Robert Moses Start Park – Towing Silver: Kim Davison's Travels

I am just about as far north as I can go in New York State. This is really upstate New York, and it is right on the Saint Lawrence Seaway.

I got to the park, and managed to find the office, which was in a different part of the park from the campground. I got registered and the pleasant worker gave me a map to help me find the campsite. Things were going fine, until I came to the end of a dead end road.

This was indeed puzzling. According to the paper map she gave me, I should have been heading in the right direction. I turned on Google maps and saw the turn that I missed. Now that I knew where to go, all I had to do was BACK UP A QUARTER MILE!

I took a deep breath or two and got ready to back myself out. I had to course-correct a few times, but I got back to where I should have turned. It would be nice if they had put a sign at the place were I should have turned. I can’t believe that I am the first person has had this problem.

I made the turn and got myself to the site. The person right behind me kindly offered to spot me while I maneuvered into the spot. It was a narrow road, and I was in front of him. I guess he didn’t have to help, but he couldn’t get to his site until I got out of the way.

I made use of the shower at the campground. I have to admit that I don’t have a clue as to what this sign on the women’s restroom meant.

So, if any of you out there in the blog-o-sphere has an idea, please let me know.

The first day, I just took care of business and got settled in. In addition to the shower, I tidied up the trailer a bit and did some grocery shopping. The next day it was time for fun!

Yes! I got to watch a ship go through the Eisenhower Lock! Oh, the things that fascinate me. I wonder if there is somewhere I can go watch paint dry?

Actually, I went by early in the day and inquired about when the next ship would be coming through. The guard told me that they had one scheduled to come through around 5:30, so I went back to the trailer for a bit. When I returned, I brought the leftover Popsicles I had bought as part of my “liquid diet” that I was to follow before the colonoscopy while I was in Kalamazoo.

The funny thing is that I don’t much care for Popsicles. After all the years of teaching and using Popsicles as end of the year ~~bribes~~ uh, treats, any childhood fondness I had for them had long since disappeared.

You know I always like to read signs and plaques. This one at the park near the lock puzzled me.

Now, I know that the War of 1812 was fought all along this area. I don’t doubt that there might have been something significant that happened here. But, why is there a sign about the Treaty of Ghent? For the geographically disadvantaged, Ghent is in the Netherlands.

I returned at the proper time. While I was waiting, and after I handed out the Popsicles, I struck up a conversation with the folks on the deck. I had one of my fellow tourists snap a shot of me pointing at Canada while wearing the tee shirt I picked up at Pancho Villa State Park in New Mexico.

The most southern state park to the most northern state park – at least this year!

The ship was running a bit late, but it finally arrived at the lock.

It entered the lock and made its way in.

The children were watching in rapt attention. Well, at least until I snapped the photo.

The ship kept coming.

I can finally see the name on the bow – Tecumseh. If you’d like to know where the ship is now or where it has been, you can click here. The day I saw her, she was carrying wheat.

Those poor ships take a beating when they are going through the locks.

At long last, the ship is all the way in the lock. You can see the gates closed in front of it. I think that red beam must be there to let it know that this is as far as it can safely go in the lock. I don’t know if it is, but I can see no other purpose for it.