Chenango County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 50,477.[1] The county’s name originates from an Oneida word meaning “large bull-thistle.” Its county seat is Norwich.
Chenango County is in the approximate center of the state, west of Albany, north of Binghamton, and southeast of Syracuse. The county is considered to be in the Southern Tier region of New York State.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 899 square miles (2,328.4 km2), of which 894 square miles (2,315.4 km2) is land and 4 square miles (10.4 km2) (0.48%) is water.[2]
The Chenango River, a tributary of the Susquehanna River flows southward through the county.
There are so many stories to be told but I think it’s been quite an adventure – visited five states, camped in three states. To be fair, I only hiked a quarter mile into Virginia hiking over Shenandoah Mountain.
The wheel bearing failed and that was a set back but mostly it was $361 plus two hours lost time as it got repaired and the stress of recognizing I might have a problem a few days earlier in West Virginia. But I did get to hike Shenandoah Mountain, camp at Camp Run, drive to the top of Spruce Knob and hike Seneca Rocks.
Today was very wet in the morning but my truck cap was dry. The tornado warning passed me by but it rained hard for a while. I am camping not under a big tree so I was less worried. Despite the campsite being fairly well drained everything is a muddy mess after an inch of rain today.
Ran out of propane last night so I’ve been doing all my cooking and warming over the fire. Had enough pressure on the tank to run the lantern tonight but I’m sure that won’t last too long. Battery bank is low as I haven’t turned on the truck since yesterday but I’ll have enough for tonight.
My original plans had called for going to Madison County and then to the Finger Lakes but ultimately I settled on West Virginia. Why did I go to West Virginia? Well, I needed a lantern globe and neither Walmart or Dicks Sporting Goods had one. I knew they stocked them at the Oneonta Walmart. They didn’t have the globe – I ended up buying another lantern as I needed the reliable light with the long late autumn nights.
I also got in my mind that I really wanted to go to West Virginia the previous night, and the weather looked good. I wanted to camp and explore Dolly Sods and the Otter Creek Wilderness more too. Plus Cumberland Maryland which I did. Ultimately I decided not to get off at Sidney exit and proceeded to Binghamton and ultimately to Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
I admit the Finger Lakes would have been a hell of a lot closer. Saved a shit ton on gasoline. Probably the wheel bearing would have survived that trip with fewer miles and hairpin turns. It would have failed eventually though, hopefully much closer to home. I would have gotten propane had I gone to the Finger Lakes – I knew the tank was low, it was filled 13 camping nights ago – which is fine in the summer but not when the nights are long and cold and I’m using the lantern and especially the propane heater so much – although the second half of the week was quite mild.
Tonight I will take down the tarp and will probably leave fairly early tomorrow morning, hoping to beat the snow and rain midday tomorrow. I’ll have to stop for coffee on the way home as no way to easily make it without propane – no fire tomorrow. I could stay another night, but I’m tired, I am muddy and dirty a week without a shower and I want to get home, unpacked and ready to reflect and move on with my life post the great autumn trip of 2021.
Good morning! Final full day on my autumn vacation. ⛺
Rainy morning, I’m not really minding taking things a bit slow. Not going to get up and going until the rain stops because I have nothing but planned for today.
Rain and 55 degrees at the Long Pond in Central NY. 🌧 Breezy, ️17 mph breeze from the south-southeast 🌬 . Pretty good front coming through but I’m expecting more blue skies later. 😎
I thought about heading home 🏡 last night but I decided to camp for a few more days before heading home. I know it’s wet this morning but it should clear out later on. I doubt I’ll stay past Saturday though, because I kind of want to get things unpacked and reset for the following week, which is a more ordinary five day work-week downtown. 🏕 I hate to think such things, but eventually vacation has to end. But I do look forward to a nice shower in the morning.
I am feeling pretty tired and dirty 🚿 looking forward to a good shower when I get home. Plus I feel like everything is wearing thin, my patience included. I got a few more supplies yesterday in Binghamton, but I really should have gotten propane as I’m all but completely out. Not enough pressure in tank to run either the stove or heater, although the lantern continues to work. 🏮 I checked alternative hoses, and I’m sure it’s just the tank is close to empty and it’s cold so pressure is too low. I will cook over the fire today, and when I get home get more propane before camping again.
I haven’t been posting much lately as I’ve been traveling and many places I’ve camped haven’t had cell service ⛺
There are many stories and photos to post but I’ve been saving them up. Plus there are many things I’m unsure of – I’ve been thinking a lot about the things I’ve seen and done and not totally sure of the words yet. I had a wheel bearing fail in Lock Haven PA but that got fixed. Lucked out on that.
I thought about heading home before the rain tonight but I think I’ll spend a few more days out in the woods – going to be wet tonight into tomorrow but I’m hoping for better weather come the afternoon tomorrow. It will give me a chance to do some reading and assuming I have cell service maybe some blogging too. I don’t want to drive home in the rain or camp in the rain but I’m not ready to go home yet.
