Day 18, August 10, 2023, Thursday. Jersey City, NJ (New York City) (69 miles)

An unusually early start for us (perhaps in anticipation of seeing our son and his family), we departed Crystal Springs Wilderness RV Resort and arrived at Liberty Harbor RV Park at 11:45.  We even arrived before the noon check time.  The first employee I encountered told me to wait 15 minutes but fortunately was overruled by an apparently senior employee.  After setup and lunch, we drove the car through the Lincoln Tunnel to our reserved parking garage at 290 W. 60th Street, about a 45 minute drive. This parking garage is a half block from Daniel’s apartment building. We met Daniel and toured his 40th floor apartment.  The beautiful view from his place includes the Hudson River and the Empire State Building. We walked to the bus stop where the grandkids are dropped off after their day at summer camp to await their arrival. Rebecca returned home from work and we had a good but spicy Thai dinner that was delivered to our door.  The drive back to the campground was through the Holland Tunnel and seemed like a better route.

Day 19, August 11, 2023, Friday. Jersey City, NJ (New York City)

We arrived at Daniel’s mid-morning and we went to Pick a Bagel West End to replenish Rosemary’s supply of sesame bagels.  A baker’s dozen at this place is 14 so that meant 13 sesame for Rosemary and one pumpernickel for me.  In the afternoon, we went with Daniel via subway to The Cloisters - The Gardens of the Met Cloisters, a part of the Metropolitan Museum.  A very unique museum of medieval art.  Atop a tall hill, the museum, built in 1933, has medieval European architecture incorporated into the modern building including gardens and works of art.  I found the pear tree in the garden especially interesting which they began forming in 1968 into what looks like to me a 6 branch candelabra. After the museum, we departed from Daniel on the subway to visit Rosemary’s sister Beth in Central Park.  We returned to Daniel’s place for a delicious delivered sushi dinner including a specialty roll with black cod, Rosemary’s favorite fish.  After dinner, I taught Adam how to play Cribbage. Cribbage is a game that is popular in my family and one that I played with my grandfather and his twin, my great uncle, among others.

Day 20, August 12, 2023, Saturday. Jersey City, NJ (New York City)

At last a day with Rebecca and the grandkids, off from work and summer camp. The morning was spent teaching Cribbage to Ari, and then Adam and I playing a game of Cribbage which Adam won. After a little wrestling with Ari and Talia (Adam has gotten too big for me to wrestle as I don’t want to get hurt!), we ate lunch.  After lunch, we all drove in Daniel’s car to the Flat Rock Brook also known to us as the “Furb”.  We hiked the about one mile trail, mostly shaded and along a small brook.  Back at the apartment, Adam and I played several more games of Cribbage.  Adam learned the game well and won every game. That goes to show what a great teacher I am.   For dinner, we went out to The Greek Kitchen which was about a 10 minute walk.  The food was excellent and maybe the best Greek food I have ever had. The appetizers were delicious and my Mousaka was fantastic. For dessert, Daniel and I shared a Galaktoboureko which was out of this world.  One downside, Talia had developed a runny nose late in the afternoon and into the evening. 

Day 21, August 13, 2023, Sunday. Jersey City, NJ (New York City)

Our anticipation of another great day was soon quashed when Daniel called to tell us Talia had tested positive for Covid.  Another problem was we were supposed to meet our son Aaron in Montreal the next day and he was to spend a week traveling with us. We had made many plans and several campground reservations which now had to be canceled.  After much discussion of possibilities, it was decided Aaron would return home to San Diego.  Rosemary and I tested negative as did Daniel so we decided to visit Daniel in the afternoon outside.  Trying to enter NYC on Sunday afternoon turned our 35-45 minute drive into an hour and 20 minutes.  We visited with Daniel and walked along the Hudson for a bit. The rest of the family was watching a movie on the lawn and just before we departed, we all masked up and said goodbye.

Day 22, August 14, 2023, Monday. Gansevoort, NY (Saratoga Springs) (191 miles)

When we awoke this morning, Rosemary was not feeling well.  We had to vacate Liberty Harbor and we had a reservation at Saratoga RV Park (50 amp fhu) located between Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls. So we proceeded there. By the time of our arrival, both of us were not feeling well. Three and a half years since the pandemic began and our luck ran out.  We both tested positive for covid. The evening was spent at Saratoga Urgent Care where my fever spiked to 102.2 and I developed uncontrollable shakes.  We were not given a Rx for paxlovid but for another drug. A drive to the pharmacy and then back to the coach to isolate for days.

Day 23, August 15, 2023, Tuesday. Gansevoort, NY (Saratoga Springs) 

A bad day, both of us feeling awful. Daniel informed us he, Rebecca and Adam had all tested positive.  Aaron told us the drug we were prescribed was ineffective and dangerous. After some reading online, I agreed and we then obtained paxlovid which required another trip to the pharmacy.  I extended our stay at the campground for another day.

Day 24, August 16, 2023, Wednesday. Gansevoort, NY (Saratoga Springs) 

Another bad day. I extended our stay at the campground for another day.  We placed an order for groceries from Walmart to pick up as we were running low on a lot of things.

Day 25, August 17, 2023, Thursday. Gansevoort, NY (Saratoga Springs) 

I have improved quite a bit but Rosemary has not. Our primary goal of this trip was to see the kids and grandkids.  So we have decided it’s time to head home. I feel ok to drive so I did not extend our stay at the campground for another day and expect to hit the road toward home tomorrow.