Sunday: Sun!! Kayaking

Woke up late to sun and blue skies. So excited!   After  breakfast and devotions, we packed all of the kayak gear into the rental car and headed for Sugar Creek, the wide slow stream that is one of the inlets to Keuka Lake. We are using a new inflatable Advanced Designs inflatable kayak. It's 15' long and a tandem with plenty of space for Paul. It went together easily. We added extra high - backed seats that were very comfortable for my back. I was really happy to see that I was still comfortable paddling although with reduced strength in my right arm a little. The stream was slow and shallow and the day was beautiful. We paddled out into the lake and towards the marsh too. Coming back in and cleaning up was easy with just a little water and a tag. We tossed it back into the car and then laid it or on the grass at the campsite to dry out completely.

Around 1:30 we headed to Abandon Brewery for their Father's Day event.

Sun and kayaking on Saturday... NOT

Saturday was supposed to be beautiful...  But it wasn't.  We some up to chilly windy cloudy weather in the low 60's that high in there all day. Instead of kayaking we hung out around the campsite most of the morning and then headed to the Keuka Arts Festival in Penn Yan. The outlet from Keuka lake runs through the town and they've built a cute promenade walk along that waterway. The whole area was lined with artists booths. Unfortunately they didn't seem to be doing much business. It just wasn't a good day for it. We spend got some BBQ to bring back to camp. The pulled pork was just OK. 

On the way back to camp we stopped at Abandon Brewery and did some tastings and enjoyed the beer. We brought home a small growler of Belgian Quad,  a 9% Porter that we'll bring back to share with Nate and Maegan some summer evening. They're having a special Father's Day event which we'll plan on going to tomorrow.

Rocky Start

Paul was able to pick up a battery at the local walmart. We just put it in Bella's basement because by the time he got back from walmart the old battery had enough of a charge that it started. And we were on our way. We drove as far as Albany then stopped outside of Albany to use the bathroom and get another cup of coffee. Unfortunately the battery wouldn't turn over again so Paul had to change the batteries out in the parking lot of the service plaza. On our way once again. About 11:30 we stopped near Herkimer at the service plaza there for gasoline. Unfortunately the gas pumps were all shut down and the service station kiosk was vacant so there was no gas to be had. By that time Paul noticed that the oil pressure seemed to be running a little low. About 20 minutes later we were able to find an exit and get off the Thruway at Westmoreland where we gassed up and   got oil. It's been raining for most of the trip.

At 2:00 we got to Geneva to pick up the rental car that Paul will need for Monday (work). Jan drove the rental car and Paul drove Bella.  We were at our campsite at Keuka Lake State Park at about 3:30. After setting up and a  short cat nap we decided to go out and drive around countryside to see what it is like. Keuka lake is a long skinny lake surrounded by summer homes that line the lake.  Hammondsport at the southern end is a very cute little town.  Keuka is a little large for kayaking on. At least for our kayak . But we drove past Keuka lake and found Waneta and Lamont Lakes which will be the  perfect place to kayak on Saturday or Sunday.

We ended up doing a whole excursion around Keuka and it got to be dinner time so we found Timmy G's in Penn Yan where we enjoyed some good BBQ ribs and prime rib with a bottle of Eclipse red wine from Heron Hill winery. Downtown Penn Yan reminded us of Northampton architecturally but it was pretty quiet on a rainy Thursday night. During the high summer season it must be pretty busy., though.

Time for bed...

Wineries on Friday

We had a  nice lazy start to the day. The weather is improving... Actually some breaks of sun. Heading for a couple wineries this afternoon.

We went to Heron Hill Winery... A really beautiful winery with gorgeous views of Keuka.  Had lunch afterwards outside on their deck at the Blue Heron Cafe.  Afterwards we went to Dr. Franks winery with another gorgeous view. We ended up a case and a half of wine,  some for gifts,  all stored in the RV shower. 

A campfire, lasagne and some red wine ended the day. 

Road Trip Vacation to Finger Lakes

The title of this post could very well be "How not to start your vacation".  We hopped into Bella at 6:30 a.m., put the keys in, and she was deader than a doornail.  So dead that she wouldn't even take a jump or a charge. So we had to wait for the local auto parts place to open up so we could buy a new battery.  We're hoping the rest of the vacation goes a little smoother than this.  This is Bella's first long trip. Will be heading to New York and Pennsylvania. All of her other tips have been within 2 hours of home. 

Bella Has a Home

With winter not far off, it's time for Paul's annual "large project".... A home for Bella.  Bella will reside in the old carport that extends off of the garage, but first it needs a 'roof-lift' so that she can fit under it.  Bella is 10'6" high and the carport is only about 5'6". So, there's a lot of roof-raising to do.  After much thought he decided that he could raise the roof of the carport by five (5) feet to accommodate Bella.  The carport has normally just held the occasional visitor's car and was low.

Paul worked every morning before work (in the dark) and every evening after work (in the dark) to raise it up a little bit at a time each day.  He used bottle jacks and a complex system of braces that he designed.  Little by little he raised the roof until it was high enough.

Only attached by the brace on each end!

Some joists attaching it now.

After all the construction was finished, Jan blew away all the leaves with a leaf-blower and then use some strong magnets to sweep the ground every two inches under the carport.  It was a good thing she did it because there were some nasty nails there!

With a new raised roof and clean floor, we put Bella to bed for the winter.  She seems to fit real well in her new home.  

We'll put some siding on the upper few feet of the outside area to provide more protection, but for now, it can wait a while.  

Winterizing 101

"Uncle Phil" (Paul's brother) came to visit this past weekend.  While he was here we took great advantage of his years of experience as an RV-er.  Phil started out with a Class C like ours, years ago, but ended up with a Class A that was in the neighborhood of 38' long, so he's had lots of practice with RVs.

The first thing Phil and Paul had to do was empty the hot water heater and install a by-pass valve.  We aren't sure why, but the previous owner never installed one.  Perhaps he just filled the hot water heater (HWH) with 6 gallons of antifreeze.  Getting at the HWH was a chore.  It's only accessible by taking apart the bed in the back end of the RV....Literally unscrewing the plywood sheathing that makes the floor of the bed.  From what we've read, installing a by-pass valve is often a hassle, and as you can see, this one turned out to be, too.

The guys drained the potable water tank and all the faucets.  (Paul drained the black water [sewer] and gray water [water from the sink, etc.] tanks last weekend at the campground which is one of the reasons we wanted to go camping at someplace that had a dump station.)

 After all of that was done, it was time to blow out the lines with a compressor, and then fill the lines with non-toxic antifreeze made especially for RVs.  At $4 a gallon, it's not particularly expensive.  Instead of purchasing a pump to get the antifreeze into the system, Paul just used an old piece of hose and a funnel.

The final thing was to turn on the water pump and run each faucet until we saw pink antifreeze run out.   One final step was to release the pressure on the back flow valve for the potable water connection on the exterior.  Phil demonstrated how 'not' to do it!  Don't stare at the valve or you'll get a good shot of pressurized antifreeze in the face!

Antifreeze through the shower head.

That was the end of the 'water' winterizing.  Paul took out both new deep cell batteries (from under the bed, also) and put them in the basement of our house ready for a trickle charger as soon we buy one.

Jan went through Bella and took out anything with batteries in it -- mostly flashlights and push-button LED lights.  If they sit in the freezing cold all winter, they won't be any good.  We also took out bedding, pillows, etc. that mice might like for nesting.

We still need to install covers over all of the outside vents so little critters don't get inside.  Jan found one hole under the bed; it went right through the floor boards to the outside.  It seems like it was a drain for an older water heater which has since been replaced.  It would have been an easy place for mice to get in, so she plugged it with a wine cork. Hey, whatever works!

There!  Bella is almost ready for winter!  Many thanks to Phil for all of the advice and help; it was great to have an experienced hand helping us!