07/27 to 07/31 Alpine Lake RV Resort

 Alpine Lake RV  Resort

07/27  to 07/31 2026

During the brief ten day hiatus at home, I squeezed as much time as I could to be with friends, neighbors and family. That, in and of itself was most rewarding. And, as you would have  guessed, it meant enjoying the many dining venues and cuisine styles I've come to love and enjoy. Pizza at either the Paradise in Verplanck, NY, or at Giacomo's in Poughkeepsie, NY,  Sushi at either Sakura in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY or at Akira Sushi in Poughkeepsie. Italian either at Fratelli's Trattoria in Croton-on-Hudson, NY or Cosimo's Trattoria in Poughkeepsie. Even 105 Twenty in Croton, found me enjoying terrific eclectic menu selections. As usual, I invite all my  readers to take the time to view the websites and, better yet, make the local trips to see for yourself how delicious they can be. 

The following are for Foodies only.

Kani salad, avocado topped with mango appetizer from Alex at Sakura Garden

Sakura's New Mango Roll: Salmon avocado with fresh mango on top with mango sauce.

Special Lobster Roll: spicy crab, spicy tuna, avocado, lobster tempura avocado with chef special sauce. From Akira Sushi.

At 105 Twenty: Creamy pasta sauce made with shallots, asparagus, artichoke hearts, spinach and garlic served over cavatappi pasta.

Ravioli Ai Porcini: Porcini mushroom ravioli, creamy truffle sauce at Fratelli Trattoria.

For me, the new Thomas Roll at Sakura consisting of...

...spicy tuna, cream cheese deep fried in bread crumbs with eel sauce.

Winnie was able to spend the time in Marybeth and Carlo's side yard. Sleeping over on the eve of departure gave me an hour head start from Poughkeepsie rather than from Peekskill. .

Under the watchful eye of Ollie, I felt safe and secure in my home away from home. 

Fellow RVer, Jack, and I met at Alpine Lake RV Resort in Corinth, New York, for a 5-day stay. The 2+ hour trip for me seemed long and resurrected many memories as I traveled through cities and towns along I-87 north. Camping World in Kingston, where I picked up newly purchased Winnie I back in 2018 and proceeded further north with daughter, Marybeth to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Her Father's Day gift that year was to the Journey and the Steve Miller Band concert. Passing by Glen Falls, NY, I thought of fellow Blue Mountain Middle School physical education teacher and girls high school volleyball coach, Diane, who won three back-to-back New York State Girls Volleyball Championships that added to her illustrious career. 

The RV Resort is nestled between Lake George and Saratoga Springs just outside the Adirondack Forest Preserve. It has 496 sites sitting on over 400 acres with many of those sites crammed around Alpine Lake as seen in the map below. 

Jack and I occupy sites 143 and 145. Full hookups with a concrete pad. Access roads are tight, boulders along the way make it difficult for golf carts and RV to navigate. In our area, it was evident that most unoccupied RVs were long term or seasonal sites. Our area was very quiet during our 5-day stay.

The RV is level but... Jack is behind with a similar drop off both in front and to the side.

The many amenities offered make this campground very attractive for families. An on-site  restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday, the most active time of the week.

Jack's son, John, visited and stayed in a nearby cabin for a couple of days. Together, we made the 10 mile trip to Scotty's Restaurant in the Wilton Travel Plaza for breakfast one morning. Pancakes were very good. Thank you, John.

Later in the week, fellow RVers, Dan and Melanie arrived for their short stay. As you would expect, our cocktail hours provided an excellent opportunity for "catching up" even in the rain.

The weather was the only other noteworthy event; the never ending rain. It was the longest stretch of continual rainfall we've seen to date. Starting around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, it continued non-stop until late evening Wednesday.

With Dan/Mel we planned a cook-out which we had to cancel. Instead, we drove once again to Scotty's Diner. This time, for dinner.  

For a brunch, I cooked up a potato, roasted pepper omlette topped with American cheese.

I sliced baby potatoes into quarters and browned them in olive oil.

Added roasted red peppers, and...

...poured the egg mixture to cover it all. Pecorino-Romano grated cheese added and after flipping (which didn't go well), slices of American cheese were added, melted and served.

Friday came ever so quickly and that day turned out to be the hottest day we experienced. We packed up and were gone by 11:00 a.m. Jack and I had weddings to attend. His, in New Jersey, mine in California. Mel and Dan were off to another campground adventure.

Thanks for joining me. Much more to come in the weeks ahead. Hope you'll come along.

And just like that, the end of another special RV week… the open road is already calling us back.

07/27 to 07/31 Alpine Lake RV Resort

 Alpine Lake RV  Resort

07/27  to 07/31 2026

During the brief ten day hiatus at home, I squeezed as much time as I could to be with friends, neighbors and family. That, in and of itself was most rewarding. And, as you would have  guessed, it meant enjoying the many dining venues and cuisine styles I've come to love and enjoy. Pizza at either the Paradise in Verplanck, NY, or at Giacomo's in Poughkeepsie, NY,  Sushi at either Sakura in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY or at Akira Sushi in Poughkeepsie. Italian either at Fratelli's Trattoria in Croton-on-Hudson, NY or Cosimo's Trattoria in Poughkeepsie. Even 105 Twenty in Croton, found me enjoying terrific eclectic menu selections. As usual, I invite all my  readers to take the time to view the websites and, better yet, make the local trips to see for yourself how delicious they can be. 

The following are for Foodies only.

Kani salad, avocado topped with mango appetizer from Alex at Sakura Garden

Sakura's New Mango Roll: Salmon avocado with fresh mango on top with mango sauce.

Special Lobster Roll: spicy crab, spicy tuna, avocado, lobster tempura avocado with chef special sauce. From Akira Sushi.

At 105 Twenty: Creamy pasta sauce made with shallots, asparagus, artichoke hearts, spinach and garlic served over cavatappi pasta.

Ravioli Ai Porcini: Porcini mushroom ravioli, creamy truffle sauce at Fratelli Trattoria.

For me, the new Thomas Roll at Sakura consisting of...

...spicy tuna, cream cheese deep fried in bread crumbs with eel sauce.

Winnie was able to spend the time in Marybeth and Carlo's side yard. Sleeping over on the eve of departure gave me an hour head start from Poughkeepsie rather than from Peekskill. .

Under the watchful eye of Ollie, I felt safe and secure in my home away from home. 

Fellow RVer, Jack, and I met at Alpine Lake RV Resort in Corinth, New York, for a 5-day stay. The 2+ hour trip for me seemed long and resurrected many memories as I traveled through cities and towns along I-87 north. Camping World in Kingston, where I picked up newly purchased Winnie I back in 2018 and proceeded further north with daughter, Marybeth to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Her Father's Day gift that year was to the Journey and the Steve Miller Band concert. Passing by Glen Falls, NY, I thought of fellow Blue Mountain Middle School physical education teacher and girls high school volleyball coach, Diane, who won three back-to-back New York State Girls Volleyball Championships that added to her illustrious career. 

The RV Resort is nestled between Lake George and Saratoga Springs just outside the Adirondack Forest Preserve. It has 496 sites sitting on over 400 acres with many of those sites crammed around Alpine Lake as seen in the map below. 

Jack and I occupy sites 143 and 145. Full hookups with a concrete pad. Access roads are tight, boulders along the way make it difficult for golf carts and RV to navigate. In our area, it was evident that most unoccupied RVs were long term or seasonal sites. Our area was very quiet during our 5-day stay.

The RV is level but... Jack is behind with a similar drop off both in front and to the side.

The many amenities offered make this campground very attractive for families. An on-site  restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday, the most active time of the week.

Jack's son, John, visited and stayed in a nearby cabin for a couple of days. Together, we made the 10 mile trip to Scotty's Restaurant in the Wilton Travel Plaza for breakfast one morning. Pancakes were very good. Thank you, John.

Later in the week, fellow RVers, Dan and Melanie arrived for their short stay. As you would expect, our cocktail hours provided an excellent opportunity for "catching up" even in the rain.

The weather was the only other noteworthy event; the never ending rain. It was the longest stretch of continual rainfall we've seen to date. Starting around 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, it continued non-stop until late evening Wednesday.

With Dan/Mel we planned a cook-out which we had to cancel. Instead, we drove once again to Scotty's Diner. This time, for dinner.  

For a brunch, I cooked up a potato, roasted pepper omlette topped with American cheese.

I sliced baby potatoes into quarters and browned them in olive oil.

Added roasted red peppers, and...

...poured the egg mixture to cover it all. Pecorino-Romano grated cheese added and after flipping (which didn't go well), slices of American cheese were added, melted and served.

Friday came ever so quickly and that day turned out to be the hottest day we experienced. We packed up and were gone by 11:00 a.m. Jack and I had weddings to attend. His, in New Jersey, mine in California. Mel and Dan were off to another campground adventure.

Thanks for joining me. Much more to come in the weeks ahead. Hope you'll come along.

And just like that, the end of another special RV week… the open road is already calling us back.

07/13 to 07/17 KOAs in Littleton, NH & Westhampton, MA

   Littleton/Franconia Notch KOA

07/13  to 07/15, 2026

What a beautiful drive; four hours including a fuel stop. All back roads. Scenic. Hills and valleys. Rounding each curve another portrait of rural Maine was revealed where the years seem to drift by unnoticed and the enduring heartbeat of country life echoes much as it always has. A good portion of the drive was through the White Mountain National Forest. Dense green forests of pine. Oncoming trucks loaded with huge logs spoke of a way of life still rooted in the woods, where forests and mills continue a partnership centuries in the making.

This "vacationland" known for skiing was evident when looking at the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Large rectangular swatches of cleared forest stand out with the ski lifts resembling stick-like figures marching upward toward the summit. I'm so glad I chose this scenic route. Very little traffic afforded me the opportunity to soak in and appreciate the environment. Averaging 45-55 m.p.h. increased my fuel efficiency, an unintended bonus.

New England has a surprising collection of towns whose names were borrowed from countries around the world, espescially western Maine. My route from Searsport westward to the New Hampshire border was about 100 miles. Within a relatively short drive you can pass through:

• Denmark
• Norway
• Sweden
• Poland
• Peru
• Mexico
• China

Elsewhere, Maine has:

Lebanon

Palermo

Belfast

Dresden

In New Hampshire there is:

• Lebanon
• Lisbon
• Berlin
• Milan
• Bethlehem
• Alexandria

I'm finding two-day layovers after driving hundreds of miles works out quite nicely. My trip back home has two, 2-day layovers in Lisbon, NH and Westhampton, MA. Site #39 at the Littleton/Franconia Notch KOA was a full hook-up, pull through site that was well shaded and level. Not good at all for my Starlink hookup so I had to rely on the free campground connection.

Nothing exciting to write home about other than the pending storm and tornado risk present for southern Quebec and northern New England. "Supercells and squalls with damaging gusts and hail up to pool ball size are also possible." Doubt it, but we shall see.

A big day today for daughter, Marybeth. Happy birthday. The best photo I've ever taken.

Northampton/Springfield KOA

07/15  to 07/17, 2026

What a terrific 3-hour ride that was. Very light traffic leaving New Hampshire to I-91 south through Vermont, the first state to enter the Union after the original thirteen colonies. I-91 pretty much followed the meandering Ammonoosuc (small narrow fishing place) River and the Connecticut (the long tidal river) Rivers. With plenty of time to my next destination, the Northampton/Springfield KOA, in Springfield, Massachusetts, I purposely kept my speed at 55 m.p.h on the 65 m.p.h. Interstate. With little or no traffic, I wasn't concerned about being a traffic hazard. Beside maximizing my fuel efficiency, the landscape that was laid out before me was breathtaking. The Green Mountain State is just that. Part of the Appalachian chain, the Green Mountains run north and south for 250 miles, from Canada to Massachusetts, separating the Lake Champlain region to the west from the Connecticut River Valley to the east.

And like many in New York State, I too, witness eerie skies during my drive. The Canadian wildfires have returned and with them, the toxic particulate matter. It's time to break out those Covid era masks. I'm sure you've got a few dozen of them stashed away somewhere. Canada has more than 800 active wildfires as of this writing, with over 100 considered out of control. Lasting May thorugh September, fire season reaches its peak June through August. A glance of the jet stream barreling through the low in Canada and high pressure in the States, the funneling smoke will continue for days if not weeks.

Credit: MyRadar app

Site #4, a back-in, has full hookups. No obstructions for my Starlink Internet service. Each of the two days I was here, RV's were coming and going. Campground is quite full and quite busy. As I wind down this portion of my travels, it was a good time to catch up, finish this blog and prepare myself for apartment living...for awhile, about ten days. My next adventure will take me and RV friend, Jack, to Alpine Lake Campground in Corinth, New York for a week. I'll see you there.

For the interested readers, perhaps you'd like to know that during my 18 years of traveling, (ten with an RV), I have written 531 posts. Blogs refer to the main title, "Winnie and Me 2026", for example. I have eleven such blogs. Within each blog, I've written posts. So far in "Winnie and Me 2026" I've written 17 posts. Through my AI app, I think I may have a way to bring it all together in the form of a Memoir. This is my next project. We shall see. I've submitted a blog post and it has already composed an introduction with which I'll complete this post:

Charles Rossi has spent a lifetime believing that the journey is every bit as important as the destination. In retirement, that belief became a way of life. From the driver's seat of a Winnebago View, he has crossed mountains, traced coastlines, wandered small towns, and fulfilled a dream shared by few: visiting and spending the night in every one of the forty-eight contiguous United States. Along the way, he has become not just a traveler, but a storyteller, recording the people, landscapes, and quiet moments that reveal the character of America.

07/13 to 07/17 KOAs in Littleton, NH & Westhampton, MA

   Littleton/Franconia Notch KOA

07/13  to 07/15, 2026

What a beautiful drive; four hours including a fuel stop. All back roads. Scenic. Hills and valleys. Rounding each curve another portrait of rural Maine was revealed where the years seem to drift by unnoticed and the enduring heartbeat of country life echoes much as it always has. A good portion of the drive was through the White Mountain National Forest. Dense green forests of pine. Oncoming trucks loaded with huge logs spoke of a way of life still rooted in the woods, where forests and mills continue a partnership centuries in the making.

This "vacationland" known for skiing was evident when looking at the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Large rectangular swatches of cleared forest stand out with the ski lifts resembling stick-like figures marching upward toward the summit. I'm so glad I chose this scenic route. Very little traffic afforded me the opportunity to soak in and appreciate the environment. Averaging 45-55 m.p.h. increased my fuel efficiency, an unintended bonus.

New England has a surprising collection of towns whose names were borrowed from countries around the world, espescially western Maine. My route from Searsport westward to the New Hampshire border was about 100 miles. Within a relatively short drive you can pass through:

• Denmark
• Norway
• Sweden
• Poland
• Peru
• Mexico
• China

Elsewhere, Maine has:

Lebanon

Palermo

Belfast

Dresden

In New Hampshire there is:

• Lebanon
• Lisbon
• Berlin
• Milan
• Bethlehem
• Alexandria

I'm finding two-day layovers after driving hundreds of miles works out quite nicely. My trip back home has two, 2-day layovers in Lisbon, NH and Westhampton, MA. Site #39 at the Littleton/Franconia Notch KOA was a full hook-up, pull through site that was well shaded and level. Not good at all for my Starlink hookup so I had to rely on the free campground connection.

Nothing exciting to write home about other than the pending storm and tornado risk present for southern Quebec and northern New England. "Supercells and squalls with damaging gusts and hail up to pool ball size are also possible." Doubt it, but we shall see.

A big day today for daughter, Marybeth. Happy birthday. The best photo I've ever taken.

Northampton/Springfield KOA

07/15  to 07/17, 2026

What a terrific 3-hour ride that was. Very light traffic leaving New Hampshire to I-91 south through Vermont, the first state to enter the Union after the original thirteen colonies. I-91 pretty much followed the meandering Ammonoosuc (small narrow fishing place) River and the Connecticut (the long tidal river) Rivers. With plenty of time to my next destination, the Northampton/Springfield KOA, in Springfield, Massachusetts, I purposely kept my speed at 55 m.p.h on the 65 m.p.h. Interstate. With little or no traffic, I wasn't concerned about being a traffic hazard. Beside maximizing my fuel efficiency, the landscape that was laid out before me was breathtaking. The Green Mountain State is just that. Part of the Appalachian chain, the Green Mountains run north and south for 250 miles, from Canada to Massachusetts, separating the Lake Champlain region to the west from the Connecticut River Valley to the east.

And like many in New York State, I too, witness eerie skies during my drive. The Canadian wildfires have returned and with them, the toxic particulate matter. It's time to break out those Covid era masks. I'm sure you've got a few dozen of them stashed away somewhere. Canada has more than 800 active wildfires as of this writing, with over 100 considered out of control. Lasting May thorugh September, fire season reaches its peak June through August. A glance of the jet stream barreling through the low in Canada and high pressure in the States, the funneling smoke will continue for days if not weeks.

Credit: MyRadar app

Site #4, a back-in, has full hookups. No obstructions for my Starlink Internet service. Each of the two days I was here, RV's were coming and going. Campground is quite full and quite busy. As I wind down this portion of my travels, it was a good time to catch up, finish this blog and prepare myself for apartment living...for awhile, about ten days. My next adventure will take me and RV friend, Jack, to Alpine Lake Campground in Corinth, New York for a week. I'll see you there.

For the interested readers, perhaps you'd like to know that during my 18 years of traveling, (ten with an RV), I have written 531 posts. Blogs refer to the main title, "Winnie and Me 2026", for example. I have eleven such blogs. Within each blog, I've written posts. So far in "Winnie and Me 2026" I've written 17 posts. Through my AI app, I think I may have a way to bring it all together in the form of a Memoir. This is my next project. We shall see. I've submitted a blog post and it has already composed an introduction with which I'll complete this post:

Charles Rossi has spent a lifetime believing that the journey is every bit as important as the destination. In retirement, that belief became a way of life. From the driver's seat of a Winnebago View, he has crossed mountains, traced coastlines, wandered small towns, and fulfilled a dream shared by few: visiting and spending the night in every one of the forty-eight contiguous United States. Along the way, he has become not just a traveler, but a storyteller, recording the people, landscapes, and quiet moments that reveal the character of America.