We are currently at our next Rally, Sips of the Finger Lakes, hosted by the Grapes and Grains Inter-club. We left the Wagon Wheel Rally on Monday and made a couple stops at Harvest Host locations on our way here.

Harvest Hosts is "a network of farms, wineries, breweries & distilleries, attractions and more that invite RVers to stay overnight, giving Members safe, convenient, and unique places to stay during their travels." Membership is free; you can search anywhere in the US and find places that make their space available for overnight stays. There are no fees, but campers are asked to show their appreciation by making a small purchase, donation, etc.

Day 1: Vermont Distillers, Marlboro, VT
Located by the scenic overlook on Hogback Mountain in southern Vermont, Vermont Distillers has a large parking area which is open to RVers. The night we stayed there were numerous trailers, including a classic Airstream. Naturally we had to park next to them!


At this particular location we were told there is no need to check in, no need to purchase anything, they just like to offer their space to weary travelers. We did, however, opt to try one of their signature cocktails on the deck overlooking the views.

While the parking lot was full, and there was a degree of truck noise during the day, at night things quieted down and we had a restful night's sleep.




Day 2: Lyons Family Homestead, Fort Plain, NY


A small, family farm "striving for a life of intentional + slower living." They have alpacas, llamas, sheep, goats and a pot belly pig. The spot was beautiful. The owner came up to greet us, give us some of the history, and he left a bucket with feed so I could feed the llamas and sheep.

This is the kind of place it'd be nice to stay at for a couple days, just to take life slow and relax. There isn't much in the area (as far as we could tell), but that isn't the point. They aren't wrong when they say "slower living." Just time to soak in the sun and take some restorative deep breaths.







Day 3: Finger Lakes RV Resort, Hector NY
We arrived on Wednesday for our second Airstream Rally of this sojourn. This one is sponsored by an Intra-club. "An intra-club is a group within the Airstream Club International (ACI) that brings together members who share similar interests." In this case, the club is Grapes & Grains. As you can probably guess, their focus is on visiting places that produce beverages made from grapes and grains - wines, beers and spirits.

More on our Finger Lakes Winery and area exploration in a future blog post....

And so begins our new life as retired (and semi-retired) people who can travel during the off-season and stay away for more than a week at a time...

We left yesterday for the start of our 10 week 15-state odyssey. Our travels will take us from the Northeast (NH, VT, NY, PA) to the Midwest (OH, IL, KS, NE, IA, MO) to the Southeast (KY, WV, VA) to the Mid-Atlantic (MD, DE) and a visit to Pendragon, then home. Our criteria is that for a state to count, we have to stay overnight (not just drive through). Granted some of these stops will be just that, one night, but it's our rules and we can call it want we want!

First stop: Sandwich, NH for a Wagon Wheel Airstream Rally.

A bit of history:

The Airstream travel trailer was the brainchild of Wally Byam. Wallace Merle "Wally" Byam (1896-1962) was an American inventor, engineer, developer and entrepreneur. In an effort to make camping more enjoyable for his wife (who did not enjoy sleeping on the ground), he built his first "travel trailer" in 1929. His initial design was not wholly successful, so he kept refining his ideas and, in 1936, "The Clipper" was born. It is believed to be the first riveted, aluminum Airstream travel trailer ever produced. The idea took off and the Airstream company was born.



In 1951, in an effort to encourage people to get out and enjoy their trailers and the world around them, Wally led the first group RV caravan. On his first tour his band of merry travelers journeyed to Mexico. This was the start of many group trips, including one that crossed the African continent. Forty-one Airstream families traveled from Cape Town, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt. They were on the road for 221 days and traveled over 14,000 miles.


It was on one of these many Caravans that the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI) was formed. This was later renamed as the Wally Byam Airstream Club. The club's goal was to promote fellowship and adventure through travel in an Airstream


Now, almost 70 years later, this club, now called Airstream Club International (ACI). It has over 19,000 members organized into over 100 local clubs around the world and organized into 12 geographic regions. These clubs organize rallies, rendezvous, and yes, they still plan caravans (although not necessarily to Africa!)


In our time Airstreaming, we have joined both rallies (organized events) and rendezvous (more casual gatherings). This trip will include our first caravan - more or less a rolling social event during which we will travel as a group making multiple stops.


We decided to start our adventure with our first Wagon Wheel Rally. Most Rallies and Rendezvous are located at fairgrounds and campgrounds with access to electricity and water and with the trailers lined up in rows or in designated campsites. There are some gatherings at locations without any hook-ups. These are called boondocking events with none of the amenities- everyone has to be self-sufficient, much like Wally's original camping adventures.


On the original rallies Wally Byam parked Airstreams in the "the Wagon Wheel" formation because he felt there was magic inside that wheel and that people would gather, bond, and learn as they were drawn to the "center." It also had the advantage of lending security. If trailers were parked in a close circle, they could literally 'circle the wagons.' In areas where they had safety concerns (or apparently on a recent rally in a field with cows) it would keep unwanted visitors out.


Wagon Wheels don't happen as frequently anymore as technology has made people dependent on access to electricity. Wally's original 'Clipper' did not come equipped with AC units and USB outlets! That is why, when learning of this Wagon Wheel rally in Sandwich, NH, we had to join in. We frequently practice 'dry camping' (camping with no hook-ups), so having no power is not a concern, and what fun to be part of the 'magic.'



We are here with 12 other trailers and while some late cancellations and/or early departures have left a few spokes missing, it is fun to be part of 'the wheel' and I see Wally's point - there is something special about all being oriented toward the center. With rain in the forecast, the Rally organizers set up a central tent. When the rains came earlier than anticipated, we all gathered together under the canopy to socialize, swap stories, and share a laugh.

Tonight there will be a pot-luck dinner and if the rain abates, a campfire. In the morning we all gather for a hardy breakfast.




One day a group of us took a hike up to an overlook. The view of Squam Lake was spectacular.







What a great way to start our Trailer Odyssey!




Overhead Wagon Wheel Photo Courtesy of Rich Collins

In our post of 7/31/24 we ended with the comment:

So going forward - Welcome to the Travels of Pendragon and Wanda

(that's a teaser.... Can you figure out why the trailer is named Wanda?)


You may have also noticed references to Drew and CeCe

So, what's with the names?


A bit of background here:

Pendragon is the name of our boat.

Why Pendragon?

The short answer is, it was the name of the boat when we bought her. We liked it. We kept it.

(There is a superstition that it is bad luck to change a boat's name. After we decided to keep the name Pendragon, we discovered it was the name she was initially commissioned with. Four different owners have had her and never changed the name. That is this vessel's name!)

But what does it mean?

According to the Oxford dictionary, Pendragon is "a title given to an ancient British or Welsh prince holding or claiming supreme power." (Okay, so boats are she's and this says a prince, but we're being progressive here.)

In legend, Pendragon was also the surname of King Arthur. His father was Uther Pendragon making him Arthur Pendragon.

Which, incidentally, is why we named our first Airstream trailer Anna. Anna Pendragon was Arthur's sister.

Great, so that's the boat name, but was there a Wanda Pendragon? Why is our current trailer Wanda?

Well, if you haven't figured it out already, it has nothing to do with Arthurian legend. Instead, it has everything to do with being from Massachusetts, and more specifically, the Boston area.

We plan to do a lot of traveling with no particular agenda.

Which is to say,

"We'll wanda here.... We'll wanda there... We're going to wanda around!"

Get it?!?!? (Perhaps you need to be from Boston, or should I say Bahston?)

The other thing you may have noticed is that back in our original blog, and for those who have known us for years, we have been Carolyn and Andrew.

So who, exactly, are CeCe and Drew?

Now that we are no longer maintaining our professional personae we decided we can be whoever we want to be.

Carolyn Collins is now happily CeCe (C.C.)

Andrew henceforward answers to Drew

Change is good, right?

And anyway,

What's in a Name?

I can do this! I can do all of this!

Well, ALMOST all of this!

Several months ago my freshman year roommate and now sister-in-law, Joyce, asked me if I'd be interested in going to the Tufts at Tanglewood alumni event. Every year they have a Tufts University gathering during an afternoon concert. I've never gone, but realizing that 2024 marks 40 years since graduating (gawd, that long?), it seemed like a fun way to mark the moment.

Even more enticing was the knowledge that Tanglewood is 10 minutes away from a MA state park we've camped in before.

So I said, Yes, Let's do it! And let's make it a Roomies-Weekend - no husbands included.

I tow the trailer all the time, and I have done the connecting/disconnecting stuff on my own, so I knew I could single-handle it. The only thing I don't do (yet) is backing the trailer into sites. I'll get there, but for now I am happy to leave the back-in parking to Drew.

The good news was, I knew October Mountain State Park has pull-through sites. That I can do! So we planned our excursion.

It was a short weekend - Joyce and I headed out Saturday, the concert was Sunday, and we returned home on Monday.

We got to October Mountain in Lee, MA around 2:30 and after a visit to the dump station (see the Point Folly post - the tanks were still full from our trip to Litchfield) we set up camp.

We decided we wanted to take a walk/hike and we headed up the Ledges trail. Given all the bug bites I had gotten in Litchfield, I doused myself in bug spray, with special focus on my ankles (even with tall socks and long pants!). I thought I had sufficiently treated my face and neck.

Apparently not.

While Joyce was left alone, I had bugs flying into my eyes, buzzing inside my ear, and generally annoying the heck out of me. I finally called it - we got up to the high point of the trail, and turned around.

On Sunday, after a leisurely breakfast, we headed to Lennox, MA - a short 10 minute ride. In Lennox we went on the hunt for a nice bread loaf to go with our 'charcuterie board picnic' we had planned for the concert. While we were out walking, I looked west and commented, "That does not look good..." The skies were darkening and looking awfully ominous. Sure enough, by the time we were back in the truck it started to rain.

We decided to go ahead and head to the Tanglewood parking lot, figuring we could wait in the truck until the rains passed. By the time we got to the parking lot, there were torrential rains and the Tanglewood intercom system announced that, due to severe weather in the area, the grounds were closed and all patrons should return to their cars to wait out the storm. Eek!

We had planned to meet up with another college friend, Teresa, and her sister Vicky. Joyce called them to tell them we were parked and that we were in a "big, white pickup truck." Teresa said they were in a Mini Cooper. It wasn't very long before Theresa realized they were parked one car over from us! We invited them to come over to hangout with us and we could picnic in the truck. They did - the armrest made a perfect table.


The rains finally let up and we decided to head in to the Tanglewood grounds. I went to roll up the windows and...

Nothing.

I tried to start the engine.

Nothing.

When it was pouring rain we couldn't open the windows without getting soaked. It was getting hot and sticky inside so I had put the truck in auxiliary mode and I was running the AC. Then, when the rain let up a bit I opened windows, but I never stopped the aux mode. Oops.

I killed the battery.

I briefly considered not doing anything and calling AAA after the concert, but I had opened the windows, couldn't close them, and couldn't very well go into the concert with the windows wide open. Fortunately, Teresa had a portable jump-starter power-pack. We were able to start the engine and close the windows. Phew!

Once inside we found ourselves a spot under a tree (the sun had come back out) near the Tufts group, and settled in for the concert. It was an all Beethoven concert and we really enjoyed it.

After the concert we took around the Tanglewood grounds - it really is a beautiful place. I can't believe I grew up and lived in Massachusetts most of my life and had never been there.


Upon returning to the parking lot, the truck started up right away (another phew!). We had run it a little bit before going in, but I wasn't convinced it was enough to keep the charge by the time we left. 'The Beast' is a champion, however, and we had no issues.

As it turns out we also have an emergency power-pack jump in the truck. I had forgotten we had it, but even if I had remembered, it wouldn't have helped. It was in the bed of the truck and when the battery died, I couldn't open the tailgate - it is electric assist.

The power-pack now lives in the cab of the truck!

After the concert, Joyce and I returned to the campsite for a nice campfire (until the bugs drove us in).

Monday morning we packed up and headed back to West Simsbury. Drew did meet us at the top of the driveway to back it in, but other than that I managed the whole weekend being an Indy Airstreamer. Yes I had company with Joyce, but with her never having camped before, all towing, trailer set up, dumping, etc. was up to me.

I got this!

Now - about that backing up part...

We decided we wanted to do some exploring in our new environs, including the Litchfield area. Although it's only 40 minutes away, we thought we'd camp there for a few days and use the trailer as our "base camp." We prefer to camp in state and municipal campgrounds rather than private ones. In our experience the private campgrounds tend to pack people in and the sites can be small (they do have to make money to stay in business after all). We are also not inclined to use pools and campground 'recreational activities,' so the quietude of public parks appeals to us.

We were in luck in finding Point Folly campground - part of the White Memorial Conservation Center "The White Memorial Foundation is dedicated to protecting its forests and countryside so that all people can enjoy the gifts of nature.

The White Memorial Conservation Center, provides year-round "environmental education programs for children and adults that inspire understanding, appreciation, and respect for the natural world."

At $19.50 a night, the price was right (it is dry camping - no hook-ups, i.e. power or water).

The campground only has 3 sites designated for a trailer our size; all three are pretty much right by the main entrance, which can mean a bit of traffic, but there's a view of Bantam Lake (the largest natural lake in CT), there were trees behind and alongside us, and it was pleasant enough.

Well, until....

The weather, unfortunately, was not super cooperative during our stay, but I guess that isn't surprising since it has been hot, humid, and rainy for weeks (or so it seems). It did put a hold on doing a lot of hiking in the area, but we did use our time there to visit a few places:

Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy
"Ripley Waterfowl Conservancy is one of the largest collections of waterfowl in North America, providing a home to more than 80 species, totaling more than 400 birds from around the world. Our world renowned breeding facility focuses on maintaining the genetic diversity of rare and endangered species. Ripley is proudly staffed by passionate, innovative aviculturists and educators who use the Conservancy as an education center for the next generation of conservationists.

Our goal is to educate visitors of all ages on the importance of wildlife conservation through hands-on experiences with our waterfowl, their habitats, and our conservation programs. We also work tirelessly with like-minded organizations to investigate species' needs and share our collection to ensure genetic diversity and up-to-date breeding techniques that become best practice throughout the industry."


I have never been overly enthused by waterfowl ("oh, it's just another duck"), but I gotta admit - the birds there were amazing.


Thomaston Dam

The dam, completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in 1960, was built as a flood control dam project in response to the devastating flood of 1955 along the Naugatuck and Housatonic River valleys. It is 2000 feet long and 142 feet high, and unlike many dams, it doesn't hold back a water reservoir. It is just there to prevent catastrophic flooding.



We went there, not because we have a passion for dams, but rather because I was able to get my lifetime senior pass to the National Parks at the US Army Corps of Engineers office on site. (I think this may officially make me 'old'). We used the opportunity, however, to drive over the dam and see the views.




The Town of Litchfield
One morning we woke to fog, so we decided to explore the town of Litchfield. From Britannica:
The lands that became Litchfield were purchased from the Tunxis Indians in 1715-16. The town, named for Lichfield, England, and incorporated in 1719, was settled in 1720-21. During the American Revolution it became a supply point and rest stop for American troops en route to Boston. Judge Tapping Reeve established the country's first law school there in 1784; its alumni include the U.S. vice presidents Aaron Burr and John C. Calhoun. The judge's house (1773) and school are preserved. Litchfield village was incorporated in 1818 and the borough in 1879. The town was the birthplace of Ethan Allen, leader of the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolution, and Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).

We explored the main drag downtown. That took about 3 minutes, so we strolled the nearby streets. We came across the Tapping Reeve House and Law School, the first law school in the nation. Wouldn't you figure, it is closed on Mondays (sigh - leave that for another day).

We then stopped by the Litchfield History Museum, also closed on Mondays (sigh, again). We finally gave up!

Litchfield Distillery
What would a visit to Litchfield be without a visit to the distillery? We had already discovered the 'local spirits' prior to our trip, but why pass up an opportunity for a free tour and tasting?!? Even more convenient was that it was (literally) a mile away from the campground so we could walk there and back.


White Memorial Conservation Center
We drove over to the main campus of the conservation center and toured the Nature Museum. It was really nicely done and well worth the visit. After we walked the Little Pond Boardwalk trail.


During our stay we ate out at the Market Place Tavern.
"The Tavern which overlooks the Litchfield Green, is the oldest public building in town and one of the oldest penal facilities in the state. It was built in 1812 to serve as a jail for British prisoners during the War of 1812. A cell block and a three-story wing with additional cell blocks, which now is part of the restaurant's bar area, was added in 1846. The jail closed in 1992 and was used as a treatment center for men serving prison sentences. It shut down again in 1993 and reopened in 1994 as a rehabilitation center for women facing incarceration. When that center closed, the state decided to sell it. The interior was designed to preserve the integrity and history of the building. The jail cells overlooking the three-story bar are still intact, as are the bars on the windows that face the Litchfield Green. A mix of comfortable leather booths, iron accents, warm brick and barn wood complete the look."

It was definitely an interesting location and we enjoyed our meal.

During our stay at Point Folly, Jack became quite the little ambassador, even if he didn't plan it that way. He loves to be outside and is totally accustomed to being in his harness and on a leash. Every now and then we'll go for "a walk" which usually involves Drew or I standing around while he sniffs things.

As I mentioned previously, our site was pretty much right on the road, so as folks walked by they were entranced with "the cat on a leash." Jack was good about letting folks pet him, and he became our goodwill ambassador. Our first night there two women stopped by to meet Jack and chat. Two days later they were out walking again and I heard, "There's Jack!" They shared that they had gone home and informed their husbands, "We met Jack today!" Another time we had a lovely conversation with a woman who was walking her dog, Wilson, a big English sheepdog (Jack completely ignored Wilson). Jack even tolerated the children in the site next to ours who wanted to pet him.

The other thing of note was the midges. The first night we were able to have a campfire. I put on long pants, but failed to realize I only had on anklet socks. My ankles got chewed up. Then, on our last evening, at one point I went inside and discovered the kitchen counter was covered in dead bugs, including the cats' water bowl. Eww - Yuck! Drew gallantly cleaned it up; we have no idea how they got there, why they were all dead, and why they were only on the kitchen counter. After we got home I discovered the sills of the windows were also full of dead midges.

It has been wet, and the ground was squishy on the backside of our trailer. When we pulled out and I retrieved the levelers I saw swarms of the buggers. Again, yuck.

So all in all, we had a nice time, despite some foggy and very humid weather. That said, I don't have a burning need to return to the Point Folly campground. It was OK, but the sites for our size trailer are right on the road, by being the largest natural lake in CT, Bantam had a fair share of power boats, jet-skis, and activity, and our site was right by the dumpster. Bushes and trees blocked the view, but we got the noise and activity. We were in site 1. Site 3, also big enough for Wanda, looked a bit nicer.

Oh, and the dump station appeared to be overflowing the day we left (we gave it a miss and passed on using it).

While it was nice to be out camping and we enjoyed ourselves, I'm not sure there is enough there to make it a place we need to rush back to - too many other places to explore!