Making Our Way North

After spending time in Oklahoma, it was finally time to point the truck north and start making our way toward New York.

One of the things we enjoy about RV travel is that getting somewhere can become part of the adventure. Instead of simply trying to cover as many miles as possible in a day, we can break the trip into smaller pieces and discover places we probably never would have seen otherwise.

This trip north gave us a little bit of everything—an old favorite campground, a couple of Harvest Hosts, a KOA, a quiet riverside RV park, and eventually some much-anticipated time with family.

One Last Stop at Lake Thunderbird

Before leaving Oklahoma, we spent some time at one of our favorite spots at Lake Thunderbird State Park.

*It’s hard to complain about a campsite with a view like this.*

We have stayed here before, and there is something nice about beginning a long trip from a familiar place. With the RV sitting just a few steps from the water, it was a peaceful way to spend some time before we started putting serious miles behind us.

Then it was time to hitch up and head north.

A Harvest Hosts Stop at Point Labaddie

One of our overnight stops was Point Labaddie Brewery, a Harvest Hosts location.

One of the things we enjoy about Harvest Hosts is that the stay is a little different from a traditional campground. Instead of paying for a campsite in the usual way, you stay at a participating local business and support that business while you are there.

That might mean visiting a winery, brewery, farm, museum, or another locally owned stop along the way. For us, it has become a fun way to break up a long travel day while also discovering places we probably never would have found otherwise.

At Point Labaddie, Michael sampled a couple of beers, and we were lucky enough to be there while they had a farmers market going on. We picked up some fresh produce, enjoyed the stop, and felt like we were doing more than just finding a place to park for the night.

That is really the part of Harvest Hosts we like most. The overnight stay is useful, but the experience comes from supporting the people who are welcoming travelers onto their property.

Then, after a good night’s rest, it was time to get back on the road and continue north.

The Blueberry Patch in Ohio

Our next Harvest Hosts stay brought us to The Blueberry Patch in Ohio.

When we arrived, the weather made sure we knew it was spring.

*Sometimes arriving at an overnight stop comes with a little added drama from the sky.*

Once we had a chance to look around, though, we found a beautiful property.

Between the pond, the animals grazing nearby, and the carriage sitting under its shelter, this was much more than simply a place to park the RV for the night.

That is another thing we enjoy about Harvest Hosts. Sometimes the overnight stop itself becomes one of the memorable parts of the trip.

Chautauqua Lake KOA Holiday

As we continued north, we spent some time at Chautauqua Lake KOA Holiday.

This stop put us much closer to family, which made it feel a little different from the earlier overnight stops. By this point in the trip, we had already covered a lot of miles and crossed several states, so it was nice to slow down a bit and know we were getting close to where we wanted to be.

Sometimes a KOA is exactly what we need during a longer trip—a dependable place to settle in, take care of the RV, and recharge before moving on.

A Quiet Stop in Bainbridge

As we worked our way farther into New York, we stopped at a small RV park Riverside RV Park in Bainbridge.

Our site was tucked beside the water, which made for a quiet place to settle in after another travel day.

Not every campground needs a long list of amenities or activities. Sometimes what we appreciate most is a comfortable place to park, a little grass outside the door, and a peaceful view while we unwind.

After several days of moving north, we were finally getting very close to family.

Back with Family in New York

From there, the road took us to one of the most familiar parts of the entire trip—time with our parents.

The last few photos are from our mom’s and dad’s places in New York, and after days of campgrounds, Harvest Hosts, highways, and travel stops, there was something special about arriving somewhere connected to so many memories.

The old ice house—one of those familiar buildings that carries a little family history of its own.

The scenery here may not appear in a travel brochure, but places like this have a beauty of their own.

Coming back means more than simply reaching another destination. It means familiar porches, familiar views, and time with the people who make the place feel like home.

And then there are buildings like the old barn—part of the landscape for so long that you almost stop noticing them until you have been away for a while.

After leaving Oklahoma, spending time at Lake Thunderbird, visiting two very different Harvest Hosts, stopping at the KOA, and settling in beside the river in Bainbridge, we had finally made our way north.

The Adirondacks and plenty of new adventures were still ahead of us.

But first, it was good to be back with family.