New York City

We camped mostly in KOA's on our 1971 trip back east.  There were plenty of them, scattered all along our way, and they were usually very nice campgrounds. 

Early one morning we drove into New York City to see what we could see.  I wasn't very impressed.  In fact, I was pretty scared and intimidated by all the noise, people, cars, and garbage piled along the sidewalks (there was a strike going on) and I decided this was one place I would not want to live.  But it was interesting. 

We drove past Central Park and up and down Broadway, looking for a gas station.  It was hard enough finding our way from Arizona all the way to the Atlantic Coast, but that was nothing compared with trying to navigate through New York City; our map was pretty useless.  At one point we found ourselves on a one way street entrance, cars in front and behind so there was no way to turn around, facing a sign that prohibited trucks and campers from entering that road.  What were we supposed to do?  Later in the day we were stuck in a traffic jam for two hours on a road that ran next to the river.  Cars in front and behind us were overheating, and we watched as people found ways to get water out of the river to pour in their boiling radiators.  What a mess.

Anyway, we finally found a gas station, and then we drove to the water front where we got a frankfurter before getting on the ferry that took us out to see the Statue of Liberty.  I think the frankfurter was the best part of visiting New York City.  It sure tasted better than any hot dog I ever ate back in Arizona. 

The Statue of Liberty was awesome.  As the ferry rounded a corner and we came in sight of the statue I was amazed.  The sky was black with clouds in front of us.  Behind the sun shown brightly.  The statue was silhouetted against the dark clouds, and it looked so beautiful, standing out light and green against the dark background.  It was almost lime green!  I had expected it to be brown.  It was an amazing sight.

We all started to climb her, but pretty soon mom and Julie and I turned around and went back down to the lobby.  Dad, Linda, Phillip, Keith and Sharon climbed all the way up to the crown.  While we waited for them to come back I looked through the gift shop inside the base of the statue.  They sold things from all over the world, and I found a little orange Dalla Horse from Sweden that caught my fancy.  When I showed it to mom she was excited.  She hadn't seen a Dalla Horse since she was little; they were very popular in Sweden.  It cost more than anything else I'd found on the trip, but I was so excited about it I decided to buy it for mom for her birthday, which was coming up soon.  Mom kept that horse her whole life, and it is sitting on top of my book shelves, next to me, right now as I type.

Anyway, New York City was an interesting place to visit and I'm glad I got there once in my life, but I'm happy with the memories and my Dalla Horse, and don't think I'll ever need to go back again.  Although that frankfurter really was good.