We just closed out this year’s camping season at our family
favorite – Northampton Beach Campground on Great Lake Sacandaga. Even though we have a true four-season travel
trailer, we always wind down our camping season in September or October – for a
couple of reasons. One, many of the
State Parks we favor in the Northeast close down on Columbus Day weekend. I’m sure that I could find a few private RV parks
that stay open later but, since our hearts belong to the State and National
Parks, giving up the spacious campsites and lovely natural views that we enjoy
so much in public campgrounds just doesn’t seem worthwhile to us. Two, in our neck of the woods, snow is not
unheard of in October. In order to
settle in the Creek Side on its pad up in the back where it spends the winter
months, Alan needs to back the 32’ trailer up the driveway, across the front
lawn, make a corner around the birch trees, guide it through two gates and
squeeze past the boat garage. Did I mention that we live on the side of a small mountain, so it's an uphill battle for part of the way? If you saw
him pull off this maneuver, I’m betting that you’d just stand right up and
start clapping. It isn’t a feat for the
faint of heart. Once there’s snow on the
ground, it becomes Mission Impossible, especially since the turn around the
birch trees can be a bit slick in just rain, never mind snow. And there’s that little embankment to worry
about if you do start sliding on the turn.
While our Creek Side would allow us to enjoy winter camping, we always
tuck it safely away before the first snow flies.
It was with happy hearts that we set out for Northampton Beach
in early October and with heavy hearts that we returned. (That last camping trip of the season hits me hard every time.) But this visit was SO much better than the
week we spent there in June when it rained.
Nearly. Every. Day. This time around? Delightfully sunny skies. Nearly! Every! Day!
