In addition to being our first camping of the season, it was also only 4 days before our...wait for the over-used cliché..."epic" journey to the Arkansas. Cliches can be so annoying. In addition to it being just 4 days before our "epic" journey, we also brought along our friends who just bought their first trailer.
But not to worry, we were the veterans, having logged thousands of miles and hundreds of days in Casita. They were in good hands. Like Allstate.
Unlike us, who just plain refused to camp until we could do it on our terms; electricity, plumbing, A/C a shower, they were the type who would throw out a sleeping bag on the snow when it was 40 below zero and exclaim "ah, life is good!" Pathetic I'd say, but I don't judge...
We have been to this campground a number of times in the past 6 years, but chose it for our trial run. It's that special of a campground you ask? No, it was simply one of the few campgrounds that was already open for the season. May can be such a cruel month to northeastern campers. Clarification; northern campers. Sometimes it can be warm, and inviting and the weather just taunts you. Kinda like "Ha! Ha! You COULD be camping but no campgrounds are open. Loser!" I don't need to tell you how that makes a kind, sensitive person feel when that is said. Especially by the weather.
I know, you're thinking "oh great! Another 'this is what's wrong with the campground' review and then at the very end 'but we love it!' So predictable. Get a new schtick!". You might think that, but you'd be wrong. We really like the campground.
Back to my story and review. So we loaded our bikes on the bike rack...Oh wait a side explanation is needed. A couple of years ago, I had a 2" receiver welded through our Casita bumper so we could take our 4 bikes along on our trips. After all, what is camping without the guilt of taking along a piece of exercise equipment that you know you will never use the entire weekend? Well, the kids do, so they have no guilt.
Now we have had our fair of calamities relating to the bike rack, but since I would rather forget those memories and make up new ones which I enjoy more, I won't recount the bad ones now. Plus, we have gotten used to the strange looks people give us as they pass us and the wild gestures they make. We always just politely smile and give our best New England "hello"; an almost imperceptible nodd of the head. We don't want to be mistaken for being friendly.
So anyhow, we met our friends at their home, and I did a quick professional inspection of their trailer hookup, tugging here and grunting there. I could tell they were very impressed, so I withheld from them that grunting wasn't some primordial method of showing my satisfaction. It was from being a smidgen overweight, (obese is such an unkind word!) and bending over forces the air out of my lungs with great force and speed. I see a few of you nodding in understanding. Yes, you know exactly what I'm talking about!
And then we were off. Throughout the 20 miles of highway driving, I happened to notice our friends stayed quite a distance back. I laughed, telling my wife that the strength Toyota FJ, combined with mere featherweight of the Casita proved a spritely little combo. I slowed down to wait for them, but oddly, they slowed down too. Now I was becoming a bit offended. Or curious. Maybe both? After we went through one of our infernal toll booths and I pulled over to make sure everything was ok with them. He jumped out of his car and said "did you know your bikes are really bouncing around on your rack? And your rack is pretty loose too?" Just asking here, do any of you realize how quickly your pompous bubble can burst and how plain dumb you feel when someone points out the most obvious? I managed a grin, said "yeah, I'd better figure out a way to stop that!" and practically ran to the safety of my FJ. They never did follow too close...
Several hours and sweaty palms later, we pulled into Danforth Bay Camping Resort. Now comes the time to dissect the campground, the favorite-est part for me. On a previous post about Moose Hillock, I stated that it takes up the top third of the state of New Hampshire. If that's the case, then Danforth Bay takes up the middle third. You might be tempted to draw a conclusion that I distain small campgrounds. That would be factually incorrect. Merely a happenstance. A convergence of similar but unrelated events.
But the two campgrounds share several undeniable characteristics. Go ahead, put on your protective tinfoil headgear, this has a syfy edge to it...when you pull up to either check-in area, you see the buildings and multiple lanes for the checking in RVs to park in. Similarity 1. And from where you park to check-in, you can't see much else of anything. Similarity 2. It's not until you drive past the buildings that you see the heavenly pools. Similarity 3. But that's where the similarities end. While Moose Hillock may have some seasonals, you really don't notice them, because the blend in exceedingly well. Danforth Bay, on the other hand, adds three distinct words-Park Model Homes. Yes, enough to strike fear into any transient campers. And not just Park Model Homes, golf carts, motor boats and other landscape enhancing items can be seen at the campsite of these semi-permanent residences. And decks and pink flamingos.
I gotta say, the first time we drove through, I had an inescapable urge to lock the doors and avoid eye contact. It was a bit surprising why there were so many high praise reviews on different web sites. I wondered if the park model home owners were the ones doing the reviews. Don't get me wrong, most of the seasonals are adequately maintained, but it does have the feel of a trailer park in the woods. And there are endless streams of the golf cart buggies flying here and there. Which brings me to another one of life's mysteries. Why is it that the 5 MPH speed limits are strictly enforced when it comes to cars, but golf carts can barrel along at near the sound of speed and the security folks are completely oblivious? I know you are confused. Did I, or did I not say we liked this campground? Yes. Then are you to question my sanity and ability to rationally discuss campgrounds? Yes. Onward then, shall we?
It's after you drive through a section of seasonals that you slowly become aware that this campground does indeed hold promise and potential. For you see, the Resort, I think wisely, clumped them all together. This allows the transient campers to also be clumped together and feel like they are camping, and not spending a weekend in a trailer park. And by the time you get to the overnight sites, you are almost in a separate campground. The seasonals, for the most part can't be seen, and some of the overnight sites are so far away, you'd have to get a road map out to find the seasonal sites. And golly! What sites they have!! When we pulled into our designated site, a slow grin tickled the edges of our mouths. The sites where humongous! Granted, our perception of huge can be often affected when we park our teeny-tiny Casita on a site, but really, when I say ginormous, make an effort to believe me. It will be worth it. They also have 2 way hookup sites right at the lake's edge. On a peninsula. Tell me that isn't cool!
But that's not the only nice thing about the campground-no sir! They are on Danforth Lake, or is it Danforth Pond? Probably not either of those names. But anyhow, they are on a lake. There are 2 sandy beaches within the campground, which you can use should neither of the 2 pools tickle your fancy. I am technically incorrect. Their are 3 pools but one is a kiddy pool which does not allow adults. Ask me how I know that, go on...more on the pools in a minute. You can rent kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, motor boats and paddle board. And you only need to sell a kidney to afford the rentals.
Back to the pools. They are really quite nice, big and refreshing. Well, that is if you could fit in them. No, I'm not making disparaging remarks about your weight. I have no idea if you were blessed with an appetite or not. What I mean is that there are so many people in them, you just might not have room to get in. Well, you might, but you won't be able to move much. But that's ok, most adults merely take a quick dunk to get cool after a long session of actively trying to procure skin cancer...ummm, I mean sunbathing. They leave the actual fun to their kids. As you can see from the picture below, swim space is at a premium. They have 1 saltwater pool and one chlorinated pool, I guess to confuse people into wondering why.
They also have a recreation field, where kids young and old can play baseball, throw frisbee's, exercise pets if you are unfortunate enough to have them, or....over on one side of the field they have a bike park, complete with big dirt moguls to ride over. Correction, that's all that they have in bike park, but it is a lot of fun. To watch someone else.
In recapping, Danforth Bay Resort has something for everyone. And even if you have to drive through the seasonal trailer park to get to the overnight camp sites, you will be glad you did. And the 2 beaches, 3 pools and recreation fields gives everyone something to do. Oh, and by the way, in case you read this and get a hankering to go there next weekend, forget it. Throughout the summer, they are almost always completely booked. As in every weekend. As in reserve way, way in advance.
And how did our bikes survive the 100 mile trip back home? Kind of you to ask! Sunday when we were getting ready to leave Danforth Bay, I took the 1 ratchet rope strap that I had with me, circled it around the vertical "T" arm of the bike rack and commenced to tighten it for all I was worth. No one told me that Thule put an end-cap on the outside of the "T". So when I ratcheted it up so tight, it popped that end cap off, which took the shortest route to and object which would stop it, which just so happened to be my forehead. Immediately, I felt an egg growing inside my skin. I did which could only be mistaken for an indian rain dance while shouting ow, ow, ow!
We finally made the trip home, and although overall it had been a success, I can truthfully say, I think we either amused or scarred our friends for life. They definitely weren't in good hands!
But that was nothing compared to what was about to happen on our "epic" journey!
