Walkabout on Wheels

August 10-12, 2006

Yesterday I got my first view of Lake Erie. I can see now why they call them the Great Lakes. I only saw it from afar as we pulled into a truck stop. We had about 10 miles left on our gas gauge. I forgot to take my own advice about filling up before leaving with the trailer. Oops. Anyway, it was like seeing the ocean, except we definitely were not on the ocean. Weird.

Today we decided to wing it because the campground we stayed in last night was too crowded and, I don’t know, touristy. We were right next to another camper. Not only that, but their door was facing ours, so there was even less privacy than usual. They were nice people, but that still doesn’t make up for the fact that you can’t sit at your picnic table and pick your nose if you want to. That’s not a habit of mine, by the way, just an example. Anyway, the mother reminded me a bit of Bubba in Forrest Gump. She had mentioned that they hunt their own deer and eat the venison throughout the year. Then she started listing all the ways to eat deer for about five minutes. I tried to some it up with “Any way you can use a cow” but she just took that and elaborated.

So we left that campground this morning and headed to Geneva-On-The-Lake, which is actually on Lake Erie. We had heard good reviews in our unreliable Frommer's RV guide that Indian Creek Resort up there was excellent. It is popular, so all they had available was open camping. Open camping is sort of like open seating at a concert. The pit. You grab a spot and stake your claim. It was big and touristy and crowded and seemed somehow to have an unfriendly atmosphere, so we turned around and investigated one we had seen on the way to Indian Creek. And that’s where we’re staying now. Luoma’s Surfer Point. Before all that, we had to stop for a touristy picture in front of Lake Erie. Sorry to the drivers behind us. I’m sure you understood even in your annoyance.

At first, we didn’t think it would work, simply because we couldn’t find the office. There was a sign for the office on the garage of the house at the front of the park, but that’s all it was. A garage. Outside there was a sign and a courtesy phone, and as I was reading it, a minivan pulled up and out popped the owners. Serendipitous! Ron and Sue Rose are extremely nice people, and they just happened to have a perfect site for us, right on the lake. Apparently, a high muckety-muck at Wendy’s reserves the spot and e-mails when he wants it. I guess he didn’t want it this weekend, so thanks, Wendy’s! Your food sucks, but your taste in campgrounds is unparalleled!

I tried to back the trailer into the site, for a goof, and it may as well have been Goofy at the wheel. I think I may have done better if no one were watching. As luck would have it, Ron and Sue pulled up just before I started, so I got a bit nervous. I can visualize backing up. I guess I just can’t actualize. Ron backed it in for us.

A curious fact: As we were driving, we noticed signs for New London Road, and Saybrook such and such. As you Connecticut residents who read this might guess, I was thinking: Hey! That sounds like Connecticut! Well, according to Ron Rose, Connecticut was temporarily moved to the Erie region after a huge forest fire, some time in the 1700s. I assume that most Connecticut people of the time didn’t hie it all the way back after everything cleared up back on the coast. After all, it was practically like living on the ocean here on Lake Erie! But enough of fun facts. Let’s get back to our mundane everyday traveling life.

We did laundry and enjoyed the playground at Indian Creek. They really do have a lot of stuff on their site, but it's not on the lake. Plus the weird unfriendly vibe. They even had a restaurant, where we also had a big lunch. We were completely thrown when the hostess asked us if we wanted smoking or non-smoking. Huh? After we were done with everything, Brian and Ian napped. Perhaps Ian was tired from the Carousel. He tried to get off while the ride was still going, a difficult task when he could hardly get on this thing...

While they napped, Zorah and I walked down to the beach. This was not an easy feat although there was a path to the beach right at our site. Zorah mostly slid down while I held her hand and branches of trees we ran into along the way. We finally got down the path, and I was amazed. The view was awesome, but more than this, the beach itself is not to be believed. I had to put two pictures in so you can see. If you are a fan of river stones, Lake Erie is the place for you! The whole beach is made of wonderful, smooth, rounded stones. Flat, black, white, orange. Shiny from the lake or dried in the sun. I don’t think I really saw any sand, but I wouldn’t have noticed anyway. All I was thinking was RIVERSTONES!!! What is it about riverstones that is so appealing anyway? Why can't I help being so excited over their round smoothness? Why is it so nice to hold one in your hand?

Z really enjoyed throwing them into the lake. I picked two especially to my liking, and snuck them into my pocket. If she had seen them, she would have thrown them in as well. Though we love this site, there is no internet, so we are moving on tomorrow. It’s actually quite cold here on the lake, and we need warmer climes. Here, we are reminded pleasantly of Lake Kezar in Maine as we shiver and admire the view. Here are Zorah and Ian.

Zorah tried swimming before we left, but it was too cold even for her!

# posted by Rissa and Zorah @ 1:17 AM