I told my friend Tony that I had been way up north, paddling around on Long Pond (near Tupper Lake) and hiking and camping for 4 days.
"You did what? You slept out in the woods when you could have been in a nice warm hotel, complete with a shower? Why would you do that?"
This is why.
We put in on a sandy beach with a fine view.
Mama Loon and her chick swam by.
When you go camping in September, you generally have a good selection of campsites. We explored a number of them before selecting #3 on Long Pond. Why? Jim, our chef, wanted use of the picnic table that we found only there, and you always want to keep the chef happy.
Always good to get your tarp set up when the sun is shining.
We got to engineer different versions of tarp support. Doug is demonstrating V1.0 and V2.0. V3.1 is doing the job for the moment. We finally settled on V5.0
We got to set up our very own Home Sweet Home.
When you set up camp in the woods, it is all yours. No one else to blame if you get wet when it rains, or if the wind disorganizes your belongings, or if the bears get your next dinner instead of you.
We got to paddle through this narrow channel into another little pond.
I got to use the GPS to determine where we were, pull weeds off my paddle, saw logs with the folding saw, and admire my stubby legs.
We occasionally got blurry around the campfire.
Endless fun was to be had rearranging the burning logs.
We got to enjoy a nicely misty morning...
...from more than one vantage point.
We enjoyed warming up by the fire with our coffee.
Jim entertained us with his old "pull the string out of my chin" trick.
I got to add an element of adventure to the same old same old.
We got to paddle to the trailhead for climbing Long Pond Mountain.
We got to take pictures on a mountain top.
Ate lunch on the mountain top, too.
We got to see for miles. Peter Townshend must have been here years ago.
Pretty amazing view. We looked across multiple ponds and lakes to small mountains and the High Peaks beyond.
I always like to see what's around the next bend. Jim is forever telling me that every "lost in the woods" story starts with "...and then I left the trail." This time, I found a little bit of a path leading away from the ledge where we had spent the better part of an hour drinking in the view. The second rocky outcropping I found was well worth the few minutes of exploring. I returned to tell the others that I'd found something they didn't want to miss. I even let Jim come along.
And we got a nice second vantage from another rocky ledge.
We got to be mountain men. I left a shiny penny for someone to find.
We got to walk this beautiful path through the forest on our way to Long Pond Mountain...
... got to see these toadstools along the way...
...and we got to walk the beautiful path again on the way back.
We paddled past numerous points and bays in Long Pond.
Looking around the lake, one can see that the cedars are all leafed out above a certain level. It looks as if a gardener has gone around and trimmed them all about 4 feet off the water. It is the same height all around the lake, and on other bodies of water as well. Do the bears trim the trees when we're not there? My guess is that cedars don't like being buried in snow. The height of the snow on the frozen lake would account for the uniform height. I'll have to come back in the dead of winter to confirm my theory.
We got to relax after a good hike.
A good reason to go camping is to get away from the never ending chatter of the wired world. Unfortunately, we weren't really far enough away from what is loosely termed civilization to keep data feeds from arriving. The day is coming when we'll never get away. Oh well. I suppose that as long as there is still a power button, there is hope. In this case, it was probably a good thing, because there were family matters to stay on top of.
We saw that a big tree had uprooted, falling back into the woods. I don't think the yellowing smaller tree is happy about the circumstance. However, the birds nesting in the holes in the new high ground are very pleased.
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Never bring glassware into the woods. Even if it only cost $1.98 for four stemless snifters. They may break. But if a glass meets with misfortune, there is always duct tape...if you brought it along.
It is really great to have your own monogramed glass in the woods.
We got to paddle out onto the lake to take in this sunset. We went back out again to enjoy the Milky Way, satellites and shooting stars. No shabbiness whatsoever.
I got to eat the smiley face pancake Jim made for me.
We enjoyed seeing this trio of loons paddle by. Shortly after, they met with four others. No shortage of loon views or loon music on Long Pond.
We paddled to the trailhead for Ledge Pond.
Doug and I went for an exploratory paddle to look for this trailhead. It is completely unmarked, and not on the pond where Jim told us it was. Of course, Jim will never admit his mistake. Or maybe he initially told us that we had to paddle through the unmarked channel into the second pond to find the unmarked trail, and I'm the blockhead for not listening or understanding. That's another benefit of going camping...you get to ponder, "What is reality?"
We had the privilege of traveling another beautiful trail to Ledge Pond.
We got to see an "Undesirable Fish Barrier." Is being an undesirable a societal stigma? Or is this a barrier to try to keep the carp and bass out of Ledge Pond?
The barrier clearly did not keep the beavers out, as shown by their dam.
We got to rock-hop this stream.
The little-used Ledge Pond campsite was a fine place for lunch.
Across the water, you can see the ledges if you look carefully.
Striding along a narrow path though the trees is always peaceful.
We got to see peeling "Barch Birk" above.
We saw twisted trees.
Peaceful. No question.
We got to see interesting shrooms growing out of a dead tree.
We got to see the biggest pack in the whole world.
We realized it is good to have a sherpa!
And finally, we got to see a canoe-headed man.
What could be better?
P. S. - One more thing. When I returned and took a drink of tap water, it tasted positively chemical. UGH!
My friend Jim convinced me that I should accompany him and Brian and Andy to Columbus, Ohio, to see our Men's National Team play. Soccer team, of course.
That's Clint Dempsey featured on the ticket. He is one of the stars of the team, and has no lack of personality.
Leaving earlier than I would have liked from Rochester, NY, we rolled into Columbus around 2 PM. The name on this old mill building made me feel very much at home.
Why did we arrive so early? To join the "tailgate" parties and pretend we were young, of course. The sign at the back says, "ROADWAY SUBJECT TO FLOODING." That's a lot of spilled beer.
One of the US National Team Fan Clubs, the American Outlaws, were hosting parties at local bars within walking distance of Columbus Crew Stadium. There was free food and not so free beer. Since the temperature was well over 90 degrees F, we took pity on the burger chef and provided him with a beer or two. Our good deed for the day.
America's Finest !!!
Behind our stalwart group, you can make out the red, white and blue "I Believe" sign. In addition to being a hopeful statement, this is at least in part an acknowledgement of the rise of the US in the world soccer community. For many years, the US has struggled to field a team that is competitive at the highest level. No more. While few expect the US to win the World Cup next year, this is not a team that can be taken lightly by anyone. We have a team to be proud of.
The back side of party number 2.
Recruiting new members. The other guys were already members. I didn't want to carry my swag, so I signed up when I got home.
Have you picked up on the theme yet?
I want to make sure you understand that going to a National Team Game is not like watching Dallas vs. New York, no matter what the sport. You can't decide to cheer for Green Bay if Buffalo has disappointed you. This is supporting the only team you will ever have. It is the team your citizenship has selected for you. You suffer with them, you rejoice with them. And getting to see them live is a party, a town meeting, and an affirmation of your culture all at once.
Partying outside and in. If it was 95 outside, it must have been 105 in.
And a good time was had by all.
We left via the front door.
Some just can't seem to properly color coordinate.
After walking back to the hotel the long way, we rested for a while before heading to the stadium.
Blimps overhead. Video screens in the sky. Is this the future?
The dates indicate that the US Soccer Federation is 100 years old.
We know what he means, regardless of spelling.
Flagwear everywhere.
A portion of the Mexican contingent.
Finally approaching the stadium.
Great scarf, don't you think?
Brian McBride is posing with some fans. Now retired, he was one of the best for our side. It has been said that "McBride would stick his head in a woodchipper if he thought he could get a goal out of it.
Waiting to get scanned for entry.
Even during warmups, the place was rockin'.
Smoke from a few anticipatory fireworks. Note the video advertising boards around the field. In a stroke of advertising genius, the adverts on one side were all in English, and all in Spanish on the other. Where do you think Telemundo's cameras were positioned?
The players enter the field. A child accompanies each starter. A nice touch, I think.
We are definitely on our way, but the Mexicans still hold an advantage in soccer-ready names. Little Pea (Chicharito) and Johnny Two Saints (Giovani dos Santos) are just musical, don't you think? Conversely, two of our stars are named Timmy and Landon. These are both fine names, but they just don't sound ready for the international game. But wait, maybe this is "A Boy Named Sue" psychology. Yeah, these guys have to prove their worth every time they step on the field. Yeah, that's it.
Look at all that Red, White and Blue !!!
It didn't used to be this way. When the USA played Mexico, the stands would be filled with more of the Green of Mexico than the home team's colors. At one game years ago, my friends and I found our seats to be in the center of an entire section where we were the only people preferring to speak english. We were dots of Red, White and Blue in a sea of Green. The good natured Mexicans would point and laugh when the US players made mistakes. Mexico had been the class of our group for many years while the US struggled. When one of the US forwards hit a wild shot high over the bar, my friend Fred stood up, turned around, and announced, "I could have done that !!" The rows of green-clad fans above us roared. Not five minutes later, another of our forwards repeated the feat. All of the Mexicanos behind us stood up, pointed at Fred, and chanted, "You! You! You!" We all laughed together as Fred stood up, turned to face the chanting Mexicans, and took a bow.
Did you ever wonder how all those fans see when the huge flags and banners unfurl up the stands? They don't!
But the view over the top of the fabric is pretty cool.
Another huge banner rises up to the scaffolding.
The chanting went on through the entire game. Some were well planned, coming from a song sheet distributed by the fan club. Others were spontaneous when a player distinguished himself. In the sing-song high-low high-low cadence we all know from first grade, we yelled, "Tim-eee How-ward," for a great save, and "Ed-eee John-son," for a shot on goal. Good to have a sing-song name for fan recognition. Some chants had a leader. "I..." yelled the leader. "I..." we shouted back. "I believe..." "I believe..." "I believe that we..." "I believe that we..." And then in unison, "I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win! I believe that we will win!" Some were profane. "USA ain't nothin' to 'mess' with." The aim for both teams is to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. This time, Mexico has just not been able to get their game together, and is in danger of missing the tournament. Another chant highlighted the good position of the US with, "We are going to Brazil," and taunted the Mexican team with "You're not going to Brazil." Toward the final whistle, we yelled, "This is our house!" and the ever popular, "Na-na-na-nah...Na-na-na-nah...Hey, hey, hey...Goodbye..." But the favorite was clearly the simple spanish phrase, "Dos A Cero," signifying the score of a number of games determined in favor of the US over Mexico by the score of 2 to 0. And this game was no exception.
Game on!
The game went back and forth with Mexico putting pressure on early and the US settling down and taking control as the game progressed. Just after half time, Landon Donovan placed a fine corner kick on the head of Eddie Johnson and the place erupted as the ball hit the back of the net. And in addition to the shouts of joy, all that the fans held went into the air. I had not anticipated the beer shower, particularly at nine dollars apiece. But unbridled joy is not to be denied, and the surprising weather repeated itself as Landon tucked the second goal behind the keeper 20 minutes later.
Love all the flags waving after the final whistle has blown.
