Camping Day Five

Due to predicted inclement weather, after breakfast we loaded into the car and drove to Williamsport for the day.  We had read there was a trolley tour and a paddle boat that left from the Susquehanna Park.  I of course started singing when the trolley was pulling in, "Clang, clang, clang when the trolley".  

It was a recorded history tour of the town where the driver would stop occasionally so we could look around while we listened to the specifics of the place we were at, including the home of Little League Baseball.   It is an old town that had some wealthy citizens in the past so there were beautiful old homes in Millionaires Row and churches all across the town. 

We made it back to the park in time for a snack and a few souvenirs.  I choose the mega magnet clip and Baylor went for the yellow rubber snake.  

At 1:00 we boarded the Hiawatha Paddle Boat, which is really run on diesel motors, and decided to sit on the top deck because it was covered and the view would be better. 

I had snacks in my bag, goldfish and jelly beans, which we all shared.  Ken was our waiter and we all ordered a beverage.  

While it did sprinkle off and on, for the most part it was sunny and mild for the hour long ride.  

On one of the long islands there was a trailer camp ground and all the sites had beach front property.  

I also had the binoculars so we could check out whatever we wanted to see.  Baylor wanted to see me mostly and then have me see him.  We also checked out the Indian canoes, which were really remains of a canal that used to run in the area.  They were all overgrown and Buddy told Baylor they were canoes in disguise.   And the stories begin.  Dad is good for making up new history!  

Sunny skies! 

Ken offered to take group shots for us and the other group on the deck.  

Baylor and I walked around the deck and went down to the first floor to check out the boat's facilities.  And see the paddles up close.  

While we were docking, the trolley was pulling in, "Ding, ding, ding, went the bell." 

It was pretty spot on an hour trip and Baylor did his happy dance.  He did enjoy it as did the rest of us.  

We headed back to camp where it started to rain just as we were parking.  Mom had brought a few games so we broke out the Sorry game from my youth!  We wanted to play Uno but none could remember the rules and they were not in the box.  Baylor enjoyed the game even though Buddy could have just played the game by himself.  He advised all of us what our best move was and would often move our pieces for us.  

After two games, the sun came out!  I made dinner inside (too wet for a fire).  I made Cowboy casserole, roasted a pork tenderloin, baked potatoes, and peas.  Baylor played outside while waiting for Gloria to arrive, which was around 6:00.  Baylor was so excited to see her!! We ate supper shortly after she arrived and with the sun still out, we made a fire so we could have dessert: smores and roasted Starburst. Baylor build the fire and Mama was very impressed.  

Baylor showed Gloria his amazing fire stick and smoke wrangling skills.  

And we showed her our green and blue fire trick.  It was nice to sit out by the fire after being away all day!  

Camping Day Four

Without Eddy around I can apparently sleep into almost 7!  And Baylor can go to nearly 8.  Crazy!  Since we were leaving early in the morning for our planned excursion, we ate leftovers for breakfast rather than cook out on the fire.  We left at 9:20 to head to Brace's Stable for a morning ride.  I thought it would be fun and Mom and Baylor were excited to go.  Dad was worried about his knees so he was the designated photographer after we were on our horses.  Baylor was not afraid of the horses but I knew this was going to be much longer than the two laps around the loop the local fair.  

One of the owners gave Baylor a few carrots to feed Tiny Dancer. 

But Baylor was put on Rusty, a nice red, orange horse which Baylor loved.  He was on the small side and ended up being a good choice for him.  

There was just three other people with us a Mom with her kids, 11 and 13.  The kids had never been on a horse but the mom had before.  

Baylor was the second to be mounted and his horse just followed the other Mom's horse eating grass. 

Mom was on Destiny.

And I had Whiskey.  

And off we went.  We had signed up for the hour ride because I thought that would be the most we would be able to handle.  We headed up the road which lead through a small 'neighborhood' and up into the woods. Baylor's horse was almost always second in line behind the leader. Then it was the girl, the boy, their mom, me and Mom was behind me bringing up the rear.  I fully admit I did not really like him being three horses ahead of me and I was fully prepared to kick Whisky in the sides should Baylor need me.  The trail leader was more concerned with his cigarettes than he was with the inexperienced six year old driver behind him but there was not much I could do about the line up.  Being trail horses, they just follow the butt in front of them.  

But Baylor did GREAT!!  I watched him the whole time.  We hollered to each other a few times and he always said he was OK. He was just amazing and I was a very proud Mommy.  

Mom and I did great as well.  

Everyone did, even on the logging road when we were passed by a logging truck on a narrow road in the middle of the woods.  The other Mom's horse spooked and stepped off the road into the woods but went back on the road once the truck was past.  Other than sore butts and in places we didn't know we had, it was an awesome experience.  

After the ride, which was an hour and a half, and gaining the use of our legs again, we headed to World's End.  I was hoping for a nice play in the creek with the rocks there but just as we arrived it started pouring rain.  POURING.  But I still ran out and got a bucket of rocks and photos.  The rocks here are great river rocks and I was upset we couldn't stay because of the rain.  I remember swimming in this creek on one of our camping vacations with my grandparents.  I want Baylor to have good camping memories as well.  

We headed up the road, in the rain and the suddenly in the sun, to a local restaurant The Forksville Inn and Tavern, for lunch.  I was soaked to my underpants and then went into a chilly restaurant!  And Baylor was the cranky one.  He said he was not hungry so I ordered a root beer and ham and bean soup which we 'shared', because he was clearly not hungry.  On the way back to camp we saw a peacock on the side of the road in Lopez, a small town with one cross road that was a dead end. It did not rain the entire drive back to the cabin and when we pulled in there was a deer in our yard!  We took some photos from the car thinking she would run away and when she didn't Dad and Baylor went around the cabin for more photos.  Baylor even took some on his Leap-Pad.  

I am pretty sure she is the one we have been seeing with two babies usually right beside her.  She ate her way across the grass and disappeared into the woods.  We changed clothes and went to the beach for a bit.  Baylor rode his bike and Mom and Dad ended up driving down a bit later.  We played in the mud and with the rocks.  But we heard thunder and saw the dark clouds rolling in we headed back.  Baylor rode his bike and when I took a short cut though the woods, I almost ran into the deer and her babies.  Of course I did not have my camera with me!  Baylor walked into the woods to find me and saw the deer also.  

Within 15 minutes it started pouring!!  I made a Boboli pepperoni pizza for dinner, not over the fire as I was hoping it would be but it was good enough.  

Baylor and Buddy watched Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs II   and by 6:30 the rain had stopped.  Too late and too wet for a fire!!  But a good day anyway.