Into the Woods!

After taking Manhattan by storm, we continued with the Broadway theme by going Into the Woods – The Woods Campground in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, that is!  The Woods Campground was the seventh gay campground we stayed in since we started full-time RV traveling.  We actually stayed at The Woods Campground on many occasions prior to full-time RV traveling.  Our first stay there was with our very good friends Drew and Michael, who we would be seeing on this visit too.  Drew and Michael sang with Tim in the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus and were some of the first people Tim met and became friends with when he joined the chorus in January 2005.  Drew and Pat also have in common their love for “Drum Corps” (more on drum corps later in this blog post).  Drew and Michael have a semi-perm site at The Woods Campground, meaning they park their RV (an Airstream) for the entire season and travel back and forth from their home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, whenever they want to during the season.

On the way to The Woods Campground, we stopped at a grocery store in Jersey City and picked up some items we had ordered from Amazon at an Amazon Locker location nearby.  We generally try to avoid tolls, but this time our Google Maps app, avoiding tolls, led us to a draw bridge that we were not allowed to cross in the RV.  So, we had to turn around and decided we would pay the toll on I-78 ($21) to avoid having to go far out of the way (we both bitched about the fact that interstates should not be allowed to charge a toll and there should be a decent alternative available without having to pay a toll – does that make us sound like grumpy old men?).  We finally made it The Woods Campground, which has a dirt road prior to the entrance (what is it with gay campgrounds and dirt roads?).  Our RV site was gravel with a picnic table and fire pit (no grill) and was directly in front of Drew and Michael’s RV site, although Drew and Michael would not be arriving until later that weekend.  

The theme for the weekend was – you guessed it – Bear weekend.  It rained after we set up but stopped in time for us to attend the dance party that evening, which had a neon and white theme.  We made friends with Mike and Louie, who were both more than three sheets to the wind, so we enjoyed listening to their hilarious drunk ramblings.   

The following day, our first full day at the campground, Pat got up early to put towels out at the pool for us and Michael (who would be arriving that day) because you have to get up early to claim a pool lounger.  Michael arrived around 11:00 a.m. and Tim helped him get organized because Michael had knee surgery two days prior and was a bit mobility impaired.  We stayed at the pool soaking in the sun most of the early afternoon.  It was very hot that day, which made it hot in the RV and not very comfortable to stay out at the pool for too long.  After we came in from the pool, Pat did some laundry.  In the early evening, Tim grilled some burgers for us and Michael; we also had fries.  

While removing the grill and other grill accessories, we noticed a water leak in that outside bin, which is directly under the bathroom.  We would need to get this fixed and wondered if it was related to the other mystery leaks we had seen on the bathroom floor.  After dinner, Michael took us around the campground in a golf cart he had borrowed, and we visited with some of Michael’s friends.  When the evening festivities started, we were too tired to participate (too much sun, heat, and afternoon drinking – and we are old).  The next day, Michael got up early to put out towels for the three of us, his friends Tony and Scott (who would be visiting that day), and Drew (who had finally arrived that morning but would only be at the campground for a short time because he had to go back to work).  We stayed at the pool most of the afternoon.  In the early evening, Michael grilled chicken for the six of us at his RV site; we also had beans and pasta salad.  We ate in front of Michael and Drew's outdoor fireplace as the evening brought cooler temperatures.

We then said goodbye to Tony and Scott and headed to the evening drag show, which was performed at an outside venue.  There was a 50/50 raffle at the show, and Tim won!  The prize was $300 but Tim donated half of that back to the charity that was the beneficiary of the fundraiser that evening (the Runway of Dreams Foundation, which empowers people with disabilities to have confidence and self-expression through fashion and beauty inclusion).  After the drag show, we went to the evening dance for a bit.

On our third full day at the campground, Michael took us to the grocery store and to buy beer and wine (Drew had left that morning because he had to go back to work).  It was finally a cooler day, which was nice.  That afternoon, Tim went out to the pool for a bit while Pat took a nap.  That evening, Michael grilled pork chops at his RV site and Pat made rice dressing.  We also had leftover beans and pasta salad, and Michael made brownies and lemon bars for dessert.  Michael’s friends Steve and Michael joined us for dinner.  The night had gotten so cool that we had to use the furnace in the RV that evening as we slept.  It was our last night of our first weekend at The Woods Campground (oh yes, we had another weekend there soon afterward, keep reading).

Our next destination was the Depot Travel Park in Cape May, New Jersey.  Cape May, founded in 1848, is a seaside resort town at the tip of southern New Jersey known for its grand Victorian homes.  It’s the antithesis of the “Jersey Shore” you may have seen on that reality show.  We arrived at our campground in the late afternoon.  We filled up our propane tank, then ventured out to our RV site, which was gravel with a picnic table (no grill or fire pit).  The first thing we noticed was that our RV site was very uneven.  It took us a while to find a good leveling spot, but we finally did.  That first night, Tim did some laundry while Pat worked on blog entries.

The next day, we took an Uber into town; it was about a 10-minute wait for the Uber and cost about $15.  We took the "Welcome to Cape May" trolley tour for newcomers, which took us to many of the Victorian homes and the lighthouse for which Cape May is famous.

After the trolley tour, we walked back to the beach front.  Then, we walked back to the main shopping area of Cape May and bought some souvenirs, fudge, and ice cream.  After our visit to the historic city, we walked back to our campground (about a 20-minute walk), stopping at a Farmer's Market along the way to buy some vegetables.

On our last full day in Cape May, Tim made some maintenance appointments; one to get our oil changed and one for our 20,000-mile servicing.  Then, Tim worked on blog entries while Pat made future RV campground reservations.  In the evening, we took an Uber back into town and had dinner at the Blue Pig Tavern, which is located in Congress Hall, a hotel that was built in 1816.  Tim had the whole roasted local fish (striped bass), while Pat had the lump crab cake; we shared deviled eggs and clam chowder as appetizers.  After dinner, we took an Uber back to the campground to rest up for our trip back to Into the Woods – The Sequel.

 

On the way back to The Woods Campground in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, we stopped at a place called Express Auto and Truck Services, in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, to have the oil changed in the RV because we were long overdue.  It was a little tricky to maneuver the RV into the parking lot of the facility, which was full of FedEx trucks (we guess they have a contract with FedEx to repair their vehicles), but we made it far enough for the mechanics to take the RV into the garage for the oil change.  We were there for several hours but were satisfied with the service and the facility.  Once we made it closer to Lehighton, we stopped for groceries at a Shop Rite grocery store in Brodheadsville.  The grocery store also housed an Amazon Locker, where we picked up items we had ordered.  Upon our return to the campground, we had the same site that we had stayed in during the previous weekend.  This time, however, we had issues with our water pressure, which we didn’t have the last time.  We decided then that having someone come out to look at the water pressure issue was our next maintenance job.

We stayed at the campground on our first day back, but the next day Michael and Drew took us to their house in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where we would be staying for the next two nights.  It was our first visit since Michael and Drew had purchased this house, so we had to get a tour upon arrival.  It is a very nice two-story home in a beautiful neighborhood.  Michael and Drew have already done a lot of work on the home and intend to do a lot more (we think they secretly enjoy upgrading their home and yard, since they do a lot of work themselves). 

After the tour of their home, we went to Musikfest in downtown Bethlehem.  It is billed as the largest FREE music festival in the nation, and this year it was celebrating 40 years!  It is 10 days of great, live music on 16 different stages throughout Bethlehem’s historic district and the SteelStacks arts campus.  It also features 49 food and crafts vendors.  Various restaurants in downtown Bethlehem participate by offering discounts on beer if you buy a Musikfest mug (Michael and Drew let us borrow some of theirs).  We enjoyed walking around and drinking beer from our mugs, then we had an early dinner at a restaurant called F and A Grog House; Tim had wings and Pat had a burger.  Michael and Drew’s neighbor, Dave, joined us for dinner.

After dinner, Michael and Drew came with us to the Drum and Bugle Corps competition in nearby Allentown, Pennsylvania, produced by Drum Corps International.  This was really our purpose for being at The Woods Campground for a second weekend, since both Pat and Drew are huge drum and bugle corps fans.  In fact, in the early 1980s, Drew was the drum major for Santa Clara Vanguard, one of the top drum and bugle corps!  A drum and bugle corps is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard that perform on-field competitions and those in the corps must be younger than 21.  Competitive drum corps takes part in a summer tour, visiting various cities around the country and participating in competitions. Competitions occur on football fields. Every year, each drum corps prepares a single show, approximately 8–12 minutes in length, and carefully refines this throughout the entire summer tour. This focus on a single show takes advantage of the large amount of time needed to hone and refine a modern drum corps program, with a momentum that continues to build toward the last performance of the season – championships. We had been to the drum and bugle corps competition in Allentown many times since we moved to New York City.  This year was as fun and exciting as always. Before the drum corps competition, we had dinner at Hamilton Family Restaurant (Ham Fam), which is our tradition in Allentown for drum corps.  Tim had the club sandwich and Pat had Fish & Chips.

After the show, we went back to Drew and Michael’s home and sat outside for several hours drinking and talking.  Drew and Michael’s neighbors, Dave and Trish, joined us.  We loved meeting them and talking with them as they are funny, smart, and inquisitive. The next morning, Michael made us breakfast and that afternoon we went back to Musikfest with Drew before another exciting evening of drum corps competition.  The next morning, Michael and Drew drove us back to The Woods Campground to get our RV.  Then, we were off to our next destination.

 

Review of The Woods Campground in Lehighton, Pennsylvania

Located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, The Woods Campground sits on 161 acres with streams, a four-acre lake, and spacious campsites.  There are approximately 72 RV sites available for rent (the remaining RV sites are for seasonal and permanent campers).  The RV sites vary in size and there are a few sites that can accommodate RVs that are 45 feet long; each has a picnic table and fire pit.  Some RV sites have full hookups, and some have only water and electricity.  There are also approximately 11 cabins of varying sizes; some have air conditioning and heat, refrigerators, televisions, and microwaves and some have no amenities.  The campground also has 3 “tiny homes” for rent, that have full kitchens and all of the amenities you would find in an apartment.  Tent camping is also available at approximately 80 sites.  In addition, there are “overflow” areas for RVs and tent campers with no hookups.

Other amenities include a large pool area, café, clubhouse, fitness center, amphitheater (we saw a drag show there), volleyball courts, multiple bathroom/shower facilities, store (with convenience store groceries and other items), and a laundry facility.  In addition, the campground has a theme each weekend and activities related to the theme such as pool competitions, dance parties, and parties hosted by neighborhoods in the RV Park on some weekends.  There is also a bar that serves the pool area next to the café and is open during nightly events. 

We have now stayed at six other gay campgrounds since we started full-time RV traveling, and The Woods Campground is our favorite so far.  Sure, it was our first before we started full-time RV traveling, but we don’t think that has clouded our judgement.  We love it because the pool, café, bar, and clubhouse for dance parties and other activities are fairly easy to get to.  Additionally, the pool is large and there are a lot of lounge chairs, the people are nice and easy to meet, and there are a lot of fun activities.  We will definitely be staying at The Woods Campground many more times in the future!

 

Review of The Depot Travel Park in Cape May, New Jersey

The Depot Travel Park is located just one mile from the beaches on the Jersey shore and the quaint Victorian town of Cape May.  The campground has 240 sites that can be used by RVs or tent campers.  Most sites have full hookups, but some have water and electricity only.  Each site has a picnic table, but no grill or fire pit.  Amenities include a new laundry facility and two playgrounds.  There is also a pavilion with a fireplace.  Campers can rent a golf cart for traveling through the campground and on nearby streets.  Additionally, campers can fill up propane tanks on-site.

What we liked best about The Depot Travel Park was that it was within walking distance of historic Cape May and the beaches.  If we didn’t want to walk, it was easy to get an Uber and it wasn’t too expensive.  We didn’t like that our site was so uneven, but we will overlook that for the convenient location of the campground.  We probably would not return to Cape May again, but if we did, we would consider staying at The Depot Travel Park again.

New York, New York – We Made it There!

After leaving New York City eight months earlier, we were finally back!  Well, NYC-adjacent at least.  Our next destination was Liberty Harbor RV Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.  This RV Park is located literally on the Hudson River across from Manhattan.  We could see the Statue of Liberty from the campground!  

There is also a ferry that leaves for Manhattan steps away from the campground, and the Grove Street Station for the PATH Train (New Jersey’s version of a subway) was only about a 10-minute walk from the campground; you can take it to the World Trade Center Station in the Oculus in Manhattan.

Tim was very nervous about driving to the Liberty Harbor RV Park.  Google maps was telling us to drive down the west side of Manhattan and through the Holland Tunnel to New Jersey, but RVs with propane tanks can’t drive through the Holland Tunnel, and we were not about to drive through Manhattan.  Our RV GPS app (CoPilot GPS) was telling us to cross the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey, but we had crossed the GW Bridge many times when we lived in NYC, and we knew what a nightmare it could be because there is always a lot of traffic.  Folks on the RV forums recommended instead that we cross the Hudson River on the Governor Mario M.Cuomo Bridge (formerly the Tappan Zee Bridge), which is what we did.  From there, we drove south on U.S. Highway 9W, which runs adjacent to the Hudson River, to Tonnele Avenue (which we called “toenail avenue”), took a left on Route 139, and then south on Marin Street in Jersey City to the Liberty Harbor RV Park.  Although we had to drive through the heart of Jersey City, it wasn’t terrible (buses must go down these streets too after all).

When we arrived at the RV Park, we found our designated RV spot a little difficult to maneuver into because the RV Park packs the RVs in like sardines.  We finally made it into our spot, which was gravel.  We didn’t have any of the usual RV site amenities, like a picnic table, fire pit, or grill.  We had electric and water hookups, but no sewer hookups.  Those who follow our blog regularly know that that means we must shower in the RV park’s shower facilities so as not to fill up our gray tank.  The RV Park was a little surreal being surrounded by skyscrapers, but actually pretty nice and such a great spot to be able to get into Manhattan quickly.  

On our first full day at Liberty Harbor RV Park, Tim took the PATH Train into Manhattan for an appointment with his old dentist, Dr. Yan.  Afterward, Tim had lunch with some of his former co-workers (Rachel, John, Nadja, Emily, and Jocelyn).  Tim had a great time catching up on the lives of these cherished co-workers and was so glad to be retired when he heard some of the current work war stories.  After lunch, Tim took the subway from Wall Street into Brooklyn for an appointment with his old barber, Matthew.  Tim was pleased to finally get a great haircut (although an expensive one).  Tim then tried to pick up a prescription from his old Walgreens in Brooklyn, but it wasn’t ready. By this time, Pat had taken the PATH Train and then the subway into Brooklyn and was doing some reminiscing.  Pat got a little home sick wandering around our old neighborhood to our old apartment.  

Pat also got a haircut (from his much cheaper old barbershop) and a mani/pedi from his old nail salon.  Pat was able to pick up his prescription from Walgreens and he also mailed some gifts to the grandkids. Tim caught up with Pat outside our old apartment building, and we decided to have drinks at the bar across the street called The Brooklyn Inn (we always planned to visit there often when we first moved into that apartment because it was like our Cheers bar, but we rarely did).  

After a few drinks, we walked a few blocks to our favorite pizza place in Brooklyn, called Layla Jones (we used to order delivery from them at least twice a month).  After pizza, we headed back to the RV Park, where Tim took the opportunity to do some laundry.  That evening, there was some loud music coming from the pier parking lot adjacent to Liberty Harbor, which we were not happy about because the parking lot is supposed to be attended to by a security guard.  It stopped around midnight though and we were able to get a good night’s sleep.

The next day, we took the PATH Train to Manhattan and then the subway to meet our friends Kevin and Chuck for lunch at a restaurant called Rosemary’s in the West Village.  Tim had Tagliatelle Bolognese, while Pat had Branzino.  After lunch, we were late meeting our friends Kenneth and Alessandro for coffee and dessert at a place called Harbs in Chelsea (the Chelsea location is now permanently closed but the SoHo location is open).  After an hour we had to rush off to meet our friend Dorian for dinner at a restaurant named Joe Allen.  Tim had the chicken Caesar salad, while Pat had steak frites.  

Then, we were off to see the first Broadway musical on our schedule, "Some Like it Hot"!  This was a musical of the famous movie by the same name, but the story took a twist from the movie.  J. Harrison Ghee won the Tony for the Best Leading Actor in a Musical and was inspiring to watch.  We love musicals with big dance numbers and this one had several!  

On our last full day at Liberty Harbor RV Park, Tim took the PATH Train into Manhattan for an appointment with his old dermatologist, Dr. Leo.  After his appointment, Tim got a passport photo made because he needed to get his name changed on his passport.  Tim then went to a UPS Store to print out some paperwork and had lunch at his favorite Chinese Restaurant in Times Square called China River (Tim had his usual wonton soup and cashew chicken).  Meanwhile, Pat tried taking the PATH Train into Manhattan in the early afternoon because we had tickets to see the matinee of a Broadway musical called "Shucked".  Frustratingly, the PATH Train stopped running because of an incident near the destination station in Manhattan and it looked as if Pat was not going to make it into Manhattan for the matinee.  Tim went on ahead to the theatre and by some miracle, Pat was able to take a ferry into Manhattan instead and make it to the theatre on time. 

We enjoyed seeing "Shucked", which was a super corny (pun intended) newer musical on Broadway about a small town that is surrounded by the corn that they grow.  When the corn stops growing, hilarity ensues as they try to find a solution.  Alex Newell won the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical but sadly was not at this performance, but the understudy did a fantastic job.  It was a fun show to experience, and we are glad we both got the opportunity to see it. 

After the show, we met friends at a bar called Boxer’s in Hell’s Kitchen.  We had sent out a Facebook invitation to about a dozen people to meet us there, and were thrilled to see Dorian, Michael, David, Derek, Jacob, Jim, Ben, Bill, Allen, and Matty there.  Sadly, we were having so much fun we forgot to take pictures!  We spent several hours catching up with these friends and then headed back to Liberty Harbor RV Park just before the PATH Train stopped running for the night.

We had a very nostalgic trip to NYC via New Jersey.  There are many people and things we miss about living in NYC.  We decided then that we would have to return every year (RV or not) because it is a place we called home for so long.

Review of Liberty Harbor RV Park

Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, adjacent to the Hudson River across from downtown Manhattan, Liberty Harbor RV Park is the only RV park located this close to Manhattan.  You can see the Statue of Liberty from the RV park.  Surrounded by high rise buildings in Jersey City, the RV Park is also only a few blocks away from the Grove Street PATH Train Station, where you can catch a train into Manhattan. 

There are approximately 84 RV sites that accommodate RVs up to 45 feet long.  RV sites have electrical and water hookups, but no sewer hookups (a dump station is provided).  The RV sites have no other amenities such as picnic tables, fire pits, or grills (there isn’t room for these as the RVs are packed in close to each other).  There are also 12 sites available for tent camping, with no hookups.

Other amenities include a laundry facility and restroom/shower facility.  We found these facilities to be fairly clean and convenient.  There are also restaurants next to the RV park, or easy access to restaurants and bars in Jersey City.  Of course, the biggest plus about Liberty Harbor RV Park is that it is easy to get into Manhattan on either the ferry or PATH Train.  There you will find all that New York City has to offer!

Liberty Harbor RV Park is a bit expensive, but you would pay much more staying in a hotel in Manhattan (or Jersey City for that matter).  We were pleased that it was so convenient to New York City, and we would definitely consider staying here again.

The Smallest State

 

On our way to our next destination, we stopped in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to do some laundry at a laundromat because we had not been to a campground that had laundry facilities in a while.  While Pat started the laundry, Tim drove to a nearby grocery store, then a wine store.  When Tim was returning to the laundromat, it started to rain hard.  When we got back into the RV to continue our drive, we encountered a big storm.  Water leaked in through what we know is a small hole at the top of where the windshield connects to the cab, on the driver’s window, and between the slideout and the wall.  The roads began to fill with water and Tim had to drive carefully so as not to hydroplane.  

When we finally arrived at our destination, we only set up our electricity quickly (we did not hook up to water or sewer) and didn’t put the slide out until the rain slowed.  Our destination was Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground in Narragansett, Rhode Island, a much sought-after campground that we woke up extra early to book exactly one year before our visit.  Fishermen’s is the ninth state park we have stayed in since we started full-time RV traveling.  Our RV site was asphalt with a picnic table and a fire pit (no grill).  It was also a pull-through site, which was nice (90% of our RV sites are back-in sites). 

The next day, we finally hooked up to water and sewer, but couldn’t get good water pressure so we decided to use the fresh water tank instead (which meant refilling it a few times since we were there for seven nights).  Tim climbed to the roof of the RV to clean out the air conditioner drain to see if that was what was causing the small water leaks on the bathroom floor (it wasn’t). 

Having a full week to stay at one campground is a luxury because we have more time to relax and just be retired.  So, for the first few days at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground, we took it easy and relaxed.  Tim had some committee meetings and Pat made future RV site reservations.  We both took walks around the campground, to an adjacent trail through the woods, and to an overlook nearby.  

One of the nice things that stood out about the campground was that it was full of rabbits; we constantly had rabbits around the RV, which we enjoyed.  The not so pleasant thing is that there were many mosquitos and gnats.  Every time we opened the door more of them came inside the RV.  It would take us some time to get rid of all the gnats.

On our third full day at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground, we took a city bus to the ferry terminal at Point Judith to take the ferry to Block Island.  The bus stop was about a five-minute walk from the entrance to the campground, cost $2.50 for a one-way ride, and was only about a 15-minute ride to the ferry terminal.   

Block Island is a popular summer tourist destination known for its bicycling, hiking, sailing, fishing, and beaches. It is home to several historic lighthouses.  The ferry cost about $22 each for a round trip, took approximately 45 minutes each way, and gave us a great view of Block Island as we approached.

Once on Block Island, we ate lunch at the National Hotel.  Tim had a lobster roll and Pat had fish and chips; we both shared clam chowder for an appetizer.  After lunch, we walked about two miles (40 minutes) up hills to the historic Southeast Lighthouse, where we toured the museum and grounds.  The lighthouse was built in 1874, with the first lamp lit on February 1, 1875.  The main tower is 67 feet in height, with an octagonal granite foundation and brick exterior.  Because of ongoing erosion of the bluffs, in 1993 the entire 2,000-ton structure was moved about 300 feet back from the cliffs. The museum provided details on this extraordinary move, complete with pictures and eyewitness accounts.

After touring the lighthouse museum and grounds, we walked back to the ferry terminal and took the ferry back to Point Judith and the bus back to our campground.  The next day, we took a 10-minute bus ride to Scarborough State Beach, where we lay on the beach for several hours.  We each took turns wading out into the water, which was cold or refreshing depending on whether you ask Tim or Pat.  We took the bus home and relaxed for the remainder of the day.

The following day, Tim took the bus into town to pick up some prescriptions from Walgreens; about a 20-minute bus ride.  On our last full day at Fishermen’s Memorial, we again took the bus to the ferry terminal at Point Judith and had drinks at the George's Tiki Bar located on the beach.

Then, we had dinner at George’s of Galilee restaurant, where we were seated at a table with a beautiful view just as the sun was setting.  Tim enjoyed local bass, while Pat had the local cod.

We missed the last bus back to the campground, so we walked approximately 30 minutes back to the campground trying to avoid the mosquitos as much as possible.

Review of Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground

Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground in Narragansett, Rhode Island, is tucked back off from the main highway and filled with tree-lined paths.  Our particular RV site did not have any tree cover, but we were next to a lot of lush vegetation that attracted the many rabbits that live at the campground.  There are approximately 182 sites for RVs or tents at the campground: approximately 105 with full hookups, 41 with just electric and water hookups, and 34 with no hookups.  Each site has a picnic table and fire pit (no grill). Amenities include a playground, a viewing platform, walking paths, and bathroom/shower facilities.  There are no laundry facilities.

The campground is located close to state beaches and one mile from the ferry to Block Island.  Additionally, the campground is approximately a 15-minute drive to scenic Newport.  We liked that there was a bus stop located nearby that could take us to the beaches, ferry, and into town for groceries and restaurants.

The drawbacks were the mosquitos and gnats, but we don’t know if that is a constant at the campground or if we were just there at the wrong time.  It isn’t likely that we would come back to this area of Rhode Island, but if we did, we would consider staying at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park and Campground again.

A Reunion with Dallas (and New York) Friends

 

It rained most of the drive from Salem to Provincetown, Massachusetts.  At one point we rested from the rain for a little while by stopping to get gas and to eat sandwiches in the RV.  We arrived at our next destination, Coastal Acres Campground, in Provincetown, Massachusetts, just before the rain caught up with us again.  We quickly set up and waited out the rain.  Coastal Acres Campground, is the only RV campground located within walking distance of the shops, bars, and restaurants in Provincetown.  Our RV site was gravel, with a picnic table (no fire pit or grill).  We noticed right away that there were many bunnies at the campground. 

As the rain started again, we lost power at the campground and had to use our generator to warm up dinner in the microwave.  This, of course, had us worried about the house batteries again.  So, before we left the RV to walk into town, we set the generator to start automatically if the house batteries dropped below a certain percentage level and to turn off when quiet hours started at the campground.

We had been to Provincetown many times while we lived in New York City, but this trip was special because we were meeting our friends Michael and Steve from Dallas.  Tim and Michael met approximately 30 years ago when they sang together in the Turtle Creek Chorale.  Michael was one of Tim’s groomsmen in our holy union ceremony in Dallas in 1998.  Michael and Steve started dating 16 years ago (in fact, Michael and Steve were celebrating their anniversary on the day we arrived) and we loved Steve immediately when we met him.  Michael and Steve are two of our best friends in the world and we were thrilled to be able to spend some time with them.

 

Many of the summer weeks in Provincetown (or Ptown) have themes, and this week’s theme was Bear Week.  Somehow, we keep ending up in gay places that are celebrating Bear Week.  Bear Week in Ptown is notorious for being one of the most fun weeks in Ptown because the guys are generally a lot nicer and friendlier.  We found that to be true this time as well.  We walked from our campground to a bar called Shipwrecked Lounge to meet Michael and Steve for a drink after their anniversary dinner.  It was about a 20-minute walk.  We sat for hours laughing and catching up. We hadn’t seen each other in a long time so we had a lot to talk about; though, the thing about best friends is that you never run out of things to talk about.  When we returned to the RV later that night the power was back on, and the house batteries were fine.

The next day, we picked up rental bikes nearby and rode to the Boatslip for happy hour (called Tea by us gays).  The Boatslip is a hotel; it also has a pool, bar, and dance floor.  It is THE place to be in the afternoon to mingle.  At Boatslip, we saw friends of ours from New York City, Deyond and Todd, who also happened to be in Ptown that week.  They had dressed for the "Solid Gold" disco theme at Boatslip that afternoon.

That evening, we had dinner with Michael and Steve at a restaurant called Victor’s, which serves small plates like a tapas restaurant, but it isn’t tapas.  We shared plates of bread, empanadas, tuna, shrimp, pork dumplings, and meatballs.  When we were leaving, we discovered that someone had chained their bike to ours so we couldn’t leave.  A hilarious scene ensued when we walked around to each table to ask them if they had a bike named Winnipeg (rental bikes have names in Ptown so you can tell them apart).  Finally, someone fessed up to having the bike and we were on our way to Harbor Lounge for some after-dinner drinks.  After a sufficient number of drinks, we rode our bikes back to the campground.

The next day, Deyond and Todd invited us over to their place for lunch.  They grilled pork chops and had grilled corn, potato salad, and green salad, among other dishes.  They also made these fruit drinks that were basically pure vodka, so we had a fun afternoon.  We rode our bikes to and from Deyond and Todd’s place and stopped at the grocery store on the way home.  The paper bags we got at the grocery store lasted almost all the way home but tore as we hit a bumpy dirt and sand road just outside of the campground.  Nothing was ruined though.  That afternoon we went back to Boatslip for Tea.

That evening, we headed to a restaurant named Lobster Pot to meet Michael and Steve for dinner.  We love the Lobster Pot and make it a point to eat there every time we are in Ptown.  We each had lobster; Tim’s was boiled (traditional) and Pat’s was baked and stuffed with sauteed onions and Ritz crackers and blended with shrimp and scallops.

After dinner, the four of us went to see a show with a drag performer named Dina Martina, who has been described as a comedian, dancer, performance artist, and singer (note that the description doesn’t say she is great at any of those, which is part of her shtick).  The show was at one of the performance venues at The Crown and Anchor hotel, so we went early and had a drink before the show began.  After the show, we had more drinks at Shipwrecked Lounge and pizza slices at Spiritus Pizza (the late-night place to get pizza when you’ve had a few drinks), then we rode our bikes back to the campground.

The following day, you guessed it, Tea at Boatslip.  After Tea, we went back to the campground and Tim grilled bourbon chicken for Michael and Steve.  Pat also made a rice dressing and green beans, and we had Port wine for dessert and talked until late evening.

The next day, Tim made some videos for the GALA Board in the early afternoon, then we headed to Boatslip for Tea in the late afternoon, where we once again saw Deyond and Todd, and also ran into our friend Paul from Salem, who was there with a friend from Iceland named Ragnar.  It was Michael and Steve’s last day in Ptown, so after Tea we met them for drinks at Shipwrecked Lounge and the four of us then rode our bikes to a restaurant named Fanizzi's for dinner.  Tim had the Cajun Seafood Alfredo, while Pat had Puttanesca.  After dinner we biked back to our campground and Tim had a little spill on the same dirt/sand road that is a little bumpy entering the campground.  Other than a few scrapes and bruises, Tim was fine.

On our last full day in Ptown, we had a lot of rain in the early morning.  After it stopped raining, we returned our bikes in the afternoon and walked to Boatslip for Tea.  That evening we had dinner at a restaurant named Pepe’s Wharf, recommended by Michael.  Tim had the local Halibut and Pat had Lobster Ravioli.  We shared Lobster Bisque as an appetizer.  We sat outside on a very windy day, so excuse our hair in the pictures.

 

After dinner, we had drinks at a place called The Monkey Bar, where we briefly ran into Paul and Ragnar, who had been joined by Paul’s husband, Shawn.  After drinks, Tim got some ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s, while Pat bought some fudge.  We walked home and headed to bed to rest up for our trip to our next destination.

Review of Coastal Acres Campground

Coastal Acres Campground in Provincetown, Massachusetts, is just a 10-minute walk from Commercial Street, which is the main street in the heart of Provincetown.  There is even a shortcut from the campground to Commercial Street.  It is the closest campground to the shops, restaurants, bars, and other commercial activities in Provincetown.  The campground apparently used to be a little rundown in the past but has new owners and we found it to be clean, spacious, and friendly.

Coastal Acres Campground has approximately 125 sites for RVs and tents; however, many of the RV sites seemed to be taken by seasonal campers and some sites could not accommodate large RVs.  There are also RVs for rent if you don't have your own.  The sites for RVs are full hookup and each site has a picnic table but no fire pit or grill. 

Amenities include bathroom/shower facilities; however, the bathroom/shower facility located closest to our RV site was closed for renovations.  There is also a store located on-site for basic grocery and RV items.

In addition to being located close to Commercial Street in Provincetown, beaches are located only about 1.5 miles from the campground, so it is also possible to get to beaches fairly quickly (either walking or by bike).  In town, you can take whale watching tours, a tour on the local trolley, and tour the Pilgram Monument and Provincetown Museum.  It is easy to rent a bike, kayak, or boat.

If you like staying in Provincetown (and we do) this is the campground for you.  Despite the closed restroom/shower facility, we found the campground to be a nice place to stay.  We would definitely stay here again in the future if we were coming to Provincetown in the RV.