10/03 to 10/09 King Phillip Campground

 King Phillip

 Campground

Lake George, NY

October 03 to October 09

The 275, 4+ hour trip across New York State was long but not tiring due to the light traffic and scenic beauty that we enjoy in this state. Here and there, hints of Fall spotted the distant mountains with temperature remaining comfortable.

Sue/Ray, Mel/Dan, Kathy/Ray, Jack and I would be here for the week with Doreen/Tony at nearby Lake George Campground. Sue/Ray, Mel/Dan and Doreen/Tony will soon leave for Essex, VT to attend the RVFMCA Rally.

King Phillips Campground is a huge campground with many long-term and seasonal sites nestled near the base of French Mountain. One and half miles from Lake George Village, it was a most convenient location for dining, attractions and outlets. (Ugh)

Ray/Kathy, arriving the next day, had this spacious site across from Jack and me.

My site A-14, like the others had firepit, picnic table, 30/50 amp service, water and sewer.

Jack next door.

Across the road, Mel/Dan with Ray/Sue behind them and out of sight.

Morning coffee always a treat.

And a get-together of Hudson Islanders without a campfire? 

DINING ADVENTURES

Our first night dining out was at the Log Jam Restaurant. Crowded with poor acoustics, the service was good and the food delicious.

L. to R. Tony, Ray, Dan, Charlie, Jack, Mel, Sue, Doreen

A long awaited treat for me was the 8 oz filet mignon done to perfection with a huge baked potato. I shared the portion of baby sweet peppers.

Another night out was to The Garrison, Established in 1953 on the site of Fort William Henry’s garrison, The Garrison has been a staple in Lake George for decades. The original structure was destroyed by fire in the early 1980s but quickly rebuilt. 

After closing in 2012, it was purchased and underwent extensive renovations, reopening in 2014. The interior now features an industrial-rustic décor, complete with a zinc-topped bar and comfortable seating, while retaining its cozy, cabin-like charm.

Local riff raff hanging out near entrance.

Impressive bar with college pennants all around.

Note my alma mater, Marist College, which became Marist University in January of 2025. When I graduated in 1964, my all male class consisted of only 43 lay students, the rest were Marist Brothers. It certainly has come a long way. The expected number of graduates in 2026 is 900+. In 1964, Marist College tuition was approximately $675 per semester, totaling about $1,350 per academic year.

As a point of reference, as of the 2024–2025 academic year, the tuition and fees at Marist University are:

Undergraduate Tuition: $47,750 per year
Room and Board: Approximately $18,460 per year
Books and Supplies: Estimated at $2,425 per year
Other Expenses: Around $2,135 per year
Total Estimated Cost of Attendance: Approximately $70,770 per year

Our gang, including Jack's son, John, were cozy with our joined tables. An interesting "what are the chances" note. Our server, Anthony, (on the left with the cap) is left handed and when he first started working at the Garrison, his first meal was the coconut shrimp and the bowl of French onion soup.

Tonight he served a left-handed Anthony (my first name) coconut shrimp and a bowl of French Onion soup. He says he gets a request for those two items once every two or three weeks. What are the chances?

After out Autumn Train tour in Corinth, New York, (see below) Ray/Kathy, Jack and I dined at Jamo's Pub. Opening in June of this year, Jameson Duffy (Jamo's Pub) offers a lively atmosphere with two bars, both indoor and outdoor seating, and a variety of entertainment options, including live DJs, karaoke nights, and a game room/lounge.

Jameson (Jamo) Duffy at the tap, seated us and turned the serving over to Nick.

If you've followed the link to view their menu, I was intrigued and had to try the "Irish Boxty"

Irish Boxty: Cheesy garlic mashed potatoes rolled in crispy panko lightly fried and served with honey sour cream. Although my portion consisted of only six, it was a very tasty and delicious appetizer.

Cottage Pie: Tender ground sirloin simmered in gravy with garden peas, carrots and onions and topped with creamy mashed potatoes. It fell in the top three cottage pies I've had. #1 remains in Florida.

Excursions

Jack, our tour guide, decided he would like to visit Prescott Mountain. 

Kathy captured these two views while driving along the 5.8 mile scenic toll road Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway which opened in 1969. 

The Eagle's Eye was one of three pull-off that led up to the 2,018' summit. It should have afforded spectacular views. Alas, they did not.

Reading the reviews of these "scenic" lookouts, I found reviewers raved about the view when they visited 10-15 years ago. Many were disappointed that the Park Service has not trimmed back trees and shrubs.

Brochures read, the summit of Prospect Mountain offers a panoramic 360-degree view that stretches up to 100 miles on clear days. Visitors can see the Green Mountains of Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Adirondack High Peaks, and, on exceptionally clear days, the Laurentian Mountains of Canada. But, not today.

At one overlook, I was able to capture this shot overlooking the southern tip of the 32-mile long Lake George and the docking area of the steamboat paddle-wheel tour boat, Minne-ha-ha. The road is Beach Road.

On the way to Corinth, NY, for our Autumn Train Tour on the Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway, we traveled along the Hudson River through Lake Luzerne.

I reserved tickets on line for a 2:30-4:30 scenic train tour on the Saratoga Corinth & Hudson Railway. The experience was relaxing but like Cuyahoga Valley Train Ride taken last year with Dan/Mel in Ohio, photo ops were not available to me. That blog can be read HERE

Hal Raven, 43, owner and operator of a railroad that he leases from Corinth, has a fascinating history and story that led him to not only pursue but realize a life long dream revolving around the railroad. Read about him HERE.

Our coach car. Check out the website for the First Class, Lounge or Open-Air cars. They have Pullman and Cabooses available for private small groups.

Due to the foggy windows of the double paned viewing windows, I was unable to capture the sights that flowed before me. Moving along at speeds about 15-20 m.p.h. we passed the classic caboose and historic train station located at Kings Station in Porter Corners, New York, within the Town of Greenfield. The caboose is a refurbished Delaware & Hudson (D&H) caboose. Kings Station was originally built in 1887 to replace an earlier depot. It functioned as both a passenger and freight station until its closure in 1933. In the late 1980s, the station was relocated to its current site at the corner of Route 9N and Porter Road and was restored by the Town of Greenfield Historical Society.

After our return, back to the campground but first a stop at Jamo's Pub for dinner.

And that's the end of the story. My Summer 2025 season was winding down with days becoming shorter, the air more crisp will chills that reach my bones and the last of memorable campfires.  There were many blogs posted, 17 to be exact, each providing me with those future thoughts of memories past. Each goodbye carried the assurance that another chapter was completed. Life on the road has a way of teaching without words. The solitude sharpened my senses to notice smells, sounds and the comfort of quiet evenings. I was everywhere I was meant to be. The journey is not over, it's paused. On December 1st a page will turn and a new chapter will be written. 

“Autumn... the year's last, loveliest smile." William Cullen Bryant

09/28 to 10/03 Hickory Ridge Campground

Hickory Ridge Campground

September 28 to October 03

Yup, straight as the crow flies.

Our small group of four (Me, Jack, Dan/Melanie and Tony/Doreen) were clumped together occupying sites 5 (Jack), 6 (Charlie), 7 (Dan/Mel) and 8 (Tony/Doreen). As I've been here just last June, I'll refer interested readers to reminisce the 3-part blog which included my trip to Niagara Falls and the beginning of my 9-state trek to complete my US map. I traveled with Dan/Melanie as far as North Dakota. That link is HERE. My focus will be our 4-night stay this year.

Our first night dining was in Spencerville, at McColley's Irish Pub. A good menu, extensive tap selections and our most pleasant server, Arabella made for an enjoyable evening.

Their attention to detail becomes quite apparent upon entering this dark pub with its maze of corridors  that bring you to cozy side booths and rooms.  

Opened in 2013, the pub was founded by Matt Brooks. He had been running a building business and decided to convert part of an old creamery in Spencerport into this Irish pub. “McColley” is the maiden name of Matt Brooks’s mother.

We chose the 'quiet room', the "Guinness-branded dart room" past the front dining area.  L. to R: Kathy, Ray, Tony, Doreen and Jack.

MCCOLLEY'S SHEPHERD PIE “COTTAGE PIE”: Beef cooked low and slow with Guinness, onions, carrots, sweet corn and peas. Topped with our colcannon (cabbage and mashed potatoes) and served with a side of vegetables. A bit too much ground beef for me but it was tasty. It didn't make it into my top 3 best Cottage Pies. Shepard's Pie is made with lamb.

My side was, yes, roasted Brussel sprouts. That's it for 2025.

Fortunately, with Ray/Kathy so close, they invited us for dinner the next night. Mel/Dan and Jack got the tour and Kathy once again provided. That night, it was home made pizza and homemade ice cream. 

From the canal looking west toward the house.

The perfect host/hostess, everything as usual, from scratch.

Cheese

Meat (and I missed the veggie pizza.) Something for everybody.

Home made ice cream.

With perfect autumn weather, we traveled 37 miles to Locksport, NY for the Erie Canal Sightseeing Cruise. It was a crisp chilly day but sitting top deck, the sun provided warmth for the 90-minute tour narrated by Captain Rogers. Thank you, Jack for the Blooey Marys. This was my third voyage with Ray and Kathy, second through Locks 34 and 35. Details of the canal and the trip are HERE for the interested.

Our tour boat approaches with school children with Captain Rodgers at the wheel.

Lock 34 filling with water (pumped) that will bring us up 25', through Lock 35 for another 25' and then on our way before turning around and repeating the process to "step down" (gravity) to the level for the return trip home. The "slime line" gives the perspective of how high we will rise at the rate of 5 million gallons of water in a 5-10 minute span of time.

Read about the famous "Upside Down Bridge" over the Erie Canal.

On our tour, we traveled just a few miles of the 363 miles. As you viewed both sides of the 40' wide canal, you learn that over 80% of the original canal was excavated by hand — using shovels, pickaxes, and wheelbarrows by immigrant laborers, mostly Irish and German. In that 363 miles boats travel about 568 feet uphill from the Hudson River to Lake Erie — roughly the height of a 50-story building. That engineering feat in the mid 1800's was amazing. The beginnings of the canal was in Rome, New York, the geographic center of New York State. Crews began digging there with half digging eastward toward the Hudson, the other half digging west toward Lake Erie. It cost about $7 million to build but paid for itself within 10 years through toll revenues. This year marks the 200th anniversary of its existence.

And for our last supper together in Holley, we dined at Cappalletti's, an upscale Italian restaurant inside the Chateau at Heritage Square, a 55+ complex serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and open to the public. 

L to R: Dan, Tony, Jack, Ray, Kathy, Doreen, Mel.

I enjoyed the homemade cannelloni filled with spinach and house-made ricotta, topped with red sauce and sharp parmesan cheese. I took home their home made potato gnocchi with red sauce for future meals.

And just like that, another week slips by but not unnoticed. With our group, there's always something to do, somewhere to go and something to eat along with time taken to relax around the campfire and its warmth. We will pack up and take off for a  ±5-hour trip to Lake George, my last get-together for the Summer Season. I hope to see your there.

The world feels smaller now, not because I’ve seen so much of it, but because I feel at home in more of it.