Bear Creek Campground 07/25 --> 07/29/2016

60 miles - 1 hour from Cross River, NY

BEAR CREEK CAMPGROUND, BRISTOL, CT
(Click link above for details)

Tom, Kathy, and Logan are in TIPI #4 and I'm across Boulder Way in RV #3

After a two week hiatus, I'm once again on the road. A little over an hour and about 60 miles brought me to a relatively new (2014) campground at Lake Compounce called Bear Creek.  I had to look up the derivation of that unusual name and found the fascinating history that goes with it:

"The lake's name is derived from Chief John Compound, a Mattatuck/Tunxis Native American. On December 3, 1684, his wife and several tribal members affixed their waxed fingertip marks to a deed that conveyed the "Compound's Lake" to a group of white settlers, including John Norton, who had migrated to central Connecticut from Massachusetts, for pennies on the dollar and miscellaneous trinkets, including a large brass tea kettle. Legend has it that Chief Compound drowned while trying to cross the lake in a large brass tea kettle."  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

When I arrived at 1:20 pm, the temperature had reached 95°. The radar at 3:25 pm foretold of some nasty weather but the ominous message proved to be just a few showers and passed on. We certainly need the rain and, you guessed it, the pitter patter of rain on my fiberglass roof is always welcomed. As I write this it's 8:15 pm, the sky is yellow and I'm guessing that'll be it for the night.

I was made aware of this campground by my cousin, Kathy, and hubby, Tom. They live in nearby Southington, CT, about a mile from this theme park/RV campground. They expressed a desire to see my RV and this campground was located conveniently close by. They and grandson, Logan will join me and spend Tuesday night in a tipi across the road.

Deluxe Tipi

• 4 cots (up to 5 cots available) • Electricity hook up • Mini fridge • Close parking available • Structure placed on wood flooring • Close access to new and clean bathrooms and showers • Parking for two vehicles  Weekday Price (Monday-Thursday Night)   $74.00/night Weekend Price (Friday-Sunday Night)   $89.00/night

RV Sites

• Electric hook up with 50/30/20 AMP capabilities • Water hook up  • Cable hook up • Can accommodate any size RV • Leashed pets welcome • We offer a dump station on site free of charge to campers at Bear Creek • Close access to new and clean bathrooms and showers • Parking for two vehicles Weekday Price (Monday-Thursday Night)   $45.00/night Weekend Price (Friday-Sunday Night)   $60.00/night

Curious, I took a walk over to one of tipis and forwarded some photos for them as a head's up. 

Now, as you know, I'm height deprived 
and that opening would require me
on hands and knees to crawl inside.

30" at most.

Yes! There's electricity.
A mini-fridge and a vertical fan
or heater is provided.

Inside, deceivingly spacious. Tall
Tom will not have to bend.

I'm sure they'll pull that 2nd cot out
as well as request a third one

No way was I crawling in so I just stuck the iPhone
in a shot straight up...a make believe selfie.

An aerial view of the campground shows the lack of trees and shade. You can see the young saplings on each site. It'll be another 10-20 years before they provide shade. There are no septic fields so digging for underground electricity and water lines would have been the only reason to remove trees and other plants.

The End of Day One with more to come.