Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Sunday, December 13, 2015
It's All Wonderful
It's a Wonderful Run 5k
Bedford Falls, NY
With 4,000 people in attendance the 'It’s a Wonderful Run
5k' could also be called the ‘Asses to Elbows Run 5k’ but everyone was in
good spirits - many were festively attired in very creative ways - and we all had fun
getting out for a trot on a 50-degree evening in mid-December.
Anticipating huge crowds and long lines, we arrived early for packet pickup..
A short while later, it appeared we made the right decision...
With plenty of time to kill, we wandered around town and took in the sights..
And visited the Women's Rights National Historical Site..
Eagerly awaiting gun time..
Smack in the middle of the pack..
The sea of humanity at the finish line made movement nearly impossible for a runner like me who needs to stay in motion after a run (apparently even after a very slow-paced run as last night turned out to be). Hopping up & down in place worked well until I could maneuver my way through the crowd...
Sunday, November 1, 2015
The Making of a Pumpkin Head...
In the 25 years that I have known Dave he has never expressed an interest in dressing up for Halloween.
Not even an inkling.
Not once.
Until now.
Yesterday morning, Halloween morning, we ran in a local 5k called Pumpkins in the Park. It's an annual event and a lot of the participants wear costumes.
Had I known that this was all it would take to awaken Dave's creative Halloween spirit, I would have started this business of running together 20 years ago.
I present to you, Dave in make-up...
Not even an inkling.
Not once.
Until now.
Yesterday morning, Halloween morning, we ran in a local 5k called Pumpkins in the Park. It's an annual event and a lot of the participants wear costumes.
Had I known that this was all it would take to awaken Dave's creative Halloween spirit, I would have started this business of running together 20 years ago.
I present to you, Dave in make-up...
Post-race, a touch of Alice Cooper
He wore it well.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Getting personal.
Unbeknownst to us, there was a VW van & bus meet-up on Acadia the weekend we were there. The island was crawling with them, many different years and styles in varying stages of upkeep and personalized style. It was really cool. Everywhere we went we wound up chatting with other van lovers and owners.
It all got me to thinking...
Aside from a few nuts & bolts improvements, Dave and I have done nothing to the Westy since we got it. As far as we can tell, it is in nearly original condition. And people (guys) who seem to be "in the know" about Westfalias spot this little detail right away.
This was the only added decoration that the Westy had when we got it:
We have no idea what it means (it looks like a knobby mountain bike tire to us) but we think it's cool and it's part of Westy's story, so we left it.
I decided it really is time we personalize the Westy a little bit.
Let our travels tell OUR story with Westy.
It's a start.
And there is plenty of room for more!
Where shall we go next? ...
Making new friends.
Aside from a few nuts & bolts improvements, Dave and I have done nothing to the Westy since we got it. As far as we can tell, it is in nearly original condition. And people (guys) who seem to be "in the know" about Westfalias spot this little detail right away.
This was the only added decoration that the Westy had when we got it:
I decided it really is time we personalize the Westy a little bit.
Let our travels tell OUR story with Westy.
Where shall we go next? ...
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Rivalry in the stable?
Believe it or not, our 'Life with Westy' began (somewhat by surprise) 6 years ago this month.
Over those 6 years Dave was busy with our myriad of house renovations (you may have read about them here as I veered completely off topic for an extended period of time) and occasional small(ish) Westy-improvements, leaving no spare time to play with - much less care for - his first love, his 1965 Mustang.
I'm not sure if it was all the attention Westy received in preparation for the trip to Maine - not to mention the actual trip itself - or seeing a friend's sports car one recent evening but something triggered a sudden flurry of activity with the Mustang over the past couple weekends.
Surprisingly, it really didn't take much effort to get it started.
Dave took it out for a couple test runs and gave it a much-needed bath.
Now. I need to explain that since we got the Westy, this has been the parking order in the garage...
Westy in front. Mustang in back.
All is right with the Universe.
But THIS....this is how they have been parked since the weekend...
Over those 6 years Dave was busy with our myriad of house renovations (you may have read about them here as I veered completely off topic for an extended period of time) and occasional small(ish) Westy-improvements, leaving no spare time to play with - much less care for - his first love, his 1965 Mustang.
I'm not sure if it was all the attention Westy received in preparation for the trip to Maine - not to mention the actual trip itself - or seeing a friend's sports car one recent evening but something triggered a sudden flurry of activity with the Mustang over the past couple weekends.
It's like a used car lot around here.
Dave took it out for a couple test runs and gave it a much-needed bath.
Now. I need to explain that since we got the Westy, this has been the parking order in the garage...
All is right with the Universe.
But THIS....this is how they have been parked since the weekend...
Poor Westy looks like it is in Time Out.
Stuck in the back, nose facing the wall...
There is a disturbance in the Universe.
Stuck in the back, nose facing the wall...
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
Beer Review
Remember these?
Our local beer store had both in stock, so we gave them a try.
Fresh Slice White IPA - Neither one of us noticed the small print on the label which states that this beer is "Brewed with a dose of coriander and a hit [yes hit, not hint] of natural clementine flavor." Now, I like white IPA. I like coriander. And we eat a lot of clementines in the winter. However, upon the very first sip, I learned that I do not like those three items combined in one bottle. Not one bit. But that's just me.
Backseat Berner - Hoppy, bitter and far more drinkable (in my opinion). But at 7% alcohol just one made mea little loopy. To be perfectly honest, I was light headed by the time I got through half the bottle (as is the case with anything, if you don't remain vigilant with your practice, you lose your edge).
Dave, being of the "Let no beer go to waste!" mind-set -- and an all-around good sport -- is valiantly plugging away at them. Reminiscing about vacation with each bottle.
Beer with buses and dogs on the label...awesome fun packaging catches the eye!
Our local beer store had both in stock, so we gave them a try.
Fresh Slice White IPA - Neither one of us noticed the small print on the label which states that this beer is "Brewed with a dose of coriander and a hit [yes hit, not hint] of natural clementine flavor." Now, I like white IPA. I like coriander. And we eat a lot of clementines in the winter. However, upon the very first sip, I learned that I do not like those three items combined in one bottle. Not one bit. But that's just me.
Backseat Berner - Hoppy, bitter and far more drinkable (in my opinion). But at 7% alcohol just one made me
Dave, being of the "Let no beer go to waste!" mind-set -- and an all-around good sport -- is valiantly plugging away at them. Reminiscing about vacation with each bottle.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Acadia
The morning after hiking/climbing Katahdin we packed up camp (in the dreary rain and drizzle) and headed for town and breakfast at the Appalachian Trail Cafe in Millinocket. As well as generous portions of food for hungry, calorie deficient AT hikers, they provide services and lodging. It's worth a stop even on a dry day to eaves drop on hiker conversations and observe the comradery.
On the way out of Baxter SP we stopped to peak at a couple ponds in hopes of spying a moose casually breakfasting on whatever it is that moose enjoy gnawing on - alas, there were to be no moose sightings our entire trip.
However, in the wildlife department, we did have a pesky and somewhat portly chipmunk that was intent on trying to get into the Westy. He even ran over Dave's foot one evening during dinner - not sure who was more surprised at that encounter.
But this is a post about Acadia.
Acadia National Park encompasses about 47,000 acres of land, predominantly on Mount Desert Island, on the Atlantic coast. Our first stop was park headquarters where one of the friendlier of the stereotypical no-nonsense New Englander park rangers told us that they had broken a record this past summer with 2.2 million visitors. Being the weekend after Labor Day, Dave and I had foolishly thought that there would be very few people around. I suppose in comparison to 2.2 million the park was nearly vacant, but it felt crowded to us. Fortunately I had reserved a campsite on the "Quiet Side" of the island, in Bass Harbor. I am sure the friendly but odd folks running the campground had our best interests at heart when they parked us right next to the bathrooms and practically on top of other campers. I am also certain that when we politely requested to move to the most remote, furthest away from the bathhouse site we could find they thought we were the odd ones. We were very happy with our new-found seclusion.
It's hard to sum up Acadia, and I've babbled on here long enough. It is obviously a major tourist draw and everything I have ever imagined Maine's rugged coast would look like. There are plenty of hiking trails from easy to moderate to strenuous, and lots of biking, canoeing and kayaking options. Suffice to say that a weekend is not enough time there. If you ever go, and it's a haul from Western NY (800 miles -ish), give yourself lots of time to take it all in. Personally, I would also suggest you avoid summer and leaf-peeper seasons. But that's just me.
On the way out of Baxter SP we stopped to peak at a couple ponds in hopes of spying a moose casually breakfasting on whatever it is that moose enjoy gnawing on - alas, there were to be no moose sightings our entire trip.
But this is a post about Acadia.
Acadia National Park encompasses about 47,000 acres of land, predominantly on Mount Desert Island, on the Atlantic coast. Our first stop was park headquarters where one of the friendlier of the stereotypical no-nonsense New Englander park rangers told us that they had broken a record this past summer with 2.2 million visitors. Being the weekend after Labor Day, Dave and I had foolishly thought that there would be very few people around. I suppose in comparison to 2.2 million the park was nearly vacant, but it felt crowded to us. Fortunately I had reserved a campsite on the "Quiet Side" of the island, in Bass Harbor. I am sure the friendly but odd folks running the campground had our best interests at heart when they parked us right next to the bathrooms and practically on top of other campers. I am also certain that when we politely requested to move to the most remote, furthest away from the bathhouse site we could find they thought we were the odd ones. We were very happy with our new-found seclusion.
It's hard to sum up Acadia, and I've babbled on here long enough. It is obviously a major tourist draw and everything I have ever imagined Maine's rugged coast would look like. There are plenty of hiking trails from easy to moderate to strenuous, and lots of biking, canoeing and kayaking options. Suffice to say that a weekend is not enough time there. If you ever go, and it's a haul from Western NY (800 miles -ish), give yourself lots of time to take it all in. Personally, I would also suggest you avoid summer and leaf-peeper seasons. But that's just me.
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Katahdin
Located in Baxter State Park, at 5,267 feet high, Baxter Peak on Mount Katahdin is the highest peak in Maine. For hikers choosing the south to north route, it is the terminus of the Appalachian Trail; a very long walk, 2,155 miles (give or take), requiring 5+ months to complete. Named by the Penobscot Indians, Katahdin means "The Greatest Mountain."
I am certain somewhere, along with that dignified definition, one can also find these words: Serious. Intense. And, last but certainly not least, Slightly Terrifying.
The trail we hiked from our campsite to the top is known as the Hunt Trail. It is 5.2 miles (one way) with a 4,150 foot elevation gain. There is no warm up, you pretty much start gaining elevation right out of the gate.
Camp
It took two eight-hour travel days in the Westy, over lots of mountainous roads, to get to our campsite. A nearly 800-mile trip through Vermont and New Hampshire, every mile was gorgeous. Westy did great except for the final push at 20 mph on dirt roads through the park (Westy doesn't like slow speeds, it tends to overheat) but we made it and everything was fine.
The Hike - Off We Go!
The Boulder Fields of Hunt Spur and The Gateway
The Tableland
While relatively flat, the Tableland was a one-mile walk across varying size rocks through a landscape that was silent and looked otherworldly.
At the Top!
Descent
What goes up...
We were very fortunate to have clear skies and perfect weather (despite the forecast) for our day on the mountain. We met quite a few AT thru-hikers who were finishing their journeys, they all have our greatest respects, it was a powerful thing to bear witness to. We feel extremely grateful to have been physically (and mentally) able to do this hike and carried a sense of awe with us for the rest of our time in Maine.
I am certain somewhere, along with that dignified definition, one can also find these words: Serious. Intense. And, last but certainly not least, Slightly Terrifying.
The trail we hiked from our campsite to the top is known as the Hunt Trail. It is 5.2 miles (one way) with a 4,150 foot elevation gain. There is no warm up, you pretty much start gaining elevation right out of the gate.
It took two eight-hour travel days in the Westy, over lots of mountainous roads, to get to our campsite. A nearly 800-mile trip through Vermont and New Hampshire, every mile was gorgeous. Westy did great except for the final push at 20 mph on dirt roads through the park (Westy doesn't like slow speeds, it tends to overheat) but we made it and everything was fine.
Happy Camper
...a little while later.
The Hike - Off We Go!
The rocks are the trail.
Little did I know, this was the easy part of the trail.
The Boulder Fields of Hunt Spur and The Gateway
Somewhere in the middle of the scariest parts of the boulder "field" on Hunt Spur, I recall informing Dave that all of his future vacation choices would be much more closely supervised.
I don't think I have ever seen such a big smile on Dave's face.
The Tableland
While relatively flat, the Tableland was a one-mile walk across varying size rocks through a landscape that was silent and looked otherworldly.
At the Top!
Mac 'n Cheese - thru-hikers we met on the trail, finished on day 169
The Knife Edge
Descent
What goes up...
We were very fortunate to have clear skies and perfect weather (despite the forecast) for our day on the mountain. We met quite a few AT thru-hikers who were finishing their journeys, they all have our greatest respects, it was a powerful thing to bear witness to. We feel extremely grateful to have been physically (and mentally) able to do this hike and carried a sense of awe with us for the rest of our time in Maine.
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