We rented out our house for the month of July to some great friends wanting to escape the heat of Hilton Head, so it was time for us to hit the road again. We decided to head north and spend 4th of July in our nations capital with Elizabeth and Tyler and of course Chipper!
We spent the first day on the road with an overnight stay at a horse farm in Virginia. Scooby wasn't too sure of the horses but the location was beautiful.
The next day we drove to Maryland and left the RV at a campground. We then drove our car to Elizabeth and Tylers new (rental) house in Arlington, VA. They have had enough of apartment living in DC and were able to find a really cute house that isn't too long of a commute to work.
Elizabeth still works for Senator Ted Budd at his office near the capital. We had four fun days, but it was HOT! Bob helped with a few projects around the house, we went to a baseball game and the highlight of the trip was all the 4th of July festivities including a neighborhood picnic and the fireworks over the Washington Monument.
After leaving Elizabeth's we headed north with an overnight stop in Pennsylvania.
Then on to our destination of Barker, NY. We had signed up to work a project with SOWERS. (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready). The is an RV ministry group that serves for 3 weeks at a time helping various Christian organizations. We have done projects in the past with a similar group called NOMADS. We served at a place called Lighthouse Christian Camp on the shores of Lake Ontario. It was a really pretty location with many summer cottages, RV spots, cabins, and even their own church building with a different paster each Sunday giving the message.
We met Janelle and Marty Jorgenson, our awesome group leaders. The 4 of us were able to accomplish a lot in our short time here.
Our first assignment was putting together picnic tables which involved cutting the boards, drilling holes and assembly. 11 tables were put together. Then for the next 2 weeks Janelle and I spent most of our time in the men's bathhouse/restroom! From pressure washing to painting 2 coats of paint. Boy did it look much better when we were done.
Bob and Marty painted 1/2 day with us but quickly were moved onto an electrical job that took up most of their time here. They did a lot of rewiring in the sanctuary which is actually an old airplane hanger! Their work also included cleaning gutters and installing sound boards in the dining room among other various jobs.
Janelle and I finished up our service with painting picnic tables. Not too bad with views like this! The cool breeze from Lake Ontario sure helped on the hot days.
You can't have all work and no play! On the weekends Bob and I did some sightseeing in the area. We visited Lockport, NY where they have restored some of the original wooden locks on the Erie Canal. And I know that Marty and Janelle went to see Niagra Falls. We didn't go with them since we had just been there last year.
We enjoyed a full day in Buffalo, NY where we ate our way through a farmers market, visited the waterfront area where there are old naval ships, a submarine and aircraft. We finished the day eating some of those famous Buffalo wings and they didn't disappoint!
Next door to Lighthouse CC is a state park that has an old lighthouse you can tour that used to keep sailors off the rocks of Lake Ontario. We spent another day in East Aurora were we had lunch at a historic inn and visited a Hugh 5 and dime store called Vidlers. There is a great Amish store near the camp called Millers Bulk Food and Grocery where we did all our shopping. Amazing fresh food including some of the best hammers I've ever eaten! (Forgot to take photos of that)
Our time here is finished and we are heading slowly south with the next stop at Letchworth State Park, supposedly the "Grand Canyon of the East" I'll let. you know in our next blog! But for now, enjoy some random scenes from the camp including the beautiful sunsets we watched almost overnight!
