Travel Tip: Always have a back up plan.

So, last night we got to Lake Taghkanic State Park. It was too late to check in. So of course, we drive past the check in station and go looking for our campsite anyway.

It was dark. We couldn't find our campsite.

Then we start looking for hotels that are open that time of night. Yes, at 2 am, we were in the car calling random hotels hoping someone would answer and be cheap. After the 3rd or 4th call, we call Warren Inn and they have a room.

My bed didn't actually have sheets. But the room was $65. That basically sums up our experience in this hotel.

This morning we were able to go check in at the park, set up the tent, and go spend some time at the lake. It was nice, even if the lake was a bit too crowded.

View from our spot on the high way.

Then there's thunder. Followed by lightning. We high tailed it back to the car and went back to the campsite to throw a tarp over the tent. Then we jump in the car to find a coffee shop to ride out the storm.

I'm following the GPS directions through some pretty heavy rain when all of the sudden, we hear the weather advisory predicting heavy thunderstorms including high winds and QUARTER SIZED HAIL. Then, it starts hailing. And then we run into a flooded out section of the Taconic State Parkway.

In case you don't know, I drive a Chevy Cobalt. That's a small car. There were SUV's pulled over, so I pull over, throw on my hazard lights like everyone else, and wait. And wait. And wait.

About half an hour later, a state trooper comes through. Then an hour and a half after that, a state trooper stops to tell us that their plan is to turn everyone around from the back of the line. 5 miles back.

Lots more waiting happens, finally we get through, there's more flooding and we're rerouting on the fly. Finally we make it to this little diner and make new plans for the night.

Turns out the flooding originated at the park where we were camping, so it's closed. We've ended up back at the skeezy motel, but in a slightly nicer room, still 65 bucks. We hope that we will be able to head toward the city tomorrow. Upstate NY has not been kind to us so far.