Time Flies -Part VI- Almost “Peepers”

I’ve made a goal for myself: catch up on recapping our travels since departing Troy, Alabama on January 2, 2022 by the time we embark on our next big push this June (2024). I am making headway yet am finding it difficult to express all the emotions involved in each step of our journeys from arduous planning, technical difficulties and personal tears to pride in our family and enjoying once in a lifetime experiences time and time again. This is due mostly to having so many experiences to recapture!

This entry begins toward the end of September 2022 in which we departed Indiana to make a full tour of the Northeast with fingers crossed to beat most of the notorious “leaf peepers” that migrate to this region every fall. Even though the colors of the deciduous trees that dominate the Northeast may have not been as deep and vibrant a few weeks after our visit, they were still brilliant, and yes, in fact our plan worked to beat the major rush!

Launching from Auburn, IN on September 19th, our first stop was at a Boondocker’s welcome site in Copley, OH. It’s always interesting to see how folks have rearranged their property to fit different sized rigs in an effort to allow a few night’s stay. This families property was a touch difficult to maneuver around, yet once parked, we met a very nice and welcoming family with a host of interesting chickens and a car mechanic’s garage on site (which was handy because I had the opportunity to ask why the truck would all the sudden throw an ABS warning at me – beginning a several month saga of problem solving!).

From this location, we were able to spend the next day visiting one of the newest national parks: Cuyahoga Valley NP. We enjoyed a great hike along moss covered rocks and boulders to climb and planned to catch a “tour-only steam powered train”. The family was excited for the experience as we waited expectantly at the station for around 30 minutes…only to turn around and see a sign that said the train runs Wednesday-Sunday (it was Tuesday!). Plan B was a fun bike ride around the grounds to the Visitor Center for the kids to earn their Junior Ranger Badges.

After a two-night stay, we drove to the very pleasant Four Mile Creek State Park right on Lake Ontario. There was lots of room to roam, play and take in a beautiful sunset on the banks of the lake. The kids enjoyed reenacting The Little Mermaid rock scene, and once again did not hesitate to get soaked in freezing cold water!

The big reason we chose this site was its proximity to Niagara Falls. On September 22 we spent the entire day enjoying both sides of the falls. On the U.S. side, we road our bikes to the Maid of Mist tours to take in the power of the falls up close and personal. After enjoying that wild experience, we did a short hike to play on some of the rocks near the falls, enjoying the mist the entire time. A wet bike ride back to the truck allowed us to change into dry clothes, find a bite to eat and start our walk across the border bridge to the Canadian side. Passing border patrol was relatively easy for our family with the correct documents for all of us. We were required to have passports, the kids just birth certificates.

Taking a moment to stand in two countries at once was uniquely fun before venturing into the wild tourist trap that is the Canadian side of the falls. Extremely comparable to Gatlinburg, TN, the glitz and glamour spiked the kid’s adrenaline, yet for me, it detract from what is truly the more beautiful side of the falls. We obliged and allowed the kids to play in a big arcade, people watched and waited for the scheduled light show on the falls. And waited and waited. Despite the obvious “dusk had not fallen yet” comment from me, Leah was sure the show would go on. Well, the wait was too long, it was getting late and cold, so we enjoyed some of the lights from the bridge on our walk back to the US.

The day after our Niagara Falls visit, we traveled to Robert Treman state park near Ithica, New York. This park was a great way to spend time outdoors enjoying the Finger Lakes region with fantastic hiking right from our campsite as well. Leah’s cousin Peter was able to make an early morning drive down from Syracuse to join us for a great 5-mile hike on the Rim/Gorge trails and stop at Ithaca Brewing Co for a drink afterwards. While in this region, we had to take advantage of the great fall orchard scene by picking apples and eating apple cider donuts at “Little Tree Orchards”.

Also, from this site we were able to enjoy some scenic drives and shoreline play along Cuyahoga Lake and take in the waterfall at Taughannock Falls State Park. On our drive back to the RV, while driving around 45mph, I happened to notice a family getting in their truck at a busy parking lot – I knew those people! Not their names (that part is up to Leah), but that was the full-time RV family we hung out with for a few days while visiting Key Largo, FL nearly two years prior! We pulled over to surprise them and catch up. Leah and the kids were able to meet up with them for dinner and to hang out while I did some work that evening. What are the chances!?!

On September 27 we departed for Burlington, Vermont – what would be one of the longest drives of this tour….and of course we hit some snags. When your vehicle is 13.5 feet tall, you must be sure your route does not include any low overpasses. The older the city, the more likely you can run into these. Well, we checked, double checked, and found ourselves in the clear. With less than 12 miles left to our campground, we found ourselves with a last-minute decision as Google maps was showing some major slowdowns, possibly road closures and a clearly better alternative route. After a long drive…we took the Google option. Not just once, but TWICE, we had to stop before a low clearance overpass, get out and stop traffic and do an umpteen point turn on a two lane road to avoid tearing the top of our RV off. When hooked up to the truck, we are nearly 55 feet long. Yeah – but we made it!

While at this stop, we visited the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Von Trapp Lodge and Ben & Jerry’s original factory. The girls love the Sound of Music, and there was some cool history to this impressive lodge. Ben & Jerry’s was a little underwhelming, too packed to wait for the lines and more expensive for a pint of ice cream than at the local grocery store!

Finally, into October and the colors were really starting to pop! With only two nights planned, we found ourselves wishing our stay was a bit longer at a State Park in New Hampshire. We had one gorgeous day to enjoy a hike up Pine Mountain for an absolute dynamite picnic stop while taking in the view of the White Mountains presidential range. New Hampshire vs Vermont? We choose New Hampshire all day!

On October 2nd we made our way to Maine to enjoy as much of Acadia NP as possible! The first few days were spent enjoying the coast, timing out low tides to explore hidden caves and tidepools, munching on lobster rolls and hiking to hidden gems to take in sunsets and watch horse seals play in the waves.

Likely the highlight of the entire east coast trip was our hike up the “infamous” Beehive Trial. Prior to our hike, we had to try a famous “popover” at the NP lodge (due to Leah’s research). Next, we stopped in the ranger station prior to our hike to discuss the safety on the trail (as there was rain that morning), we were told by the ranger and multiple signs/reviews this was NOT a hike to take kids on. With multiple vertical climbs up anchored steel ladders and ropes, many adults cannot complete this hike due to being paralyzed by being on cliff edges….so we did it. Teaming up Leah and Fisher (my two climbers) and Faith and I (to spot and encourage each other out of our fear of ledges), we tackled an amazing feat together carefully passing multiple “paralyzed hikers”! In all actuality, it was totally doable with an adventurous spirit.

We then drove south to boondock at a church in Biddeford, Maine. On the way, with the camper in tow, we stopped at Fort Knox to tour the along the passageways and visualize the cannons on the mounts. We enjoyed some more play time at a few beaches, checked out several lighthouses, and then continued our travels toward Salem, MA. Again, a very old town, yet we were able to navigate this one without issue. As I had just sealed my first big consulting client, I was taking meetings more often, requiring I miss the visit into Salem. Leah and the kids took in the sights, sounds and history of this enchanted place only weeks before Halloween, so there were plenty of stories to hear when I picked them up!

Continuing our tour, we drove to Cape Cod October 14th, and on the way stopped at the Plymouth Museum. There was plenty of space to park the RV, so we opened it up and I took a few meetings while Leah and the kids took in the history of the original Plymouth colony (as we were studying it in the homeschool curriculum!). While at this campground, we made sure to drive to the iconic “chip bag” lighthouse, visited several very old cemeteries (I mean look at those dates – before America was a nation!) and took in a full-on sunset. Yeah, on the East coast! The Cape is one of the few places on the East coast where this is even possible!

From October 19-21st we stayed at a boondockers welcome property with casual plans until the owner of the property suggested checking out the Jack-O-lantern festival at the Roger Williams Park Zoo. Boy, are we glad we did! I’ve never seen so many well carved pumpkins, and to boot the detailed artistry demonstrated in many of the carvings! Yes – all the orange things in the below pictures are really pumpkins!

One of the plans we did have on during this stay was a sailboat ride. We would learn about sailing, some techniques, but mostly enjoy a cruise around the bay. It was pretty windy and splashy, so the kids actually thought it more fun to hang out below the deck of this little sailboat. Go Figure! The other plan was to take the “Cliff Walk” which takes you along the coast with views of the ocean and huge mansions, mostly summer homes, of wealthy families from around “The Great Gadsby” era.

We enjoyed a few other fun stops on the way back to Indiana including a stop in the Tri-Cities region where NJ, NJ and PA come together at a point (the kids and I are actually standing on a rock in three different states!). We stopped at a very quant, yet fun pumpkin farm. And to top the trip off, spent a full day exploring Gettysburg. We did the audio tour as we drove to the sites. Truly an awesome experience to take in as an adult. The tour along with the monuments, descriptions and depictions are top notch to capture what took place here. The kids….well, they are kids and monuments you can’t climb lose their luster pretty quickly!

Arriving back in Indiana at the end of October allowed us to enjoy many firsts as a family, with family! We were able to carve pumpkins and trick-or-treat with the cousins, celebrate my birthday with my folks on a great getaway in Brown County, learn to bake apple pies from scratch with Grandma Alice, and we were there to laugh with both sides of the family at a Thanksgiving dinner! Oh, and we experienced our first heavy snow in the RV as well!

Man, what a Fall that was! It is such a blessing to be able to experience the variety and freedom this great country has to offer – we’ve just got to look past ourselves to keep it that way!!! And as promised, there is more to come in my “Time Flies” catch-up series – see you there!