Gifford Pinchot State Park, Lewisberry, PA
Just a few days after our August trip to Lake Fairfax Park, we loaded up the camper and van once again and journeyed to Gifford Pinchot State Park in Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, where we enjoyed two fantastic days and nights of camping. After the camping portion of our trip, we packed up and drove about 45 minutes to Hersheypark for a day of roller coasters and rides, and a Weird Al Yankovic concert. Our sons each brought a friend along. What an adventure!Gifford Pinchot State Park has a large campground, hiking trails, and a lake with a couple of swimming beaches. Some of the campsites were apparently upgraded with 30 amp hookups recently, and the restoration from trenching work had not really settled in all the way. This made for some muddy conditions when thundershowers hit on Sunday morning. I requested a site near the beach and boy did we get one! We were camping TOO CLOSE to the bath house, swimming beach and playground. We were awakened very early Saturday morning by a parade of screaming munchkins racing from the bath house to the beach. ARRRGH!
Our campsite was open and very close to
the swimming beach - great for the kids, not so great for those of us seeking
peace and quiet.
Swimming beach across the drive from our
site.
Another view of the lake and beach from
our site, at sunset.
Sunset over Pinchot Lake, view from our
campsite.
I took this shot of the lake while we were
walking around the campground.
The kids lured this tiny sunfish into their
net with some potato chips. What excitement!
Scott and his friend Cody playing with the
ever popular Pokeman cards before bedtime. They slept on the folded-down
table.
Keith and his friend Blaine playing "slapjack",
a not-so-quiet bedtime activity. Now why is that noose hanging there?
They made this "castle" at the base of the
lifeguard chair. Very impressive!
Tenderloin steak dinner on the Pigmy Propane
Grill. Yummmy!
Two tired beach bums relaxing by the fire
after dinner. Out of marshmallows? Just toast your toes instead!
This was the line to see the general admission
Weird Al concert. It stretched around the amphitheater for about 1/4 mile.
Al and the band perform "Amish Paradise".
Weird Al and the "Jedi Band" perform "The
Saga Begins".
