So all the pictures and words pale in comparison – we got to see our son! Of course, in all the excitement no pictures of him! We enjoyed a couple of days here in Houghton on the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan, and traveled onto the Keweenah Peninsula up to Copper Harbor. What a stunning… Read More Houghton and the UP – Sept 2014
We decided to head to Michigan to see our son before heading back to Atlanta. On the way we camped one night at Straights State Park, just over the Mackinac Bridge. Michigan State Parks are good as long as you don’t value privacy or space from your neighbors. It seems like Michigan puts about 2-3x… Read More St. Ignace – Sept 2014
What a great time on Cape Cod (MA)!! Karen did some biking on the Rail Trail and in Nickerson SP where we stayed, and I did a lot of kayaking in the salt marshes, the ocean (you can see some of my friends) as well as fresh water ponds. While on the cape, we got to see… Read More Cape Cod – Sept 2014
You can’t say Freeport, ME without talking about LL Bean, so yes that was our first stop (after the campground). While a visit to LL Bean is like being a kid in a candy store, our campsite wasn’t too shabby. We stayed at the Winslow Park Campground, which is part of a farm that was… Read More Freeport – Sept 2014
As is common for the artisan community of Provincetown, artists regularly describe to visitors and patrons their perceived rankings. As this artisan clearly indicates, it appears he feels he is #1 on Commercial Street.
Camden offered us a great chance to catch up with friends (thanks to Ken and Helen for hosting a GREAT weekend!). While we camped at Camden Hills State Park, our friends stayed in cabins at Point Lookout (Lincolnville, ME – near Camden), a simply stunning resort (?) where instead of typical hotel rooms, you stay… Read More Camden (ME) – Sept 2014
Between the carriage trails for hiking/biking, the beauty of Mount Desert Island and the stunning Maine coastline for paddling, pristine lakes… well… this is where to be. I paddled out of Seal Cove several times during our stay (there is a quiet public boat ramp there), and it was just beautiful. The carriage trails were… Read More Acadia NP (ME) – Sept 2014
Close to the most eastern most point in Maine (and the US), we camped at Cobscook Bay State Park in Dennysville, ME. What a gorgeous campground, but make sure you come provisioned with EVERYTHING you need – there is nothing around for miles. The views are simply stunning as the campground is located right on… Read More Cobscook Bay SP (ME) – August 2014
The sign at the border of Maine says all out-of-staters have to take an obligatory photo of a moose. This is mine, captured at River Pond, in the shadows of Mount Katahdin. Mount Katahdin as taken from paddling nearby.
Our first day in Baxter State Park, a bit north of Millinocket, ME, brought us some incredible views. We have yet to hike here (the weather has been the warmest of our travels – in the 80’s). We did kayak on Daicey Pond, with Mount Katahdin as a backdrop; will see what tomorrow brings. Mount… Read More Baxter SP (ME) – August 2014
Tuckerman’s Ravine is epic. Whether you hike up there for spring skiing, on your way to the summit of Mount Washington, or whatever else may be your goal, it is clearly a stunning area. Some in our group made it to Ho Jo’s, some to the summit (6,288 feet elevation), me to the base of… Read More Tuckerman’s Ravine – August 2014
We had a visitor to our Dolly Copp SP campsite in Pinkham Notch the other night – a Barred owl. The thing was the size of a small dog, and it was eyeing our dog. It really had almost a prehistoric look, kind of dark and brooding, but really cool. Plenty of high-end finishes to… Read More Pinkham Notch (NH) – August 2014
In my youth I was disappointed with people who took the easy route and drove up Mount Washington, after I had climbed up 4 miles and 4,000+/- feet elevation gain. Today, I am a little more forgiving. Mount Washington is one of the most remarkable places on earth, whether it is visited via foot, bike,… Read More This Car Climbed Mt Washington (NH) – Aug 2014
Close to our campground (Crawford Notch SP), we traveled a very short distance to hike up to Arethusa Falls, and make it into a loop trail by taking the Frankenstein Trail back – all in all about a 4 mile hike that takes you under a train trestle. Really great views of the falls –… Read More Arethusa Falls (NH) – Aug 2014
Life in the White Mountains is full of unexpected visitors. And best $10 spent for a good hiking map of the White Mountains.
We enjoyed a beautiful day on gorgeous Russell Pond, deep in the White Mountains. We saw a loon and an eagle while tooling around the pond in our kayaks after a nice hike at Lincoln Woods. Temperatures have been running in the 60’s.
We day hiked Mount Osceola in the White Mountains, one of the 48 4,000 footers (4,340 feet); just beautiful. While the climb is popular and described as one of the easier climbs (validated by 20 Girl Scouts climbing down as we were going up), this is not what I would have described as an easy… Read More Mount Osceola (NH) – August 2014
We decided to hike some trails near Waterville Valley in the White Mountains, and found some great hiking/cross country ski trails. We hiked for about 3 miles but I am pretty sure Rosie just about doubled our distance. Gorgeous day, cool temps (low 70’s), lunch by the river…
We camped at the Pemi River Campground in Thornton, NH, which is a private campground. While we generally try to avoid private campgrounds, this campground was great – a retro look and feel with lots of families with young kids – just really nice, and the people who own the campground have been fabulous and… Read More Pemigewasset River (NH) – August 2014
On our trip north towards the White Mountains, we stopped in Belmont and visited my childhood cottage on Lake Winnisquam (Ephraim’s Cove). While clearly there had been some development over the last (45-50!?!) years, the old “Lewis and Larry” camp looked close to what it did 50 years ago, sans shuffleboard. The smaller section of… Read More Belmont (NH) – August 2014
Think Cousin Eddie. We camped outside our friends’ house in Hampton, NH. We ate, drank, laughed, laughed some more, swam in the pool, and just enjoyed meeting up again with friends. It was interesting in the back yard: there were humming birds but there was also a humming moth (term may not be precise) that… Read More Hampton, NH – August 2014
We stayed a few nights in eastern Pennsylvania, with two nights in a very quiet Lake Towhee County Park in Bucks County; with a dozen campsites available we were the only ones there (apart from Ranger Rick, who made sure we followed park procedures). No facilities (no problem), but the park looked like it had… Read More Eastern PA – Aug 2014
What a great day in the Virginia Blue Ridge area! We drove down the Blue Ridge Parkway (stunning), visited the Mabry Mill (which is gorgeous and really interesting), and then headed down to Galax where the 79th Old Fiddlers Convention is being held this week. We then headed to the Blue Ridge Music Center where… Read More Blue Ridge Parkway (VA) – Aug 2014
Rosie and Lucy (and a few deer) say hi from Highland Haven, the Airstream Park near Floyd, VA.
We arrived at Highland Haven Airstream Park in Copper Hill, VA and were greeted with friendly smiles, beautiful views and cool temperatures (yeah!). Today we visited Floyd, VA, which turns out to be a REALLY cool town. After dinner we headed to the Floyd Country Store (home of the Friday Night Jamboree) where we were… Read More Airstream Park (VA) – August 2014
Summer Tuesday nights you can find impromptu blue grass players in Marietta Square (Marietta, GA) – totally awesome! Some great pickin’, and all ages!
I attended Pork U, a one day course on BBQ given by Sam Huff (Head Hog), a well known local BBQ master and his team. Sam and his wife (Diane, Queen of Pork) own BBQ1 (barbeque restaurants well known to the local community) with several locations in Cobb County (GA). What a day!! It so… Read More Pork U (GA) – July 2014
As part of an Atlanta Area Paddlers (AAP) meetup we paddled about 10 miles down the Etowah River, starting just below the Lake Allatoona dam., with a stop for lunch at the Indian Mounds – terrific paddle and day! We had one portage around a 10-12 foot dam, although one of our esteemed colleagues thought… Read More Etowah River (GA) – July 2014
Antsy McClain opened for Tommy Emmanuel tonight at the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points – two great performances. Antsy was solo (without the Trailer Park Troubadours) and played about a 30 minute set. Antsy (second from left) is a great performer – and a really nice guy (picture of us with friends and Antsy… Read More Antsy McClain (GA) – June 2014
Fallingwater, the house designed and built about 40 miles east of Pittsburgh by Frank Lloyd Wright for Edgar Kaufmann in 1935 is a stunning example of form and function that blends into the environment. Pictures are not allowed inside the home, but the tour is fascinating, and the design of the interior and exterior of… Read More Fallingwater (PA) – June 2014