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Back to Our Roots Tousey Winery – Germantown, NY
Very excited to be back in New York, even if it is for only one night. As the road took us into New York, the signs listed places we recognized. Traveling through the Catskills Mountains reminds me of some of our summer vacations. I loved to stare out the window and watch the beautiful trees and stone formations as the exits passed until we reached our destination.
Tousey Winery was where we spent the night. Their vineyards overlook the notable Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. After traveling for over three hours, it was a wonderful respite to enjoy a wine tasting and a charcuterie board. Instead of the usual crackers, there was a dense brown bread with a side of strawberry jam. Mitch enjoyed the unusual taste. It was a Danish Rye-Sourdough bread. A combination of two of Mitch’s favorites. Lucky for him, the bread was for sale. The winery had a gift shop and areas to sit, relax and enjoy the afternoon. It’s interesting to visit the various wineries as the wines differ from place to place. We enjoyed the Rose wine as it was refreshing and had a unique flavor.
Tomorrow, we head out early and head toward our next stop – New Hampshire. Did you know the movie “On Golden Pond” was filmed in Squam Lake, New Hampshire? This movie is 40 years old, and it sparked my desire to live on a lake. The influence certain movies have on us is fantastic.
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Stone Lake Winery – Saylorsburg, PA
This journey is not only about seeing this glorious, beautiful country we live in but about interacting with people. We enjoy engaging in conversation with those we meet along the way. We learn about where they grew up, what jobs they held, and where their journey will lead them. We have only been disappointed in one Harvest Host in our two and half years of travel.
This stop was no different. The property we stayed at was once a sawmill with a soothing, babbling brook running in the back and thick forest trees lining the pond. The property once consisted of a covered bridge, silo, and three buildings where wood was cut and stored. The property was sold, and the new owners converted one of the buildings into bed and breakfast and turned the other into a small chapel where couples pledge to love one another in matrimony. One building was transformed into an airplane hangar as a small airstrip was situated across the street.
Five years ago, Scott purchased the property, and once again, the property was transformed. The airplane hangar was turned into an event center where we tasted the wines. Scott and his family host weddings, showers, and special events such as Sangria night and Food truck festivities. (I wish we were there for Sangria night.) We enjoyed conversing with Scott as we tasted his white and red wines. There were many similarities between us as he said his wife was Italian and how close she was with her family. He said he never received as many hugs until he met his wife’s family. Of course, we had to discuss food. What Italian doesn’t discuss food. Before we knew it, an hour and a half passed before we said goodbye with two bottles of wine in tow.
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Bring on the Northern Trees Lums Pond State Park – Bear, Delaware
For the second time on our journey, there was a 30-minute delay. This time it was a semi that must have flipped and caught on fire. The scary part of accidents is having to merge into traffic. Unfortunately, not all drivers are as courteous as my husband, as so many cars passed before one would allow us to move into the lane.
As we entered the park, the trees were the first thing I noticed. It has been a while since we have been up the east coast. It was great to see the dogwood and rich red maple trees around the campground replacing the palm trees of Florida. The temperature was also a great relief from the hot, balmy weather we are accustomed to. Most of the days were in the mid-sixties. Great weather to get on our e-bikes and go for a twenty-two-mile round trip to historic Delaware City. We enjoyed the scenic ride as it paralleled the C&D canal. The water was smooth, and even though it is ranked as having the busiest shipping traffic out of the port of Baltimore, the only boat we saw was the police boat speeding by. Unfortunately, when we arrived in Delaware city, all the stores were closed. However, we enjoyed seeing the historic buildings, some dating back to the 1700s.
One morning, Mitch was out to take some drone footage but was quickly shut down as the restricted air zone popped up on the screen. The restriction was until 10:30 am. A bit later, he spotted two Marine One helicopters flying over Lums pond. Being so close to Washington, D.C., we surmised some government official must have been traveling. The restriction was then lifted, and he could fly the drone.
While we didn’t get an opportunity to kayak, we were able to squeeze in another bike ride. Don’t tell Mitch, but the electric bikes I fought him on, seem to be working out well on this journey. When we depart Friday morning, we will have a mad dash to make it to Maine by Monday, staying at Harvest Hosts each day.
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Battlefield Country Store – Fredericksburg, VA
This store was amazing. The aisles are filled with every imaginable spice, candy, nuts – you name it. Its deli was a crowded station as people lined up to place their sandwich orders. They had a bakery section and a coffee bar. The most popular part of the store – the ice cream shop. It didn’t matter that it was 48 degrees, rainy, and downright nasty. The line outside the store was never-ending. They are known for their ingenious concoctions of shakes. This month’s offering was Cinco de Shaka. Housed in a mason jar was a vanilla shake with caramel and tidbits of cinnamon wafers. Topping it off was a waffle taco filled with chocolate ice cream and strawberries. Decadent without a doubt. Did we finish it – of course, we did. Go onto their website to see other seasonal shakes offered throughout the year.
This place was crowded and one can only imagine how packed it must be during a beautiful summer day. They have swings and Adirondack chairs around the pond in the back of the store. I can picture people picking up their sandwich orders, a bag of chips, and a cool beverage and then walking to the pond to scout out a chair and enjoy the afternoon. The owners of this store definitely had the right idea.
Even though this was a Harvest Host site allowing us to stay overnight, it is a must-do if visiting the Fredericksburg, VA area.
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Loving Savannah, GA
Ft. McAllister State Park is our home for the next week. It’s about 25 minutes from Savannah. Marshes flank the entryway to the park. The park is spacious, and we prefer to be with nature as much as possible. The trees covered with moss are much like Florida. Seeing the deer outside our RV is one of the best sights. They move along slowly. Often, the group is in families with children not far from their parents. The birds are plentiful, and each morning, we awake to their songs.
It’s been many years since we last visited Savannah, before Forest Gump’s bench was in a museum and still resided in the square. We arrived early and benefited from being in the historic district before the crowds. The magnificent homes stand tall and proud and surround the courtyard squares. Each house has the opulent façade of an era of years ago. Some still have gas lamps burning. It stirs my imagination about what it may have been like to live during that time. A time when dinner tables were elegantly adorned with china and crystal and soirees were a commonplace weekend event. The architecture is outstanding. Wrap-around porches, brick facades, detailed woodwork, and each home is beckoning a welcome to visit.
The Cathedral Basidia of St. John the Baptist is a must regardless of religious affiliation. The inside is more beautiful than the outside, with stained glass, a marble altar, and sturdy wooden pews. It is just stunning and left me in awe.
The city market has numerous little shops to explore and wander through. There are numerous art galleries throughout the city. This is not surprising as the School for Arts and Design is located in Savannah. The Riverfront has restaurants and shops, and one can watch the boats as they pass by. A benefit of Savannah is its beauty can be experienced on foot as most of the sights are within walking distance. There are numerous streets made of ballast rocks. When the ships came to Savannah to secure goods, the vessel needed the stones to weigh them down. They left the stones behind to fill their hulls with the purchased goods. The rocks were then repurposed as pavers to make the streets.
The next day, we visited Tybee Beach. Unfortunately, we were disappointed with our visit. There isn’t much there unless you want to spend the day at the beach. They had few stores. There were several eateries and bars, but most of the island is vacation rentals. No matter where you park, you must pay a parking fee of $3.50 an hour, strictly enforced. Thankfully, we brought our bikes and explored the surrounding area as it would not have been enjoyable on foot.
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Harvest Hosts – Christ the Messiah Church – Jacksonville, Fl & Four Arches Farm – Pembroke, GA
We arrived at the church, and David gave us warm greetings. As we were setting up, the Pastor dropped by to welcome us and wanted to let us know if we needed anything to let him know. They were genuine when they said they were happy to have us there for the night. The church had a bible garden and our spot for the night was under the oak trees.
The next stop was at the farm. Our stay for the next two nights was under mighty old oaks with Spanish moss dripping from their limbs. It was very peaceful. The farm was home to sheep, chickens, pigs, cats, guinea fowls, and alpacas. We learned some exciting tidbits during our stay. The first tidbit – chicken eggs are not only brown and white. They are all colors depending on the type of chicken who laid them. I bought a dozen eggs laid that morning. These eggs would keep outside the refrigerator for three weeks as they have a natural coating protecting the eggs. The host told us if you purchase farm-fresh eggs from the store, they must be kept in the refrigerator because the USDA requires all eggs to be washed before selling, which destroys the natural coating.
Growing up in the city, I am unaccustomed to farm animals, and I don’t happen to be a fan of any animal. As we toured the farm, we learned about tidbit two – it was advised not to get too close to the alpacas as they tend to spit on you. At that point, I moved several feet from the fence and let Mitch continue videoing the animals. However, I will say they produce the softest wool from their hair.
As a final note – Did you know that guinea fowls and chickens eat ticks and bugs? Not a bad set of birds to have around. Both were free-roaming, and we were amazed they never left the farm. But then again, they know where to find their next meal.
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St. Lucie South Locks & Dam COE Campground – Stuart, Florida
Living in the Tampa area for 39 years, we are accustomed to seeing lizards cross our paths. However, walking the campground, the colorful body of the African Redhead Agama was not so familiar to us. We were surprised by their size compared to our lizards, and the campground host said they are an invasive species.
As we stated before, this year’s journey will have many stops to visit family and friends. This stay was our first stop visiting family for Easter. The campground only has nine RV sites, so it’s intimate and quiet. We could see the tranquil waterway from our site. We saw numerous boats passing through the locks, with the U.S. Coastguard vessel being the largest.
Downtown Stuart has many quaint shops and eateries, making it a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. If you love relaxing by the water and watching the sun sparkle on its surface, this is the place to be. It is a paradise for those who boat, fish, and want to catch some rays on the beach.
The roads are bike-friendly, with the majority of roads offering bike lanes. Each Saturday, one can also visit the flea market or the farmer’s market every Sunday along the boardwalk in Stuart.
We had a wonderful time with Mitch’s sister and brother, and we will get together again when we stop in New York this summer.
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South Ortona COE Campground – Moore Haven, FL
Beautiful sunsets to end a perfect day. We visited this campground for the second time. It’s secluded, and our site was right on the water. The big difference this time was the locks were open to the public. Covid had closed the facility for viewing on the last visit. It is fascinating to watch the boats entering and leaving the locks.
We arrived late Thursday, and Friday morning, Mitch drove me to the Ft. Meyers Airport. I was meeting my daughter in Houston to shop for her wedding dress. It was a wonderful girl’s weekend, and she did say, “Yes, to the dress!”. While I was away, Mitch went kayaking on a uniquely named waterway – Fisheating Creek. Maybe it had something to do with the numerous alligators he saw along the way.
Upon my return on Monday, we decided to spend some time in the quaint town of Ft. Meyers, which was about 45 minutes away from the campground. The downtown area was about 4 or 5 blocks of shops, restaurants, and people enjoying the day. After lunch, a trip to Sanibel Island, offering 26 miles of bike paths.
Mitch enjoys this campground due to the number of boats waiting to enter and exit the locks to continue their journey. Some were not just boats but yachts. One wonders whether it’s their home or just on vacation. Mitch’s first choice for retirement was sailing around the world in a catamaran until I put the kibosh on that line of thinking. Sailing for days on end, surrounded by water until you get to the next port, is not my definition of exploration. Full-time RVing was a much better choice.
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