16 Jul 2024 - Arrived at New York City North/Newburgh KOA Campground

 

We departed the Pine Lake RV Resort in Sturbridge MA at 1021 hrs.  We made one stop on the way and then at 1318 hrs we rolled into the New York City North/Newburgh KOA Campground.  

We got set up and settled in when a storm popped up quickly with heavy rains and strong winds.  The roads leading to the campground were blocked with downed trees, and power lines were down causing a complete loss of power to the entire campground.  That was about 6 hours ago,  

It is now after 10 pm and we are still without any power along with about 9000 others according to a text I just got from the campground office.  So nothing on AC power works and I've shut everything down that operates on DC power (to include the LED lights) to minimize drain on our batteries.  We need DC power to operate our fridge on propane, which we have plenty of.  So we have the windows open but there is negligible breeze.  No air conditioning.  No fans. And it is warm and very humid.  It could be a long night!  Again, it is all part of the experience!  More tomorrow.

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<Tomorrow is today>  Power returned about 1000 hrs this (Wednesday) morning, but the storm clobbered this area badly as it did a lot of New York state.  Roads were still closed surrounding the campground.  Our Internet here is mediocre at best and I have not had time to research much about the storm, but the way it came about reminded me of the derecho we had near our home a few years ago.  

So, again, we finally got power back about 1000 hrs so we secured the coach and mapped out a route to three venues on the east side of the Hudson River in Hyde Park:  (1) Eleanor Roosevelt's Val-Kill National Historical Site which was her main home from 1945 until she died in 1962;  (2)  Franklin D. Roosevelt's home, Library and Museum; and (3) the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historical Site.  Well, we ran out of time today and only visited the first two, but that was fantastic.  Tomorrow we will try to visit the Vanderbilt mansion, and we will try to post pictures on the two venues visited today.  It was a long night last night, and I am out of gas this evening.

After returning to the nice, cool RV this afternoon, my Air Force buddy from Loring Air Force Base that came to Grand Isle Maine to visit us, called and suggested we go out to eat here, as we are camping just a few miles from where he lives.  George stopped down, picked us up and we headed out to eat.

George drove us to the town which he owns and operates a propane business, New Platz NY.  We stopped at P&G's Restaurant & Bar.      

We enjoyed a great dinner and great conversation.  As I've mentioned before, it has been almost 50 years since George and I were stationed together at the 2192d Communications Squadron at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone Maine.  But as Veterans we pick right up like it was yesterday.  We are so thankful for our good health and opportunity to travel around and visit our military comrades, relatives and friends.  

Tomorrow, our last day here at the Newburgh KOA, we plan to visit the Vanderbilt Mansion and then come back and make preparations to head to Gettysburg PA on Friday.