06/19 to 07/01 Hickory Ridge Campground

 Hickory Ridge  Campground

Holley, New York

06/19 to 07/01, 2026 

While friends, Ray and Kathy, spent the weekend 27 miles away in Scottsville, NY, I enjoyed time alone once again to finish a blog and prepare the next. The weather is perfect; still breezy but the sun peeking in and out of classic puffy clouds, kept temperatures in the low 70's; a bit chillier at night. I'll be here until Wednesday when I travel the 3.3 mile, six minute drive to Hickory Ridge Golf and RV Resort. There, I'll meet up with RV friends, Dan, Melanie and Jack for a week's stay. Close enough to enjoy the company of Ray and Kathy as well.  Prior to that, however, there's some maintanence with Winnie to be done. At the Howard Road Garage in Rochester, said to be one of the oldest business still operating in the Town of Gates, I'll swap my two batteries for new ones (under a two-year warranty) and have Winnie inspected at Averys Garage. For diesel engines, you must go to  specially certified inspections stations.

My out-of-the-way home for the next 5 days.

It feels as though Ray's big Phaeton 'bus' gave birth to a little 25 ft. Winnie

While there, Ray/Kathy's nephew, Jordan, stopped by on his way back from an event that was raffling off guns. He bought 8 - $10 tickets, came in second and won a Stevens Model 301 Turkey shotgun. Valued around $300, it was a good deal for $80, no?

On the Saturday and Sunday evenings, 6/20 and the summer solstice, 6/21, sunset was at 8:57 p.m. here in Holley, NY. A wonderful event to experience. Both days at approximately 15 hours, 27 minutes in length. I researched 17 Fascinating Summer Solstice Traditions Around the Globe. Check out the link, if interested.

8:57 p.m. in Holley, New York

At Hickory Ridge

Next stop: Hickory Ridge Golf and RV Resort. A BIG THANK YOU to Ray & Kathy for the short term use of their driveway. A steak dinner one night at home and a dinner out at the Back Porch. We were served by David Bannister, owner and chef. Sorry, no pics but the Beef on Weck was my first and terrific. A Beef on weck (sometimes spelled "beef on wick") is a roast beef sandwich iconic to Buffalo and Western New York. It consists of thinly sliced rare roast beef (often dipped in au jus) on a kummelweck (or kümmelweck) roll, topped with coarse salt and caraway seeds, and usually finished with horseradish. Accompanied by a pint of draft Yuengling lager, it was a most delicious meal. And for a future lunch taste treat, I took home a large cheese pizza from their new pizza oven. We will return. Then there was our morning coffee on the porch with a most pleasant view of the Erie Canal. I squeezed in a shower and a load of laundry; it doesn't get any better than that. And special thanks to Ray for arranging the battery swap. He even installed them. While that was being done, I shopped Wegmans right across the street. After Ray and I had a late breakfast at Mr. Beenz, I arrived at Hickory Ridge.

Two scrambled eggs, 3 pieces well-done

bacon, homefries and biscuits.

Many of my memorable RV travels are revisited. Granted there are thousands to choose from but some are specifically rechosen for their convenience. Hickory Ridge is one such location. This is my third year visiting. To appreciate and reminisce my past visit, I offer last year's trip in September with THIS LINK. This year, there'll be Mel and Dan arriving Wednesday and Jack arriving Thursday. And a special thank you to Marsha in the front office. Her terrific personality and friendliness made arrivals and all my interactions pleasant and welcoming.

After Dan/Mel arrived, enjoyed catching up during cocktail hour, we five then traveled to Sam's Diner in town for dinner. Check out the menu to see its extensive menu. 

I thought I'd try the Baked Meatloaf, mashed potatoes with butter and gravy and a side of fried onion rings. It was delicious. Leftovers will be for a future meal. I'm glad I didn't finish the meal because it was decided to take a ride over to Abbott's Frozen Custard

Hopefully, you'll check out this website as well. Their background story and history dates back to 1902. Now there are nearly 38 franchised locations mainly in the Rochester area but also spots in Florid, the Carolina and a few other states. My (medium) treat was the strawberry sundae...alas, no wet walnuts.

With Jack's arrival on a rainy, chilly Thursday, our group continued to enjoy the moment. After our cocktail hour at their home and with Kathy's arm/wrist in a cast/sling from recent thumb surgery, she directed Ray, who boiled the water, and made a most delicious shrimp linguini alfredo dinner, Caesar salad, asparagus and fresh bread for our group, now numbering six. 

L. to R: Ray, Charlie's seat, Jack, Kathy, Mel, Dan

And for dessert, homemade vanilla ice cream, choice of toppings, an espresso for Jack (with a twist). As usual, another pleasant get-together.

Friday night, and a 20-mile drive took us to the village of Fairport, NY and Mulconry's Irish Pub and Restaurant. It was packed, Both inside and outdoor seating areas were packed. A good thing we called ahead for reservations. Acoustically terrible for quiet conversation. The food, authentic and plenty of it. I was looking for a taste difference in the Shepherd's pie I've become accoustomed to in Florida and they had it here, of course. But there was also the "Shepherd's Pie Boxty: A boxty (Irish: boxstai, a traditional potato pancake). "A fluffy Irish potato pancake filled with their homemade shepherd's pie filling and topped with chedder jack cheese (and more ground beef). It was huge and took up the entire dinner plate. The extra ground beef on top was not necessary.

"Whoa," says I as the plate was set before me. Two-thirds went home for future meals.

Actually, it was Smithwicks (Smith-icks" in Ireland — the "w" is silent), a classic Irish red ale, one of Ireland’s most popular and longstanding beers.

After dinner, a stop at Ray/Kathy's for our evening "campfire."

Dan, Jack, Mel

Ray cleared a huge section along the canal for better viewing from his porch. It was time to get rid of it all. The Erie Canal is behind, up and over the embankment.)

That huge pile of brush needed some help to be changed into...

...this; with a long garden hose from their house nearby ready if needed.

Our chairs forty feet back were far enough to feel the heat. Later on, we moved to within twenty feet and continued to enjoy staring into the primal wonder, hypnotic beauty, and eerie mystery of a bonfire at night.

To wind down yet another terrific get-together, we traveled to Batavia and Oliver's Candy in search of Sponge Candy. Sponge candy features a light, airy, honeycombed (sponge-like) center made from a crunchy yet delicate toffee-like mixture. This center is then drenched or coated in rich chocolate (most commonly milk chocolate, but also available in dark, white, raspberry, or even "naked"/uncoated versions). It's a favorite of western New York.

Sponge Candy

Established in 1932, their website is worth a look for its history and products. And yes, their ice cream selections and portions are something to write home about.

Another trip to The Back Porch, this time with Jack. Unfortunately, on Wednesdays, it was Live Music Bingo featuring Brian Price, a local singer, songwriter, guitarist, and performer known for classic rock, country, alternative, and more. He travels to various venues for these music bingo nights. The decibel level meant forget about speaking to the person next to you. This time I enjoyed their homemade chicken tenders.

One of the scenic drives Ray/Kathy took us on was to the famous Medina Culvert. It's a 7' 6" canal tunnel in Medina, NY. The stone arch tunnel/culvert is where Culvert Road passes under the Erie Canal. It is the only place on the entire Erie Canal (and New York State Canal System) where vehicles can drive under the waterway while boats pass overhead. It's essentially a short aqueduct carrying the canal over the road.

Its arch height of 7 feet 6 inches is suitable for cars and smaller vehicles; larger trucks/RVs won't fit. 

The tunnel is damp, drips/leaks in places, and radio signals can drop inside. Originally built in 1823 during construction of the original Erie Canal ("Clinton's Ditch"). It was a cost-saving measure to avoid building a bridge and approaches. It's featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not! for its uniqueness.

We stopped nearby to view the Medina Falls,  a 40-foot drop after Oak Orchard Creek passes right near/under the Erie Canal. 

Oak Orchard Creek flows under the Erie Canal via a culvert/aqueduct just upstream, then cascades over the falls shortly after emerging.

We viewed the beautiful scene from the tow-path of the Canal above on the historic stone aqueduct (built 1849 using local Medina sandstone). It was very strange to imagine a creek running underneath the canal. It's just another one of the amazing engineering feats that illustrates the marvel of the Erie Canal.

Mel spotted a resident snapper basking in the sun at the foot of the aquaduct support.

Dan, Ray, Jack, Charlie

And so it ends. So much squeezed into a week. Memorable moments with friends, dining out, the hospitality of Ray/Kathy for dinners and cocktail hours. Cocktails and campfires at the campsite. The last two days were brutal as we experienced the same heat dome that stalled over most of the northeast. There was no shade from trees on any of the three sites we occupied. Awings saved the day along with an occasional breeze.

And now we move on. My next week-long stay will be in Searsport, Maine once again. I will take five days to travel with two lay-overs: One in Austerlitz, NY, the second in Strafford, NH. Hope you'll continue along with me and enjoy the ride.

From this RVer’s point of view, the best memories bloom with friends: lively dinners out, cocktail hours, crackling campfires under stars, and quiet morning coffees—treasured moments that turn any campsite into home.