grand finale

This morning we’ll pack up the RV to head home, full to the brim with memories and mementos. What a joy to experience the natural wonder of Niagara Falls again through each grands’ inaugural visit this summer.

We returned to Maid of the Mist and Cave of the Winds — and as with the big girls in July, we were not disappointed. With a tip of a hat to a smart-aleck Caribbean tour guide long ago… “We went to Niagara Falls and got wet.”

Thursday, the boys went salmon fishing and brought back three beautiful brown trout. We hear they taste like salmon, smoked? Here’s hoping!

Meanwhile, we girls opted for chillaxing day of Barbie play and camper cooking class, a.k.a. spaghetti dinner for our fishermen, chilled to the bone on Lake Ontario. One of us stayed in her PJs all day — any guesses?

All week long the grands enjoyed HTR Niagara amenities: nice pools and playground, occasional zip lining, a round of mini golf, and plenty of fishing. The campground is small enough that the boys were able to go off and fish to their hearts’ delight. The lake was large, shallow at the docks, and well-stocked. They were busy for hours on end, day after day. We lost track of how many fish they caught and released.

There was lots more to do, but the luxury of down time was appealing. It is a rarity on the RV-road to have nothing to do and time to do it. Make popcorn. Play a few hands of Rummy. Visit the playground. Picnic with a cousin-friend. Pop over to see family and let the kids swim. Take a nap. I’m not even kidding on the nap.

One of the pleasures of the road is enjoying food of another region. WNY serves up great flavors. Sunday afternoon, we were treated to beef-on-weck with all the trimmings, meal on wheels courtesy of our Albion people. Monday, after the Falls, we returned to La Galera for memorable Mexican. Wednesday we savored the salt, pepper & butter wings at Ray’s Tavern, meeting up with the Youngstown crew. Thursday afternoon, the boys returned with Paula’s Donuts in hand. Friday evening, we took in a Bisons game — Sahlen hot dogs for the boys and Upstate Farms ice cream for the girls. Bonus for all in fabulous fireworks display!

WNY had a true foodie adventure in store at the Korean BBQ & Hot Pot in Buffalo. Tuesday, after shopping ourselves silly at Cabela’s, we were led to our booth by a robot — the first clue this is not your average BBQ. The selection of broths, noodles and fixings for soups; the array seafoods, meats, veggies and “delicacies” (ugh) primed for the grill: overwhelming.

Admittedly, also, a stretch beyond my comfort zone. Little did I know you must prepare your own meal, each seat equipped with a hot pot and each table a communal grill. Felt a lot like working for my dinner! And a rather big ask, especially when kids outnumber adults. Just saying. But the boys couldn’t have been happier with such variety and unlimited seafood, especially crab!

This morning, I’m ready to get home. We all are, and a bit tired, too. I’m running through my to-do list and calculating time required for the large pile of laundry and labor unpacking, cleaning, and repacking the RV for long-term storage.*

Truthfully, we don’t know if this is the grand finale on RVing with grands. But oh, so grateful for the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13) in this RV-season.

We had no clue that 2020 COVID-crazed impulse-buy bumper-pull camper would lead … through a sizable swath of our beautiful country … quality time with Florida family … many wonderful new friends … sweet satisfaction in SOWER Ministry volunteerism … most especially, five summers of extraordinary opportunities to do life with our grands on the road!

Big trips, small trips, near or far trips, every day brought adventure and challenges. We learned a lot about each other, in true tiny-house fashion. Ha! But we always worked it out — as you must within a mere a couple hundred square feet. Conversations have gone deeper; relationships, too. God is faithful. I am grateful.

The grands are still sound asleep but I hear the Hubs stirring. We have nearly perfected pull-out day routine and will be on the road again soon. What a marvelous feeling to be headed home!

~Sincerely, Sondra

P.S. I surely don’t mind that we missed out on the aftermath of Hurricane Debby in the North Country. Yikes! Ever so grateful family and farm are safe and well, and she didn’t impact western New York this past week of RV-living.

We’d prefer to sell our fifth wheel during this RV-hiatus, an unknown duration of family commitments close to home. Looks likely we’ll store it instead. We’re good, either way! But please share the link if you know someone in the market for a family-friendly rig! Bit.ly/2022Momentum397THS