We Passed on the Barrel Ride
Sep 04 2009
"We don't need no stinkin' ponchos!"
Before I get into my post on our most recent adventure, I wanted to pass along a couple of interesting stories I heard.
First story: In Acadia National Park, a ranger told us of a British family who told them they had stopped at one of the “Moose Xing” signs the park provides. His question to the ranger though was how long were they supposed to wait there for the moose.
Second story: I heard on the Dr. Dean Edell radio show of a study showing that people who RV full-time are less prone to Alzheimer’s. I was pleased to hear that until, twice in a week, I stopped the RV and noticed the gas pumps moving past the RV. I thought that was an odd occurrence until I realized I forgot to set the parking brake. I guess I would have skewed the RV and Alzheimer’s study.
Anyway, a quick note on where we’ve stopped: After a great stay in Ithaca, NY and touring the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (you birdwatchers will appreciate our stop there), we hit Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side. It was pretty harrowing navigating our 41-foot RV and towed vehicle through the town streets and across the border station (why are border guards always concerned about bringing chocolate into the country – firearms, knives, cigarettes, I can see; but what are we going to do with chocolate?).
We did the usual “Maid of the Mist” boat ride into the Falls. The ride is billed as a sightseeing tour, but it was more like a “lets soak the tourists in more ways than one” ticket. Once you get near the Falls, it is like a water ride at Disney World – everyone is being soaked and it is impossible to see anything because of the water rushing into your face.
As you can see from the picture, my family, in a never ending effort to be different, shunned the “Made in China” plastic wrap ponchos (my son’s tore as he put it on, but putting his head through the sleeve didn’t help).
Everyone agreed though it was a fun ride though, as they sloshed back to the RV.
Hello from Southern Utah…St. George and Zion National Park area…just two hours north of Las Vegas on the I-15. We were in touch several months ago and wanted to remind all of you that when you’re in our area to please give us a heads up as we’d like to host a covered dish for you. Note that your around the Great Lakes area, and we are home from our summer trip…expect to be here until the holidays…pretty much. Look forward to meeting all of you, and just wanted you to know the invitation is still open for when you’re here. Blessings to all! Bob and Beverly Sands (retired Submarine Commander)