07/14 to 07/21 - Lake George Riverview Campground-Part One

 

This campground, located just north of the Village of Lake George on Route 9 is a repeat visit for me. Located on the slow moving, meandering Schroon River, the Hudson Islanders made it one of our rallies in July of 2020. That blog, in case you missed it or want to reminisce, came in two parts. PART ONE IS HERE. And PART TWO IS HERE. This trip, however, has just Sue/Ray, Dawn/John and me in attendance.

The 187 mile, four hour trip went smoothly with only a few drops of rain splattering on my windshield north of Albany, NY. Sue/Ray traveled their 45 minutes from Troy and Dawn/John, from Hawley, PA area, like me, took four hours. This popular campground is full and a nice change from my long stay at CPP. From here, I'll spend a week in Newfound, NH at the Newfound RV Park and Campground before returning to CPP.

Drive thru site H-17

Within hours all sites around me were occupied.

Thus far, tickets have been purchased for a Friday visit to the Fort William Henry Museum and "Haunted History Tour" tomorrow night. From the website, "The French and Indian War (1755-1763) was the extension of the Seven Years War in Europe between England and France. It involved people on three continents and the Caribbean and is considered by many to the true first World War." As for the Haunted History Tour, it is written: "With this much history, there are bound to be some ghost stories…” The area surrounding Fort William Henry has been the scene for countless battles, terrible disease and harsh climate. Five tour guides described each section of the reconstruction of the Fort...the original, made of wood was burned down by the French in 1755. They related stories that have been handed down over the years, as well as the personal experiences of guides leading the tour. Numerous psychics, mediums and intuitives have visited, recorded and shared encounters of their paranormal experiences. Archeologists have unearthed intact and mutilated skeletons depicting the horrors and brutality including cannibalism that went on during this massacre. Tour guides went into graphic detail describing what archeological digs and first hand accounts described. If you've forgotten your American history or social studies class, relearn it HERE. Like all wars, man's inhumanity to man makes one wonder why war exists at all.

One of the participants of the daily reenactments presented at the Fort

I'm guessing there's gonna be a wedding here tomorrow.

John Dawn Ray & Sue

The Sutler Shoppe, the largest gift shop in Lake George Village.

Constructed totally of wood, the French burned the fort to the ground. The site lay abandoned for 200 years until a replica fort was reconstructed in the 1950s by local businessmen who wanted to preserve the site from future development.

The first of five tour guides gives details of the fort. Behind him, the Officers quarters.

To the left and right were the barracks for soldiers and behind us was the barracks for the junior officers. At its peak the fort housed 2,300 troops

The hospital/morgue/crypt where excavations have unearthed body parts and evidence of the extent of unsanitary conditions.

The West Barracks

Second tour guide giving graphic details of what it was like when the French paid
Indians money for each British scalp. Mutilations and cannibalism of men, women and children was common.

Down in the morgue.

Third tour guide, Cheyenne, explains the Fort's water source as being the source of dysentery, cholera and small pox that killed hundreds who thought the well provided clean drinking water. It's also claimed to be the site where "Mary", a young girl who disappeared while her family toured the fort. Her ghost was seen at the bottom of the 25' well as well as in the upper floor windows in the Officers barracks.

Below the fort in the powder room. Shovel to the left is wooden so as not to create sparks.

Our fourth guide shows where the quarters of the commander of the fort,
Lt. Col George Monro resided.

A banging on this door of his quarters by a tour guide caused a response
 from within...a knocking from the other side. Peering into the window to the left showed the room to be empty.

The fireplace located beneath the fort

The French forces under General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm arrived on August 3, 1757 setting up siege lines that surrounded the fort and cut off the military road to Fort Edward. Montcalm’s forces totaled over 3,000 French regulars, 3,000 militia, and approximately 2,000 Native Americans. Over the next few days, the French moved their heavy guns along trenches to within 150 yards of the northwest bastion and continually harassed the entrenched camp to the east.

A dead end room and the scene of a massacre. Rufus Putnam described the tragedy in his memoirs: "The Indians fell on them, and a most horrid butchery ensued, those who escaped with their lives were striped almost naked, many in making their escape were lost in the woods where they wandered for several days without food, one man in particular was out ten days and there is reason to believe some perished, in particular the wounded..."

Survivors of the Ghost Tour.

Saturday while Ray and Sue traveled to their property in Indian Lake, John, Dawn and I went to The Old Hitching Post in Lake Luzerne twelve miles south of our campground for lunch. The Hitching Post is one of the most unique buildings in the Southern Adirondacks with 14,000 square feet of space for cheese plant, viewing room, aging rooms, retail space, and Tasting Room Tavern. It boasts one of the largest support beams and one of the largest fireplaces in the Adirondacks – a truly unique structure filled with history and architectural beauty. 

The gigantic log structure was built in the late 1930s, originally as a dining hall for the many Lake Luzerne Dude Ranches. 

It has served as a bar, hotel and general store, a dining hall, a dance hall
and music venue, and restaurant space. 

Dawn and I opted for The Cheese Board with our choice of five artisan cheeses made on the premises. I've selected descriptions of the ones we enjoyed for the photos below from their website. To see the entire collection, CLICK HERE. Please don't feel you're at a wine tasting event; the jargon is similar.

Adiron-Jack

"This triple creme all cow’s milk cheese is one of our creamiest.  The unctuous creme line is complimented by a local apple jack brandy.  Floral apple notes bring out the natural grassy flavors of our Jersey cow milk, while the creaminess developed in our aging process is picked up by the alcohol in the brandy."

Accoutrements were plentiful. Mixed herb Chevre "with basil, lavender, rosemary, chives, thyme & sea salt, Garlic & Olive Oil,"

"Kunik is our triple crème wheel made from goat’s milk and cow cream. It has a white rind and a tangy buttery flavor. Delicious on its own or with fruit and crackers."

Sappy Ewe

Sappy Ewe (left)

"We coat sheep and cow curds with an Adirondack maple reduction and then form the curd in a crotin size mold.  We let them age to bloomy rind perfection in our aging cave and then pat them with edible pine black ash for both a dramatic finish and ripening effect.  This cheese is a true symphony of traditional Adirondack flavors."

Briar Summit

Briar Summit (right)

"Briar Summit is a creamy little pyramid of three milk goodness produced from a combination of goat milk, cow milk, sheep milk and cow cream infused with a raspberry leaf tea and finished with a bloomy rind."

We next drove about ten miles southwest to the Ledge Rock Hill Wintery. 

From their website: "We are a family-run operation with knowledgeable and dedicated staff, all sharing a true love and appreciation for the art of fine wine making. Established officially as a winery in 2010, we specialize in limited vintage productions of hand-crafted wines made from premium grapes. We take great pride in producing wines that are custom crafted from the highest quality fruit available. The fruit is harvested from our own vineyard as well as a select few partner vineyards that have been able to consistently meet our high quality standards."

Unpretentious barn serving as tasting room and storage. Outdoor sitting area in rear.

Table top barrels for patrons placed among the many stainless steel tanks.

Cases of wines ready for shipping along back wall.

Outdoor tasting area where guests can enjoy small food plates like:
Olives & crackers, Chocolate truffles, Jake's Gouda, aged and smoked, and Italian meats like prosciutto, sopressata, with asiago, provolone and Castelvetrano olives.

I chose the five wine flight for sampling and purchased:

1 bottle of Corot Noir 2016: "Medium in body and exhibits good structure with aromas of raspberry, dark fruit, black pepper and earthiness in the finish. It exhibits a crispness that balances well with various meats and cheeses."

3 bottles of Just Peachy: "Pleasantly sweet and flavorful - like biting into a ripe Georgia peach!"

2 bottles of Old Vine Zinfandel: "This release is our 2019 vintage. Dense in color, bold and inviting of flavor. Dark cherry with a hint of oak and cinnamon. Rich silky finish.

Once again, try as I might, my uneducated nose could not detect nor distinguish the intriguing flavors/aromas said to enhance the wines. Yes, peachy was peachy, a refreshing summer time change of pace. And the raspberry notes came across nicely with the Carot Noir. One of my future goals: Educate my palate.

Well, that's about all I want to squeeze into this blog. My thanks to John/Dawn for their transporting services. Meanwhile, back at the campsite.... Part Two of this Lake George stay will follow probably while I'm enjoying my next week in New Hampshire. Hope you've enjoyed the visit. Comments welcomed as usual.

Life at Croton Point RV Park 5/19 to 7/14

Greetings from Croton Point Park once again. I arrived from the Hudson Islander's Tennessee rally on May 18th and will be leaving from here on July 14th for Lake George, another Hudson Islander's get-together. From there, I'll spend a week in New Hampshire and return to CPP. 

There'll be lots to write about but, looking back on what's transpired while here at CPP, it has become a life full of wonderful memories; too much, I fear, to squeeze into a blog or two...or three.  My future memory requires I get it all down. To do that I'm choosing a different approach: CATEGORIZING. All the events listed below have a RED link to a specific blog page devoted only to that memory. Even within the blog, anything seen in RED is a link to that reference. At the end of each, there a link for you to return to this blog. Have fun. For me, pictures and caption will suffice. For the reader? Your interest will lead you. By the way, thank you for your past comments. I've responded to all but the only way you'll know is to check back to that blog and scroll to the end. As usual, I look forward to any comments you have regarding this extravaganza. 

1. May 26th 1942-2022 An Octogenarian Milestone;

Chuck, Silvia, Marybeth and Carlo provided me with a most special birthday gift: An evening at Cosimo's in Poughkeepsie, NY, my favorite Italian Restaurant with both my family and some of my RV friends. Click on the link above to view my special evening.

2. May 30th 2022 Memorial Day at Marybeth/Carlo's.

Terrific weather, good company, a varied and delicious selection of food made for a memorable Memorial Day in Poughkeepsie. Click on the link above to view the special day.

3. June 9th - 16th Hudson Islander's June Rally at CPP

Celebrating our 25th year as the Hudson Islander RV Club, this years' rally was held at Croton Point Park once again. A total of 15 RVs and their 27 occupants visited the County park from June 9th through the 16th. Click on the link above to enjoy the festivities.

4. June 19th Father's Day  

Another memory to be cherished. On the heels of enjoying time with my son, Chuck and family, who flew in from California special to celebrate my birthday, daughter, Marybeth, provided me with a wonderful Father's Day Treat: A visit to and lunch at the Benmarl Winery in Marlboro, NY.

5. Dining With Friends & Family. 

DD's Cranberry Chicken Salad

In non-stop fashion, I had the pleasure of filling my calendar with one of my favorite activities: Dining out with friends and family. The best I can do in this category is list 'em and show 'em. Photo at right is DD's Diner's Cranberry Chicken Salad: Marinated grilled chicken diced and tossed with celery, sweet onions, sour cream and Whole Wheat grain mustard, served on field greens with toasted pecans, cranberries, green apple slices and goat cheese. with a side of balsamic dressing.

 

6. Life at CPP

And then there's some moments  enjoyed for which there isn't a 'category.' So there's "Life at CPP." A catch-all compartment for memories through photos that will bring a smile to my face someday in the future. Although I've not encountered "wild" wildlife in CPP, the graphic to the right is a reminder for approaching animals in the wild. Recent viral footage of petting bison Yellowstone is a good case in point.

Hope you've enjoyed the "Six-in-One" package of Winnie II and Me. Took what seems like forever to create it...but it's done. Coming up next will be my trip to Lake George. See you there.