FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 8

Our friends all left this morning. We are staying one more night.

After all the goodbyes were said Cath and I headed to the grocery to score a few more packs of scrapple. They have our favorite brand.

Back at camp we hung out and slowly started packing up. In the afternoon when it got hot we cleaned out two of our closets in the camper. After eight years we found things we had forgotten we even had. Things we have not been using found their way to the dumpster!

We had our last campfire and then gave the rest of the wood to a family just down from us.

It's been a fun week, but it's time to go home.

Next Blog Post will be 30 Oct 24.

  

FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 7

After the Farewell Potluck Breakfast everyone pitched in to tear down the canopies and clean up site #114 where all the potlucks and events were held. We had it all finished by 1000 and the Rally Hosts departed for home. After that probably 70% of the FROGS departed. Our friends are staying until tomorrow and Cath and I will leave on Tuesday.

For the most part we hung out at camp and just relaxed. It's been a few to many late nights in a row. 

We did go out to any early dinner with our friends at "Fat Cowboy BBQ". A good time was had by all.

So here's today's camper story. After we had been here for three days the fresh water tank was empty! We do not have water hookups. I could not fathom that we had used that much water so quick but I just filled the tank again! Today, later in the morning Cath called me into the camper and said the toilet was totally full. I looked and sure enough the water was right up to the flush valve! After a little investigation I noticed the toilet continued to run after a flush. The pedal valve was not totally closing therefore filling the black tank (that's where all our fresh water had been going). I got the "blue tote" out and dumped the black tank. We will just turn off the on board water pump for the next few days when we are not using water. We actually dodged a bullet, the toilet could have overflowed all over the bathroom and camper.YUK!!

FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 6

There was no potluck breakfast this morning. We had scapple and scrambled eggs at our campsite with our friends Chris & Jean and Bob & Marie. Cath and I had found some Rappa Scrapple at the local food store. We also got some extra to take home.

I went for a really nice e-bike ride with one of the other FROGS. We found a lot of biking trails that I did not know existed even after all the times we've been to this State Park.

There was another potluck for dinner and a campfire at our site after that.

We did a group picture this year. Here's the gang.

Most folks left the campfire around 2200, but a few stayed to yak some more. I finally crawled into bed around midnight. When we get home we will have to catch up on our sleep!

 

FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 5

The day started with a pancake breakfast at the Rally Host's campsite. After that everyone was on their own to explore the park or Binghamton. 

We spent the day around camp doing a few chores and talking to the other FROGS.

Here's a pic of our site and the new mylar cover for our screen tent. It reflects the sun and keeps the tent about 10 degrees cooler. Our friend Jean (also a FROG) made it for us. She is quite the seamstress!

Dinner today was a potluck at the Rally site. I think we all had a taste of everything. Here's a few pics.

After the potluck everyone was introduced and had to relate a short story about a camping experience. Some of the stories were not so short! Then we had a raffle. Cath and I scored a nice FROG golf umbrella and a cute stuffed frog.

We got back to our site around dusk and sat by the campfire with Chris and Jean until about 2200. Then it was off to bed. It's been a busy, fun day! 

FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 4

Today was the actual first day of the Rally. We all did registration, picked up our T-shirts, and got our raffle tickets. The Rally traditionally has a "Get Together, Meet N' Greet Campfire" on the first night. The folks that normally host it are not here this year. Ron (the organizer) asked this morning if Cath and I could host it. Of course we said "Yes"! Here's a few pics.

Before the Campfire Jean and Chris, Bob and Marie, and Cath and I had an early dinner at our favorite local brewery. The food was good and the beer was even better. They had a great Hefe Weizen!

We didn't get to bed until almost mid-night. I can't remember the last time I was that late to bed!

FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 3

Well yesterday was not our last day of rain. We had a good gully washer in the morning, but the rest of the day was nice. In the evening it started again. The NOAA weather radio was blasting severe thunderstorm warnings and flash flooding. We picked up another 2 inches! The good news is that IS the last of the rain for the next 4 or 5 days. The weather for the Rally should be great!

We put up or new screen gazebo. It goes up in minutes. Our friends next door made us a mylar rain cover that also doubles as a sun deflector. It keeps the interior about 10 degrees cooler than outside.

We did a little camp maintenance and then spent the afternoon sitting around yakking and watching other campers arriving. We did have this little Japanese car ride through the campground. 

We had dinner with friends. They made a super good Fish Stew. Here's a pic of the crazies. Notice the wine glass...LOL

It was another fun day, but everyone is looking forward to some nice, un-humid weather.

  

FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 2

It rained most of the night and into the morning. The park office rain gauge measured 2 inches! Our campsite was soaked this morning, but some sites turned into small ponds.

By mid-morning it had for the most part dried up, but the humidity stayed! I spent the morning getting everything set up. Here's our new campsite sign and the Frog we borrowed from camping host friends in Georgia.

We had FROG friends arrive on both sites that are next to us. One couple hosted in Georgia this past year at Santee SP. The other couple we met at our first Rally (3 years ago).  More friends arrived at other sites and we all spent the afternoon at our site catching up on news and telling lies!

We did run into town for a few things we forgot. On the way back into camp I noticed this fungus. The thing is a foot across!

Cath made Fried Rice and eggrolls for dinner and we cooked it on the flattop. Some of our friends stayed for dinner. After dinner Chris and I left for the fishing hole. Only one trout was caught, but Chris nailed a really nice bass.

Back at camp Cath and I put everything outside away as we have more rain forecast. This should be our last bout of rain for the trip. After tomorrow weather is forecasted to be nice for the rally and the weekend.

All is well in the Boss Camp.

 

FROG Rally, Chenango Valley SP, NY Day 1

We woke up to a beautiful morning after a really nice full "Buck Moon". It was super bright last night I could see across the yard! 

By 1000 we were on the road enroute to Chenango Valley State Park near Binghamton, NY. This will be our third FROG (Forest River Owners Group) Rally. The rallies are always fun and we get to meet lots of new campers. The drive was nice, backroads with little traffic. We arrived at the park around 1230, filled up with water and headed to our site. Thunderstorms were in the forecast and by 1430 they were happening. We did very minimal set up as it's supposed to rain well into the evening.

Here's a pic of the site before the rain started.

The camper is in great shape after the May 2024 fiasco. I made a little memento of one of the worst accidents from May.

The whole in the roof is temporally patched from above. It will be total fixed in September when we have the roof repaired and sealed.

The site next to us is totally flooded as I write this. Good thing no one is there! We will hunker down the rest of the afternoon and evening and finish set up tomorrow if the weather breaks. The rally doesn't start until Thursday.