October 7, 2023
Left my NH home super early and drove to upstate NY to visit my older daughter at her college. I took her out to breakfast, and afterward we walked throughout campus, talking and sharing parts of our lives and enjoying one another’s company.
I left around 1pm and drove north through small towns decked out in Halloween decorations and fall foliage toward historic Sackets Harbor on Lake Ontario, which played a role in the War of 1812. A National Recreation Trail circles the battlefield, and I made it up there just before the buildings closed for the season (the trail itself and grounds are open year-round).
The NRT is paved and easy, made for the tourist to learn about and better appreciate the area. Information signs abound. The buildings contain artifacts from the war and information about archeological efforts. Restored officer houses can be toured for a price (I skipped those).
Though the skies opened while I was there and doused me with cold rain, I enjoyed my meanderings.
Afterward, I drove a short distance south to Up the Creek Campground, my home for the next two evenings. This place was wonderful. Initially, I felt worried because it was full of RVs close together, and the tenting sites are close to all the RVs. I needn’t have fretted, though. Everyone was super nice and super quiet after sunset. The bathroom was super clean, and there was a warm laundry room and rec building. The owner, Bob, was incredibly friendly and invited me to a fish fry the entire site was having (many of the guests fish daily). I politely declined since I had already eaten, but he walked a big plate of freshly fried fish and chips over to me anyway. I put it in my car and ate it for breakfast the next morning – delicious!
The forecast called for sustained 30mph winds and bouts of heavy rain over the next 36 hours, so I didn’t bother setting up my tent and chose instead to sleep in my car. I slept well and continued my adventures the next morning (next post).
