TheSamba.com :: View topic - NEW NY based VW camping club

Thu May 03, 2007 6:56 am

I just wanted to inform you Sambaholics about a new VW camping club for Upstate NY.
You can look us up or join @ ESVWCC Yahoo groups

VW Camping Club devoted to exploring great places to go camping in the Empire State of New York. Our aim is to stay within a few hours drive away and not burn too much gas/diesel getting there. We do not want to drive too far just to go camping and enjoy each others company.

Everyone is welcome to join in if you have a VW and enjoy camping. You don't have to have a VW camper you're more then welcome to take the beetle out and Tent it.. or even no VW at all YET but want the campfire commraderie and see/explore some of Upstate NY's great park resources..

Our innaugural campout is MAY 18-19-20 in Green Lakes State Park:
With local available activities including;
a groomed walking trail around the lakes shores
Erie Canal Tow path recreation trail
Frisbee golf
traditional golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones
and a jaunt over to Clark reservation State park also a Meromictic lake
Reservations can be made through Reserve America or NYS green lakes site follow Reserveation link upper right.
We are booking around sites 77thru 89~ sites are non-electric $16/night and reserve america dings you a $9 transaction fee (which really toasts my marshmallows :twisted: )

Thu May 03, 2007 7:06 am

The Empire VW camping club has nixed the plans for Old Forge in the lower ADKs on father's day weekend.

instead they are looking @ Sampson State park in the center of the fingerlakes, location of the Romulus naval station.

if interested, please check back when I get more details from the event co-ordinator..
Dan

Mon May 21, 2007 9:27 am

Pictures are up on the www.Limbobus.org site. They are in the "Green Lakes" photo album

Hi Guys,
After a great jaunt from Green Lake State Park we stopped off at Clark Reservation to experience additional glacial topography and erosional remnants. A third meromictic lake can be visited in this area. The Green and Round Lakes were a superb evidence of the turbulent glacial activities of the past in this area. Really cool. The forest and trees were also spectacular being a protected old growth.

We were all hungry and ended up at Danzer's German & American Restaurant

http://www.danzers.com/ Where every good trip should end.

Mark an I made our way north out of Syracuse. We saw one Westy Vanagon parked on 31/370 in Baldwinsville.

We did park to figure out why Mark's brake lights kept going out and blowing the fuse. Once we identified and insulated the hot lead we were good to go. We made it home around 6ish to Rochester.

All in all a very enjoyable and successful 1st campout for the Empire VW Club. More to come....

Joel Cort Co-founder of Empire VW camping club

Here are some of my photos:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/joel_cort/album?.dir.../my_photos
Group Email Addresses
Post message: Emp_VW_Camping_Club@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: Emp_VW_Camping_Club-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:52 pm

Quote: EVENT FOLLOW UP: http://www.limbobus.org/phpBB4/album_cat.php?cat_id=29
The 3rd event for 2007 in JULY @ Selkirk shores park was a HUGE SUCCESS with 15 VWs and many friends and kids enjoying the park, and nearby light house for the weekend.

ok time for the announcement of our 3rd monthly Empire VW campign event.

I took a day trip sat am up route 3 (Seaway trail) along the eastern Shore of lake ontario.

Southwick State park would be the optimal location is VERY popular and booked solid for all summer, with exceptioon of a few open sites on random weekends. But more on Southwick later.
I checked out a few of the private RV parks and campgrounds, and they jut don't have the atmosphere we are looking for.

Selkirk Shores State park is a tad closer to the Syracuse/Rochester routes, and have plenty of open campsites fro 7/29~31
I talked with the park ranger about our club, and they were amicable to the idea of bringing in VW campers from all over the state.

A bonus is they are open to 2 VW campers/6 people per site additioanl cars can park in the overflow.
So if we double up then these will be reasonable. Let us know if you are just 1 camper looking for a 2nd.
I generally make my reservations for 2 vehicles no matter what, as you have till check in @ the park to make arrangements, and it gets it on the reservation.

Looking at www.reserveamerica.com Selkirk Shores state park, NY
LOOP D we should reserve sites
1st choices - 123, 124 (Dan), 126, 127, 129
2nd choices 125, 128, 130 (unless you have kids and want them to have easy access to the open loop middle)

For Saturday I can provide directions or guide to a few of the regions attractions.
Sandy Beach State park (2 miles N) has a beautiful swimming beach, Selkirk isn't as nice, but good for walking along)
Salmon River Fish hatchery, self guided tour and history of the regions LARGE salmon industry
Southwick State park (25~mi N) beautiful lake and Dune sided campsites VERY popular, have the surf to sleep by
Books 9 months out, the Empire VW camping club will need to make a pre planned effort to reserve enough sites for a weekend in 2008. I'll put together a flyer, and begin taking verbal/$$ commitments for End of july 2008 weekend camping on the beach.

Dan Stevens
www.vwccny.com

Sat Jun 30, 2007 8:49 am

hey guys You really should become another tribe in the www.fullmoonbusclub.com group. There are a bunch already on it that live in the north states. Much better than Limbo or neato later mark dearing

Thu Aug 16, 2007 11:06 am

Quote: EVENT FOLLOW UP:
Keuka was another great Empire Vw camping event Images: http://www.limbobus.org/phpBB4/album_cat.php?cat_id=33
The sites were spacious and offered nice privacy, but the reservable sites were only on the outside of the loop, so that spread us out some.. but allowed few non-VW neighbors.
campground was up on the hill with no view of the lake, and the path to the bathroom was very poorly setup. but all in all everyone had a great time and the adults and kids explored the country side and had great times around the campfire..

For our 4th Empire VW campout August 24/25 is KEUKA LAKE STATE PARK Deer run loop sites around #70
right smack dab in the middle of the finger lakes region, wineries, lakes and scenic drives throught the glacialy carved landscape.

with the nearby country store/antique mall of the WINDMILL farm and craft market with over 200 shops and vendors.

Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:10 pm

Hey D!

Forgot to mention the 10+ vineyards surroundind Kueka Lake. Boys and Girls of Samba Land, this part of the world is Heaven. Really, it is.

Plus the hiking trails, pure waters to swim/paddle in... quiet places to find serenity.

Get out and stay out!

Cheers!

Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:13 pm

Good Times at Kueka.

Next stop is Nick's lake up in the ADK's.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24485.html

Sept. 21-22-23.

Happy Campers!

Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:51 am

HEY TIKI thanks and yes with 12+ VW campers we can really get a great camping feeling. Kids running amuck lord of the flies style, making friends and memories.. dogs chilling and catching the leftovers, or dropped burritos.. all in very good fun..

Heres whats going on for Empire in September @ Nick's Lake state park

Quote:
During the August Empire camping in Keuka, the founders gathered and decided that Glimmerglass though nice would have to await it's turn, With a few not able to attend in Sept the decision was made to bring it more central and into the SW ADK park.

Old Forge offers TONS of fall activities, and is only about an hour or so North of Utica NY.
LETS SEE SOME OF EASTERN NY VW campers coming on out.
(please note that this is only 2 weeks prior to WESTIES @ WATKINS GLEN, NY Oct 5-6-7 2007)

ONTO the INFORMATION:
Nick's Lake state park in Old Forge,NY
http://www.reserveamerica.com/ny/Nicks_Lake_Campgr...parkId=699

Address:278 Bisby Road, Old Forge, NY 13420
Campground Phone: (315)369-3314 Regional Office Phone: (315)866-6330

LOOP C (I am at SITE 42)
this will ASURE us of some camping loop water access.
Last water access site on loop C is #47
Description:
The campground design, the lake and its stillness and the bordering,
older forests give the camper a sense of remoteness and tranquility.

MORE INFO ON NICK'S LAKE:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24485.html

THINGS TODO IN Old Forge: http://www.oldforgeny.com/

HIKE: Bald Mtn Fire Tower http://www.masterpieces.com/bald.htm
Leave time to take a very short and easy hike up Bald Mountain with a view you'll be talking about for years

SHOPPING & browsing in town
Old Forge Hardware http://www.oldforgehardware.com/
"The Adirondack's most General Store" noted the largest general store int eh ADKs.

Adirondack Scenic Railroad http://www.adirondackrr.com/adkrr_thendara.php
Route 28, PO Box 84, Old Forge, NY (315)369-6290
Train ride, one hour long, along Moose River, departing from a restored station/museum. Handicap accessible. May through October, five times daily.

Calypso's Cove http://www.watersafari.com/cove.htm
Route 28, Old Forge, NY 13420 (315)369-2777
A family-oriented amusement park featuring an arcade bumper boats and go-karts.

Old Forge Lake Cruises http://oldforgecruises.com/
Rt 28, Old Forge, NY 13420 (315)369-6473
Narrated historic 28-mile trip. Handicap accessible. June through October, daily 9AM until 9:30PM.

Old Forge McCauley Mountain Chair Lift
Old Forge, NY 13420 (315)369-3225
Scenic view of Fulton chain of lakes. Open Memorial Day through Columbus Day weekends 10AM until 5:30PM; July through Columbus Day Monday, Thursday and Friday 9AM until 4:30PM.

Dan Stevens
VW club of Central NY www.vwccny.com
Empire VW camping club @ www.Yahoogroups.com

Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:47 am

Quote: EDIT: EVENT FOLLOW UP photo album http://www.limbobus.org/phpBB4/album_cat.php?cat_id=41

the weather WAS PERFECT for ADK camping, had a beautiful morning fog on friday am, with the leaves at about 80% spectacular views from the tops of Bald Mtn (fire tower) and Mcauley mtn (ski lift ride to top)
all in all couldn't have been a better event

THANKS everyone for the attendance and fun.

It's looking like a PERFECT fall weekend for the lower ADKS. sunny and clear.
Sites are all BOOKED for C loop on friday.. but still a few vacancies for Sat night with the EMpire VW club.

Dan in NY

Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:30 pm

Hey All,

Can't wait for cool crisp ADK air to wisp thru the Van with good times and friendly folk about!

For those who don't know the Mountains of Upper New York at this time of year... you're missing out.

Remember the ADK's are older than the Swiss Alps. This is a very old mountian range that runs from GA to Maine. The LT ( Long Trail) runs these traverses and should not be missed, in what ever you wander on this great land of the USA.

Hope to see you out and about. NEXT CAMPOUT WESTIES AT WATKINS.
DAN LETS PROMOTE!!!!!!

Peace.

Thu Sep 27, 2007 11:58 am

Yes Westies @ Watkins is just a week and half away. But we do need to lay some ground work for the October Empire event.

YA he said it, there's going to be an Octoburr Empire camping event.

After our PERFECT weather and near peak fall foilage, lets make one last 07 attempt in the fingerlakes region.
These Views are easier to see, as you can drive right to the overlooks.
Perfect weather for fall hikes

In the BEAUTIFUL Letchworth State Park

Located in the Western end of the fingerlakes, with panoramic views of the fall foilage over the 600ft deep Genesee river gorge.
It is very common to watch Turkey Vultures gliding on the thermals, as well as deer and other wildlife in the 33mile long park.

Loop 200 is a PET FRIENDLY loop, and rates ($22/nt) include electric, so if your alone bring a heater or electric blanket.
There are a lot of hiking, biking, and a small museum with a locally found mastadon skeleton.
Loop 200 Electric and dogs ok, $22/night + $9 RA fee.
Reserve america website for Letchworth

Quote: Named in 2007 as one of the Top 100 Campgrounds in the nation.
Letchworth State Park celebrated its centennial throughout the season in 2006.
Letchworth State Park, renowned as the "Grand Canyon of the East," is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs--as high as 600 feet in some places--surrounded by lush forests. Hikers can choose among 66 miles of hiking trails. Trails are also available for horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. Letchworth offers nature, history and performing arts programs, guided walks and tours, a summer lecture series, whitewater rafting, kayaking, hot air ballooning and a pool for swimming. Winter activities include ice skating, snow tubing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and horse-drawn sleigh rides.

Directions are fairly easy for those of us coming from Syracuse, even easier from Rochester and Buffalo
The Highway: I-90 to 390south and Mt Morris
Or My way: route 5&20 to Avon, NY and route 39 South to Leicester to 36 South to Mt Morris

Contact Information: 1 Letchworth State Park Castile, NY 14427
Phone: (585) 493-3600 Reservations: (800) 456-2267

Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:15 pm

Fellow Sambanites,

Westies at Watkins Glenn. Where else can you go and put Your Pride and Joy on a Nascar Certified, Points needed course in the US of A?

Camping?
A historic town?
Wine tasting?
Kayaking/sailing/boating Haven?

Points of interest:
George Eastman House/ International Museum of Photography.
Erie Canal: a triumph of Human engineering and will to open a waterway from the Hudson to Lake Erie.
So many others, it would take pages to fill.

Little known fact:
Watkins Glen had a canal running to it at one time. Follow NYS route 14, that is was a canal.

Come on up and enjoy.