Friday, June 28, 2013

leaving on Monday

It is Friday afternoon and I have finished playing golf (a 45 on the back nine with a 6 on the first hole) and getting my second spare tire. Scott came out from Dodson and treated the house and there are not too many things left to do. I have the Canada maps together and I just have to get the national forest maps ready. I also have to pack the kayak stuff but I should do that tomorrow since Sunday is going to be very busy with David coming to cut the leaning trees and my dinner plans with Cathy Gallo. My walk this morning was pretty good even though it was hot since I didn’t sleep well and I got up at 8:30. The flowers include Oxeye, enchanters, wild hydrangea, deptford pink, heal all, white avens, Canada anemone, honework, common St. John’s wort. On Wednesday I finished trimming the road and the orchard so that is done and this morning I cleaned out the truck and washed the cupholders. I am within a few hours of being ready to leave. I have to pick up meds on Sunday at walmart. Issac came and replaced the broken fan so that is all finished.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

more trees down in the hollow

On Sunday I got up pretty early, and started on my way home. I did not write but I did ride my bike at JMU and then play golf at Ingleside where I shot a 49 by sinking a seven foot putt on the last hole. I got home around 4:00 and ran into the campers. I joined them for a dip in the river and then headed up to the hollow to find that a windstorm had knocked down a number of trees and there was no way I could clear all of them. I walked down to the pasture, called David then called Mike and fortunately Mike and his friend were able to come out in an hour and clear the major blowdown, a tangled mess of three big trees. I paid them well for coming out on a Sunday and then I was back home. I decided to go into town for a movie and got to see Monsters University, which was good but not as good as the first movie. On Monday I did my walk and then did yoga but I couldn’t do weights because I hurt my back cutting up the first bunch of trees. I went into town and got my truck checked out (during which I got back into writing on my project), ordered another spare for the Alaska trip, and then drove back to the hollow to meet Corey and get the generator back. That went well and then I went into BBurg to walk the trail with Rob and catch up on the news, none of which was very crucial. Following that I went to see Mud, which was a great movie. Tuesday morning I did my writing and then took my walk up to the orchard where I trimmed the briars and called Gyorgyi to wish her a happy 60th. Next I talked to Alfredo about my planned gift. I do hope he and Kelly accept it and I know it will help them with their house hunting. Back to the house for some flower identification (Canada anemone, enchanter’s nightshade and honewort), some more trimming and some yoga and house cleaning and then off to Barnes and Noble. My preparation for Alaska is going well.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

my trip north 2

The photo shoot turned out well but it was hard work. Jose was fine and he knew what he was doing but the fishing was very hard. I got no hits on the main branch and only two fish on Biscuit Brook. Jose got one after I showed him the roll cast. We drove back and after a mediocre dinner at Bella Fortuna (still quite expensive) I dropped him off in South Fallsburg. I drove toward Roscoe and stopped at a McDonalds to send Nina my photos of the Catskill Center. It was very trying since my computer kept telling me my e-mail box was full so I had to delete a lot of stuff to be able to send. I stayed at the Roscoe campground again. On Tuesday morning I drove up to the Beaverkill and rode my bike then headed for Bennington. I stopped to play golf in Stamford and though I played poorly, I still broke 50. I decided to camp out and I ended up at the place I stayed last time, Greenwood Lodge. It turned out to be pretty easy to get to and it was actually a lovely place even if the owners were a little weird. I went back into town after fishing the stream that goes up the mountain and I caught one nice trout. Then I drove into town to eat at the Madison Brew Pub and then watch the rest of the game at Ryan’s before I headed back to the campground. I slept well and then I did my yoga and showered before I headed into town for coffee and an egg and cheese bagel. I decided to start on a new project (which I will reveal when and if I write 20,000 words). I decided to fish Roaring Branch near East Arlington and the hurricane damage was significant, with the road washed out after two miles. I fished an absolutely lovely stretch but only got one trout on a dry before switching to a nymph with no luck. I drove up to Manchester and stayed at Camping on the Battenkill, and that was a good idea. The river runs right next to the campground. I drove into town for dinner at the Equinox Inn and it was superb (maple glazed salmon being the entree). After a short walk to the falls, I watched Man of Steel and found that pretty good despite the mediocre reviews. On Thursday morning I did my yoga and then rode up to the Duncan Donuts to keep working on my new project. Then it was time to head up to Poultney to play golf and fish the Mettawee. I was pretty awful playing but I still shot a 47, with my play much better in the last few holes. My fishing wasn’t much better, and though I fished very hard, I got only one hit. I drove back to Camping on the Battenkill and practiced my sax (the second day in a row) and then did my hour bike ride. Now it was time to head to Mulligans to watch the seventh game and it was something. It was close throughout and if Tim Duncan hadn’t missed an easy shot late and Manu Ginobli hadn’t made a couple of mistakes, the Spurs could have won. It was the best series I can remember and I did feel bad for the Spurs who really should have won it in six games. On Friday morning I did my yoga and then drove to New York State where I stopped to write on my project and then to drive toward the Catskills. The drive along Catskill creek was quite scenic and I eventually rode my bike near Sundown and then went for an icy dip. I found a place to camp and then just made it for Monsters University at 7. After it was over I decided to head on toward Scranton to cut down tomorrow’s drive and I ended up at a campground about 20 miles from Scranton, exhausted and upset about the terrible signage leading me to campground.

Monday, June 17, 2013

my trip north

My visit north has turned out quite well. I stopped at a KOA near New Market and then went to the Shenvalee for bike riding and dinner. The next day I stopped and biked along the Potomac near Sandy Hook road and that was very nice although it was crowded. There were a number of people on the trail and I had to drive very carefully. My visit to Kelly was a lot of fun. Lucia monopolized my attention but she was a great playmate. We went for a walk to the concert across from her house and we played soccer and Kelly and Lucia beat Alfredo and me. It was pretty intense. I had a fine visit to Manhattan also. I walked and walked, from the ferry to the Highline at 14th street, Times Square, Central Park, Hunter College, just my normal meandering. I had a great time with Tina and Alana and she is a very nice young lady and very smart. I stayed for three nights at the Hampton Inn on Staten Island and that was pleasant and not that expensive. I don’t mind driving to the ferry and I used the closer lot so I don’t have to get the 9PM boat. I stayed at Gabes’ apartment the last night and that was fun. Julian has certainly grown up a lot and I enjoyed reading to him and playing with him. Gabes was very sweet and Francesca and I had a good talk. They took me out to dinner and refused my offer to pay for the plane tickets for their visit in October. I drove up to the Catskills, stopping at Wallkill Golf Club and shooting a 95, which was very nice. I ended up at Roscoe Campsites where I biked for 40 minutes and then went to eat at Raimundo’s Italian restaurant where I had a good dinner and watched the Heat play poorly and lose to the Spurs. Two games left and they have to win both. Today is the photo shoot with Jose and I am a little anxious about that. The water is up so I am not sure I will get a fish.

Friday, June 7, 2013

hectic last week of maymester

This has been a trying week to be sure. I have had problems with a student that I think is finally resolved. I had to dig out two deer ticks and I am on antibiotics for two weeks. My generator was having problems and it is at All Seasons to be repaired (which no doubt will cost me over two hundred dollars). It means I had to turn off the septic and the fan for a couple of days but I did get the solar charged up to 100% (what the specific gravity was I have no idea) and it was at 94 when I left this morning (drawing .4-.5). It is supposed to be sunny on Saturday and if it charges a bit I might put the septic on and maybe even the fan. I have the hollow in very good shape, with a lot of cleaning done and all the little tasks fixed. I will probably miss the cherries and the greenhouse is basically finished for the summer. I had a very interesting experience a few days ago. I was getting ready to leave for school when I heard the phoebes going crazy. I ran out and a 4 foot black snake was up in the nest with one of the chicks in its mouth. I thought to leave nature alone, but I couldn’t. I got the broom out and with the handle pushed the snake off the nest. It fell to the ground with the chick still in its mouth and unfortunately another chick also fell. I could see that there were still 2 chicks up in the nest, so I thought it was a fair balance. When I got home in the evening, the female was back on the nest so my good deed worked.