Day One in the US

Friday, November 8, 2013

It was -1ºC and cloudy with some sunny periods this morning when we got up. I prepared our Nutritionals and mixed Nikken Vital Balance; checked our emails and FB before packing up and pulling in the slides. We headed out by 8:30am in very light snow and 0ºC onto Tremaine Road SE. 15 minutes later we turned on Dundas #5 SE until we arrived at #1 Guelph Line. The GPS lady told Randal to drive on Fairview St. Stopping a many stoplights going through the city of Burlington. We finally arrived at the QEW, over Centennial Bridge and continued towards Niagara.

The QEW end at the border in Fort Erie. At 10:10 we were in a lineup at the US customs. It took 30 minutes to be checked through. Randal was waiting for the Custom Officer to check him through, asking if he ever lived in Florida. As there is an other Randal Martin on the wanted list, he goes through this every time we go into the US. This time we were granted the OK to continue on our way. How better can that get?

We were in the US and our GPS Lady directed Randal to #5 W. Highway through the coastal streets of Buffalo, New York, which runs parallel to I-90, which we wanted to cover more distance faster. He was upset with her for giving these directions. We found the entry to I-90 W. and went through a Toll station, taking through New York State. There were many grape vines-winery areas.

By 11:10 we arrived at the exit Toll booth on the Pennsylvania border, paid $5.20 and continued on the I-90. We stopped at a service area for a pit stop and to check the GPS directions. Randal found that the reason why she had given the off road direction was because he had programmed not to go on any Toll Fee Highways. This humbled Randal and he apologized to the GPS lady. The Interstate followed along the shore line of Lake Erie. These highways were made of concert. The terrine was up and down. We brought out our lunch of hard boiled eggs, cheese slices, crackers and celery pieces.

At 12:50 pm we entered Ohio. We stopped at a Love's Service Station for diesel at $3.93 per gal. Randal decided to take Highway #20 along the shoreline through Conneault, North Kingsville, and Ashtabula until we arrived at Geneva State Park, taking #531 along the Erie Shoreline.

Arriving on Geneva State park at 2:00 pm. The office was closed, leaving a self-served registration system. While Randal was reading this information a State Park Official drove up to give him further instructions. We found a site (#77) in the woods. There was just one other camper set up there until two trailers drove by and park farther around the loop.

We filled out the registration form which was $29.00 for site with 30 amp, no water or sewer . As we didn't have any US one dollar bills, we payed $30.00 for our stay.  On the way to the office drop box, we stopped to talk to the two camper-trailers who just arrived. They were young men who were out for the weekend to take advantage of the opening of trapping season. Their plans were to trap for raccoons, muskrats and shoot squirrels along the Wheeler Creek,which runs through the park.

We stopped at an open-air theatre, took a picture pf us sitting looking at a blank screen. Then continued on to the shores of Lake Erie. It was windy and the waves were very dirty blowing from the north-west across the lake. We returned to the trailer by 4:00 pm. For supper we had salad, wieners and beans. Our food is running short so on the next stop we will have to go for groceries.

We really roughed it with NO WIFI but had a 30amp electrical service and television. We are parked under very tall oak trees which are dropping acorns on to our trailer. They are making a great noise, giving us a start of wondering where it came from!! The evening was spent watching public TV of a variety of programs, cooking, crafts, building, housing, news weather and comedy.


So remember until next time "Discover It and Live It".