alan j quinn

Today I had a false start at 4am! Yuk. Took forever to fall back asleep. Real start at 7:45am, that’s much more respectable. Up, breakfast, break camp and hit the road.

Breaking camp time lapse photos.

On the way home we visited Okemo. This is a mountain I want to visit when the white stuff is on the ground. Speaking if which we found some on the walk to the summit.

View from the top.

Us at the top.

360 view for the summit tower.

Us from the very top.

GMan on the way down.

Looking up-down.

Winter is coming!

Subu in downtown Okemo.

All in all it was a great trip and we are already planning next years.

Today started with “daddy I have something in my belly button”, to which I replied “is it moving”, and the response was “yes”. Yup, GMan got his first tick. After a little pre op where GMan lay on the picnic table we had most of it removed, but a little remained.

I checked at the ranger for a point nose tweezers as our were flat and it turned out he had the same. Nearest pharmacy was in Grandville NY, about fifteen miles south. I found Grandville and their Memorial Day Parade. After a ten minute, ask direction twice I found it. $29 later and a few choices I headed back to the campgrounds.

Operation 2 took place with GMan laying on the tail gate of B’s pick up. Another camper strolled over and gave us a local remedy….fill the belly button with Vaseline, cover with band aid and the little f@$ker will back its way out! A few globs of Lip Medex later and we’ll wait to see what happens. Currently bobbing around in the lake on Little Boo ll.

The boys surprised me with this one. It was a special birthday treat.

GMan and I went on another walk as the water is just a little cold for us flat landers, however GMan did jump in…..and back out just as fast!

After dinner we went evening paddle. The lake was calm and quite. It was great to get out on the water one more time. Lights out at 9:15.

GMan poses in front of the entrance sign.

Today started with “daddy I have something in my belly button”, to which I replied “is it moving”, and the response was “yes”. Yup, GMan got his first tick. After a little pre op where GMan lay on the picnic table we had most of it removed, but a little remained.

I checked at the ranger for a point nose tweezers as our were flat and it turned out he had the same. Nearest pharmacy was in Grandville NY, about fifteen miles south. I found Grandville and their Memorial Day Parade. After a ten minute, ask direction twice I found it. $29 later and a few choices I headed back to the campgrounds.

Operation 2 took place with GMan laying on the tail gate of B’s pick up. Another camper strolled over and gave us a local remedy….fill the belly button with Vaseline, cover with band aid and the little f@$ker will back its way out! A few globs of Lip Medex later and we’ll wait to see what happens. Currently bobbing around in the lake on Little Boo ll.

The boys surprised me with this one. It was a special birthday treat.

GMan and I went on another walk as the water is just a little cold for us flat landers, however GMan did jump in…..and back out just as fast!

After dinner we went evening paddle. The lake was calm and quite. It was great to get out on the water one more time. Lights out at 9:15.

GMan poses in front of the entrance sign.

All photos at bottom.

Day three had a false start at 6:10, followed by an odd dream about a band, then a real start at 7:15. No rain! For the first time since Friday it was not raining. Up, cranked up the Optimus Crux for some SB (that Starbucks) and steamy hot instant oatmeal. Whatever else the day brought we were going kayaking while it was not raining. Mind you we could go in the rain but GMan outer layer is not the may west (that best) at keeping out the rain. However, he’d be toasty warm in his new Hydroskins.

A little after eight we hit the water, nice. We took a right and headed North into the wind. This way the home journey would be easier. We paddled to the top of the lake and bobbed around looking at a few nesting cranes. It showered a few times, but not too bad. I’m very impressed with our Hydroskins, we were dry and warm. I picked up a new set of NRS Vapor Loft paddling boots at a paddling show in NJ a few months ago. Theses along with NRS dry socks and a pair of cheap wooly socks I picked up at Wallyworld (that’s Wallmart) yesterday and my feet were nice warm and dry. Even Wallyworld up here is a trip! GMan Hydroskin pants are long enough so he can pull them down over his heels and with regular socks he was also dry and warm. I gave him a push off do he never really stepped in the water.

We ended up paddling back as B and A were getting Little Boo ll into the water. However, Little Boo ll would not start so we are not sure if we’ll get out in it.

We pulled our kayaks out of the water and did the civilized thing by taking a shower…..yes, it felt great.

News flash. Little Boo ll is alive! We charged the battery at the local hardware store and the boat cranked right up. Currently bobbing around in the lake. Life is grand.

Later on after another fine Mountain House meal we hung around the camp fire and went for a hike. Lights out at 10. It better not be raining I’m the am.

GMan are suited up and ready. Note it’s not raining.

Pano on the beach area.

Kayak buddies.

Today’s weather. Today reminded me of Ireland….rain, shower, drizzle, dry for a bit and repeat cycle.

B and me.

B in Little Boo ll.

Pano of B in Little Boo ll.

A at the controls.

Or fearless mascot.

Apparently in the fifties Chrysler made boats to match their cars. Little Boo ll is a 1958 Valiant. Really cool little boat.

B and I relaxing at the camp fire. We lashed the umbrella to the chairs to stay dry.

Pano of B’s site.

Dinner was Mountain House Lasagna and it’s great.

GMan in our lean-too.

Found a Chestnut tree nursery on the nature trail.

GMan and me.

Chestnut tree rows.

Evening light.

Setting sun.

Old and the new.

All photos at bottom.

It’s still raining. The boys went hiking….. In Dicks!

So day 2 was a wash. However, ZgMan and I drove to Lake Saint George Kayak Company in Bolton Landing NY. It’s about an hour from the camp grounds.
My mission was to get Hydroskin top and bottoms for GMan. That part of NY is pretty with lots of quant little towns and many camping areas.

We arrived at the store only to find it locked, but it appeared oped. I picked up a brochure that was sitting next to the door and called the number. A girl pick up and said that they just move into a new store right on the water about one mile away. Two minutes later we were in a very nicely restored boat house turned into a store with a million dollar view.

A few minutes later GMan was on a dressing room and we settled on a good size. Given the current air temp of 43 and I’m guessing a water temp of even lower 40’s I did not want him talking a swim, accidentally or otherwise without an extra layer.

After a great chat with the owners we settled up and were on our way. If you ever get up that way drop in for a browse and stay for the view.

Later that evening I tried out Mountain House Pasta Primavera white GMan had tomato soup. We finished with Backpackers Pantry Hot Apple Cobbler. The pasta was so so, but the cobbler is great. It’s a multi step process, but well worth it.

Before supper we put up a second tarp so our little home away from home is now fully enclosed. It cut down on the wind, driving rain and hopefully we’ll sleep better tonight.

Lights out at 9:45. Here’s hoping for less rain tomorrow.

Lunch – Chicken soup.

Ivy our home away from home all tarped up.

Here’s a trip down memory lane. Picked these up at Shaw’s before we left. It’s the only good thing about that store.

GMan little green friend that came for the ride to the kayak store. However, we placed him/her on a edge of a piece of trim in the changing room and there he remained. We were 1/2 home when we realized.

This is not camping, but in the rain any escape will do. By the way B flattened his battery!

Dinner.

Desert.

All photos at bottom.

It’s that time of year again when GMan and I join B and A on our annual Memorial weekend camping trip.

Once again we waited to long to book but managed to once again score the two lean-too’s at Lake Saint Cathrin’s, Pourtney VT. Same place as last year with almost the same sites.

The drive up was uneventful but nice. Since I picked up GMan for school Monerpenny (thats what I call my GPS) sent us to RT12 to just south of Ruthland, then west on 4 to Pourtney.

Our two site are separated a little more than last year, but its still a short walk. My goal for this trip other than not catching phumomia as its being raining all day, or falling out of my kayak as the water is still very cold is to not use ice! Sounds easy, but think about how many times you go into your refrigerator in a day. It’s a lot!

So, in preparation I only bought non perishable food. I also picked up some dehydrated meals for the EMS at the Manchester NH mall. By the way the staff are very helpful and knowledgable. Other items included instant oat meal, snack bars, apples, oranges, crackers and a peanut spread. Not peanut butter as I still cannot eat it….we also brought bottled water and Gatorade. The camp ground has water and its good, but the bottled water is handle and if we ever get out on our kayaks we can bring a few.

Another first is cooking, well at least for ourselves. Typically we share B’s grill but this time we will be cooking for ourselves. I picked up an Optimus Crux backpacking stove and so far very impressed. Stay tuned for more info and a full review.

By the way it’s now 6am on Saturday and its still raining! GMan and I got into out sleeping bags almost fully clothed last night. Speaking of rain, dice I grew up in Ireland I can appreciate a blue sky. However, we may be bailing early if it keeps up.

I’ll also be reviewing my new Thermarest Trail Pro which I bought at the new Nashua EMS. For the outdoorsy type should check it out. Bigger store on the RT side of DWH. As usual the staff were very helpful and knowledge.

Weather for Friday.

Weather for Saturday.

Camping Stove.

GMan poses with dinner.

The end results were surprising good. GMan said “this is awesome, can we have it every night”. Not sure if he meant camping or in general. In any event it was good.

Subu in the rain.

You can’t go camping without a campfire.

Hi!

I’m embarrassed to say this, but the wifi at the mall was so bad we ended up in Dick’s. I’m not going to buy anything just suck up a few wifi waves. By the way it 11:40am and still raining.