Lockport, New York

Lockport, New York, was not a destination that I planned for. I was searching for a Wal-Mart--and a Panera--and my new best friend, "Carmen" (Garmin) brought me here. I've spent two nights in the Wal-Mart parking lot and countless hours in Panera. I decided to search the Internet for information about Lockport. Wow, what a gold mine of information. This is a historic old town!! I now have "plans" to take a scenic trip on the Erie Canal and visit other interesting sites. Furthermore, I still want to visit Niagara Falls, Canada.

~~~~~~~~~~
Postscript, 2:30 PM: It has rained almost all day. Although not raining at the present time, it's very dark and gloomy. I left Panera for several hours because almost every table was occupied (and this is a very large facility). It was the courteous thing to do!! Back... and I'll work on my blogs. I eventually hope to learn the secret for better presentation of my pictures.

I love Panera Bread !!!!!!!!

It's a beautiful morning!! I'm in a Panera Bread ready to update my blog (with free WiFi). It will take a while (several hours?) to upload pictures and write all the details of the last couple of days. ~~ Yes (11:37 AM) it took four hours to bring the following messages up-to-date. Hope you enjoy. (Big smile.)

Evangola State Park, New York

Ignore the date, and time stamp. I'm bringing my travels up-to-date. Written (in part) at 6:05 PM, Wednesday, May 19, 2010.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am exhausted beyond measurement!! I am in Evangola State Park and the weather is absolutely perfect. After three days on-the-road, major "housekeeping" was absolutely necessary. I had the roughest stretch of Interstate highway Tuesday (I-86) I've ever encountered. It was a washboard. New York obviously lacks funds for highway maintenance--and State Parks!! This Park is woefully neglected: Tall grass, bare minimum at each camp site, and no attendant at the entrance. I phoned first and was told to just drive in and pick any space I wanted. (She never suggested I make a reservation; that cost me $2.75.) I only see two other RVs.

I arrived about 3:25 and (tired as I am) started moving things to the weathered, old, picnic table. The rough roads jiggled everything forward. Things off the bed, and benches, on the floor. The mattress "topper" had slid three inches forward. Finally (!!) everything was neat and tidy again.

The very first thing I did: Attach 1) the little TV, and 2) little DVD player to electricity so the batteries will recharge. Gotta make use of the electricity I'm paying for! This lack-luster site, with electricity, is $21.00 per night. I'll sleep better with a tiny bit of heat from the electric heater. Getting up in the morning will be more enjoyable if not 53 degrees (like Wednesday at 7:30). Furthermore, it's good to get the little refrigerator on "shore power." ~~ Not knowing when the rain will return, I had to reorganize while the weather is nice.

Back to the topic of this State Park: There should be more signs directing the traveler. I was watching carefully but missed the entrance. I eventually ended up back in Seneca and had to ask directions. It's a vicious circle: The RV industry was decimated; the economy faltered and people can't afford to take vacations; the tourist industry is suffering; highways and State Parks are neglected. (Enough doom and gloom.)

On a brighter note: I'm looking West out my door and window (door side), and I can see Lake Erie. I'm hoping for a pretty sunset picture.

Hard to believe: I've only driven 416 miles from Gettysburg Campground. I only drove 30 miles today. I left McDonald's at 2:10 PM after approximately five hours using their free WiFi (with electric outlets!!). I wasn't happy with the Corning Museum of Glass pictures (published on the blog) but had to pull myself away because other things to do in the Dunkirk, NY, area. I want to visit the Dunkirk Historical Museum, and check the small town of Smith Mills.

The sunset was bright orange at 8:35-8:37 PM and I missed the picture. Watching it right now from my window. I spent half-an-hour by the edge of the lake waiting for the sun to go down. But I walked down without a coat and hat and the temperature dropped quickly. I'm numb with cold right now! Fifty-four degrees right now. Shame, shame on me for not being prepared.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7:15 AM Thursday, 5/20/2010: B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L morning; 60 degrees inside; 58 degrees outside in shade. Here at the State Park, I used almost everything available--except the two washers and dryers. I washed dishes in the nice stainless steel "dish washing only sink." The restroom was nicer than some private campgrounds--but dirty, and cobwebs. To their credit: Plenty of hot water for a shower, lots of toilet tissue, and electric outlets for a hair dryer. I dumped the porta-potty just prior to departure.

It was almost 10 o'clock before I got out of the office. The clerk/ranger moved at a snail's pace!! To add insult to injury: The night cost me $28.75. Twenty-one for the site with 30 amp electricity; $2.75 because I hadn't made a reservation, and $5.00 BECAUSE I AM A NON-RESIDENT (of NY). Is New York State saying "Tourist go home?"

Pictures at Evangola State Park

Niagara Falls, NY, USA

I returned to Dunkirk--only to learn that the Dunkirk Historical Museum is only open Monday and Friday, 1 'til 4. Next, I headed for "Smith Mills" (my ancestors lived there). I was super careful while driving County Road 93 but I never saw a sign indicating even the tiniest little community named Smith Mills. Approximately 12 noon I was right back where I bought gas at 10:05 (very close to Evangola State Park). Incidentally, gas for $2.599 at an American Indian owned truck stop. Cheapest gas on my trip thus far!!

Traffic was not difficult to navigate in Buffalo. Then on to the town of Niagara Falls, New York. I was turned away from one parking lot (because of trailer) and directed to Goat Island for parking. Fine; I wanted to go there anyway. I arrived a little after 3 and didn't leave until after 7. I walked my legs to exhaustion (Niagara Falls State Park is quite large). I wanted to get to a Wal-Mart for the night. I was detoured miles off my course (city streets repair) and Carmen (Garmin) was going berserk with "recalculating." It was almost 8:00 when I arrived at Wal-Mart (in Lockport) and, gratefully, the Manager consented to overnight parking. ~~ Panera is less than a block away, across the street. However, I'm too tired to think "computer."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I crawled into my sleeping bag at 9 PM. I didn't attempt to watch any TV, or a DVD. I didn't address postcards to friends and family. I was humming "Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love you, tomorrow; you're only a day away." (From Annie....)

Nine hours later, 6:21 AM, I bounced out of bed after an extremely good night's sleep. I didn't wake up during the night and wish I could go back to sleep; I didn't get cold during the night; I didn't have to get up to use the potty. No noise in the parking lot. Wonderful sleep!! I'm really refreshed!!

Quickly to my very favorite store: Panera.

Pictures at Niagara Falls, NY, USA

Beautiful, glorious sunshine !!

Such a welcome sight!! Sunshine and blue skies!! I spent the night in a Wal-Mart parking lot--next to stacks of peat moss, munch, bark, and fertilizer. It was 53 degrees inside the T@B at 7:30 when I got up; burr!! It was 56 degrees outside at 8:25 just prior to departure. ~~ I parked in McDonald's parking lot and went to Tim Hortons (next door) for a bagel and coffee. (I haven't seen a Tim Hortons since I left Ohio in 2006.) Now I'm in McDonald's and will publish some of the pictures I took recently.

~~~~~~~~~~~
11:15 AM and the pictures of Corning Museum of Glass have been uploaded. While waiting (very slow WiFi connection) I read the local paper. The Observer area forecast says: "Today -- Mostly cloudy; a chance of showers in the morning. Not as cool with highs in the upper 60s. North winds 10 mph or less, becoming west 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. ** Tonight -- Mostly cloudy; lows in the upper 40s; west winds 10 to 15 mph. ** Thursday -- Sunny; highs in the mid 70s; west winds 10 to 15 mph. ** Thursday night -- Mainly clear; lows in the mid 50s. ** Friday -- Mostly sunny; highs in the upper 70s. ** Friday night -- Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s; chance of rain 30 percent. ** Saturday -- Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 70s; chance of rain 40 percent."