November 9, 2015
November 4, 2015
Four days just messing around in boats
A weekend in October; Lake Umbagogg in northern New Hampshire; The Hipples; Six Boats (Canoes and Kayaks); Fishing gear; Dutch ovens; Eagles; Loons; Heron; Fog; Capture the Flag (Naval edition); Jumping off a large rock; Fire; Beverages; Coffee; Shenanigans; The good life;
September 24, 2015
MtB Weekend
As a present to myself I escaped for the weekend with some friends to ride bikes and soak in the end of summer/beginning of fall without kids. Next weekend I will be going on a family canoe camping trip so don't think I'm letting them get soft.
We headed to the Green Mountain National Forest and camped at Silver Lake. The setting couldn't be beat.
My buddy Josh and I arrived late Friday night to set up camp, but first we loaded up an old trek bike trailer with all of our gear and hiked it over half a mile down a steep hiking trail and drank half a flask of whiskey (whiskey before hike but after packing.) We then were offered firewood and political opinions by a libertarian camper near us, and we accepted neither.
We woke up a little blurry eyed but the view helped. We then went to meet Chaim at the parking lot and found that there was a road we could have come down with our gear rather than the hike. We then set out to ride the Chandler Ridge/Leicester Hollow trails, over 8.5 miles of single track. We had a blast, the weather was perfect and we had the whole place to our selves.
The trail was perfectly laid out with great switchbacks, wonderful views, and good flow.
However, there was a great deal of roots and rock to deal with which as we all commented forced us all (especially since we were all on 26" hardtails) to focus like lasers the whole time. In fact after a scary fall early I was a little shaken and by the old school gnar of the trail which never really let you enjoy the flow and layout of the trail. It seemed that every climb and tight turn or interesting rock feature was laden with expansive roots and rocks waiting to grab your front tire or release your rear. I ended up hiking quite a few sections and I got more and more frustrated with each one.
The return on the Leicester Hollow trail was a mellow climb back to the lake very straight with little contour but it was a nice finish to the day. The setting was a moss covered and Endor like, very different from the dry ridgeline.
That night our final friend Erik joined us and we ate like kings and drank like vikings. It rained and because I was determined to sleep under the stars I was caught without my tent, but being resourceful I just slept under the picnic table. No glamping here.
Oh by the way the crappers were divine.
We headed to the Green Mountain National Forest and camped at Silver Lake. The setting couldn't be beat.
My buddy Josh and I arrived late Friday night to set up camp, but first we loaded up an old trek bike trailer with all of our gear and hiked it over half a mile down a steep hiking trail and drank half a flask of whiskey (whiskey before hike but after packing.) We then were offered firewood and political opinions by a libertarian camper near us, and we accepted neither.
We woke up a little blurry eyed but the view helped. We then went to meet Chaim at the parking lot and found that there was a road we could have come down with our gear rather than the hike. We then set out to ride the Chandler Ridge/Leicester Hollow trails, over 8.5 miles of single track. We had a blast, the weather was perfect and we had the whole place to our selves.
The trail was perfectly laid out with great switchbacks, wonderful views, and good flow.
However, there was a great deal of roots and rock to deal with which as we all commented forced us all (especially since we were all on 26" hardtails) to focus like lasers the whole time. In fact after a scary fall early I was a little shaken and by the old school gnar of the trail which never really let you enjoy the flow and layout of the trail. It seemed that every climb and tight turn or interesting rock feature was laden with expansive roots and rocks waiting to grab your front tire or release your rear. I ended up hiking quite a few sections and I got more and more frustrated with each one.
The return on the Leicester Hollow trail was a mellow climb back to the lake very straight with little contour but it was a nice finish to the day. The setting was a moss covered and Endor like, very different from the dry ridgeline.
That night our final friend Erik joined us and we ate like kings and drank like vikings. It rained and because I was determined to sleep under the stars I was caught without my tent, but being resourceful I just slept under the picnic table. No glamping here.
Oh by the way the crappers were divine.
September 22, 2015
Free Advice
It's the only kind I have to give.
I have someone close to me who is going through something and this something involves romantic relationships and potentially children and what one is responsible for and not responsible for and the difference between a parenting relationship and a romantic relationship. I truly can't imagine having to go through something like this but I still want to give this person some perspective and advice. I have been thinking through what I want to say and the main messages I want to get across and I imagine that this message would make everything o.k. I truly wish that I can say just the right things and not only help this compadre not only feel good about the decisions they have to make but give them some insight to help them make those decisions. I imagine that most people who give advice have the same desires when they pass those words of wisdom on. In this case, as much as I hope that I say just the right things and these words somehow help this friend navigate the situation ahead towards the best possible scenario, I still don't trust what I have to say enough that I would ever charge for that service. I wonder how therapists, councilors, and others who make a living can ever be confident enough in their opinion to demand payment for it.
I have someone close to me who is going through something and this something involves romantic relationships and potentially children and what one is responsible for and not responsible for and the difference between a parenting relationship and a romantic relationship. I truly can't imagine having to go through something like this but I still want to give this person some perspective and advice. I have been thinking through what I want to say and the main messages I want to get across and I imagine that this message would make everything o.k. I truly wish that I can say just the right things and not only help this compadre not only feel good about the decisions they have to make but give them some insight to help them make those decisions. I imagine that most people who give advice have the same desires when they pass those words of wisdom on. In this case, as much as I hope that I say just the right things and these words somehow help this friend navigate the situation ahead towards the best possible scenario, I still don't trust what I have to say enough that I would ever charge for that service. I wonder how therapists, councilors, and others who make a living can ever be confident enough in their opinion to demand payment for it.
July 28, 2015
Ramble Ramble Ramble
Well the 2015 Ramble has come and gone. This year's iteration of Burlington's Old North End neighborhood celebration of community, arts, and weirdness was as great as ever and was thoroughly enjoyed by all members of my clan. See the highlights in the photo dump here.
April 14, 2015
March 31, 2015
March 13, 2015
March 2, 2015
February 11, 2015
one for the snow
In light of all the snow we've been getting in the last two weeks here is a great ski video, found on all hail the black market.
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