1329 July 17-18, 2026 Ives Run

We prepped the RV to travel and said a tearful goodbye to Wade and Allison.  We were both quiet as we left Reisterstown and our friends and family behind.

140 to 795 to 695 to 83N and then lots of wiggle waggle through Harrisburg and north through central Pennsylvania.  The air was hazy with wildfire smoke that was blown in all the way from Ontario.  As we travelled the smoke thickened, the acrid scent burning our throats.  I was worried that it would be even worse as we went on but eventually the skies were bluer and the air quality improved.  We read that unhealthy air is at 189.  Baltimore was 260 and York was 411. 

We stopped for a snack and to stretch our legs at a rest stop along the Susquehanna River.

We arrived at Ives Run in Tioga, Pennsylvania in late afternoon.  This is an Army Corps of Engineers Campground.  It sits on Hammond Lake.  We found our site and after setting up, we napped.

We took a drive on the roads in the park and found a gravel road along the Tioga River. 

For dinner, we packed a picnic of smoked salmon and raw veggies and berries and we found a pavilion by the water.  The temperatures here are mild and there was a nice breeze.  This is a refreshing change from the 90 and hotter temperatures that we have had at home.

On Saturday, we tried to take walks in the campground.  Tim took the umbrella which turned out to be a wise decision.  I made it past the marina and then the rain began.  I hurried back to get dry!  It was a stormy morning with lots of thunder.

In the afternoon, we took the Jeep to the small town of Tioga.  There is a Dollar General and a post office and a bar but not much more.  We drove to the Hammond-Tioga Lakes Dam.  This is an earthen dam and the view from the top was gorgeous.

The Army Corps of Engineers created a channel connecting Hammond and Tioga Lakes.  Hammond Lake had good quality water. The neighboring Tioga Lake had acidic water due to local coal mining. the engineers built a weir that allows the cleaner water to filter into Tioga Lake. The water in the lower lake is now healthier and is able to sustain aquatic plants and fish. This benefit is realized as the water flows into the Tioga River where fish are now plentiful again.

We drove another seven miles to Lawrenceville. This town had two dollar stores and two gas stations. We found the Cowanesque Lake and we got out to enjoy the view.

This evening, we took our dinner to another park pavilion. It rained but we were dry, There was a squirrel who came to visit. It was obvious that he was accustomed to being fed.

Tomorrow we will move on to Watkins Glen.