Road Trip 2010: Day 1, June 9

Wahoo! We are on our way!

The trial camp at Ives Run proved a success. We identified several small items we needed to improve upon and correct before we get long into our trek. There was the leaking faucet issue, the stuck gauge in the black water tank, learning how to flush the holding tanks--again, and the inadequate foot air pump (supposedly good for flats/low tires but really no god at all).

The faucet got replaced and I’ve now got a spare washer for those that remain—plus I’ve learned where to get a replacement for the bathroom if it becomes necessary.

The stuck gauge was remedied with the use of some tank cleaning chemicals recommended by the couple running the store at Ives Run. Two ounces in the tank, lots of water to slosh around and—voila!—it started to light up and showing how much was in the tank.

We also used a dump station instead of a campsite hook-up for the first time. Flushing both the black water (toilet) and grey water (sinks and shower). Once the tanks were emptied we dumped about three gallons of water into the black tank and again added 2 oz of cleaning fluid. The days ride sloshed it around really well and should have resulted in it getting really, really cleaned inside. (Well, as clean as a black water tank can get.)

All four tires on the trailer were recording 48-49 psi instead of the 50 that’s recommended. I had a foot operated pump that is supposed to be able to inflate car tires. It did nothing to increase the pressure in the trailer tires those two lousy pounds. So….I ran back to the Aerie and got my pancake compressor. It easily put those two pounds into the tires and more if need be. Besides, almost all camp grounds have electricity and even if they don’t, the trailer is equipped with an inverter that will change 12 volt DC power to 110 volt AC allowing me to use the compressor. As a result, it, along with a second spare for the trailer (Ryan could not get one for the truck in the short time I allotted him), joined the other spare parts/tools in the back of the truck.

Day 1

Driving time: 5 hours, 15 minutes (including breaks for lunch, restroom and refueling)

Distance: 268.3 miles

Today we got up bright and all too early to hitch up the Tundra to The Trailer and head on down the road. The coffee pot started performing at 6:15 AM and that dripping water makes it impossible to stay in bed. Breakfast was finished, Terry had showered (discovering that the grey water tank was definitely FULL in the process) and we were hitched up and rolling just as the drizzle started.

First stop, of course, was the pump station at Ives Run to flush the accumulated grey and black water out of the holding tanks—a task that, while not pleasant, went rather swiftly even in—or maybe because of—the rain.

Second stop: the Tioga PO to drop a couple things in the mail.

Then we were heading north on Route 15 to Route 17/I-86 in NYS. (On second thought, it would have been better to head south on Route 287 and pick up Route 6 west. Route 17 makes a huge swing to the north to reach Bath before heading southwest again.) Our path took us from PA, through NYS, PA, and into OH. We left Ives Run at 8 AM and pulled into Kennisee’s Grand River Camp (just off I-90 at Exit 218) at 1:15 PM (5 hr, 15 min) Total distance for the day: 268.3 mi.

It rained the entire time we were on Route 17 in NYS ending about when we got to the NY/PA border.

Major construction along the PA stretch of I-90 as the road was down to just one lane where they are rebuilding a bridge across a very deep ravine near Erie. Huge, huge crane being used to lift the immense I-beams into place. This was the only traffic related delay we ran into all day.

The road west of Olean, NY was horrendous. Made of concrete, it hasn't been repaired in decades and the frost heaving has created a bump at every, blankity-blank joint. There was a whole lot of sloshing going on in the holding tanks, and my brain and bladder, as we rocked back and forth over that stretch of Route 17 that goes through the Seneca Nation Lands, let me tell you!

Already all my careful plans have been altered. Kennisee’s is not the campground I initially chose (we were to be on the shores of Lake Erie) but Kennisee’s is the one at which we are staying. We’ve been here before and it’s a nice place, closer to the main highway (yet far enough away to only hear a slight rumble), and a member of the Good Sam Club so there’s a little discount there. The same is true for tomorrow, I’ve already chosen a different campground than that I had initially planned on using. If they’ve got room for us tomorrow we’ll be in Elkhart, IN just east of Great Bend.

More later, maybe. There's a woodpecker out here taunting me to come out and play.