Going To See America 2015

     Cooperstown, NY

     Well I just couldn't stand sitting around any longer, so on Thursday I announced to Debbie that I think we're going to be able to get out a few days early.  The house was getting closed up on Friday which turned out to be quite an operation.  The contractor decided at the last moment that perhaps it might be better to fill all the lines with antifreeze instead of just filling the traps.  The contractor thought 10 gallons should do it, so off to the hardware store to pick up 10 gallons of RV antifreeze.  He started pumping it into the lines as I patiently waited for something to happen in the upstairs bathroom.  After pumping all 10 gallons without any activity in the lines, we sent Debbie out for 20 gallons more!  Before long all the lines were pumping red and we closed everything up confident that everything will be fine in the Spring.  We finished closing everything up Halloween night, and headed out Saturday morning.            Our first scheduled stop is at the Doubleday Campground located about 8 miles from Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.  

We had a little visit with the owner of the campground who indicated that he had only recently purchased the campground and was in the process of renovating the sites.  There's a severe lack of campgrounds up here during the winter months, so sometimes you have to take what is offered.  The pull-thru sites have water, 30 amp service and sewer, but they are basically located in a farm field.  I would recommend it for an overnight or short visit, but at $45/night, it's highly over priced.
      Cooperstown, NY is best known as the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.  But it is also a historic village located along the banks of Otsego Lake.

 It is a beautiful ride along Otsego Lake on SR 80.  I'm sure the fall colors would have been amazing a few weeks earlier.  We'll have to remember that when we start our travels next year.   The village was purchased in 1785 by Judge William Cooper.  Judge Cooper was the father of American author James Fenimore Cooper, who authored The Last of the Mohicans one of five novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales.

 A statue of James Fenimore Cooper sits next to the Baseball Museum.  Before reaching the village of Cooperstown, we passed the Farmers Museum, and the Fenimore Art Museum.  Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit these museums on this trip, but they are definitely wonderful places to see.  
   


     
      A pilgrimage to the Baseball Hall of Fame is required of all baseball fans.  It's something that everyone needs to put on their Bucket List.  The story begins with the invention of baseball by Abner Doubleday in 1839.  Doubleday was a career U.S. Army Officer having graduated from West Point in 1842.  Everything related to baseball in Cooperstown is named after Doubleday, even though he never really claimed to have invented baseball.

 Even his obituary in the New York Times, failed to mention baseball.  But every year thousands of people descend on this village to take in the history and nostalgia associated with the game.  Each summer many teams come to Cooperstown to play their game at Doubleday Field.
     Cooperstown is a quaint village rich in history.

 The downtown area reminds you of a bygone era of small shops lining Main Street.  A Post Office and library are located near the Baseball Museum, complimenting its small town charm. The American Flag is flown proudly in the middle of Main Street, forcing all travelers to yield the right of way.
     Tomorrow we move west heading for Letchworth State Park, known as the "Grand Canyon of the East."

272 Miles