Day 13, July 22, Tuesday, Copake, NY (42 miles)

After needing our a/c since we started the trip, we woke up to a temperature of 63 degrees in the coach.  We departed our campground and stopped for some groceries at Tops Marketplace in Rhinebeck.  Easy drive along 2 lane hilly roads to Waubeeka Family Campground (FHU but wifi is terrible).  We drove the car into Great Barrington, MA, to meet Beth and Joachim for dinner at Xicoh Ten Catl, authentic Mexican cuisine.  I had the Especial Mole Poblano (chicken in mole) which was good.  (However, our son Aaron makes a better mole sauce).  Rosemary had the Molcajete - chicken frajitas, rice, beans, mixed greens, guacamole and crema frecsa.  Unfortunately for Rosemary, the mixed greens turned out to be green peppers and lots of them.  After dinner we went to Soco Creamery where we had goat cheese ice cream with pistachios, cherries and chocolate which was quite good.  After much conversation, we were asked to leave as it was 10:00 closing time.  We said goodbye until tomorrow and took a 25 minute drive back to the coach.

Day 14, July 23, Wednesday, Copake, NY 

We met Rosemary’s sister, Beth, in Great Barrington and ate lunch at GB Eats.  Then we all went back to the coach for the afternoon. After lots more chatting, we returned to Great Barrington for dinner at the Barrington Brewery and Restaurant. I had a Turkey Reuben accompanied by a Barrington Brown Ale.  Good sandwich and good beer.  We said our goodbyes to Beth and returned to the coach.

Day 15, July 24, Thursday, Ticonderoga, NY (143 miles)

We slept late and just made our 11:00 check out from the campground.  Today’s drive was over many hills and winding roads which made for slow going.  We checked into the Brookwood RV Resort (FHU) about 3:30.  After hooking up, we drove the car to Fort Ticonderoga and arrived there at 4:15.  The Fort closes at 5:00 but the tickets are good for 2 days.  We walked around the Fort and visited the Fort Museum.  I am looking forward to our full day at the Fort tomorrow. 

Day 16, July 25, Friday, Ticonderoga, NY 

We arrived at Fort Ticonderoga in the morning and began with the Continent Guided Tour which explained the history of the Fort and its strategic location on Lake Champlain.  The lake connects via water to Canada to the north and New York City to the south.  The Fort changed hands numerous times between the French, the British and the Americans.  And in 1775, it became the first American victory in the Revolutionary War.  Among the tours were the musket firing demonstration, the King’s Gardens and the cannon firing demonstration.  Lunch at the café was good.  Next we drove to Mount Defiance.  At an elevation of 840 feet, it towers over Lake Champlain and the Fort.  Indeed the British used it to haul up cannons to attack the Fort but the Americans fled and survived to join the fight and win at Saratoga.