Sampson State Park, Romulus, NY

Date of Stay:  Sunday July 6 – Friday July 11, 2014 (5 nights)

Rate:  $28/night

Website:  Sampson State Park (NY)
   6096 Route 96A
   Romulus, NY 14541
   315-585-6392

Description:  Large NY State Park on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake.  This was once a military base so there are quite a few miles of paved roads here.  It was a Naval training facility during WWII and then an Air Force base during the Korean War.  There is a Military History Museum that uses the old Brig building in the Park.  We stayed on site 33 next to Charlie and Dot.  Dan and Tricia were next to them and Doug and Darlene were across from D&T.  There are 5 shaded loops with 30A electric only sites which are gravel with mostly gravel roadways.  The electric pedestal is shared by two sites so you will need a 30A extension.  Gin was able to use a cheater to give a little more juice.  Each loop has a bathhouse.  Fill your fresh water tank at the dump station near the entry. There is a 6th loop in an open field overlooking Seneca Lake but it doesn’t have any facilities.  There is also a marina and beach on the lake.

Activities:  It was great to get together with our friends over campfires and cocktails.  There’s a lot to do in the area and the park is a good place for bike riding and walking.  Unfortunately, Gin’s knee was bothering her so she stayed close to camp while I explored the area some with our friends.  Guess we will have to come back when she feels better.  I joined Charlie for a couple of beer tastings while Dot was the DD.  I joined D&T along with Doug at the very nicely done Military History Museum on site at Sampson SP.  Gin and I took a day trip to visit our Lazy Days friends, Jack and Donna.  They had a bad accident in April and totaled their MH.  Amazingly, they were not badly injured.  I joined D&T, D&D, C&D for a hike at Watkins Glen SP.  I just love all those beautiful waterfalls!  I finished out that day with a couple of wine tastings with Dot and Tricia while Charlie was the DD.

Trash and Recycle:  Dumpsters are located at the entry to each camping loop.  Also there is a sizable general recycle bin next to the dumpsters.

 

Site 33

 

Friends around the campfire                   Sunset at Sampson SP

 

Beer tasting at Wagner Valley Brewery

 

Beautiful views of Seneca Lake from Wagner Valley Brewery…

 

…and from Sampson SP

 

 

Displays outside the Military History Museum

 

Navy displays                                          Air Force displays

 

Mess hall display                              Army Air Force transforms into US Air Force

 

Dentist chair in Navy displays                    Barber shop in Air Force displays

  

Working periscope                                       The Brig                          This punishment might work

  

Watkins Glen is a great place to hike with friends Charlie, Tricia, Darlene, Doug, Dan and Dot!

   

I love this green gorge with all the waterfalls!

 

Hazlitt Vineyards... home of Red Cat

 

Tricia, Syl and Dot at Penguin Bay and Chocolate Lab Wineries

Tompkins CG (Cowanesque Lake COE), Lawrenceville, PA

Date of Stay:  Sunday June 22 – Sunday July 6, 2014 (2 weeks)

Rate:  $16/night during first week (Access Pass Discount… W/E)
          $17/night during second week(Access Pass Discount…W/E/S)

Website:  Tompkins CG
   1680 Bliss Road (use coordinates 41*58’51” N, 77*11’22” W)
   Lawrenceville, PA 16949
   570-827-2109

Description:  Just off US 15 at the New York border.  All roads and parking pads are paved.  The sites are closer together than most other COE parks where we’ve stayed.  We stayed in the Bench Loop which is very busy since it is waterfront.  Our first week, we were on site 54 (W/E 50A) and waterfront.  Our second week, we stayed on site 44 (FHU 50A) right across from the seldom used playground.  Quite wooded here but we managed to get satellite TV.  No Verizon phone service and very slow internet with a booster.

Activities:  This area is pretty with rolling hills all around so we enjoyed a couple of scenic drives.  About an hour away is the Pine Creek Rail Trail in the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.  We met Dan and Tricia there for a nice 18.5 mile bike ride in the Gorge beside Pine Creek.  We started at Darling Run, had lunch in the nice picnic area at Tiadaghton, pedaled about a mile or so further then turned around to go back up hill to the parking lot.  On our way back to the lot, we saw a black bear and also stopped for a walk at Turkey Path to see the Falls.  Back at the campground, I took advantage of the shade by washing and waxing Tawanda using The Solution and Technician’s Choice Micro Glaze Swirl Remover.  We’re only a few miles from Corning, NY so we spent a day there at the Corning Museum of Glass.  There were many displays of glass art and history dating back 3500 years.  We preferred the more modern times and art, but our favorite was the glassblowing demonstration.

Trash and Recycle:  Dumpsters and Recycle near the dump station.  They accept aluminum cans, glass, plastic bottles and metal cans.

 

Driving beside the Susquehanna River on US 15 to arrive at Cowanesque Lake

 

Site 54                                                   Patio of site 54

 

Morning smoothness on Cowanesque Lake from site 54

 

Site 44                                                 Patio of site 44

 

Riding the Pine Creek Rail Trail

 

From Darling Run to pumping water at Tiadaghton

 

Nice picnic area beside Pine Creek at Tiadaghton

   

Turkey Path to the Falls

 

Gin, Syl, Tricia and Dan at Turkey Path           Gin and Syl at Turkey Path Falls

   

Two hearts and other artwork at Corning MoG

 

Artwork at Corning MoG

 

Chess set and vases at MoG

 

Beautiful glasswork

 

 

Glassblowing at Corning MoG