08/22 - 08/29 Junius Ponds Campground-Part Two

What's this?

Larry and me enjoying a 92° treat.

Welcome back to Junius Ponds campground. Weather has been brutally hot Wednesday and Thursday as it was elsewhere. At the camp store, nine flavors of soft serve ice cream were available, so we took advantage. Night time campfires? Ha! Not this week.

We visited the Muranda Cheese Company in Waterloo, NY, owned and run by Tom and Nancy Murray. They founded Muranda Holsteins in 1991. Back then the Murray family’s main focus was producing the highest quality milk out of high caliber cows. In 1997, the Murrays bred a cow that broke the world record for milk production. Muranda Oscar Lucinda produced 67,914 pounds of milk in just one year - that’s about 8500 gallons of milk. They've earned the dairy of Distinction recognition for over 25 years consecutively.

The Muranda Cheese Company was born in late 2007. Today the farm helps to produce over 17 types of cheeses that have been recognized for their superior artisanal quality. .

The huge, immaculate barn, known as The Dairy at Muranda
was originally built in the late 1800's. 

Our visit included a 12-cheese tasting event.

Of course each was available for sale. My favorites were
Red Buddy (Swiss & Cheddar) and Old Man Cheese.

Each cube of cheese was expertly described by our host including texture, pairings and flavors remaining on palette. Yup, just like a wine tasting event.

Me, Larry, John and Dawn

Upon entering, one just stands, looks up
and marvels at the sight of  the craftsmanship

A view from the barn's entrance.

On the way back to the campground, we stopped at Sauders Store in Seneca Falls, NY, run by the Amish. The link brings you to their Facebook page. Another mouth dropping event upon entering; the expansive and unique homemade products locally produced was overwhelming. I loved the use of the word, "Local...." for almost everything in the store. Everything fresh and lined up perfect for display. The photos below are not mine.

The photos actually don't do the size and varieties of products justice.
To me, it was a mini-Wegmans without the narrow aisles.

With just 12 cubes of cheese and a glass of Chardonnay for the day,
Dawn's chicken fajitas for dinner was welcomed, delicious and appreciated.

Another visit took us to Waterloo, NY and Ciccino's Pizzeria and Restaurant.

Ciccino's (chi-chi-nose) Pizzeria, founded by the Franzone Family (whose origins are from Sicily) opened the doors for business on May 29th, 1996. The name Ciccino's originated from an Uncle (Francesco Palmeri "Ciccino") who lived in Sambuca, Sicilia, Sicily. The original location for Ciccino's Pizzeria and Restaurant was built in the late 1800's. Originally, the location housed the Waterloo Fire Department for many decades. In 1996, after four months of renovations it was transformed into a Dine-in, Carry-Out and Delivery Restaurant.

After a fresh garden salad with house dressing, I enjoyed the Chicken alla Vodka Rigatoni: Grilled Chicken tossed with Stuffed Cheese Rigatoni and finished with a Plum Tomato and Vodka Cream Sauce (which was not creamy at all). Half the entrée and dessert taken for tomorrow's dinner.

Cinnamon-sugar dredged fried dough
with vanilla ice cream and
raspberry melba sauce.

And there was dinner Friday night. Thank you, Carole, for a spread that could have fed the entire campground. Danny and Pam, friends of Johnny, stopped by to visit and help make things disappear. A caveat for my critical, food conscious readers: This is what was presented for those who wished to partake.

Saturday, warm and humid as it was, the remaining three RVers, me, Larry, Dawn & John had lunch together at the pavilion. They forced me to join them with one last visit to the camp store for soft serve ice cream. The week has come to an end.

With all going their separate ways pursuing their own life's adventure, I'll be returning to Croton Point Park for two weeks. The second week there, 9/7th to 9/14 will once again see the Hudson Islanders getting together for their second meeting at CPP for this year. We'll see what hurricane Ida has to say about that. At this writing, 15 reserved sites will house 27 people. This will be another blog I look forward to writing and sharing.  Till then, stay safe, stay healthy and cool.  

08/22 - 08/29 Junius Ponds Campground-Part One

5 hrs - 313 miles

Having to leave CPP on Saturday but not checking into Junius Pond until Sunday required a little creative planning as to where to spend Saturday night. Daughter, Marybeth, suggested her driveway in Poughkeepsie, then got daring and suggested her backyard. It turned out to be an enjoyable afternoon. Ollie showed great courage taking on the monster in his backyard. Not to be intimated, he entered the RV after a great deal of negotiation. Treats and bribes worked wonders but he accomplished the feat with mommy's gentle coaxing. He has now earned a spot on my Wall of Fame of RV visitors. Unfortunately, the warm, muggy temperatures and no 30 amp service, the AC was unable to keep things comfortable inside the RV. In addition, plans were changed with the pending arrival of Henri and its torrential downpours. If the ground got too soft, I'd have a problem maneuvering myself back out of the yard Sunday morning. So, sleeping in the RV was not going to be an option. I decided to return Winnie to the solid driveway for the overnight stay.  Later that evening I enjoyed a terrific dinner at Cosimo's. Portions are such that I was able to leave with left overs enough to take with me for meals in the coming days. My full day ended with a comfortable and relaxing night's sleep...indoors.

Persuasion

Reluctance

Triumph, Success and...

...Comfort

In addition to Ollie obtaining a spot on my Wall of Fame, another frequent visitor, Titan, stopped by with daddy, John. He gave me his paw, received his treat and spent some time in Winnie while John and I chatted.

...Cloud filled skies.

The ride to Phelps, NY. Sunny with...

Sunday's drive up the Thruway to Albany, then on to I-90 west went without incident. Temperatures remained in the mid-80's with not a drop of rain the entire trip.  My leaving the Hudson Valley area was timed perfectly. 

Although the weekend vacationing traffic was moderate going north and west, I was amazed to see the steady stream of cherry picking trucks that were probably on their way south to provide mutual aide to the local power companies that will be impacted by tropical storm, Henri. Their numbers were significant, perhaps approaching one hundred. The next wave of trucks observed were crews from "Tree Care". 

Studying a map, this RV adventure is about as out-of-the-way as you can in the Central New York Region yet it is just off the Thruway. After passing the very small town of Junius, the campground is another 3½ miles west. The town is only 27 square miles in area and whose 2000 census showed a population of 1,362; about 550 families.  

Glacial scars that created 11 Finger Lakes

The cluster of ponds known as Junius Ponds

Junius Ponds was carved out by glaciers thousands of years ago and are categorized as meromictic, meaning that the pond waters do not mix. This unique characteristic has led to an abundance of rare plants and animals, including the endangered bog turtle. The 200 acres over two parcels was once the water supply for Lyon, NY, but was abandoned by the town and transferred to the state for conservation purposes. I looked into an aerial views of the regions and you can see the glacial scars left and since filled with water. Click the link to learn about the Finger Lakes.

This next adventure once again enables me to join my RV group, the Hudson Islanders. Although its membership is around twenty five, rarely will a get-together see more than ten members (RVs) together at a time. For this trip our numbers have dwindled to nine. No matter; it's all about being outdoors, the destination and its environment, the camaraderie, the food, the campfires and sharing. Campfires? Well, kinda tough when temperatures are in the 80's. For the ladies, a trip to wherever to shop for whatever can always fill their time.

A level site; A camper's dream

This campground is 25 years old with well established trees and plantings and attractive to the eye. It's clean, well maintained, manicured and organized. My site #163 is level and needed little maneuvering when getting settled. The camp store is well stocked and includes soft serve ice cream. My favorite is vanilla with a black raspberry swirl. Some photos of the surrounding area; all our sites are back-ins.

Site 163

Larry on 164

Ray & Sue on 160

The Pavilion

Sites 165 & 166

A seasonal site across my road

Another next door.

Along with the enjoyable aspects of RVing, I must include the joy of food.  With the weight loss I've experienced, I have not given up the foods I enjoy. And I enjoy it even more when I can share it with my readers. Whether I make it myself or enjoy it with friends in a restaurant, food is my key to happiness. I'm sharing just some of what I enjoy. And to my doubting neighbor who does not believe I can eat the meals I post and still lose weight, the FACT is, I can and I am. I am pleased with the steady decline in weight since March, 2021 and hope to realize my goal weight by mid-October. Some include:  

One dinner was comprised of only toasted baguettes spritzed with Balsamic vinegar, then layered with roasted peppers, crushed garlic cloves, thin sliced plum tomato and topped with fresh mozzarella. After spritzing with Balsamic vinegar again, they were grilled until cheese melted and served with five ounces Chardonnay.

For a lunch, I had fresh picked from the garden cherry tomatoes and diced cucumber lightly bathed with olive oil and Balsamic vinegar (I didn't have an onion or fresh leaf basil). This salad accompanied Ray D's homemade chili for lunch.

Just a ladle full was enough for a taste treat that
was simmered for hours in a crock pot.
Ray made enough for the entire campground to enjoy.

Always a favorite: Stuffed shells. The trouble with eating
Italian food, as you know, is that five or six days later, you're hungry again.

With just 1,500 calories allowed per day, it becomes a question of how to "spend" those calories. And, I'm sure we all have our 'druthers' as to what will be chosen and I know my choices are different than yours. No problem; just be sure you enjoy one of life's most civilized pleasures, the pleasures eating.

The free app on your iPhone is called LOSE IT.

I would like to end this first part of my blog by sharing a fascinating and exciting peek into the wonderful work my granddaughter, Sara, has been doing on the beaches of Miami. In a previous blog post, I've mentioned that the sea tortoise hatching season in Florida is from March 1st through October 31st. She's been part of a team to ensure their safety before they hatch while in the nest protecting them from predators and during their hatching, emerging from the nest and their scampering back to the ocean. Her work is done during the early morning and late night hours. Recently, she came across a rare occurrence: Polycephaly in one of the hatchlings: the rare genetic mutation resulting in two heads.

 Will it survive?

I'll continue Part Two of this blog as my week progresses. Thanks for taking the time to read.