Get ready Ohio, Here we come!

We Left Alma, Camp Copperhead and our friends Kathy & Vicki behind and headed north along the Ohio River. We went as far as Sistersville and stopped to peruse the town. I was lookin’ fer’  a bank with an ATM to get some dinero’. Nope, none ‘o’ the banks here have an ATM. It’s up at the BP station, What? There is a ferry here that crosses the Ohio River and we wanted to check on the fare for us and the camper. Well after lookin’ over the town, goin’ to the BP fer’ some much needed cash we drove down to the ferry.

Ferry ready fer’ loadin’

Wow we all went fer’ $4

All loaded an ready to go

How bout this fer’ a reverse action?

The Sistersville Ferry has been continually operatin’ here since 1815 takin’ folks across the Ohio River. The trip isn’t long but it sure was worth the fare, just fer’ the unique experience.

When we reached the banks of the Ohio we headed north along Rt. 7 followin’ the river all the way to I-70. It was a scenic ride along the river through little hamlets that have relied on the river and it commerce since their beginnings. We turned west on I-70 fer’ a short spell and got off at the exit fer’ Barkcamp State Park.

Upon arrivin’ at the park we stopped at the office on the way in to ask if we could choose a site, or do they assign sites. We were greeted by Charlotte, who I called “Little Miss Sunshine of Barkcamp State Park”. I had talked to Charlotte yesterday on the phone and even then her warmth and enthusiasm for her work and the place she worked were evident.Today we were greeted with the same enthusiasm and I new it had to be her. I asked her name and confirmed my suspicion. Well we chatted about the park, our travels, and the area in general. She provided us with oodles of info and wanted to know how long we would be staying. We replied that we’d start with one night and she said that we’d love the park should stay longer. Strange she said the same thing to me in our previous conversation on the phone.

Here’s our site at Barkcamp State Park

We'll we tend to agree with her. Barkcamp State Park Has much to offer everyone, from it’s day use areas with lake swimming, boating, fishing from bank or boat or picnicking in no less than seven different picnic areas. There is an extensive trial system for hiking, horseback riding and snowmobiling in the winter. There is volleyball, basketball, horseshoe pits, a Put-Put course adjacent to the Park office. The rental boat program is a real deal at $10 for three hours for row boat, canoe or kayak.

The campground offers 125 sites with 20/30/50 electric, table, fire ring and water spigots for filling your tank conveniently throughout the camping loops. Paved roads & paved site pads. There are three loops to choose from, one with 40 ‘Pet Approved’ sites, An equestrian area in the same loop with 25 sites with electric, corral, horse washing station and a accessible mounting ramp. There is also a group Camp available. They offer hot showers with heated floors, for the chillier weather camping, vault toilets throughout the loops, and a dump station.

On weekends they offer programs in interpretive hikes, Junior ranger programs, fishing fun, boat tours on Belmont Lake, Saturday Night at the Movies and exploration of their museum in the Pioneer Village. All programs are FREE to the public.
If this park has any drawbacks I’d have to say it’s the showers. There is only one shower house for 125 sites and it’s a long walk for a shower from some of the loops. On a busy weekend with five or six showers for men & women you might have to wait quite a while for a shower.
Barkcamp has been voted #1 in the states park system and is indeed a ‘Hidden Jewel’ in Ohio. It is close to the interstate, but distanced enough so there is no interstate noise or light pollution.
Big Bonus for you Passport America folks, this park participates in our program and sites are $10 Sunday thru Wednesday. Where else can you stay with all these amenities for that kind of money.
Well that’s all fer’ this day in the travels of the RV-Anytimers. Hope to see ya’ down the road as were;

Dancin’ on the Wind.