Jun 1 - Mount Paine with Green Mountain Club annual meeting
On Friday we traveled to Roxbury, VT to see what an annual GMC meeting is all about. We camped on site and the mosquitos were out in full force! It was enlightening to see the passion and dedication of people to maintaining the improving the Vermont Long Trail. On Saturday there were many hikes in the local area and we chose the one to Mount Paine (it doesn't live up to it's name if "pain" is what it means as it's a pretty tame mountain! probably just someone's name) The bugs were out so we didn't spend much time eating lunch at the top.
On Friday we traveled to Roxbury, VT to see what an annual GMC meeting is all about. We camped on site and the mosquitos were out in full force! It was enlightening to see the passion and dedication of people to maintaining the improving the Vermont Long Trail. On Saturday there were many hikes in the local area and we chose the one to Mount Paine (it doesn't live up to it's name if "pain" is what it means as it's a pretty tame mountain! probably just someone's name) The bugs were out so we didn't spend much time eating lunch at the top.
Jun 4 - Stratton Mountain with Martha, Hubey, Tim, Lin, Eric...
We walked up through the forest, climbed the fire tower (always a super perk for a hike!), then down some ski trails to the resort.
We walked up through the forest, climbed the fire tower (always a super perk for a hike!), then down some ski trails to the resort.
Jun 8 - Savoy Forest with GMC led by Marjorie and Hal
A nice easy hike through the forest and then relaxed by a lake.
A nice easy hike through the forest and then relaxed by a lake.
Jun 9 - Glastonbury with Tim, Lin, Ardy, Hubey...
A long ROUGH ride on barely travelable dirt roads, worrying for the underpart of Tim's car. A good trek through the forest, meeting lots of hikers along the AT. We left lots of candy that Tom had brought at the top of the firetower for hungry hikers. Time to get the head nets out to keep the bugs out of the face!
A long ROUGH ride on barely travelable dirt roads, worrying for the underpart of Tim's car. A good trek through the forest, meeting lots of hikers along the AT. We left lots of candy that Tom had brought at the top of the firetower for hungry hikers. Time to get the head nets out to keep the bugs out of the face!
Jun 15 - Mother Myrick with Tim, Lin, Ardy, Eric, Hubey...
A muddy walk and a wrong turn, but any day in the woods is a good day! We didn't make it to the top of the mountain.
A muddy walk and a wrong turn, but any day in the woods is a good day! We didn't make it to the top of the mountain.
Jun 17 - Mt Snow
Martha says we should hike Mt Snow to complete the 3 mountains that give a good view of the Somerset Reservoir. It's a ski resort and the trail is not great, but there are some good views from the top.
Martha says we should hike Mt Snow to complete the 3 mountains that give a good view of the Somerset Reservoir. It's a ski resort and the trail is not great, but there are some good views from the top.
Jun 22 - Spruce Hill (bike and hike)
We are leading a hike for the GMC in a few weeks so we do a checkout hike. We took the car to one trailhead, rode bikes to the other trailhead, locked the bikes, hiked over the mountain to the car, then drove to the second trailhead to collect the bikes. Minutes after we loaded the bikes on the car the skies opened up in one of the hardest gully-washers I've ever seen - sometimes the timing works out just right!!! This storm came out of nowhere - you can see by the photos that while we were at the top, there were few clouds in sight. Check out the Yoda tree!
We are leading a hike for the GMC in a few weeks so we do a checkout hike. We took the car to one trailhead, rode bikes to the other trailhead, locked the bikes, hiked over the mountain to the car, then drove to the second trailhead to collect the bikes. Minutes after we loaded the bikes on the car the skies opened up in one of the hardest gully-washers I've ever seen - sometimes the timing works out just right!!! This storm came out of nowhere - you can see by the photos that while we were at the top, there were few clouds in sight. Check out the Yoda tree!
Jun 23 - Pisgah State Park with Amy's group
An easy hike with a nice group of people. The mountain laurel was in bloom.
An easy hike with a nice group of people. The mountain laurel was in bloom.
Jun 30 - A Pool Table!!
We traveled to Manchester to purchase this Brunswick 1940's pool table. What an education it was to take it apart and amazingly it all fit into the Jeep!!
We traveled to Manchester to purchase this Brunswick 1940's pool table. What an education it was to take it apart and amazingly it all fit into the Jeep!!
Jul 1 - Somerset Bike with the GMC
We love this ride along the river through the beautiful forest! Someday maybe we'll see a moose hanging out here.
We love this ride along the river through the beautiful forest! Someday maybe we'll see a moose hanging out here.
Jul 6 - Spruce Hill (led for GMC)
It was a great group and the light rain held off until the last part of the hike.
It was a great group and the light rain held off until the last part of the hike.
Jul 9 - massive bike ride
What starts out to be a simple ride turns into a full day expedition up and down the hills of Vermont! From Carpenter Hill road through the apple orchards, around and over to Mt. Anthony road.
What starts out to be a simple ride turns into a full day expedition up and down the hills of Vermont! From Carpenter Hill road through the apple orchards, around and over to Mt. Anthony road.
Jul 11 - half of Equinox
It was a hot, hot, steamy, buggy day - not the best day to attempt a very steep climb. We'll come back later in the Fall!
It was a hot, hot, steamy, buggy day - not the best day to attempt a very steep climb. We'll come back later in the Fall!
Jul 16 - end of Taconic to SnowHole with Tim
We are checking out another hike that we are going to lead for the GMC. It's another hot, steamy day but we did get to where we had planned. We decided this hike is too strenuous for many of the people who hike with the GMC, so we plan to reroute the hike. The "snow hole", a large fissure in the earth did still have snow at the bottom of the hole. When you walk down into it, it's like going into a walk-in cooler.
We are checking out another hike that we are going to lead for the GMC. It's another hot, steamy day but we did get to where we had planned. We decided this hike is too strenuous for many of the people who hike with the GMC, so we plan to reroute the hike. The "snow hole", a large fissure in the earth did still have snow at the bottom of the hole. When you walk down into it, it's like going into a walk-in cooler.
Jul 19 - 23 Trip to see the family, LI and then CT
House Stuff
Getting the basement ready for the pool table means painting the walls, sealing the floor with a radon sealer, then painting the floor with dry lock. Below is how the basement is at the beginning stages. Plants are growing - vegies are doing really well and some new flowers spruce up the place.
Getting the basement ready for the pool table means painting the walls, sealing the floor with a radon sealer, then painting the floor with dry lock. Below is how the basement is at the beginning stages. Plants are growing - vegies are doing really well and some new flowers spruce up the place.
Jul 27 - Taconic Crest
A great hike from Petersburg Pass on Route 2 to the Taconic Crest to the Snowhole, then back the Crest to the Birch Brook Trail ending at the Hopkins Forest. Marjorie finds some "chicken" mushroom which multiple people convince us safe to eat, so we try some sauteed in butter and wine, and they were quite tasty! The bottom of the "snow hole" was at least 20 degrees cooler than the top!
A great hike from Petersburg Pass on Route 2 to the Taconic Crest to the Snowhole, then back the Crest to the Birch Brook Trail ending at the Hopkins Forest. Marjorie finds some "chicken" mushroom which multiple people convince us safe to eat, so we try some sauteed in butter and wine, and they were quite tasty! The bottom of the "snow hole" was at least 20 degrees cooler than the top!
July 31 - Aug 1: Mini African reunion with Cindy Clifford, Scott and Kim Genzer at Scott and Kim's home in Norwich, VT.
Scott is doing an awesome job at renovation! After this, we drive to our Azerbaijan friend, Cynthia and spend the night at her house. Here you see the old Meeting House and surround graveyard.
Scott is doing an awesome job at renovation! After this, we drive to our Azerbaijan friend, Cynthia and spend the night at her house. Here you see the old Meeting House and surround graveyard.
Aug 4 - Pine Cobble
A nice walk up Pine Cobble with the Rural Lands Foundation. The variety of mushrooms is wonderful!
A nice walk up Pine Cobble with the Rural Lands Foundation. The variety of mushrooms is wonderful!
Aug 8 - Kayak
It was an interesting visit to a woman who raises and mushes husky dogs! Her home is way out on a dirt road with beautiful views and many dog kennels! We then rented kayaks and with Lin and 2 others glided down the CT river. While it was fun, the river runs next to a highway, so not the lovely 'out in the woods' kind of kayaking.
It was an interesting visit to a woman who raises and mushes husky dogs! Her home is way out on a dirt road with beautiful views and many dog kennels! We then rented kayaks and with Lin and 2 others glided down the CT river. While it was fun, the river runs next to a highway, so not the lovely 'out in the woods' kind of kayaking.
Aug 15 - Lye Brook Falls
Many people had mentioned this hike, so we decided to check it out. It is, indeed, a lovely hike with a waterfall and great rock on which to sit, eat or just ponder life.
Many people had mentioned this hike, so we decided to check it out. It is, indeed, a lovely hike with a waterfall and great rock on which to sit, eat or just ponder life.
Aug 17 - Mt Greylock with Rural Lands Foundation
It's a pretty fast paced walk up the mountain, then a ride with a van back down!
It's a pretty fast paced walk up the mountain, then a ride with a van back down!
Aug 26 - Spruce Hill (bike and hike with Roger)
We take Roger on one of our favorite hikes - including the bike, hike option and then a hotdog at the summit cafe on the way back.
We take Roger on one of our favorite hikes - including the bike, hike option and then a hotdog at the summit cafe on the way back.
Aug 27 - bike the Ashiwilticook
We take Roger to bike the Ashiwilticook bike trail.
We take Roger to bike the Ashiwilticook bike trail.
House Stuff
Our first batch of chilis, a new split-rail fence, and flowers are in bloom.
Our first batch of chilis, a new split-rail fence, and flowers are in bloom.
