We had a bit of a mishap on our quest to find a Walmart. I was following the GPS’s recommendations and suddenly a sign for a bridge was ahead that indicated that the bridge was only about ten and a half feet high. Brutus is 12″1′ tall! That math does not work. There was only one street after the sign and we turned left on it. It led us directly to a private road with a sign stating that there was no tresspassing. There was no point to turn this rig around. So, I put on the hazzard lights and unhooked Julie and Dolly. I connected Dolly to Julie and Tammy drove that rig as I turned Brutus around and we selected another Walmart. Some fellows in a work truck stopped to ask if we needed help and then directed us to this Walmart. Whew!

We arrived without another problem. I pulled in and Tammy parked right next to me. We are leaving everything disconnected for the night as Zoe has to get to bed. As I am typing this on my phone, I can feel the RV rock while Tammy is hard at work trying to get Zoe to sleep.

We will leave here tommorrow for our weekend destination in St. Louis. Really, the campground is in Illinois and it is called East St. Louis. I had no idea of the geography in the area. I love learning all of this. This campground is supposed to have a beautiful view of the St. Louis skyline and of the bridge. Strangely enough, the place is called The Casino Queen. I wonder why. . I am excited as the ratings in Trailer Life give it good marks.

We plan to visit the St. Louis zoo and the addmission is FREE! Zoe loves fish and animals. I guess that I will have to gamble a little too. It breaks my heart (or something like that…).

In an earlier post, I was wondering if the moon that I saw in Canada is the same as in the USA. Apparently it is not as I think the one tonight is much prettier. I’m not biased…

That stuff is the bomb! It has an excellent taste and we picked up a six pack ($12.75!) at the LCBO.

Apparently you don’t just pick up beer at Walmart here. They have liquor stores (LCBO) and Beer Stores (that’s the name).

The beer is good but this is too cost prohibitive to purchase again.

Welcome to Ontario Sign!

Entering Canada was not bad at all.  The only things that I might note are that the booths are small for a Motorhome and make me uncomfortable and that there are a bunch of fees.  $13.50US at the border.  A $2.75US toll on one of the roads leading up to the border.  Everyone has their hand out.

Now that we are here, everything is nice.  This is the first time staying at a KOA.  We have only heard bad things about KOA campgrounds (or Kampgrounds ) but this one is really nice.  It is the most clean and manicured place that I have ever seen.  There is a large chess/checkers board to play, volleyball, minigolf, playground, K-9 playground (for the puppies!) and plenty of other things to do.  We are at the KOA in Cookstown, Ontario, Canada.

Our time is mostly going to be at the campground as this is the only place Tammy can work since she has internet here.  No problem as the weather is nice and we can spend time outside at will.  The dogs LOVE the play area!

I got us wedged in with no problem. I slammed the breaks when I heard something on the passenger side of the motorhome scraping. It was a sign and you can see the scratches in the picture. Tammy went outside and held back the sign and kept a watch on everything as I threaded this monstrosity through the confining turn. I used the fact that the rear end swings wide during turns to gently squeeze the minivan and dolly along behind me. I slept hard after all of the stress. Considering that I almost ripped off our new awning!

They would describe how well the granddaughter would interact with the hospital personnel and how she required that she be kept in the loop with all medical discussions.  From the descriptions, you could tell that she is a special girl and that she is loved greatly by her family.

We were lucky last night as we were able to meet her.  Her surgery was postponed and she was able to come and visit with everyone.  We met her parents and got to see her brother again.  They are all so nice.  They kindly invited Zoe, Tammy and me to eat with them yesterday evening as they were cooking out.

Aisie (I have been avoiding using her name as I don’t know how to spell it.  It is short for her real name but I have forgotten that too.  Sorry…) amazed us!  Her vocabulary is superb for a four (4) year old.  She is a joy to be around because she tells her stories with such great detail.

Jasper was also a really good kid.  He played very nicely with Zoe and was really polite.

Just to run down who is who (in relation to Aisie): Dean=grandfather, Cynthia=grandmother, Derrik=father, Stephanie=mother and Jasper=brother.

For anyone like me that does not know, it is many things. It is a beach, boardwalk, freakshow and carnival. There was a flea market and many vendor based places. There were pony rides and every piece of junk food you could ever want. They also have the assortment of beer, margaritas and piña coladas. It is a blast for everyone. The subway system will take you right to it! Bring your bathing suit and plan a day or two for it.

Here are some random pictures below.

I learned that when the train is announced 10 minutes before the train, the people RUN to the gate to get on the train.  It happens EVERY time for EVERY train!  It would really SUCK to do this every day.  As it is, it’s a friggin’ hoot!

Just skip to the end of the video.  It’s funny to watch them run!

We first took the train from Harrimen station to Penn Station (via Secaucus transfer).

Sleepy traveler

We then waltzed on over to the Empire State building.  We did not go up as there was zero visibility.  I can see everything from pictures anyway.  It was still cool to go inside and look around and check out the outside.

Look at me

Closer look

As you enter...

Clouds on the building.

We then checked out the Manhattan Mall.  How do they afford the rent in the middle of the city?!?!?!?  Wow.  It was pretty cool to see it there.  You could not tell the expansiveness of the innards from the outside.

My Models!

Looking up!

I just don't know. She is just cute...

Family restroom fun!

Subway adventures right outside of the mall.

When taking the subway, please pay attention to the fine print explaining which lines stop where and also pay attention to the flyers that explain the addendum’s for the weekend.  These are vital for your travels as you might end up in places that you do not want to visit.

That is exactly what happened.  We did not note that the B and C trains were the only ones that stopped at 86th street so we could cross the park and see the museum.  We ended up at 125th street.  That is nothing to most people until you learn that 125th street is smack-dab in the middle of Harlem!  I really dropped a solid brick in my pants as I exited the subway station and saw a sign that mentioned Harlem.  I overreacted.  It was nothing but another neighborhood.  We ended up getting to see the Apollo Theater and see some really nice buildings and churches on our 2.5 mile hike to the Guggenheim Museum.

First view out of the subway station. The sign says HARLEM!

Snapping away...

The Apollo

Still snapping

Snapping

cool buildings.

church

buildings.

don't know what I was shooting...

still have my phone...

We finally made it to the Solomon Guggenheim Museum.  We heard that museums were free on Sunday.  No such luck with the Guggenheim.  It’s $18.00 all of the time.  It is pretty cool.  I’m no art connoisseur and I think that most of the crap in there could have been done by a blind paraplegic person but there were a few things that stood out to me.  I really enjoyed most of the drafting type drawings of some complex structures.  I was most impressed with an exploded model of a building that was held from the ceiling with fishing line.  It displayed great detail and even represented the heated flooring copper tubing that was to be put under the flooring.  That was the most impressive for me.  We were not allowed to take pictures in the museum.  Ahh, we were able to take pictures in the children’s section but they are on Tammy’s phone.  We got some good pictures of Zoe (of course).

The top as viewed from the bottom floor

The different floors were spiraled

Line for tickets inside

she slept in the museum

Outside

Outside

Outside

The baby outside afterwards

I just took these walking around.  Can you believe the sky?

buhloooe sky!

buhloooe sky! and an ad!

While we were walking around, Tammy noted a store that we thought was really out of place.  It was KMart.  We went in.  It was a multi-floor jobber.  To me, it was still just a KMart.

just a kmart

just a kmart

After the KMart, we successfully grabbed the correct subway train to the World Trade Center remains (the E train).  It led us right to it.  It was more modern that the other trains as it had an electronic sign that showed every stop.  The site where the buildings used to stand really was able to pull out some emotion.  I was able to recall where I was at the time of the event as well as what I was doing.  It was heart wrenching!

loved the sign!

caption that!

yea, I'm cool!

Hey! The Braseltons!

We had a long day and took the 21:11 train to our “home” train station.  It go us there at 22:50 or so.  We got home at about midnight.  We were and ARE pooped!  It was worth every ounce of energy.  These are experiences that will last a lifetime!  I am very appreciative that I get to experience them.  It is also great to spend it with my family.

Let's get home! I'm pooped!

Ok, it is on the blog!

• quality time at Tom’s parents
• quality time at Tammy’s parents
• doctor appointment and errands at home
• visited Andrea in Florida
• got new iPhones FL
• laser light show in Stone Mtn GA
• largest aquarium in GA
• Braselton GA
• German town in Helen GA
• Anna Ruby Falls near Helen GA
• fresh produce entering SC
• Myrtle beach SC
• Clingman’s Dome in the Smokey Mts (highest point)
• Arlington cemetary and Changing of the guard
• Smithsonians – space and science
• great Korean food in VA
• quality time with family in Lewistown PA
• swimming at Wendy’s
• 4th of July awesome Fireworks at Penn State
• boating on Howard lake PA
• Knoebels PA
• Belleville Market in PA
• Peachy’s Morning Buffet PA
• she said DADA fo the first time PA
• pulls to standing PA
• mountain pies at Dave and Connie’s PA
• Amish baked goods PA
• Vicki’s cooking! PA
• Fiesta night at our RV PA
• Hurd Orchard in Holley NY (u pick it)
• Museum of Play in Rochester NY (the very bestest and neatest cool place in the world). Must see!
• American side of Niagara Falls, NY – boring
• Batavia Downs – casino
• Casino Niagara in Niagara Canada
• drove all over Ontario to find decent campground with good wifi. Result – KOA Campground north of Toronto
• Fresh Corn in NY

Now we are in Florida NY. This is very exciting for me as we are getting to explore New York City. This has been on my “todo” list for some time. I am very happy to be here. So much to see.

We are camped at our friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart in Batavia, New York. It is a nice place and there is a huge and well manicured field at the end of the parking lot. It is great to walk the dogs. Ibbi promptly woke me up at 06:30 this morning for her AM BM. She stuck to her end of the morning and took a huge poo. As I was unfolding the bag from my pocket to pick up the mess, I stepped in a huge crater! It was at least 2.5-3 feet deep! I was taken by suprise as I did not even slightly know that it might be there.

Go ahead, look at the picture. See it? See the hole? Can’t you see how deep it is? ME EITHER!!! It almost kept my flip flop and my ankle almost twisted around to my point at my ear as my leg pointed down. Ouch! The soft and wet grass was kind enough to gently stroke the majority of my leg as I am trying to climb out.

I have never been attacked by a hole that ferociously. I’m a limping mess.

* AJ Peachey’s
* Brookmere Winery
* Downtown OIP
* View from Belleville Mountain
* Peight’s

Tons of driving inbetween! Finally, we ended up at Randy and Vicki’s for some delicious pork, sauerkraut, mashed taters, home made dumplings and field picked Pennsylvania corn! I ate so much that my back hurt from the front (belly) pulling on it. I seriously did some damage to the grub. It was delicious! Vicki is a cooking machine!

After dinner, we played corn toss, table tennis and pool (billiards). It didn’t make me feel skinnier… I did, for the first time, make all four (4) corn bags in the hole in a row (and on one turn). That was pobably the last time too.

Tammy and Zoe are in bed. I have walked the dogs, unloaded the car, plugged in all of the battery powered devices and filled all of the food and water dishes. I am having a beer an going to sneak in to bed with my family.

I’ll be ready to do it all again tomorrow. We already have plans to visit other beautiful places in the morning. I’m glad we extended our stay here.

View Places we have stayed in 2009 in a larger map

These are the places that we have been so far where we took pictures. I will be using this feature the entire time.

RV Travels so far...

Click Here! <——————————***

I have Zoe in the “nappytime” hold.

Sleeping Baby

- got P.O. Box
- forwarded mail to it
- van registration
- animal shot records
- Best buy
- SAMs
- Ihop breakfast
- Dr appt for Zoe’s shots
- Whataburger lunch
- Canceled cable and phone
- Sold Yamaha generator
- Gathered more stuff from house
- Cleaned leather in van
- Emptied above van storage
- Chilis dinner

All of this in one long and hectic Friday. We feel very accomplished and prepared for our trip.

We are knocking out the last items that we have on our list. I have to wash off Brutus and and pack final items. Finally, we will be off to Florida today.

I’ll shoot for Alabama tonight so we can see the USS Alabama in the morning. It is in Mobile, Alabama. Those ships are impressive to me. We can then visit with Andrea in the afternoon on Sunday.