Chimney Bluffs State Park

 We set out one day to explore the area and ended up at Chimney Bluffs State Park, about 5 miles from our campground.  We could not believe that we had lived 45 minutes from here our whole lives and had never heard or seen it.  We took a hike on the trail leading to the top of the bluffs.  Unfortunately it had rained hard the day before and it was very muddy and slippery.  The trail was only 1 1/2 miles uphill but did not quite make it to the top.  We read later that you can park below the bluffs and walk under them along the lake.  I'm sure we will take another trip back there and maybe even pack a picnic.

On the way down the trail

Lake Ontario viewed from the picnic area

Stopped to visit this winery.  Cute place, not so good wine

At Peace Exploring Nature

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

This week I found such peace in this beautiful place we call home.  It started when I saw these Killdeer in the site behind ours.  As you can see from the picture above, the female is watching over her eggs.  Killdeer nest in gravel and their eggs blend in and look like stones.  When I went to check on her she was quite annoyed and starting yelling at me and spreading her wings.  The workers in the park are aware she is there and we all check on her every day.  It takes 24-28 days for the eggs to hatch, and when they do the babies come out running.  I only hope that I will be able to catch a picture of them before they leave.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Our daughter and son-in-law came to visit on Saturday and we had a wonderful time.  Although the weather was cool we managed to have a cookout and campfire and just enjoy each other's company.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Our son came out to the campground on Wednesday.  He loved the location since it is close to Lake Ontario and great fishing spots.  We took him a mile up the road to marvel at these majestic waterfalls.  There is also a large pond across the street that was sparkling with the sun hitting it.                                          

 Knowing how he loves to fish, we took him to Port Bay, about 7 miles from our park.  This is the view from our chairs on the bank of the bay as we were watching him fish.  Unfortunately, the fish weren't biting but I am glad he has a sport that is so relaxing. He is so much like his father and I in the fact that he loves nature and loves to be outside.

 This is the part of nature I could probably do without.  This guy was waiting on the fishing dock when we arrived.

  Since the fish weren't biting at the bay, we drove to the end of the Port Bay to Lake Ontario.  Thought Raymond's luck might be better there.  While him and his dad were searching for fish, I went exploring on my own.  Climbing on all the large boulders along the shoreline, I came across this piece of driftwood.  It reminded me so much of a duck I knew it was a keeper along with the rock with the foot imprint. After Raymond left it started to rain, again, but nature showed its true colors again when the sun came back out with a beautiful rainbow outside our window.  Wish I had captured a picture of it, but I know there will be many more rainbows in our lives!

Our Summer Home

 Well, after a long trip home we have finally made it.  We are at a new destination, not the one we planned on workcamping at since it was a very rundown campground and could not accomodate our trailer.  We happened to stumble upon this campground which we had never seen and they had a seasonal site available.  It is Cherry Grove Campground in Wolcott, NY.  Aside from the one we stayed in last fall, it is probably the nicest in the area with full-hookups.  We were greeted by the manager who let us choose from 3 seasonal sites.  This is the one we chose and we are very happy with it except for the fact that it poured last night so it is rather muddy.  It is a very wide and deep site and we were able to pull through into it.  There are also several nice pull thru transient sites as well.  There are very few people here at the moment but those we have met are very friendly.  We are 7 miles from Lake Ontario and great fishing (our son loves that), and only 45 minutes from the kids.  It is 45 minutes to some great wineries, outlet malls and Syracuse, NY.  And there is also a nice farm market across the street.  We are really looking forward to spending time with family and meeting new people at the park.  I think we are really going to enjoy it here.