Start: Red Bridge Campground, Allegheny National Forest, PA

End: MWR Campground (Pine View), Fort Drum, NY

Miles traveled:

Travel time: 0800-1430

I started my day with a 2-mile run around the campground, which required a repeat of a couple of the loops.  This was a hill run, for sure.  My first mile took me 12:50 - not because I’m a slow poke, but because there was a lot of uphill!  The campground was quiet and it was misty and cool - so refreshing after all the warm humid mornings in Ohio!

We decided the day before that we wanted to get to camp early in the day, so we had a goal to leave by 0800.  And we made it!  Well, super close - I think it was 0802 when we actually pulled out of the campground.  Close enough!

The scenery remained similar to the national forest as we headed through the rest of PA and into NY.  I really didn’t have much idea of what most of NY looks like - I’ve been to NYC a couple of times (eh, not a fan) and I’ve been to the Catskills once.  I’ve also been to Niagara Falls once.  In my opinion, the further north you go in NY, the prettier it gets.

Observation regarding the state of NY: it is the land of signs.  There seemed to signs for unnecessary things, and a noticeable lack of signs when you need on.  For example, there would be a sign saying “End Speed Limit 35” but no sign telling you what the speed limit now is.

We got to the main campground around 1430, and when I checked in I was told we’d been moved to their smaller campground on Officer’s Loop.  Didn’t matter to us - we weren’t settled into a spot, so there was no inconvenience for us.  We got a map for the post, went to the other campground, and quickly set up (it was a pull-through spot, so easy-peasy!).

We then made a run to the PX and commissary to pick up a few things.  Like some catnip.  Our kitty seems to be fine with trailer life.  What she’s not so hot about is riding in the truck.  We have her in a medium-sized dog kennel for truck travel - it keeps her contained but also gives her some room to move around.  And also room to throw up and claw at the sides while meowing at us.  She does NOT like traveling.  We knew this going in.  Poor kitty.  She usually settled down after about half an hour, so it’s not ceaseless meowing for the whole trip.  We’re going to see if some catnip helps calm her down.  She usually greatly enjoys a bit of catnip, so we’re hoping it helps.

An exciting event happened today as well.  Let me tell this story like this: Ruby was eating a doughnut for dessert (the last of our Bill’s Donuts) and I walked up to her to tell her something, and she put her hand out and said “Mommy, here’s my tooth,” and put her tooth in my hand!  Uh, didn’t even know you had a loose tooth, kid!  I asked her if her tooth was loose, and she said yes.  (Phew, it didn’t rot out of her mouth!)  She never told either one of us that she had a loose tooth!  We were excited and made a big deal of it, stepped outside to take a few pictures of the new smile to send to family.  Our neighbor, who’s van was there but he hadn’t been present until now, decides that now is the best time to come over and tell us he won’t be there that night, in case we were wondering where he was (we weren’t).  Wearing civics, he introduced himself as Colonel, and I stopped listening after that.  We were literally in the middle of a family moment - “Wow, Ruby, you just lost your first tooth, how awesome, let’s take a picture!!” and this jerk thinks we want to know who he is and that he won’t be there.  Dude, just leave.  We don’t care.

After a dinner Michael went for a walk to get some steps in, Ruby and I went for a bike ride.  First we stayed on pavement, and went down the road behind the camp, where some cabins and cottages are lined up.  Then we found a trail - it was nicely compacted and smooth with a fine gravel surface.  We took this trail as far as it went - where it connected to another trail.  Ruby was greatly enjoying riding in and out of the woods, up and especially down hills, and taking turns being the leader.  She was having so much fun she didn’t want to stop.  I had to tell her it was time to turn around and head back - I didn’t have my phone with me, and we didn’t tell Michael where we were going because we didn’t know ourselves.