We were on our way early again on Wednesday morning. As usual, I spent some time the previous evening with Microsoft Streets and Trips, planning our route. Our Garmin Nuvi 760 is quite good at getting us to our destination, but MST is easier for laying out long drives because it lets one see the whole trip laid out on a larger map. Changes to any route are just a simple click and drag with the mouse. The Garmin imports all our destinations from MST no problem, but not the route. It plans that on its own, based on user preferred setting, ie no toll roads, no U turns, no traffic, etc. I found it was much easier and quicker using the interstates to get us into NY state, even though it was a little longer. Bottom line, yesterday's drive was about 6.5 hours on fairly flat and well maintained, multi lane roads instead of 5.5 hours through some pretty hilly areas of rural Pennsylvania.
Maintenance is always an issue with motorhomes. Our usual practice, once we have the Saturn hooked up, is for us to check all our lights, turn signals, brakes, etc to make sure all are in proper working order. Yesterday, one brake light on the motorhome was not working. We figured it was a bad bulb or fuse. With no spares on hand, we departed anyway and stopped at the first service plaza on I-70. While Chris went to Starbucks, I got out my screwdriver to remove the rear lense. Bulb was fine. Turned out just to be a bad contact is all. A quick cleaning and the bulb worked fine. Easy fix. We still have no left brake and signal light on the Saturn when it is attached to the motorhome. That has been out for a few days now. Think it is a bad diode in my Saturn's trailer lights wiring but we haven't been able to find a new one anywhere. The motorhome lights are higher than the Saturn though, so motorists have no trouble seeing them. May have to wait until we get back to Ottawa for a new diode.
So yesterday's route took us west along I-70 toward Pittsburgh, then north on I-79 to Erie before turning east on I-90 to Buffalo, NY. Not much traffic anywhere along the way until we hit Niagara Falls. Another sunny day until we got near our campground and then the rain started. This map will give you an idea where we are camped. Lazy Lakes is a very nice and well maintained campground. Sites are wide with a gravel pads and at first glance all sites are flat. We hardly needed any adjustments when we auto levelled. Partial hookups only though.
Last night, we buzzed into St Catharines to see my daughter, Lindsay for supper. That is only a 30 minute drive. The border crossing was painless, going and coming back. We enjoyed a great meal at one of her favourite restaurants, Dad's treat of course. After a quick tour of St Catharines, to see where she worked, we said our goodbyes and headed back to our campground.
Needless to say, we were both exhausted after a very long day. Oh yeah.....its still raining..........
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