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Motorhome Experiences of Judy and Lyle Dean Lebsack
Nice view from Homerville, OH KOA parking spot. However, Judy waited until the cool of Monday morning to take the photo.
Stunning architecture in and around the World Trade Center, 9-11 Memorials and (below) the Oculus.
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August 11, 2021
Preparations for leaving include leaving the coach at Custom RV in Elkhart for repair of sun-damaged paint on the top corners.
Itinerary starting August 29, includes an RV park in New Jersey across from NYC, then to Cape May, NJ. Crossing into Maryland via ferry, then to historic Williamsburg, VA. After that, we visit the Outer Banks of the Carolinas, Charleston, and Savanah before heading back to Michigan. A month in all unless covid or hurricanes dictate otherwise. Wish us luck.
August 28, 2021
The motor home is provisioned as best we can remember our needs on the road. Lyle, not realizing his remaining strength, pulled the monitor for the tire pressure system off the dash and spent a lot of the day putting things back together. There may have been several discouraging words.
We plan to head east in the morning, stopping in eastern Ohio for the night.
August 29. 2021
About 4 1/2 hours from St. Joseph, MI is Homerville, OH. It is off the beaten path (Interstates) but we found the U.S. highways 20 and 224 were smoother than the Interstates. Probably a lesson there. Our RV park for the night, likewise, is off the beaten path, but pretty with helpful, cheerful staff. Just a brief rain shower on the way--enough to make Lyle want to wash the coach. He overcame the urge. Judy spent her time on arrival putting away all the items that we loaded prior to leaving MI. 90 degrees on the road, but comfortably cooler here in Homerville.
August 30,2021
Friendship Village RV Park in Bedford, PA was our goal today--about 4 hours driving--but we didn't count on miles and miles of construction on PA Turnpike. Yes, we paid extra for that. The narrowed lanes through construction were enough to keep Lyle alert. The RV park is part of a much larger retirement community, but very nice. Tomorrow, on to Jersey City, NJ--and looking at the forecasts, we will stay ahead of rain from IDA. Wednesday night, however, is an open question, but we plan to be safely parked. Just an aside on topography. We went from miles and miles of flat Ohio farmland Sunday, to hills and valleys of Pennsylvania today. All lush, green and beautiful!
August 31, 2021
It started drizzling as we left Bedford, PA this morning, but never turned into the steady or heavy rain we didn't want to drive in. Pulled in to Liberty Harbor RV Park about mid-afternoon. "Park" is a stretch. This is an urban parking lot with extremely high rates, but the only one convenient to Manhattan. The forecast is promising a lot of rain over the next 36 hours from Ida. We'll see. This is Judy's first trip to NYC, so she photographed her first views of the Manhattan skyline. Tomorrow we hope to see longtime friends Lee and Nancy Simonson, but heavy rains may delay that.
September 1, 2021
So, here is a question about blessings. For the record, Judy and Lyle feel extremely blessed for all that we have in our lives, but here is a specific question. Is it better to feel blessed that the torrential rains that were forecast and did not materialize OR feel the opposite that we postponed long-planned events with our friends in Manhattan?
Nonetheless, the events were postponed, but when the morning rain ended, we decided to explore the area near the RV Park in Jersey City, including a photo of the lower Manhattan skyline from across the Hudson River. We stopped at the Jersey City 9-11 Memorial honoring its residents who perished that day.
Most of you on this blog know Lyle's affinity for boats. He found a rehabilitated river barge. It is now a whimsical ( yes, that is a 10 ft. fake alligator basking on the cabin top) house boat named Memories Motel.
September 2, 2021
Ida came through last night. An understatement, for sure. High winds, horrible rains, several tornadoes in the NY area. When the tornado warning came over our cell phones, there was no secure building to shelter in. The facilities at the RV park are all modular buildings, no better than a motor home--so we stayed. Remember yesterday's blog about blessings? We were blessed over and over last night. Lots of flooding, including the subways. Before we gave up and went to bed, about midnight, rainfall amounts ranged over 12 inches in parts of New Jersey, but closer to us in Jersey City the rainfall totals were over 8 inches at midnight, and it was still raining! The motor home got bumped around a lot, but looking out this morning with sunshine, one would ask, "what storm?"
September 3, 2021
Sadly, the answer to that question came in the news that nearly 50 people died in the flooding rains that bombed the NYC and NJ areas. We were very fortunate to have made it unscathed.
Our first stop off the ferry from NJ was the World Trade Center with its 9-11 Memorials. We will tour the museum later in the week.
We spent this afternoon with NYC friends Lee and Nancy Simonson. They graciously gave us a walking tour of city neighborhoods--Tribeca, Chelsea, Greenwich Village and West Village. Included was a visit to the Highline, an abandoned elevated rail line through the meatpacking district that has been transformed into an elevated urban garden/park. The day was topped off by a wonderful dinner at RH. RH stands for Restoration Hardware. This was unlike any Restoration Hardware we've ever seen--a high-end furniture and funishings show room!
Judy and Lyle also marked the 10th anniversary of their first date with the RH dinner.
Later on September 3, 2021
We navigated from New Jersey via ferry and subway (and walking) to the Empire State Building for a tour/visit to 86th floor observation deck (think Sleepless in Seattle).
It was a spectacularly clear day to view NYC. Had lunch and dragged our way back the same way we came--subway, ferry and more walking. Lyle's great calling on returning to the coach was a nap.
September 4, 2021
Today, we meet with Lee and Nancy Simonson for a tour of the 9-11 Museum, where Nancy volunteers. Neither of us were prepared for the emotional gravity of actually seeing parts of the World Trade Center towers after the attacks. Personal stories of survivors also helped frame the context of our own memories of that horrible day.
There are several "museums within the museum" that further added to the experience. When we walked into a section that featured audio and video broadcast clips, Lyle realized the difference between solemnly remembering and the pain of reliving that day. He chose to wait outside the exhibit. Among the photos to the right are the broadcast antennas that topped the WTC. After that important, but emotional experience, we went to lunch along the Hudson River.
September 5, 20 21
We attended historic St. Thomas Episcopal church on 5th avenue, after "attending" online for more than a year. Why that particular church? Our young talented friend Nicholas Quardocus who grew up in Judy's home church in Michigan was, until recently, assistant organist at St. Thomas Fifth Avenue. More about Nicholas later in our trip. One of the most striking features of the church is its altar, which is shown to the right.
Lee and Nancy Simonson met us after church and walked us back to their beautiful upper west side apartment for a delicious lunch. After lunch, we toured part of Central Park where Lee volunteers as a guide. One of the features is the Simonson family bench, so commemorated with a brass plaque. The tour included a beverage stop at the famous Tavern On The Green. Lee and Nancy clearly love their city and we thank them for showing us parts we likely would have missed.
Labor Day
No visit to NYC would be complete without the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Lyle's grandparents were among the 12 million who passed through Ellis Island on their way to freedom. It was a difficult time, since their three young children were put in quarantine for measles (?) and not allowed to see their parents for three days. Language was an issue, too, and the parents did not know the whereabouts or fate of their children. In those days, it was common to send diseased immigrants back to their point of origin. It eventually all worked out and the family was reunited. Lyle photographed a photo of what the Ellis Island hospital looked like in 1911. It was from one of the windows of the hospital that Lyle's worried and anxious grandmother spotted her children waving to her. We also visited the huge hall where all immigrants--5,000 each day--faced realities of their new land.
September 7, 2921
We tried to use the sewer dump facilities at the Jersey City RV park, since there is no sewer service at each RV lot. Too tight, thanks to people parking wherever they feel like. So, we headed out of the park on the only recommended route. Seemed easy enough, except for the street being closed for repairs. The only alternate was narrow side streets, which did not suit a large motor home. It took Judy and two helpful construction workers to help Lyle negotiate the tight turns. One box truck driver was not cooperative in allowing us to pretty much take the whole street. Judy says one of the construction workers yelled in truck driver language for him to move. He moved.
We eventually took the Garden State Parkway to Cape May. Nice road, but stay out of the far right lanes because the overpasses are arched. Vertical clearance in the middle lane is good. Right lane, not so.
September 8, 2021
After a leisurely (lazy) morning, we took Uber into downtown Cape May for lunch and a walk to see their magnificent Victorian homes, many of which are now bed and breakfasts. Hundreds of these restored beauties are viewable in Cape May.
September 9, 2021
Light rain as we headed to the Cape May-Lewes, Delaware ferry. The loading process was efficient and smooth for the 90 minute ride across the Delaware Bay. Once on the road, Lyle argued with the Google lady and finally got out the atlas and did things the old way. About an hour out of Chincoteague, VA, the rain got heavier and followed us into the RV park (for a couple more hours). The park collects rain water as if it were a precious commodity.
Our journey across the PA Tollroad featured at least four tunnels. No incidents, but they are still not Judy's favorites
Photo above explains the rubble of stairs recovered for the museum. Below: Remains of broadcast antenna from top of WTC.
The 9-11 Museum also features inspired artwork, such as the wall below, depicting the clear blue skies that fateful morning
Left: Motor home aboard ferry from NJ to DE. Below: Outside our front door in Chincoteague, VA RV park.