NYS TearJerkers Spring Camporee at Sampson SP May13-15 2011

[boomer]

I will be picking Ed up after he gets out of work late Thursday night & we plan to drive an hour or 2 & pull over somewhere & rest, then a short drive Friday morning......really really looking forward to this!!

[Finntec]

Low key weekend sounds good. There is a lot to do in the area: Geocaching, boating, fishing, shopping, visiting the places they make stuff with grapes seems to be popular too, hanging out, looking for white deer at dusk & dawn. I am going to try to relax. btw, we will not be getting there until about 7:30pm Friday. getting the TD out of storage tomorrow!

[boomer]

our plans may have changed ....the dog kennel is closed all week & reopens on Friday morning so we can't drop the dogs off the night before & get an early start like we ad planned.....the neighbor across the street offered to drive them over to the kennel on Fri morning but we shall see....

[Gaelen]

So sorry I haven't been keeping up with this thread.
Pictures? You want pictures?

Shots of the entrance, marina, lakeshore/beach, one of the dozens of trails, the Naval Museum on site (not sure if it will be open - it's the building w/the plane in front) from ILovetheFingerLakes.com

Shots of a typical campsite from Flickr - can't tell what number, but this is representative of Sampson sites - clear with a few trees up by the roadway, and grassy areas extending to the treelines that separate the loops. Since this person mentions "the trail that goes to the playgroun," I'm thinking it's either loop 2 or loop 4.

Last year's (2010) Tin Can Tourist Rally, which is in the loop up near the camping office. These sites are closer together, with less tree cover and usually a little smaller than the loop 5 sites. Loop 5 sites on the side of the loop near the lake don't have other sites or loops "behind" them. They have Seneca Lake.

The Google Maps satellite view of loop 5. The red rectangle/bldg. with trees on either end is the wash house/showers/restroom in the top-center of loop 5. The three roadways, L to R, are the lakeside part of the loop 5 road, the entrance part of the loop 5 road, and the exit part of the loop 4 roadway. It's not terribly sharp, but those of you camped along the lake side part of the loop 5 roadway can get a sense of how deep and treed your sites will be.

Squib's Webshots 2005 Sampson SP Gallery. Campsite photos from what look like loop 2 (sites 60 handicapped and 149) up near the office are on pages 3-4.

Hope these help - the best pics will come when you get there.

[Larry C]

Are the finger lakes narrow enough to kayak across? lol. Whats the kayaking possibilities like in the area?

The Finger Lakes are great for kayaking. Seneca lake is the longest, widest, and deepest. Over 40 mile long, 3 miles wide, and 600' deep. It can be dead calm or produce 3' or more waves. Paddling can be fun or scary if the wind picks up. This time of year I would suggest wet or dry suits. Long boats 17' or more are appropriate if it's windy or stay close to shore.

The smaller Finger Lakes are less challenging, Owasco, Skaneateles, Otisco if heading East. I live close to Owasco and mainly paddle the lakes and rivers closer to home, but have paddled most of the Finger Lakes.

If your looking for quieter paddling there are several good choices in the area.

The Finger Lakes are cold this time of year, be prepared, this is open water paddling with conditions changing quickly.... Keep a weather Eye!

Larry C

[campadk]

Thanks for the info Larry. We'll be in the Finger Lakes for about 10 days. I'm thinking of Keuka for paddling since its not on such open water as Sampson. We have 12ft kayaks. Not into big open water paddling. We'll be close to shore this time of the year thats for sure!

The mother ship is packed and ready. We hope to arrive at Sampson about 2:30pm if all goes well.

See everyone there!

Cheers

[Rick Sheerin]

All packed and ready to go as well. As soon as Di gets home from work, we're outta here! Should be there around 1 ish. Can't wait to see everyone!!!

[legojenn]

I'm packed and heading out at 10. It's a 4h drive, but with the dogs, the border, shopping and just generally taking my time I'll be there between 5 and 7. I hope that we are going to miss the rain that is forecasted for the weekend here in Ottawa.

[Rick Sheerin]

A big thanks to all who attended the Spring Camporee at Sampson SP this weekend! Had a really great time visiting with great friends. We had 13 trailers from New York, New England, and Canada. The weatther cooperated all weekend until it was time to pack up and go home (of course)! Will post pictures soon.
Thinking about a fall campout in Old Forge. Any objections, thoughts or suggestion?

[boomer]

Rick - Another successful camping trip. Thanks for organizing it. It was great to see everyone after a long winter. That is a really nice part of the state that we have not seen before. As usual there was rain. It rained the whole way home and is expected to rain all week. Hopefully our stuff will be dried out before Fish Creek. Thanks again, Ed & Becky.

[boomer]

Rick...Ed forgot to mention, Old Forge sounds interesting....just give us an idea on a date.....Becky

[mary and bob]

Herkimer sounds interesting also, it was rated a little better in the campground book but old forge sounds good to, let us know when so I dont book something, I am busy october 21 weekend but last year we went the first weekend in october. it was good to see everyone and some newbies such as denis and larry. Cant wait for fishcreek in june
mary

[Allen S]

Hi all we had a great time, thanks Rick a realy nice park as always. we got home last nite, was going to stay til today but with the lul in the liquid sunshine we decided to pack up. After Kate & Dave left to explore the finger lakes we found that we were the last ones in the whole park...it would have been very lonely. Looking foward to fish creek, see you all there..

[bohemian]

Thanks rick the Reynolds family had a great time!
Allen If it was me, I would have taken advantage of an empty camp ground.

[campadk]

Old Forge area sounds good! What dates are you considering Rick?

Another camp 'n wine event in the spring in the same area (Finger Lakes) would be great too!

We are still running on this years Sampson trip. Still raining but we are having fun lol.

Looks like its Watkins Glen for us tommorrow (we change our plans a LOT) lol.

Maybe hit 'Liverpool' on the weekend... will let you know shortly.