08/07 - 08/21 - Croton Point Park

Welcome back to my "home away from home." Site 26 is different than my usual site 35 but it's still spacious, quiet and shaded. Any problems? Yup; I'm parked under a tree dropping berries that sound like acorns. Not a concern but after my stay here I've got to make the opportunity to clean off the roof. I don't know if the tree is a choke cherry or a buckthorn but it is messy. The awning will get a brushing as well when I retract before leaving.

So far, it's been non-stop and hectic with all the "running around" that had to be done like squeezing in a haircut, catching up with mail at home and gathering food items for restocking, a medical appointment and visits to Fishkill to see my mom. My weekly weigh-on showed I lost 4.8 pounds while camping last week. My grand total since beginning in March is now 26 pounds with 13 pounds to go before reaching my "goal weight." I visited my mother on Sunday who continues to do well...considering. We continue to enjoy our word games. I've had a doctor appointment to establish a new primary care physician in order to renew prescriptions and already a dinner out with friends on Monday at Dee Dee's Diner  in Ossining. If you live in the area, definitely check out the extensive menu. Let me know and I'll meet you there.

Dinner with Pete and JayCee

Cranberry pecan chicken salad: Marinated grilled chicken diced and tossed with celery, sweet onions, sour cream and whole wheat grain mustard served on field greens with roasted glazed pecans, cranberries, green apple slices, and goat cheese with raspberry vinaigrette on the side. A delicious, never-ending salad half of which came home with me.

Happy 89th Birthday, "Big Pete."
(By the way, there's three servings there.)

08-12-2021

In addition to watching the arrivals and departures of neighboring RVers, weather held me prisoner indoors for a couple of days. Oppressive heat made being indoors quite a luxury with the AC running intermittently and keeping the inside temperature hovering around 76°. Outside, in the shade? 87° but oh, so muggy. Both last night and this afternoon, weather alerts and warnings flooded my email and iPhone warning me of near lightning strikes, severe weather and thunderstorms. But in this location we were spared its onslaught. Lots of rumbling north and south of us, but not a drop for me.

I had plenty to keep me busy. Mosquitoes prevented me from reading outside so that pleasure was saved for my late night. Although I'm up around 7:30 am, I usually don't start nodding off before 1:00 am. 

What happiness looks like.

There were new trips to plan and document. Deposits are placed and dates confirmed for my upcoming itinerary in 2022.  My winter itinerary (Jan/Feb) is all set. For next fall, I booked a few days at Worden Pond Family Campground in Rhode Island to coincide with granddaughter Sara and Jason's wedding in August. The latest addition to this year's remaining itinerary is a last minute Hudson Islander's rally in the beginning of October at Jellystone Campground at Birchwood Acres about 1½ hours northwest in Greenfield Park, NY. I will end my season there by winterizing before Winnie goes into storage until January 6th. More in a blog at that time.

One of the real treats and pleasures of camping is cooking and eating outdoors.

11 lb. Squatty Steel Refillable Propane
Cylinder with OPD Valve & Built in Gauge

The thought conjures up visions of grills, incredible aromas and juicy, flavorful "flame-kissed" meals. All these years, I've gone without because of the limited storage I have to house the large, bulky, 20 lb. propane cylinder and grill. They're too big for basement storage and difficult to store inside when traveling. My on-board 13 gallon tank serves only for running my generator and my indoor  two-burner stove. My latest purchase may have solved both problems. The hoses I have will accommodate both the "Squatty" 11 lb. propane cylinder and the regulator that comes with my grill. The cylinder measures a neat 12" x 12".

Waiting in my "library" all these years are two books loaded with mouth watering suggestions that may finally provide me some culinary fun.

A trip with Vicki/George to our favorite sushi restaurant, Sakura, highlights my remaining days at CPP. There are the usual "chores" to be performed for the remainder of my stay but I'll end this blog with a "sniff, sniff" realizing that time marches on and is closing in on the end of yet another enjoyable RV season. The remainder of my season is listed below which I'm sure will fly by in the blink of an eye.

Next blog from Junius Pond. Till then, take care and stay safe.