Plattsburgh, NY - Aug 28 - Sep 7, 2009

On August 28th we ended our Ontario, Canada visit and headed back to the good ole' U. S. of A via Montreal.  We crossed into New York State on fumes, so headed to the nearest truck stop.  Whew!  That was close, since diesel on this side of the border is about $ .70 less per gallon and we have a 100-gallon tank, we figured it was worth the anxiety.  

We spent ten days at Plattsburgh Camping and RV Resort, which felt a lot like being in Canada in that nearly everybody spoke French.  But, we couldn't blame the Canadians for seeking out this attractive area on the western shore of Lake Champlain and the eastern edge of the Adirondack Mountains. 

The park didn't have a lot of amenities, but it was within walking distance of the Lake Champlain State Park with its long sandy beach, and within bicycle distance of the ferry that serves Grand Isle, Vermont.  Alas, the wet weather we encountered in Canada followed us south to New York, but we tried to make the best of a damp situation and enjoy the region.

One of the reasons we selected to stay in Plattsburgh was to visit Bruce and Marianne, a couple we had met a few years ago in Bonita Springs, Florida.  So, early in our stay Bruce and Marianne picked us up at the ferry terminal on Grand Isle and treated to lunch and a relaxing afternoon at their home.  They graciously took us on a grand tour of Grand Isle and North and South Hero Islands.  Several days later we returned to the islands for a spectacular day of biking.

On one of our rare sunny days we loaded up our kayak and headed for Upper Chateaugay Lake in the Adirondacks.  It was a lovely clear mountain lake edged with forest and beautiful vacation homes.  After our paddle, we did a bit of touring around the mountains, passing numerous lakes and streams and traveling through the ski and tourist mecca of Lake Placid before heading home.

We also explored Plattsburgh's historic downtown area along the Saranac River.  During the War of 1812, the town and the surrounding area saw numerous battles as it stood between the British marching south from Montreal and Hudson River Valley and important urban centers to the south.  Before the Air Force Base closed in 1995, Plattsburgh boasted the oldest continuously operating military base in the US.

Unfortunately, like many towns and cities throughout the States, business and retail have shifted to the malls in the outlying areas leaving behind numerous empty buildings.

After our travels across the Midwest and Ontario, it was good to stay parked for ten days, but on September 8th it was time to move on to the Ocean State.  We had never been to Rhode Island so were rather excited about our new adventure.  See you there.