Not really , I just liked the sound of the title ; May one day need to reuse that to label my life journal. I did forget my recently prescribed meds at home, realizing this 2 hours too late , but resolved to not become a nut-job this weekend and for the most part was successful.
We decided to try another camping weekend since the last one got cut short. This time we stayed at Clarksburgh State park in order to kayak Mauserts Pond. I booked a site that had a direct path to the water that we could run our boats down. Unfortunately , upon check-in , I found out that I booked sat- mon instead of fri-sun. I was a little disappointed (bright red with frustration) , but the new unintentionally unmedicated Kevin remained calm , took a site further up and anticipated either moving the next day or negotiating keeping the site with the am guy.
We set up pretty quickly ; we are old pro`s now... enjoyed a dinner of Muckies dogs and Lori`s killer pasta salad -In bed by 11am to get up early and Hike. I drifted to sleep , dreaming of our having to move the entire tent ,filled with bedding , clothes and inflatable bed ; Lori and I on either side, tripping and stumbling our way down the road towards our new site -negotiating camper traffic and folks` morning john ritual - hampered by our inability to see around our unwieldy , bulky and deteriorating dwelling.....the poles intermittently releasing themselves from their wedges , suddenly snapping straight out and collapsing aspects of the tent structure , immediately amplifying the loads width , its hazardous piercing potential and its bearers consternation.
Awake .... as the birds trumpet in the morning and the cool fog of sleep lifts from my brow ,.... oooh gotta PEE!!!! Nothing like a cold evening in a tent to fill your bladder to bursting. Unzip the tent - catching it on the fabric every 3 inches , reverse and rezip an inch , and repeat. Eventually , I stick my feet into the dew filled shoes I left outside the tent and slosh my way to the latrine.
Camping is Joy :-)
After a nice breakfast of cream of wheat , instant coffee and white chocolate peanut butter sandwich ( it really was pretty good_ We drove up to Mount greylock , stopped at some beautiful views along the way...... At the peak , we began a hike called Thunderbolt , something or other. Unknowingly , we found It essentially went straight down , a joint jarring 2100 foot drop that would eventually lead to a need to ascend that same distance , creating mathematical harmony but bodily chaos. I astutely halted our descent approximately 700 feet down when we discovered these facts , outlined in an unassuming historical placard that was peaking out from overgrown brush , which explained the trails original creation and usage as a downhill ski trail ....yeah , the Thunderbolt. We cried our way back up the mountain, drove further down to a much more manageable trailhead.
Or so we thought.
We went to Pecks falls which also was a lot of descent , leading to a lot of return climbing to do. We did about three and a half grueling miles. Its incredible how such a weak force as gravity can be so tiring to overcome. Lori did get to stick her tootsies in the ice cold waterfall prior to the ascent. I should`ve. Instead of looping , we hopped onto another trail (the gps showed it was nearby and would intersect near our origin) , that had some geocaches on it. I didn`t realize that we would need to descend into a valley , negotiating crumbling switchbacks , crossing the valley stream , and scrambling up the hill to HOP onto this trail. I mis-read the topo on the gps , seeing that the trail we were currently on and the trail I intended to navigate to , were of the save elevation. I must`ve missed the part where it dropped the few hundred feet in the span of 100 yards.
Well anyway , the workout was worth it. We guiltlessly enjoyed some marshmellows on the fire that evening , while I drowned out the neighbors with my Droid`s music and my singing over it , serenading Lori , despite her protestations.
The next am , we kayaked Mauserts pond , which is not very large and was choked with water lilies , but still made for a nice scenic paddle. We just missed an airborne animal splash the water as I turned a corner. I swear I saw movement , yet no discernible features or colors. Just a kind of shimmer of action and then Splash! We never did figure out what kind of animal it was, though I say it was a flying otter. After a quick brunch snack we drove home via the mohawk trail , picking up a few quick roadside geocaches. Lori found most of them. We ate at Shelburne Falls after a view of the glacial potholes. Lori had an open faced pot roast with gravy and tatoes that was very good. I had a fish sandwich , with french fries (only the 2nd time I`ve eaten french fries this year) It was warm and muggy so we skipped the greenhouse like , bridge of flowers. We did do a quick 1 1/2 mile walk in Ct , at windsor locks canal , to make up for our extravagant lunch. Its a nice walk along the ct river , or would be if it wasn`t so damn muggy , but anyway. Thats a wrap , a good weekend. I came home , took a quick nap on my hammock , and have relented and restarted my missed medication regime as I was a little more testy this weekend than I`ve been in the past medicated few ....I expect to stay on it through to the end of Fall , while undergoing cognitive therapy which has thusfar enabled me to think my way through my fits of anger and bouts of depression. I intend to cure myself by December , exposing the cold winter season to a cool , calm , and collected Kevin.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Italy Pics
Venice , Florence and Rome - See Europe Part II
I will have a page on website with the full europe trip run down soon.
I will have a page on website with the full europe trip run down soon.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Spring is Here !!!
First warm weekend since we came back from Europe. Hiked at Devils Hopyard State park and saw chapman falls , gushing ...with all the rain y`all got while we were on the other side of the pond.
We went to London 4 nights , Paris 4 days , Venice 2 nights , Florence 2 nights and Rome for 4 nights. We had the best time of our entire lives. We saw every landmark , historical area , every kind of architecture , sculpture , famous paintings ...frescoes , dozens of churches big and small , we saw lavish palaces and gardens , climbed a half dozen landmarks for ridiculous views , every corner we turned was a picture to be had (We took over 2000 pics) ... we ate and drank in the slickest cafes , the hopping-est piazzas , and the most famous squares.
I saved for and planned for this trip for two years, whilst self-educating myself for the last decade in all aspects of history , philosophy , literature , politics , and more recently architecture , art and music.
London - we saw parliament , big ben , westminster abbey , climbed the cathedral , was in the whispering walls of st pauls dome murmuring sweet nothings from 20 feet away from eachother , did a tour of and upon the tower of London ...and explored the entire city of London on foot and thru the well designed Tube .... We saw the Rosetta Stone in the British museum , and the Magna Carta in the british library. We saw great works at the National Gallery and Great People of history at the National Portrait Gallery. We visited Buckingham and Kensington palace and ogled the Crown Jewels ...
Paris- saw the flying buttresses of Notre Dame – and marveled at the gothic St Chapelle , Kissed on the Pont Neuf , strolled the Ile St Louis.... We stayed in St Germaine, next to the two most famous cafes in France , les deux magot and Cafe Flore.. these areas were the haunts of french intellectuals such as Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir ...Oscar Wilde ... Hemingway , Fitzgerald , Gertrude Stein lived in these parts and drank in this area...Lori and I spent a couple of our nights there , drinking wine and eating great meals...
We saw the Mona Lisa in the Louvre as well as Rafael , Michaelangelo and other DA Vinci works in the same halls,we viewed the impressionists paintings of Monet , Manet and Van Gogh in the Musee D`orsay.
We went to the Eiffel Tower , lit up at night....all the obvious places and famous works that were supposed to be such a big deal ... REALLY WERE...I thought the Eiffel would bore me , or the small , dark , behind glass Mona Lisa would underwhelm....They did not ...nothing on this trip ..despite the familiarity of their fame ....failed to absolutely awe us in their presence. We went to the Louvre on 2 separate occassions...this is the greatest museum in the world.
We strolled the Champs d'Elysées , The Rodin Gardens , past Hotel Invalides and through numerous market streets ....we saw seedy pigalle and all its sex clubs...and we spent half a day in the Palace and Gardens of Versailles...
we saw Great views by climbing the Arc de Triomphe , Sacre Couer and the Centre Pompidou
We REALLY enjoyed Paris...
We did this trip , well studied on , the architecture we were to see ,the time periods they represent ....baroque , rococo .. the artists and their great works , the sculptures, greek and roman history as well as their mythology , great understanding of byzantine , early and high renaissance , history and art ...some of the symbolism involved in paintings of these times , The history of kings and emperors and the monuments that still worship them....(Napoleon , Louis XIV , The Tudors and the Stuarts....
This may sound a bit like bragging, but one must understand , I truly studied ...on my own , with no prompting , and no pending degree or potential financial reward ....for over a decade .... all the things I should`ve learned in school...and then found myself with the opportunity to visit the lands where all this history happened.. I will soon publish the Italy aspect of our trip which will take us 2000+ years into our history , which inspired the renaissance and the beautiful works that we were able to see 1500 + years later...
Venice ....
Florence ...
ROME.........
We went to London 4 nights , Paris 4 days , Venice 2 nights , Florence 2 nights and Rome for 4 nights. We had the best time of our entire lives. We saw every landmark , historical area , every kind of architecture , sculpture , famous paintings ...frescoes , dozens of churches big and small , we saw lavish palaces and gardens , climbed a half dozen landmarks for ridiculous views , every corner we turned was a picture to be had (We took over 2000 pics) ... we ate and drank in the slickest cafes , the hopping-est piazzas , and the most famous squares.
I saved for and planned for this trip for two years, whilst self-educating myself for the last decade in all aspects of history , philosophy , literature , politics , and more recently architecture , art and music.
London - we saw parliament , big ben , westminster abbey , climbed the cathedral , was in the whispering walls of st pauls dome murmuring sweet nothings from 20 feet away from eachother , did a tour of and upon the tower of London ...and explored the entire city of London on foot and thru the well designed Tube .... We saw the Rosetta Stone in the British museum , and the Magna Carta in the british library. We saw great works at the National Gallery and Great People of history at the National Portrait Gallery. We visited Buckingham and Kensington palace and ogled the Crown Jewels ...
Paris- saw the flying buttresses of Notre Dame – and marveled at the gothic St Chapelle , Kissed on the Pont Neuf , strolled the Ile St Louis.... We stayed in St Germaine, next to the two most famous cafes in France , les deux magot and Cafe Flore.. these areas were the haunts of french intellectuals such as Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir ...Oscar Wilde ... Hemingway , Fitzgerald , Gertrude Stein lived in these parts and drank in this area...Lori and I spent a couple of our nights there , drinking wine and eating great meals...
We saw the Mona Lisa in the Louvre as well as Rafael , Michaelangelo and other DA Vinci works in the same halls,we viewed the impressionists paintings of Monet , Manet and Van Gogh in the Musee D`orsay.
We went to the Eiffel Tower , lit up at night....all the obvious places and famous works that were supposed to be such a big deal ... REALLY WERE...I thought the Eiffel would bore me , or the small , dark , behind glass Mona Lisa would underwhelm....They did not ...nothing on this trip ..despite the familiarity of their fame ....failed to absolutely awe us in their presence. We went to the Louvre on 2 separate occassions...this is the greatest museum in the world.
We strolled the Champs d'Elysées , The Rodin Gardens , past Hotel Invalides and through numerous market streets ....we saw seedy pigalle and all its sex clubs...and we spent half a day in the Palace and Gardens of Versailles...
we saw Great views by climbing the Arc de Triomphe , Sacre Couer and the Centre Pompidou
We REALLY enjoyed Paris...
We did this trip , well studied on , the architecture we were to see ,the time periods they represent ....baroque , rococo .. the artists and their great works , the sculptures, greek and roman history as well as their mythology , great understanding of byzantine , early and high renaissance , history and art ...some of the symbolism involved in paintings of these times , The history of kings and emperors and the monuments that still worship them....(Napoleon , Louis XIV , The Tudors and the Stuarts....
This may sound a bit like bragging, but one must understand , I truly studied ...on my own , with no prompting , and no pending degree or potential financial reward ....for over a decade .... all the things I should`ve learned in school...and then found myself with the opportunity to visit the lands where all this history happened.. I will soon publish the Italy aspect of our trip which will take us 2000+ years into our history , which inspired the renaissance and the beautiful works that we were able to see 1500 + years later...
Venice ....
Florence ...
ROME.........
Monday, July 20, 2009
Maine
We went to Hallowell Maine , stayed at the MAPLE HILL FARM BED & BREAKFAST INN ...A great place to stay , great Innkeeper Scott went out of his way to make our stay enjoyable.
Sat , we kinda got rained out , we stayed at a cheap motel in Lewiston Maine on friday night , and on sat made our way towards Augusta. In between the drizzle , we hit Pine tree Aboretum and did a nice walk appx 1.25 mile thru beautiful trails with marked foliage exhibits, including rock gardens , lilacs , rhodendrum , numberous stree species , due to the rain we had to avoid stepping on the hundreds and hundreds of snails underfoot.
We did another 2 miles at Kennebec river trail , walking along a rail trail next to the river.
We then check in to our bed and breakfast , waved to the chickens and cows as we rolled up the driveway -
On the property is a mile or so walk thru the woods and fields to Jimmys Pond , which I intended to kayak this weekend. We made it about 3/4 of the way , GPS in hand tracking every move , until it got too mucky and mosquito infested , so we had to turn around. We then drove to Jimmys Pond and confirmed that this will make for a great kayak trip thru remote and quiet pond areas. We added a few more bug bites during this visit as well.
Hallowell happened to have a parade and block party of sorts , as well as fireworks which we enjoyed after a thai-sushi dinner at Cafe Bangcock...Good food , horrible service.
Sunday - Togus Pond - Incredible day of Kayaking - we did about 4 hours here , also tracked via gps and saved - We saw a few BALD EAGLES flying overhead, incredibly beautiful birds , We spied them with our binoculars to confirm identity. I also saw what I believe to have been a mink , sunning himself on an exposed rock ....startled by my sudden appearance , scooted and dove into the water. That was my first water mammal sighting.
Later , we hit Lake St George Park and did some sunning , swimming and reading.
Sunday night , went to a irish bar/restaurant , downtown hallowell for a few drinks and a pretty good meal. Lori actually had a beer sampler and of course , Shepherds Pie.
Monday , early morning after another great breakfast , we checked out and ...we kayaked jimmys pond , about an hour and half ...went all the way thru to little jimmys and thru a stream to a portage area to get to hutchinson pond. We werent feeling Portage today as I had us lined up to go to the beach. Another day of no fish catching for me but we did see a fellow fisherman catch what looked to me like a pickerel ...I told them that the knowledge that they confirmed that there were fish in these waters didn`t necessarily please me.
I took us down some scenic roads along the river towards the shoreline. We went to Popham beach in Bath , Me ...Low tide had exposed 1/4 mile of beach on all sides. Maine beaches are wierd...there was water on multiple sides of us...we climbed the rock jetty mountains for a beautiful view... walking along the water , really really cold water (yes I went in ...It was invigorating though it left you breathless) we saw birds dive bombing into the water for fish...It was very cool to watch...I still haven`t figured out what type of birds they were but they were much cooler than sea gulls.
A nice drive home ...perfect driving weather and here I am , typing my journal.
Sat , we kinda got rained out , we stayed at a cheap motel in Lewiston Maine on friday night , and on sat made our way towards Augusta. In between the drizzle , we hit Pine tree Aboretum and did a nice walk appx 1.25 mile thru beautiful trails with marked foliage exhibits, including rock gardens , lilacs , rhodendrum , numberous stree species , due to the rain we had to avoid stepping on the hundreds and hundreds of snails underfoot.
We did another 2 miles at Kennebec river trail , walking along a rail trail next to the river.
We then check in to our bed and breakfast , waved to the chickens and cows as we rolled up the driveway -
On the property is a mile or so walk thru the woods and fields to Jimmys Pond , which I intended to kayak this weekend. We made it about 3/4 of the way , GPS in hand tracking every move , until it got too mucky and mosquito infested , so we had to turn around. We then drove to Jimmys Pond and confirmed that this will make for a great kayak trip thru remote and quiet pond areas. We added a few more bug bites during this visit as well.
Hallowell happened to have a parade and block party of sorts , as well as fireworks which we enjoyed after a thai-sushi dinner at Cafe Bangcock...Good food , horrible service.
Sunday - Togus Pond - Incredible day of Kayaking - we did about 4 hours here , also tracked via gps and saved - We saw a few BALD EAGLES flying overhead, incredibly beautiful birds , We spied them with our binoculars to confirm identity. I also saw what I believe to have been a mink , sunning himself on an exposed rock ....startled by my sudden appearance , scooted and dove into the water. That was my first water mammal sighting.
Later , we hit Lake St George Park and did some sunning , swimming and reading.
Sunday night , went to a irish bar/restaurant , downtown hallowell for a few drinks and a pretty good meal. Lori actually had a beer sampler and of course , Shepherds Pie.
Monday , early morning after another great breakfast , we checked out and ...we kayaked jimmys pond , about an hour and half ...went all the way thru to little jimmys and thru a stream to a portage area to get to hutchinson pond. We werent feeling Portage today as I had us lined up to go to the beach. Another day of no fish catching for me but we did see a fellow fisherman catch what looked to me like a pickerel ...I told them that the knowledge that they confirmed that there were fish in these waters didn`t necessarily please me.
I took us down some scenic roads along the river towards the shoreline. We went to Popham beach in Bath , Me ...Low tide had exposed 1/4 mile of beach on all sides. Maine beaches are wierd...there was water on multiple sides of us...we climbed the rock jetty mountains for a beautiful view... walking along the water , really really cold water (yes I went in ...It was invigorating though it left you breathless) we saw birds dive bombing into the water for fish...It was very cool to watch...I still haven`t figured out what type of birds they were but they were much cooler than sea gulls.
A nice drive home ...perfect driving weather and here I am , typing my journal.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Vermont Weekend
Went skiing this weekend at mount snow. Took Lori to a bed and breakfast inn. We usually enjoy our stays at b&b`s - but this one wasn`t so great. We initially liked our hostess , a kinda spunky older lady with a smoke-gravely voice; After a while , her spunky was just funky and annoying.
We woke up at 6:45 in the AM to the cooks radio , apparently we resided right above the kitchen. It was rock music , but once it makes it thru the ceiling and floor to our ears , it just sounds like muffled discordant noise: At 6:45 AM , regardless of sound quality , this wasn`t appreciated.
The cook was an "out there", loud and obnoxious Neo-hippy who obtrusively offered his dinner services , prior to even allowing us to taste his breakfast. His breakfast sucked. No cheese to goalong with the dry eggs was my complaint. Lori loved her pancakes.
We had a cheesy little jacuzzi tub but took advantage of it two nights in a row ; on the 2nd night Lori`s bathing was interrupted by the Hostess who said that the tub was apparently leaking
downstairs. We promptly ceased using the jacuzzi and drained the tub , they promptly shut the
water off with no warning. Ugghhh!
We left on Sunday without their crappy breakfast , attempting to sleep in despite the cacophony
of the kitchen radio. Unsuccessful , we got up and left. I planned on taking us snow shoeing but it was 18 degrees , 40 mile per hour gusts , and snowing . We wimped out...The drive sucked as it was icy as hell , at one point my subaru which rocks in
the snow , was unrelentingly sliding down a hill whilst the breaks did nothing but whine.
In slow motion we anticipated sliding into the car ahead of us. The drive didn`t get much better from there.
Finally made it to Northampton on Sunday in anticipation of our night out to see The Clicks , a concert at Pearl St nightclub. This is a fun little college town despite all the hippy lesbians that attend the local college. I obliged Lori on hitting all the funky little shops , filled with mystic tarot cards, fair trade textiles , gay literature , vegan food stores , bath and body shops etc; I was even patient for the most part. We ate Indian food at a place we have enjoyed in the past , but this time it wasn`t quite as good. Something about Indian food , as much as I love it , restaurants rarely repeat the dish exactly as you have had it before. Well , we check into our hotel . It was kinda nice considering it was half the cost of the B&B. We relaxed , showered and dressed for our night out , and make it to the nightclub to find out that The concert was Cancelled. The lead singer apparently called out Sick ! Fuck !!! Shit .... SHIT FUCK !!!
Sorry , but this was actually the event I booked the entire weekend around. Lori wanted to see
this band , and I liked the CD she picked up , booked this first and wrapped the rest of the crappy weekend around it. SHIT ... FUCK!
Our hotel happened to have a pool and a real jacuzzi , Lori and I whiled away the evening til we were wrinkly and waterlogged. We drove home the next day , basicly laid around the house. What a waste of a long weekend.
In between all the bullshit I described , their was pockets of fun. It wasn`t all horrible. Skiing was fun , we enjoyed one of the dinners out in vermont , the pool and
jacuzzi in the hotel was great and Lori and I , for the most part , got along well and enjoyed each
others company.
We woke up at 6:45 in the AM to the cooks radio , apparently we resided right above the kitchen. It was rock music , but once it makes it thru the ceiling and floor to our ears , it just sounds like muffled discordant noise: At 6:45 AM , regardless of sound quality , this wasn`t appreciated.
The cook was an "out there", loud and obnoxious Neo-hippy who obtrusively offered his dinner services , prior to even allowing us to taste his breakfast. His breakfast sucked. No cheese to goalong with the dry eggs was my complaint. Lori loved her pancakes.
We had a cheesy little jacuzzi tub but took advantage of it two nights in a row ; on the 2nd night Lori`s bathing was interrupted by the Hostess who said that the tub was apparently leaking
downstairs. We promptly ceased using the jacuzzi and drained the tub , they promptly shut the
water off with no warning. Ugghhh!
We left on Sunday without their crappy breakfast , attempting to sleep in despite the cacophony
of the kitchen radio. Unsuccessful , we got up and left. I planned on taking us snow shoeing but it was 18 degrees , 40 mile per hour gusts , and snowing . We wimped out...The drive sucked as it was icy as hell , at one point my subaru which rocks in
the snow , was unrelentingly sliding down a hill whilst the breaks did nothing but whine.
In slow motion we anticipated sliding into the car ahead of us. The drive didn`t get much better from there.
Finally made it to Northampton on Sunday in anticipation of our night out to see The Clicks , a concert at Pearl St nightclub. This is a fun little college town despite all the hippy lesbians that attend the local college. I obliged Lori on hitting all the funky little shops , filled with mystic tarot cards, fair trade textiles , gay literature , vegan food stores , bath and body shops etc; I was even patient for the most part. We ate Indian food at a place we have enjoyed in the past , but this time it wasn`t quite as good. Something about Indian food , as much as I love it , restaurants rarely repeat the dish exactly as you have had it before. Well , we check into our hotel . It was kinda nice considering it was half the cost of the B&B. We relaxed , showered and dressed for our night out , and make it to the nightclub to find out that The concert was Cancelled. The lead singer apparently called out Sick ! Fuck !!! Shit .... SHIT FUCK !!!
Sorry , but this was actually the event I booked the entire weekend around. Lori wanted to see
this band , and I liked the CD she picked up , booked this first and wrapped the rest of the crappy weekend around it. SHIT ... FUCK!
Our hotel happened to have a pool and a real jacuzzi , Lori and I whiled away the evening til we were wrinkly and waterlogged. We drove home the next day , basicly laid around the house. What a waste of a long weekend.
In between all the bullshit I described , their was pockets of fun. It wasn`t all horrible. Skiing was fun , we enjoyed one of the dinners out in vermont , the pool and
jacuzzi in the hotel was great and Lori and I , for the most part , got along well and enjoyed each
others company.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)