YAHOO!!!

[Nasoosie]

See my smile! I decided to go further than the Flying J in New Milford, and looked for an open campsite to call when I pulled off at a rest area to eat something and walk the dogs. I found a place called "Country Hills" campground in a town called Marathon, NY. The lady said they had a pull-through for me, so I asked her for directions, and wrote them down. Off I went!

The exit was easy enough, the little town with the one street light, as she said, and then, as I started up a hill, I looked for the many green signs to the campground that she said were all over. Ahem! I must have passed all of them without seeing a one, as I found myself on a the narrowest little two-lane road around, with Amish farmers and their horses and wagons, and rolling, STEEP hills. I went for about 10 miles trying to find some place to turn around. Nothing! So I found a driveway to a farm at the top of one of the hills where I could see in both directions a long way, and turned into his driveway. THEN-----I backed around into the road and turned around!!! One car coming down the hill had to wait while I got truned, but he was very patient! It only took me two tries to get it!

Anyway, this campground, which I eventually happened upon while heading back to town is beautiful! It has a pond, juicy green grass, many permanent campers all over, and is completely out in the boonies---a lot like home! Cost is just 30 bucks a night, 3 dollars for 24 hours of internet, free over-the-air TV-----and it's NOT a KOA!

I must say, however, that when I was lost and going to lord knows where, I vowed to NOT try this again. KOAs are at least findable!

Anyway, I am but about 45 miles south of Syracuse, so the leg home tomorrow will be easy, if I can find the correct route to Mandy's! The exit I take off 81 is about an hour north of Syracuse, and then about an hour, or two to her place----can't remember.

It's sprinkling and getting windy----hope we don't have a violent stormy night here.
YIPPEE!!!

[Bethers]

Glad you found a good place to stop. And it seems to me just a day or two ago you got lost getting to your "findable" KOA. Enjoy the great location.

[Sandersmr]

I'm with Beth - I'm remembering your tale of losing the KOA. Glad you were able to get turned around.

[longdog2]

You just needed the practice. Now you know you can do it. Empowerment!

[BirdbyBird]

The stories are all part of the adventure...once you land safely that is

[avalen]

you go girl, you get better and better each time you get out. Before long you won't even blink your eyes thinking
about packing up and hitting the road.

[BarbaraRose]

SOme of the best places are probably the ones off the beaten path.

[Echo]

Soos you crack me up!!!

I'm with Beth too. Seems to me that I remember some problems finding that findable KOA!

Now just kick back, relax and breath deep! And don't make any rash decisions!!!

[Liz]

Proud of you, Soos!

($30 is still high in my book, but not as bad as a KOA, I guess. And if it works for you and the type of travel you do, you did great!)

[Nasoosie]

You are all so right about getting lost trying to find the Jonestown KOA! It just didn't seem as totally scary and stressful as this back road was, for some reason. I figured if I drove far enough in Jonestown, I would probably find an open place where I could pull in and pull through to go back in another direction. That endless, Amish, cow-path road on those hilly back areas had me more frantic! And, to this point, that Jonestown KOA was the only one I could not find easily----that will not be on my list for next year, unless I get into bad weather that forces me to go back. I still am not sure how to get there!

However, that back-country place was beautiful when I got there, and now that I have driven it once coming back, it is very easy to find. That will stay on my visit list. The current owners have only owned the place since January, and they never enter or exit their place the way that is best for tourists to come in. Hence, the wife was very vague with her directions, and very wrong in two parts of the instructions! I am so thankful that the man took me in his truck on the route he wanted me to leave by, as the hill, over two miles long, was exremely steep and precipitous and curvy, one one I would never wish to navigate! He thought I was a pro hauler, I think. Anyway, I found a very easy way back to I 81 North with no probelms at all. Both owners are very nice retired people.

As for the cheaper, way-off the main highways campgrounds, when I am on a 1500 mile trek by myself to get from point A to point B, usually in the late fall on the way down with possibly icy conditions, I really need to stay very close to the interstates. Beth amazes me at her ability to stay on off-beat, beautiful places all by her lonesome. I simply could not do that....at least not with this trailer in tow. I am still thinking of a trade to some other means of traveling. But I made it down and back alone, and I am happy about that.

[Rufflesgurl]

You're doing great Soosie! Enjoy your trip home.

Linda