I am scrambling to capture the highlights of my great two-week stay. It's a sunny, low humidity, windy day (gusts to 40 mph) with the temperature a very comfortable 81 degrees; it's a "perfect day."

Typically, blogs share the sights, landmarks, landscapes, and tourist attractions that are available to those who tow a second vehicle and able to leave their campsite to explore. As I don't have that luxury, my blogs focus on an equally important and fascinating aspect of RVing; that of meeting and greeting people. Of Geminis, it is said:

"Gemini make very interesting and exciting friends. They like to leave their mark on everyone they meet. They are very flighty and will disappear for a long time as they meet new friends and explore new places. But when they come back, they will have new thoughts, opinions and interesting things to share and ideas to teach. Life is very interesting and fun with a Gemini friend. If you need any advice, Gemini is the one to ask. They are masters of communication and they can help you get what you need by helping you with persuasion and enthusiasm, and they give good advice too. Do not however, bog a Gemini down with all of your emotional problems, they are not want to deal with it because it depresses them and steps on their freedom if you need too much long term help, support and follow up. A Gemini friend can fill you in with the latest gossip and if you love conversation, the Gemini delivers! They are very generous with their friends, they will spend lots of time with you and share everything with you. Even though Gemini is a social butterfly, they always need time for themselves and that should be respected."

We Geminis are quite proud of these traits but I leave it to the reader to explore and investigate the "other side", the "twin" side of a Gemini. And so, through photos, I would like to share the new (and old) friendships experienced during this trip. Your time line for this trip began on my birthday, May 26th, and concludes today, my publication date.

On this one day, there was a coincidental gathering of four fellow RVers from neighboring sites.

Trish & Craig from Celebration, FL walking Georgia stopped by for a chat.....

Yes, Trish, I'm annoying with a camera

....and joined  by John, retired math teacher, & Jean retired Organizational Consultant from Westchester, PA.......

.....and Karen and Warren from Kansas.  Long term neighbors working on the pipeline. Thank you Karen for providing me with you special cookies and Warren for your fascinating work experiences. See you in two weeks

 

 

Another full timer, John & Beau, stopped by

John & Beau chatting with Kathy

 


And of course "old"....very "old" friends, my next door neighbors, Ray & Kathy.

Over the course of the weeks, it was my pleasure to listen and learn about them. Each a fascinating story about the work they do or did, their family back home, the part of the country they're from as well as their future travel plans. Friendly, honest, sincere, and unique. With Ray & Kathy ending the first part of this blog, they begin the next portion.  As members of an RV group called the "Hudson Islanders," I was further able to expand my circle of friends and acquaintances.

As their guest, I was able to see the folks I've known from past rallies. The last encounter occurred when I was in FL this past winter. Their rally was in Fort Wilderness, Disney. This final weekend of my stay was the time for their latest rally. It was good to see them and my thanks to them for their hospitality, good food, and interesting conversations. Some photos from this weekend. First was the breakfast.....

The Master Waffle Maker

Missing is the Master Bacon Maker, Jack

Ce fut un plaisir rencontrer la mère de Martine de France.

                           

 

..... followed by the pot luck dinner Saturday night and the Sunday Continental Breakfast...

 

And so concludes a very satisfying two week stay. Not mentioned were the visits to Fishkill to visit my mother and complete 5 games of scrabble each time most of which conclude with no tiles left over; three sushi dinners: one with granddaughter, Sara, and Danny and two others with sushi loving friends; shopping trips and trips back to my apartment; and visits from friends who took the time to travel to Croton to see me.

Next stop Sylvan Lake in Hopewell Junction for a week. After that, I return for two more weeks here at CPP. See you then. Don't forget to click on the "VISITORS" tab above to see my growing list of ... visitors. I would also love to read some comments via this blog site vs. an email. And, as usual, thanks for taking the time to go RVing with me.