Our Honeymoon in an RV Continues

Camp Chautaugua – Friday, June 23, 2017

After our trip to Niagara Falls, yesterday, we woke up with plans for the rest of the week unclear.  After a simple breakfast of coffee, toast, yogurt, and fresh local strawberries, I went to the boat docks to fish.  Connie wanted to stay at the RV and review some winery brochures she got from the camp office.  While she waited on me to get back, she had time to do a little word find puzzle and color in an adult coloring book.  I managed to catch two perch and two bluegill, which is a very small start for a fish fry!

A Tour of Three Wineries

Connie likes to do wine tasting.  So, she selected three wineries to visit on this day, along state highway 5, by Lake Erie.  The first one was called Blueberry Sky Farm Winery.  It was on a dirt road and on a farm.  We were not impressed with the drinking wine but did like their cooking wine with jalapenos and some jelly.

The second was the Noble Winery, which was situated up on a ridge looking down into the valley by Lake Erie, a very impressive view with acres of vineyards, that went on for miles.  The nearby town had vineyards in every empty lot!  It was rainy and foggy, so we could not see the Lake very well.  We bought two bottles, a sangria and sweet red.

The third winery, named Johnson Estate, was deemed the oldest in the state of New York.  It was in a neat old building.  We only bought one bottle, Passionate Peach, very tasty! 

We ate a late lunch at a local drive-in, called Farmer’s Daughter.  Connie had a chicken sandwich and I had a fried-egg sandwich with bacon, tomato, and cheese on a hamburger bun.  It was very good!  For desert we shared a Dreamsicle soft serve cone.  First time for one of those.

Back to Camp

On our way back to Camp, we stopped at Webb’s Fudge and Gift Shop in Chautaugua (the town).  We bought goat milk peanut butter fudge and two t-shirts. 

Getting back to Camp, we noted several campers coming is for the weekend.  We rested and read for a while.  Then, we had cheese and crackers we got at the Reverie Creamery and the sangria for our supper.  The movie, Avatar, was on TV to complete our day!

Saturday at Panama Rocks

We awoke to sunny skies!  This will be a great day to go to Panama Rocks and drive around this beautiful area of western New York!

Panama Rocks Scenic Park has an almost jungle-like appeal with lots of unique foliage and rock ledges moved millions of years ago to form caves, crevices, and jutting rock mounds sixty feet high.  Trees growing out of the rocks, ferns covering large areas, and moss-covered rocks create a fascinating walk in the forest!  The trail is about a mile long and offers a lot of photo ops.

We had learned of an Amish community nearby, at Clymer, NY.  We drove there for lunch at the Dutch Valley Restaurant.  The food was great and a lot for the price.  So much food we had to take our pieces of pie home to the RV, for later. 

Afterward, we drove around the area to see many white farm houses with clothes on the line and a black buggy in the drive.  Then, we saw one farmer working a horse-drawn rake for hay, I believe. 

Back in Camp

When we got back to Camp, the Amish lunch got the best of me and I had to nap!  Connie woke me at 5 p.m. to make a run to Mayville, at the north end of Lake Chautaugua, where a paddle boat launch was located.  However, we missed the last launch of the day.  We might try again, tomorrow.

Back in Camp, I started charcoals in the fire pit to cook chicken parmesan in a foil pack for supper.  Yum!  They were very tender.  A little TV and off to bed.

Morning Coffee!

One of our favorite things about RV living is how easy it is to go outside with our morning coffee, if not raining.  Generally, we have a picnic table or our lawn rocking chairs with a fold-up table in between to set the cup down when not sipping.  Ah, retirement!

We talk about what we plan to do after breakfast.  Today, our plans are delayed due to a thunderstorm in the area.  We have to stay inside for the balance of the morning.  As it got lighter, we decided to go into Lakewood, to the Walmart for supplies.  We were rained on over and back.

About 3 p.m., the sky began to clear.  Now we can venture out.  So, we drove north to Westfield by Lake Erie, on state highway 5.  The storm had stirred up the Lake water and it was windy and cool.  We got pics of large waves hitting the seawall by a marina.  That made for some interesting pictures.  Then, we saw a lighthouse at the town of Barcelona. 

Since the sun was out and we were nearby the Noble Winery.  I drove up to get some better pictures of the look out toward Lake Erie from the ridge by the winery.  The view was spectacular on this day! 

On our drive back along Highway 5, we came upon The Grape Discovery Center (all things grape), which promoted the wine district and the local wineries, which were many more than the three we had visited.  It was educational.

Dinner in Mayville

The storm had delayed our start for the day and our chance to take the paddle boat cruise on Lake Chautaugua, which is a large lake, over 15 miles long.  So, we decided to have dinner in Mayville, near the cruise launch and the Lighthouse on the Lake.  We ate at The Docks Restaurant.  I had walleye and Connie had haddock.  It was good. 

Adult Tricycles

We had time when we got back to Camp for me to get the tricycles out of the truck and go for a short ride.  This calls for a little reflection.  I bought Connie a bicycle the year before.  However, she took two falls on the bike and refused to ride anymore.  So, when we saw a sale for adult tricycles, I figured I could get her to ride one of those and I would do the same.  Hence, we packed adult tricycles!

S’mores Tonight!

Since the sky was clear, we were able to enjoy s’mores by the fire, yum!  We sat by the fire until about 10 p.m.  Then, we put the tricycles back in the truck and covered them.  It is supposed to rain for the next several days—of course. 

What is next?

My brother had sent our accumulated mail but it did not arrive the next day, as expected.  So, we have more opportunity to explore the area.  Tune in for my next blog to learn of places you might want to explore on your own!  Happy travels!