I ended my last post saying we would head over to Skaneateles. We’d heard that it was a fun touristy stop. Our plan was to head east on US20 along the northern tips of the Finger Lakes. We drove through the little villages of Geneva, Waterloo and Seneca Falls before we reached Skaneateles. All of the villages were quaint with narrow streets and nowhere to park with the exception of a visitor’s center in Geneva that we saw too late to pull in.

It was farmers’ market day in Skaneateles. I was hoping to park in town by the public park at the tip of the lake so we could wander around. It wasn’t possible. All of the parking spaces were full and the side streets were too narrow to park our rig. The small downtown area of Skaneateles has many interesting shops and restaurants that we would have liked to explore, but we continued eastward.

Donna was looking through the Escapees Days End directory and other resources for dry camping or discounted campgrounds. We had two nights to fill before we can check in at Central Bridge near Donna’s parents where we are booked for a week. Our route was taking us along the northwestern edge of the Appalachian Mountains. The road was constantly rising and falling before us in short, very steep climbs and descents. These were some of the steepest roads I’ve traveled. We were either going downhill with the jake brake on the high setting or going uphill with the pedal to the metal. Most of the grades were short – less than 1/2 mile, but there were a few longer ones.

At the junction with I-81, Donna told me to get on the interstate and head south. She found a park in Cortland with a Passport America rate of $14. She also found a park near Davenport, just east of Oneonta with an Escapees rate of $19. We stopped near the park in Cortland and discussed our options. The Passport America rate was only good for one night and they didn’t have a pull-through site. We would have to drop the trailer, which I prefer not to do for a one-night stay.

The park near Davenport was another 80 miles away. However, the Escapees rate could be applied to two nights and they had a large pull-through site. The downside was no sewer at the site, only 30 amp electric and fresh water. I was tired but voted to continue on to Beaver Spring Lake Campground near Davenport (map). We could set up quickly and not drop the trailer, plus we could stay two nights. And Donna has family in the area that she had hoped to see on this trip.

We stopped and topped up the fuel tank at a truck stop in Cortland. We took on 47 gallons at $2.95/gallon which is higher than we pay out west but a good price for this area.

Dry camping opportunities are not as plentiful in the east as they are west of the Missouri River. I don’t think the Walmart parking lots are available for overnighting anywhere in New York. There isn’t any open public land like the large BLM holdings in the west. Being spontaneous about overnight stops doesn’t work as easily in the east.

We checked in at Beaver Spring Lake Campground around 4pm. We were directed to a large pull-through double site. They don’t take credit or debit cards here, cash or check only. This has us positioned to to make the 45-mile drive to Central Bridge on Saturday.

Large open site

No neighbors tonight

Our site is large and spacious, but not at all level. I put my wood pads below the jacks on the left side of the coach which needed to be raised considerably.

We had fair weather all day and drove without running the air conditioner. We slept with the windows open last night and the coach was a chilly 61 degrees this morning. Today the forecast calls for a high in the upper 70s with mostly sunny skies. Tomorrow is supposed to be more of the same.