A Beatty Happy Birthday and Fourth!

31 July, Tues: Quimby Mountain: Still fatigued from the nine mile day on Sunday we overslept arising at 8:30 AM.  By the time we were foodified, caffeinated, cooler filled with Trail Magic placed on River Road, drove a hiker to the outfitters, and trekked (by auto) a one hour drive from our lodging in Killington (Inn at Long Trail) to Stoney Brook Road, we did not start hiking until 12 noon.  But, hike we did!!! SoBo to the summit of Quimby, steep ascent, but not as steep as the NoBo side of Quimby.  Temp high was 84 degrees but a nice breeze flowed once we were high in the forest. An amusing view on the hike (photo to be posted): a 15 foot stainless steel ladder was placed against a high boulder.  Ascent was up and over! Admired good trail maintenance on this section of the AT. Good stone water bars, nice stone or wooden steps, trimmed overhanging trees (evidence of AT trail maint in VT in the past twenty years. Distance today was about 8 miles RT.  Nice view (apart from the power line) of Pico Peak across the valley below.  The 8 mile hike took six hours, plus the travel time back "home" to the ILT.

View of Pico from Quimby Mountain

        

Interesting fungus

30 July, Monday: Sherburne Pass Trail 2 hours Maintenance hike
29 July, Sunday: 75 percent rain forecast for the afternoon.  Undaunted, we departed on a hike at 12 noon anticipating a turn around. Interesting stop at the Lookout shelter (see photo below) It was a MirAcle, covering nine miles in seven hours, including the half mile access trail called Green Gate, past Chateauguay Road about twenty minutes to our stopping point a week earlier.  No rain!  It was our longest hike this summer. Hurray!

Ron admiring the view atop Lookout shelter

        
28 July, Sat:  Cynthia Hiked Sherburne Pass Trail two hours.  Ron hiked to meadows with maintenance en route for three hours. Dinner at Chantecleer in East Dorset to return Sherpa's trail bag left in our car.  The dinner was divine.

27 July, Fri: Augggghhh!  It really IS Friday!  Rain! Sudoku! Computer projects!  New website: AT streambed maintenance.  The rain stopped after our marvelous lunch with a former law enforcement officer and a Santa Claus look-alike who had tears in his eyes thinking of his wife left behind.... an understandable feeling.  Cynthia hiked for an hour while Ron continued hiking and working up to the meadows at Sherburne Pass Trail...  socializing both ways  about stream-bed maintenance. The sky is blue at six thirty PM.

Sherburne Pass Trail GREEN after the rain

26 July, Thurs: Rain!  Sudoku!  Computer projects! Auughhhh!  Tomorrow is Friday?  It is almost August??? What happened to July? We don't have time to go to Nova Scotia, hike, have fun and be in Iowa 6 September.  Nova Scotia is cancelled.

25 July, Wed: Delivered Sherpa and Starfish back to VT 103, dropped off Trail Magic NoBo and hiked from VT 140 to Manerva Shelter [7.2 miles RT in 4 hours].  Zooma Zooma Watch Cynthia Run!  Picked up two tired puppies, Sherpa and Starfish, at Danby-Landgrove Road; they decided to take a zero in  Manchester Center to wait for their pick up on Friday. They deserved a fabulous meal and we found one at the Chantecleer Restaurant in East Dorset.  Two bottles of champagne, a magnificent feast plus dessert and we are ready for beddy bye.

Eerie Forest Floor on Bear Mountain, VT

  24 July, Tues: Delivered Trail Magic (oranges, apples, bananas, grapes and candy bars to the River Road AT before hiking NoBo on yesterday's trail to our stopping point which took exactly 1.5 hours. It took a while to locate the road, plus, Smooch Smooch had a three PM "girl day" appt. at the hair salon. Sherpa and Starfish made 22 miles (their longest day) in eight hours arriving at VT 103 about seven PM.  Dinner at Little Harry's.  Food was followed by fleurs for the girls (Cynthia and Starfish (Eden).  Starfish and Sherpa (cute couple!) celebrated an anniversary. 

23 July, Mon: Happy Birthday Sistah Carol!  Enjoy your new frog refrigerator magnet and being the Froggie Queen for a Day.  Little Carol Ann excels at coloring, doesn't she?  [sidebar: Someone in our family is very delighted with himself for discovering that Sesame Street coloring book: picture a 65 year old guy giggling].

We returned to woods road, (a jeep trail off Perkins Road), we headed SoBo towards Lookout but heat and humidity were deterrents and we turned back. Hiking distance was 1/2 mile to the trailhead, 1.7 miles to Winturri Shelter, 1.5 miles to the stopping point due to almost ninety degree temps and high humidity.  Dinner at the ILT.

22 July, Sun: 2 hours, 4 miles! Parked on woods road or trail aka a jeep trail off Perkins Road, hiking NoBo to add distance from where we had stopped previously SoBo from VT 12.   We recognized the spot where we had stopped before.  The new hoe does double duty doing trail maintenance plus using it as a hiking pole. Lotsa water bars were cleared out.  Hikers were delighted to receive apples and oranges from the backpack.  One very delightful couple named Sherpa and Starfish were resting at the trail about 1/2 mile from the car.  We treated them to dinner and breakfast at the ILT. 

 21 July, Sat: 3 hours 4 miles from River Road SoBo to Gifford Woods Picnic Area ! FAST.  Could not keep up with Smooch Smooch. She has gotten her hiking legs!!!! J.B. Rambo (the Jelly Bean Rabbit) needs an alarm clock set for every ten minutes as a reminder to get those jelly beans in her hands.

20 July, Friday: 5.5 hours, VT 103 SoBo to Manerva Shelter.  Took a photo of an entry by Parkside (above) who drowned in Maine on his AT hike. 

19 July, Thurs: 4 hour 4 mile hike Sherburne pass Trail to the mountains.

18 July, Wed: No need to research Major Joshua Sprague once residing in North Adams ca. 1778-1788,  the records are online in the Sprague data.  Irja,  BD,  you need to talk Drew into flying to Williamstown to see the Clark Institute of Art's "China" exhibit in progress.  Do you know about it Eric and Jean????  Now, we are off to Killington with the Wrangel book formatting to finish, another grant proposal to write, and a few more days of hiking before departure for Nova Scotia (hiking en route).  Will we get a ten miler completed breaking our maybe maybe maybe eight mile distance record (if the weather condition permits? Lunch in Bennington after a failed mission to purchase a long sleeved white shirt at the Salvation Army for two dollars or less.

17 July, Tues: MASS MoCA is across the street from the Porches Hotel and on our schedule today along with the Clark Musuem in Williamstown, Mass. WOW!  The Clark Institute of Art is a huge surprise.  Who would have guessed such fine holdings would be in a small community in Mass?  It was a treat including the cold salmon for lunch at the museum.  Robert Sterling Clark (founder) was a Singer Sewing Machine heir via his lawyer grandfather who got half of  the Singer stock holdings defending Isaac Singer from a lawsuit.  He and his wife became art collectors building a "bomb shelter" to house his artwork after WWII.  MASS MoCA was not as unique as the Clark; but Cynthia enjoyed the Sanford and John Biggers work.  Dinner at the Grammercy tonight was nothing special, nor was the waitress the brightest bulb on the planet.  Walking from ten thirty AM to six PM wore us out.  Good NIGHT!

John Biggers, Houston muralist

16 July, Mon: Happy Birthday!  OH BOY!  This is beloved Smooch Smooch's Big Day! Cynthia celebrates the entire month of July. But, first, a cute couple named the Pink Panthers needed a ride to River Road to hike the loop. They hiked the AT when he was sixty years old back in the early nineties.  She beamed en route hearing the story of our romance.  The grant proposal needed another quick review before hitting the submit button.  Nothing is ever that simple.  It took yet another phone call to D.C. working through the maze of passwords to make it work.   B and E waited patiently before saying good byes to return to Brattleboro while we completed the grant process.  Beanie is coping with sad news that her kidney donor was not a good match at the very last moment.

Smooch Smooch was duly surprised with goodies, fleurs and a vacation from the perpetual vacation, back to the old hotel restored by MASS MoCA, Victorian row houses once the homes of factory workers in North Adams, Mass.  We had a majorly exciting dinner at Mezze Bistro in Williamstown.  Even the raw vegetables were a marvelous mix of flavors.  Lotzza fun and enjoyment seeing an off broadway musical "A Chorus Line" that has been around a long time for good reason.

15 July, Sun:  Ron drove Slippy back to the Stoney Brook Road trailhead and put out Trail Magic with  B and E.  We picked up Cynthia and hiked Kent Pond until raindrops suggested we turn back.  Dinner at Choice's is always delicious.

Painting Blazes

 14July Sat: We found Stoney Brook Road, thanks to Okie, and headed NOBO turning around almost to Chateauguay Road (5.5 hours and maybe 8 miles).  We won't claim a record, yet.  A good hiking find was a fine young man named Slippy (Nathan), a Harvard Divinity Grad (that pleased Cynthia immensely).  We gave him a ride back to the ILT where he joined Beanie and Eddie and us for dinner tonight at Little Harry's.  B and E are here for the weekend.

13 July Fri: Ha. So much for hiking today!  We did not get started until one PM and drove for an hour trying to find Stoney Brook Road.  Irene did a number on that road now impassable and we barely managed to turn around and get oudda there and find brewery for lunch by a lovely brook. As the official high differential taste tester for hot sauces(having earned an award pin Hottest Tongue in FL), Eric C. sent a second package to determine exactly which one is the hottest. This time none of the bottles were broken, but the one in the wooden casket case was definitely overpriced.

Beaver Dam

Lunch at Long Trail Brewery by lovely brook

12 July Thurs: Feeling frisky and adventurous we hiked up the Sherburne Pass Trail NOBO to the AT junction to River Road.  Feeling wornout - we phoned the ILT to ask for a ride back; Jamey picked us up after detailing Mom's interior.  4.3 miles.  Ron finished composing a grant proposal for the Craig Collection digitization project.  Cynthia is duly impressed: MY HERO!  We went to bed at seven PM.

9July Mon, Tues Wed:  Either hay fever or a summer cold caught Smooch Smooch blindsided.  Fever, sinus, all of the yuk stuff but she is weller.  In the midst of this some property sold in TX necessitating lots of paperwork, notaries, etc.  After a trip to Rutland's library to print a document, the courthouse notary did not want to notarize witnessing her signature because it was a TX form.  Fortunately she walked into the Holden Insurance company open door ant the very congenial owner did the deed with no charge.

But all was not lost: Ron with incredible diligence put together a thousand piece double-sided puzzle! 

Kings Highway VT

Quimby Mountain

8 July Sun: Barlett Brook Road AT hike NOBO to the 2nd view. Ron is doing trail maintenance.   The Kings Highway is one of many with that historical name.  We were only .6 mile from the next gravel road when we turned to hike back.

7 July Sat:  It is raining and the  jig saw puzzle is waiting; so, too, we are writing a grant proposal to obtain a book scanner for the Craig Collection digitization project. The rain stopped and we hiked Sherburne Pass Trail, fed a lot of hikers, did Trail Magic.

6 July Fri: UP UP UP and AWAY to the summit of the mountain off of Thunder Brook Road. The steep ascent was only 1.5 miles,  but the two hour climb in 85 degree temps sweat soaked our clothes, the bugs bit and we itched.  The great news is that the feet and low back are doing great.  Hiking and moving helps!  By the time we descended, the two oranges (Trail Magic) we left yesterday were gone.   We met four hikers SOBO and one NOBO on the trail.

A jigsaw puzzle was started and stopped long enough to take Daddy Long Legs and his lovely wife to dinner at Choice's.  Cynthia enjoyed visits in McGrath's Irish Pub with a group of women from CT who are also breast cancer survivors.  Cynthia heartily recommends the book, "Never Fear Cancer Again" by Raymond Francis.  After her amazing mammogram results in June, she credits Beyond Health's Ultimate Wellness Kit (cell detox and cell repair); Ron is recruited to become a case study for artery repair but it is doubtful that a diagnostic mammogram will prove its efficacy.

OHHH!  Lookie in the July American Airlines Flight Magazine for Ron's letter penned during our flight from ATL to Miami 27 April about the Mensa puzzles in the magazine, "My wife does the Mensa word puzzles while I do the Mensa math, together we make a Mensa."  Now that it was accepted for publication, it is entered into competition for 100,000 AA flight miles awarded in January of 2013.  Stay tune!

5 July Thurs: Early bird drove the two hikers back to Route 12 right after breakfast returning with a surprise diet coke for his beloved Smooch Smooch.  Mom (the Lexus) was emptied in preparation for her girl day at the service center but they just washed the outside and not the inside of the car.  At least she has her oil changed and tires rotated.  The service department did not find the cause of the front sensors going ballistic when it is foggy or rainy.

4 July Wed:  We were going to check on the trail magic we left yesterday near Thunder Brook Falls but got caught up in the parade route and back-tracked outta there.  Next stop on things to do was deliver Irish soda bread to the super nice folks that gave us Kool-Aid, soap and water to hose off the poison Ivy Cynthia got on her legs, plus taking us back to the car on Stage Road.  After driving forever we realized the gorgeous views were a bonus even if we could not locate the family again.  We gave up to KILL poison ivy.  Surprisingly, once we were oriented on Stage Road we could see the right road to deliver the bread.  The delighted looks on their faces was worth the delivery!  Nice people.   Returning to Route 12 we trekked up, up and up for a couple of hours only to run into two hikers we had met at the ILT.  We offered them a ride back to the Inn for the night with a promise to deliver them back to Route 12 NOBO in the early morning.

Meadow off Stage Road

Poison Ivy soon to die

 3July Tues: drove to Killington, took the gondola up to the summit and hiked down. The entire trip down was about 6 miles. Upon reaching the jungle junction, Ron made the 3.2 miles downhill to catch the last bus to retrieve the car in one hour!

Killington Mountain Summit

 2july Monday: Hiked from Gifford Woods State Park to Thundering Brooks Falls Road and then drove into Rutland for dinner at Little Harry's followed by shopping for a Camelbak for Cynthia.

 1July Sunday: This is the beginning of the month of  the 52nd birthday celebration.  Sherburne Pass Trail to Jungle Junction to SOBO AT 45 minutes.

June - Vacation from Vacation

29 June, Fri:  Rain upon arising but it disappeared by 8:15; the sun came out hot and HOTTER reaching 90 degrees.  Our plans for an early hike were thwarted by a lot of conversation at breakfast.  We parked  on the road where the hike ended yesterday north of Woodstock VT and ventured forth INTO a 15 foot long patch of poison ivy that sprawled over the poorly maintained trail.  Well - one of us had the good sense to have worn long pants and told the other one, "Stay put and I will find an alternate route."  The other one, being an independent woman, slid her shorts down to her ankles to provide cover for her legs not realizing the shorts pick up the oils and plant them on the skin when they are pulled back up again.  It was fun to see three hikers appear from behind us who did not notice the poison ivy!  Not much further on POORLY MAINTAINED NEW ENGLAND AT - was a mud bath.  By the time we reached the next road, Cynthia was elated that a super nice guy offered us a ride back to the car.  Today's hike was about three miles.  Woodstock's General Store carried Fels Naptha;  we will see if the scrub will prevent poison ivy popping out on that independent woman!  

28 June, Thurs: Glorious day.  Interesting to see Okie in Woodstock in his little red jeep!  We parked on Route 12 at the AT, dropped off a styrofoam cooler filled with fruit (Trail Magic) and hiked NOBO for what seemed like an eternity but it was only 1.5 one way.  This is where Southside turned around after walking into a poison ivy patch last summer also frustrated that the hike over mountain was only 1.5.  Of course, we turned back to hike to the car which gave us 3 miles RT.  But we are doing maintenance to get back into condition after a three day hiatus.  Dinner at Choice's Restaurant in Killington.

27 June, Wed: Rain, eat, sleep.  OOPS!  The weather dried up enough we had a nice two hour hike to the sink holes and back with Orange Lighting - a most unique individual doing a through hike. Ron taught him about trail maintenance before we boogied off for a delightful dinner at Little Harry's with this terrific individual whose occupation is "changing lightbulbs" at Syracuse University.   You know he is a one of a kind great guy when Syracuse U did a video presentation posted on YouTube just about him - as well as a three page article.  Go to You Tube and enter Paul Longchamps.  When we returned to the ILT the place was full of hikers enjoying the Pub.  A lot of fun was had by all of the survivors.

26 June, Tues: It rained; we went back to bed after breakfast and it rained.  We had lunch and went back to bed to sleep for an hour.  It is still raining at 7 PM but we are catching up on work.  Wrangel edits to review, receipts to record,  Medicare book to memorize, Trail Journals to read and now it is time for dinner.  OOPS  Sad journal entry by Achilles about his friend Parkside who drowned in a pond in Maine evidently from leg cramps.  Achilles tried to find and save him.  Losing a child, a 20 year old young man full of life is the worst nightmare a parent can face.  God bless and comfort his parents and friends.  Good Night.

25 June: Mon: It looked like rain; we went back to sleep for two hours after breakfast hoping to hike in the afternoon.  It rained.

24 June, Sun: Who would have thunk it?  A very unique hotel called Porches in the old factory town of North Adams Mass was our "home" for the evening; it is indeed a splendid spot, created out of Victorian mill-workers row houses, each room designed like a front porch with marvelous sky-lites in contemporary open beam ceilings.  Evidently, it is part of the new contemporary art museum.  Marvelous mountains surround the community [just east of Williamstown] with hair-raising hairpin curves descending to the valley below.  Our room was painted a grayed purple on beaded boards with terra cotta painted floor boards and shabby chic charming decor.  An exterior frosted glass floor to ceiling window provided a creative touch situated on the wall between the bath and bedroom.  We both loved the hand-thrown pottery on shelf plates and original artwork on the walls.

"Porches" 2nd Floor Hallway

One of us is laughing way too hard over a tee shirt (at breakfast this AM) designed by the wearer with the Google Blog Icon, "Nobody Cares About Your Blog."   The designer said the tee needs to be updated to a Facebook caption. Waaaaaay too funny for the one in our family who loves her own jokes.

The drive from North Adams, Mass to Bennington, VT for a brunch with the Clemons took about 30 minutes despite twisty, turning roads.  Their daughter, Julia, is home from a year's study in Egypt and a magnificent graduation ceremony in CHI.  She is a very lovely young woman.  Lunch was good - the broken bottle of spicy BBQ sauce shown to Eric with lots of thanks for sending such a great gift.

The Clemons and Ron

  An hour later and we are back at the ILT to finish a puzzle and rest after our vacation from our perpetual vacation.   Back to work hiking tomorrow!  Pictures forthcoming.

23 June, Sat: Up early, breakfast with Connie and off to Concord, NH for brunch with Bob, Rachel, Marjorie M., Sock at the Concord Colonial Inn before grave hunting in the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.  There they were: Emerson, Thoreau, Alcott and Hawthorne (may they R.I.P.).

 Marjorie's boundless energy kept us motivated despite the heat.  It is always a treat to see Sock!

Marjorie and Sockwell

The raindrops reminded us to get moving before getting wet or driving in the dark. First, we made a quick stop at Bob and Rachel's for strawberry shortcake (YUM!) and good conversation.  Bob knows everything about anything and the conversation could have continued for a very long time had we not needed to scurry to North Adams, Mass to Porches!   
22 June, Fri: Drove Lakes off Hwy 100 and hiked about two hours on a gravel road; imagine our surprise when Okie pulled over in his Saab - taking the back roads to work. Cynthia met a new friend (Connie, a botanist at Butler U in Indianapolis).  Happy Birthday to Lauren!
21 June, Thurs Sherburne Pass Trail to sinkholes
20 June: Wed: This was to be a short hike!  Started the AT on RT 4 NB to Deer Leap Mountain Trail with steep ascent to junction of the LT, AT and Sherburne Pass Trail and .5 down to the Parking Lot of the ILT.

Deer Leap Overlook straight up

 19 June  Tues: Five hours Thunder Brook Falls hike through Gifford Woods to River Road
18 June: Mon:  Delicious late sleep making breakfast late and a late hiking start. Departed at 12:06 - returned by 3:30 PM on the Sherburne Pass Trail; Slow walking for four miles RT.  Two weeks and the forest has changed.  Someone in this family needs his clothes changed, too.  Laundry tonight. 

17 June Sun:

Thirteen months, five days

Thanks to Irja and Wall for the marvelous salmon and yummy chix BBQ picnic on their balcony.  The corn on the cob was awesome.  B.D. outdid herself on that  strawberry shortcake.  Thanks to Ed and Mary for bringing their lovely daughter, Anna.  We had a terrific time in Nashua, NH before departure to Killington, VT at five-thirty PM.  Hoping for sunset colors we chose a scenic route which was so scenic"ally green with trees we missed the sunset, but we arrived at the Inn at Long Trail by 9:30 and were abed by 10 PM.
16 June:  Cynthia's flight from TX arrived in Boston at 4:04 PM with fleurs, card and Select Registry Beford Village Inn to surprise her.  The greeting card section did not have anniversary cards (13 months); looked at birthday cards since he month long celebration begins July first and instead found the perfect card "How do you spell love?"  Drew had a great idea to reuse the fleurs for B.D. and give to Cynthia (double use) but Ron thought B.D. deserved her own fleurs.  She was surprised to discover Ron really bought them for her and Cynthia had her own bouquet.  The car was washed, diet coke on board and Cynthia was indeed surprised.  We had a happy homecoming.

8-15 June: Fun, fun, fun.  Ron beat master wordsmythes, Margie and Richard, at Scrabble; he hiked with Margie and a friend for seven hours; the next day they thoroughly enjoyed touring de Cordova Sculpture Park.  Cynthia squealed with delight over Ron posing among the sculptures sent by text message; Ron walked, talked and ate at the same marvelous restaurant with Bob and Rachel W.;  Ed M's daughter was arriving for a visit creating a missed opportunity to have help on the new Mac (dividing the hard drive);  visits continue with Dave E., Drew, B.D., Wall and Irja, Tuna; the "finished for now" CD's were created and mailed;  Wrangel edits are off to Kim E. and countless Smooch Smooches were posted to vox messages.

 SMOOCH  SMOOCH

11 June: Cynthia has good news: last Friday's diagnostic mammogram was NORMAL for the left breast (2011 diagnosis of atypical lobular hyperplasia); it was the other "girl" who had the cancer surprise nine months ago).  No more hormone suppressing meds; and no need to return for a year.  Double Whew!!   Her bone density test was great even for a thirty year old.  The neurologist had good news, too:  help is forthcoming for the 12 year old injury from a horseback riding accident. He will inject a new med into the lumbar region in September.  She does not have neuropathy, but he gave her meds to help heal nerves radiating from the lumbar region to the feet. 

7 June:  Spent the night with Bob and Rachel W.; left the orange foam pad.

6 June: Spent the night at Richard's once again following the daily tour of Fresh Pond and a great dinner.

Sunrise at the Lake House in TX

 5 June: Cynthia departed by air to Texas to visit her children and have medical tests.  Ron walked Fresh Pond with Richard G. and Jasper. 

4 June:  Ron delivered MillerTime back to Woodstock for his final hike to Hanover; but he will return to complete the journey to Katahdin in late August.
Packed up and moving out we departed for Boston about lunch time to check into the Hilton Airport Hotel.

3 June: MillerTime was dropped off in Woodstock about six-thirty to slack pack back to the Inn at Long Trail.  We ran errands before hopping onto the trail from Gifford Woods State Park northbound.  As planned, we ran into MillerTime at two PM.  We hiked together to the Park; Cynthia drove the car back to the Inn while Ron hiked the rest of the way with MillerTime.  Bomber and AMC - two more hikers we had met in VA - had arrived at the inn.  A good time was had by all of the survivors.

Cynthia, Ron, Bomber, AMS

 2 June: After six pots of coffee last night before midnight, writing a grant proposal, searching for a lost checkbook and sharp shooting pain from the re-injured torn rotator cuff, sleep finally came about five A.M.  To say we bounded out of bed  at 8:20 does not ring true.  Dashing to the windows, we peeked over the sash: when what to our wondering eyes did appear, but the forecasted rain with cold 46 degrees.  Yummy breakfast preceded discussion about which route MillerTime likely took due to wind, rain and cold.  At 9:38 AM MillerTime (not recognizable) peeked in the door of the restaurant: WET, COLD and TIRED.  When we left him yesterday at three PM, he had hiked to the shelter on the S side of Killington, arising at 4:30 AM to start his day's  hike., missing the turn onto Route #4 - crossing over to the AT NB and hiked the 3 miles NB, then down Deer Leap overlook on the back side of the Inn at Long Trail IN THE RAIN.  The restaurant here had closed for breakfast; so he showered, washed clothes to share a second breakfast with him at Sugar and Spice.  Smooch Smooch ate home-made Maple Ice Cream and half of the blueberry pancakes enjoying our  conversation immensely . Actually, Miller Time listened and looked at our wedding photos while we poured out  wedding stories ad nauseum reminding ourselves that not only have we  been celebrating our anniversary the entire month of May, but two days of June! NOT TO MENTION THE MONTH LONG BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. Dinner at Little Harry's this evening was a terrific treat.


1 June:  June is the brief pause between the month long anniversary and birthday celebrations.  Trail-head Parking on hwy 103 north up  the STEEP INCLINE over big rocks UP, UP and UP into a pleasant woodlands walk to 2000 Lottery Road.  2 hours each way.  Highlight was meeting MillerTime about 3pm on the descent to 103.

Meeting MillerTime on the AT

 OH NO!  Smooch Smooch returned those CUTE sports bras!  drats.  Dinner at Little Harry's was divine followed by McGrath's Irish Pub.  Mighty fine music especially when a sprightly gray-haired female customer marched up to the Irish Band by invitation and knocked the socks off everyone in the place playing Wipe Out with the group.  She claims her only drum contact has been through two grandsons who play drums.  She was a delight!

Trail Junction of AT, Long Trail and Sherburne Pass Trail

Thunder Brook Falls

Thunder Brook Falls Bridge Collapse from Irene

Hooray hooray for the 12th of May

31 May, Thurs: The celebration of our one year anniversary and Ron's birthday for a month ends tonight!    See Trail Journals.com for the updates of the past few days hikes.  Today's four hour hike past Thundering Falls was spectacular.

30 May: Dropping Yogi off at the Mountain Lodge, we returned to do some computer work before hiking for four hours north bound. 

29 May: Continued hiking from Gifford Woods; but what a day and what a hike!   We witnessed the reunion of Blue Grass and two of his hiking buddies who had been separated.  A short while later we ran into Yogi - a hiker we met in Waynesboro, VA who was on her way to evening lodging.  By the time we reached the car we realized ..."Why didn't we invite her to dinner???"  And off we went to Yogi's Inn to take her out to eat.  She was only too delighted to go with us since the place she was staying did not have a restaurant.  She hopped in the car and stayed at the Inn at long Trail.  We had a great meal at the Garlic in Killington.

8 May: continued hike from Gifford Woods northbound

27 May, Sun:  Today's hike was very challenging albeit short; we hiked the NB AT starting about a mile S of the Inn at Long Trail - right across the road from where we started SB yesterday.  The difference today was walking the mile to the trailhead.  Trying to locate the trail was the next challenge.  Two pseudo trails led into the woods through a swamp; they were NOT trails but false leads.  Ron blocked one false entry to prevent others from making the same mistake a hiker made just this morning.  This was a good hike!  We enjoyed the 4.5 mile trek despite rough terrain and steep incline.   OH BOY were we  delighted to see campers at Giffords Woods State Park.  Cynthia boldly marched up to a group of rock climbers and asked for a ride back to the Inn (another two mile journey).

AT NB Katahdin soon?

26 May, Sat: 10:30 AM the loop hike from the AT trailhead about a mile south of the Inn at Long Trail!  The car parked, one of us was slathered with sunblock, mosquito repellant and into the netting hoodie while the other gave sage advice about where to step to avoid the ticks that carry lyme disease.  Off we went following the white blazes on the AT to the junction with the Sherburne Pass Trail then blue-blazed down to the Inn at Long Trail.  The 7.4 mile hike was accomplished in five hours. Congratulations are deserved for achieving the same distance/time when we left VA after the three week hiatus to the Keys and into GA.  The  Vermont trails are more challenging: more incline, boulders and tree roots.   After dinner Ron puzzled while Cynthia enjoyed a delightful Scots-Irish fiddle and singer duo who reside in Canada.  The female was the strongest fiddler.  The Inn at Long Trail has a rich history of being the only authentic Irish pub in Vermont.  The furnishings are from Ireland.

25 May:  The Inn at Long Trail opened at noon; we had a delicious lunch with a super nice section hiker after a shopping spree at Dollar General, Price Chopper and Wal-Mart.  Ron hiked to the top of the Sherburne Pass Trail and back (6.4 miles).

24 May:  We hiked a mile RT up to Long Trail and the AT on Deer Look Overlook Trail.  It does not pay for Cynthia to have a five hundred calorie deficit a day like yesterday.  She was one tired cookie today.   Ron rested while mending socks.

23 May: Rain is forecast again, but Ron is dying with curiosity to see the effects of rain on the recently maintained parts of the trail.  We  hiked 6.5 miles.  Cynthia's stamina was amazing.  She had more energy than Ron.

22 May:  Opening day at the Inn is getting closer.  We got out of bed early and out of Sugar & Spice early and got gas, food, and more bug repellent before hitting the trail for an hour up and an hour down.  Now it is late afternoon and rain is imminent.  The trail is much improved by the several days of dry weather and by Ron's continuing stream-bed maintenance.  A 75-piece round dinosaur jigsaw puzzle at the Inn was enough challenge for Ron today.  He is enjoying the freedom stemming from finishing the edits to Volume 6 of the Colonial Swedish Church Records, the Wrangel years.

21 May: We slept oh so late.  Breakfast at Sugar and Spice followed Cynthia's eye-opener protein drink, and then we hiked six miles.  Ron did trail maintenance and is really improving the Sherborne Pass section of the Long Trail besides feeding Cynthia jelly beans.  (Unfortunately he forgot that responsibility in the excitement of uphill trail maintenance, but Cynthia motored to the open viewpoint, drank water, and ate a mini cliff bar to restore her vitality.)  The bug netting is a crowd pleaser although it is surprisingly effective as a thermal layer.  Salmon for dinner at Garlic's was wonderful although their menu was restricted because there was no chef.  The Inn at Long Trail can be viewed at this link: http://www.downthetrail.com/hiking-the-long-trail-vermont/day-18-killington-peak/  or look closely at the bottom of the white rocks in the photo taken today:

View from summit of Sherburne Pass

Best hiking gear: Netting

20 May, Sunday:  A Zero mile hiking day.  We breakfasted at Sugar and Spice again before driving to the Mall to shop at Eastern Mountain Sports for DEET-free bug repellent (Natrapel uses 20% Picaridin).  We also found Cynthia a jacket with hood & mittens made of netting (see glam photo above).  Rave reviews ever since!  I shoulda knowed better than to take Cynthia shopping; we spent a wad on bug repellent shirt, light knickers, sports bras, undies, BodyGlide, hand warmer packs, a number of other items.  Oops, the single most expensive item was new shoes for me (on clearance), the Vibram fivefingers variety in sky blue w/ golden toes.  We lunched at the 99 Restaurant and returned to the room for a nap before going to Choice's for dinner.

19 May:  Cynthia hiked six miles towards the top of Sherburne Pass fighting bugs and flies.  Ron did trail maintenance.  J.B. Rambo Rabbit provided yellow, green and pink droppings. Cynthia's favorites.(J.B. stands for jelly bean.)  Cynthia managed to impress a mud puddle impression on the left cheek of her jeans.  We picked up Achilles at the AT trailhead on Route 4 and dined royally at Choice's Restaurant in Killington.  (Cynthia was delighted to order a filet mignon after Achilles agreed to finish it.)  Achilles reports that the AT north of Rutland shows a lot of damage from hurricane Irene with many sections washed out or rerouted and lots of storm debris.  http://www.downthetrail.com/hiking-the-long-trail-vermont/day-18-killington-peak/

18 May: Poor Cynthia had zip energy and spent most of the day in bed recovering from the fly bite and a sinus infection; Achilles arrived near Rutland; we picked him up at the trailhead on Highway 103 south of Rutland and treated him to dinner at Table 24.  Food is good but the dining room was way too noisy.  The next stop was Ben and Jerry's so Achilles could have a milk shake and Cynthia could have triple caramel chunk in a waffle cone.  Both Cynthia and Achilles too much over-filled their tummies.

17 May:  We checked in at the Inn at Long Trail;  Achilles arrives tomorrow. We hiked two hours and did NOT enjoy the black flies.  Cynthia was bitten in the eye lid, and her eye swelled nearly shut.  YUK.

16 May:  Not a lot accomplished but another good hike enjoyed.  

15 May: We hiked about three hours if you count getting caught in the rain and spending half an hour in a lovely screened in gazebo.  The day was joyfully capped off with Marjorie and Richard as our dinner guests.

14 May: Arrival at the Chesterfield Inn near Brattleboro was a treat!  Immediately we phoned Beanie and Eddie who IMMEDIATELY jumped into their vehicle and IMMEDIATELY drove to the Inn to have dinner with us.  They have good news that a kidney donor has been found and a replacement operation is tentatively scheduled for June depending on tests.

13 May:  Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers in your lives.  After a great egg white veggie omelet (Cynthia ate two scoops of French toast casserole) we hiked seven and one -half miles along an old canal onto a road and a state park.  Instead of choosing the State Park to continue the hike towards Cranberry Lake we opted for Waterloo Village a mile and a half further on an asphalt highway.  By ignoring the No Trespassing sign that warned of 24-hour video surveillance and skirting the locked gates, we were able to tour a mock Lenape Indian Village maintained by the Lenapes.  Further on was a farmstead and a Colonial village marketplace.  The grass was mowed but the villages were not maintained.  It was a long, hot walk along the roadways with different threats (poison ivy) along the canal path.  After showers we walked to Bell's Mansion again to enjoy dinner with champagne and wine.  Upon returning, our host innkeeper, Roz, and her daughter, Nikki, entertained us in a relaxing conversation on the front porch.  The jacuzzi failed to jet, but Ron enjoyed a good soak anyway for more than an hour.

12 May:  Happy Anniversary to us!  One year! OH BOY! Marvelous champagne lunch en route to the Whistling Swan B&B in Stanhope, NJ.  Dinner at Bell's Mansion. The innkeeper is a delightful lady named Roz.

11May: Archival work, drinking lunch at McMinnamin's, dinner at Scoogi's. 

Cynthia's grandson Austin, John P, Jim Z. and Kim-Eric

65th Birthday Party Surprise

10 May:  We are committed to be at the Lutheran Archives by 10am to meet John and Sally and Austin.  Thousands of our closest Philadelphia friends are invited to dinner at Avenida.  I gotta remember to show off my newly acquired button labeled "Hottest Tongue in Key West." ANOTHER SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY????  What is this world coming to? 

Kim-Eric, Austin, Cynthia, Ron, Bev W. Scholarship Award

9 May:  Plan is to drive nearly to Philadelphia.

8 May: Plan is to drive to the vicinity of Front Royal, VA.

7 May:  Plan is to leave Athens "early" and drive to Virginia before dark.

6 May, Sunday:  We've had another lovely day starting with gourmet spinach and tomato omelet, followed by 2+ hours discovery hike in the woods (and we successfully returned by dead reckoning), segueing to a marvelous lunch at George's Low Country Table, and finishing leisurely with sudoku and blogging. 

3 May Thurs, lovely breakfast prepared by Col. Marc of the Colonels B&B in Athens, GA. Col. Marc was a councillor to the Belgian Ambassador to the United Nations. When he and is wife, an Army Col., retired they purchased this marvelous horse estate with an antebellum home built in 1860. After breakfast we hiked a trail on the grounds before going to the Botanical Gardens of GA and picking up at least one tick managing to avoid the gigantic poison ivy along the trails. More on the awesome adventures of the Key West Motorcycle Gang later, but here are some pictures:
https://picasaweb.google.com/113780268026608859160/KEYWESTMotorcycleGand

2 May:  We vacated the Miami Hilton and shuttled to the airport, flew to Atlanta, and caught the Yellow Spot Shuttle #2 back to our reliable Lexus steed to resume our typical wandering.

This following needs to be incorporated elsewhere.  It was sent to the MIT Alumni magazine.
Cynthia and I had a delightful time riding rented Harley Classic motorcycles from Miami to Key West with MIT buddy Dr. Walter and wife Pam.  At least five times the scene was water horizon to horizon with only a strip of highway bridge ahead of us.  We toured the house where Audubon painted a few birds, the house where Hemmingway penned a book or two, the Truman "White House" where he worked more effectively than in Washington, and enjoyed seeing the landmark bars The Green Parrot Bar and Sloppy Joe's.

To get to Miami, Cynthia and I curtailed our daily hikes in the Shenandoah National Park and drove from Waynesboro, Virginia to catch a flight in Atlanta after staying a night at the Biltmore in Asheville and consulting a manuscript in the collection of UNC in Chapel Hill.

We started our daily hikes when few leaves were on the trees and the morning air was a bit brisk.
We suffered an interruption for a photo op with the Swedish ambassador at his residence on Nebraska Avenue in D.C.  (Pictures on the Where is Ron Now blog).  The ambassador and his wife were delightful and personable and fun.  We did our best to reciprocate.  Then we returned to daily hikes and worked up to an awesome 7.5 miles on our last hike.  It was terrific fun to see the gradual transition from winter to spring towards summer.  We departed for Atlanta before the "green tunnel" entirely obscured the distant ridge-lines.

Prior to hiking, we installed Cynthia's grandson and a high speed scanner in the Lutheran Archives working to digitize the 250,000 pages of documents produced by early (American) Swedish Colonial historian, Dr. Peter Craig.  To me this has been the visual highlight of the year-to-date.  The flowering trees in Philadelphia this year were unbelievably colorful and abundant.  MIT buddy Joel G. ('68) pronounced the spring as unusually beautiful.  Wharton Prof. Eric C. ('68) and wife Jean also entertained us between globe-trotting trips.

Ahhh, but I can only distantly recall those days gone by when you christened me peripatetic.

Cynthia's cancer treatment was 100% successful and the Arimidex is symptom free for her. 

Last fall after her treatments were finished, we escaped the heat of Texas in late October to attend a wedding in Chicago and danced Rock & Roll until Cynthia wore a hole in her foot.  Then we crossed over to North Carolina to research her forthcoming book on the 3 older James Leas of Caswell County circa 1790. 
That done we spent a month in Atlantic Beach, NC in an ocean-front time-share.  It was marvelous to walk out the door onto the beach in 100 yards over the dunes.  Breakfast entailed a walk 50 feet to the elevator and 50 feet further at ground level.  At dinner time we could find fine food at either of two restaurants within 45 minutes walk on the beach.
We left Atlantic Beach just before Christmas and arrived in Houston in time for our medical appointments in early January.  My cardiologist shocked us both by telling me that I have two arteries ENTIRELY blocked - so I failed that test.  Cynthia had great results. 

Oh yes, I no longer use my AOL account (and haven't checked it in two years until today).

And more to incorporate from my latest trailjournals post.
Since we were heading south to the Biltmore, we opted for the shortest drive and repeated our first two days hikes. It was no surprise to me that the hike was trivial after a month of hiking nearly every day.
The surprise was the change in vegetation, especially in the luxurious new growth of poison ivy. BEWARE hikers that one post of the "turnstile" at Beagle Gap is nearly engulfed in poison ivy. It should be encroaching on the hiker pathway at chest level by now.
After today's hike, we headed off to the Biltmore, stopping overnight in Bristol, Virginia at a familiar Holiday Inn. After a day at the Biltmore with a nice hour or two hiking in the woods on the grounds, we decided to detour to Chapel Hill for a genealogy excursion. Following two nights at Chapel Hill, we hastened towards Atlanta and were surprised to get there in a day. We parked the car (loaded full) under cover at a Yellow Spot #2 and caught our flight to Miami on time. Next day we met Walt & Pam and took cab to Peterson Harley Davidson to rent out HD Classics. That is a heavy beast of a bike; no wonder so many Harley riders are hefty. The ride down I-95 to the Fairchild Gardens went without a hitch and lunch followed by a stroll through the gardens was enjoyed by all. We got back on the road about 4pm. I was amazed that we breezed through the Keys with nary a slowdown or stop light. Those of you who have ridden a motorcycle into the Keys are familiar with the "water, water everywhere" views that astound. (To the right, water to the horizon. To the left, water to the horizon. Ahead, only a narrow strip of bridge with water all around. Behind, a mirror image of ahead, distorted and foreshortened in the mirror.) Key West sightseeing is better than I imagined. My favorite was the Truman "white house" because our guide was so knowledgeable and voluble. The Hemmingway house and Audubon house are nice, but both artists were there only briefly in their careers. I earned the "Hottest Tongue in Key West" button at a hot sauce tasting bar. The Popular House (on William Street) was a delightful place to stay and the staff were wonderful. Each motorcycling couple returned to the mainland alone, which allowed each rider to travel at their own pace and style. The Miami airport Hilton again upgraded us to an Executive suite with good view and boardroom spaciousness. We've stayed five nights at the Colonels B&B on Barrett Shoals Road in Athens, GA, a very nice place where Col. Marc serves us gourmet egg white veggie omelets daily. Once we walk through the horse paddocks and into the woods, we can hike for an hour easily. So far dead reckoning has gotten us home every time. Tomorrow (May 7) we head back northward, stopping in Philadelphia on the 10th & 11th, to Rutland, Vermont for our next section of the AT. -Shakedown Cruise

April Flowers ta da ta da on a rainy 18th

26 Apr: Bikers, start your motors !!  Walter has the route planned to Fairchild Gardens and out to Key West.

24 Apr: We check in at the Atlanta Hilton Garden Inn preparatory to our flight to Miami.

21 Apr:  First we stop overnight at the Biltmore, one of Cynthia's favorites.

20 Apr: We check out and head south to rendezvous with Walt, Pam, Jim & Joanie at the Miami Harley shop on the 26th.

18 Apr:  My new friends at the Comfort Inn are Charlotte, Kim, Rosa, and Shayna (who will be hosting 25 5-year-olds for her son's birthday party - and rain is forecast).  Progress on the Rambo CD continues sporadically.  Our daily hiking is a big success with 7.1 miles yesterday preparing for today's rainy zero day.  Cynthia is delighting in a "girl day," with hair, pedicure, manicure and Lord knows what other cures.  My time has been spent rinsing recycling, pre-washing socks (so satisfying to see that chocolate-colored rinse water), checking coins for "collectibles," and other activities best not witnessed by the "better half."  Remember that our daily hiking activities are journaled on Trailjournals.com.

12 Apr:  Time flies when you are having fun.  The Waynesboro Comfort Inn, a very pleasant place with great staff, is our present "home."  We are enjoying hiking daily and have now covered nearly 20 miles on the AT heading north (and nearly an equal distance heading south).  I've been updating the trailjournals daily, so that is where to find our where and what about us.  I am home alone for a couple of hours while Cynthia drives to Staunton to have the professionals remove all passwords from her new Macintosh computer; she was unable to remember the password to allow installation of Reunions software; then somehow reset the password to who knows what.  today is 11 month anniversary.  OH MY.  So many dates to remember.


9 Apr: Today I pulled a calf muscle.  No fun, much pain.  We did continue our daily hike as planned, but the muscle did not loosen up much from the initial cramping.  Zheng Gu Shui helps.

8 Apr:  We entertained a thru-hiker named Achilles, very nice guy.  I found his journal and put my phone # into his guest book.

5 & 6 Apr:  Chilly temps led to late AM hiking starts. Thurs. hike was close to five miles RT.  See Trail Journals.com for 2012 Shakedown Cruise updates.
4 Apr:  Visited the Chancellorville Battlefield area after walking the old city and a tour of the Kenmore House (Betty Washington Lewis's home).  Then onto Waynesboro for hiking on the AT.

Mrs. Hafstrom, Ron, Ambassador Hafstrom

3 Apr: Fredericksburg, VA is a lovely and charming old city that would not give up the ghost of Harry Bernard King (Cynthia's elusive great grandfather - and the ancestor most responsible for our marriage).  We spent the day at the downtown library in the genealogy room with a wonderful librarian, Nancy, and thousands of books.  Nothing new about Harry, but a full ancestry for Elias King, an ancestor of a DNA cousin.  We walked the streets of  historic downtown for about 45 minutes.  Dinner at the Olde Towne Steak and Seafood Restaurant was lovely.  Cynthia may have poison ivy but her back is doing great.

Ron and Ambassador Hafstrom

Ron, Ambassador Hafstrom, Herb Rambo at Rambo Apple Tree

Mrs. Hafstrom, Ron, Ambassador Hafstrom

Ron in "well chosen tie", Ambassador Hafstrom

Ron in Ambassador's Residence

2 April:Amazing day!  Gussied up in fine clothes, suit and stuff... we met Herb and Sally at the residence of the Ambassador from Sweden, Jonas Hafstrom and his lovely wife Eva to present the five volumes of the Rambo Family Tree to be placed in the Swedish Embassy Library.  The Hafstroms are quite a delightful couple.  Photos were taken by the Rambo apple trees in the back yard of the residence which will soon be placed on the blog.  We especially enjoyed coffee and desserts in the sun-room with the Ambassador, his wife, Herb and Sally.  The Jack Russell terrier enjoyed being petted.  At five we met Ron's brother Dean and wife at Old Ebbitt's Grill on 15th street in D.C. for dinner.  Fun photos will follow of Ron looking for parking.  He stopped to visit a guy on the street and soon had a crowd listening to him.  The only parking place was valet parking for a very pricey fee.   Ron enjoyed two different kinds of draft beer -  not his usual "water only" fare so a photo was taken of that good time.  We forgot to take a picture of Dean and Janina!!! The  funniest part of the day for Cynthia:.. with only three minutes to spare before our entrance into the Ambassador's residence, Ron had to search for a restroom -  leaving everyone else waiting with anxiety while he found a restroom at HOMELAND SECURITY!  He hurried and arrived back at the residence with ONE minute to spare before we drove through the gates.

After a fifteen minute conversation at Kiosk with D.C. group

A good day was had by all of the survivors-Old Ebbitt's Grill in D.C.

1 April: after a hearty breakfast at the historic Stonewall Jackson Hotel we ventured back onto the AT at Turk's Gap for a 1.9 mile hike over mountain ascending ca.to 2900 plus feet. When we reached the road we followed it back to the car traveling about 3.5 miles in less than two hours. Our speed is increasing. Ron's bald spot is red. Hungry, we wolfed down salad fare at Ruby Tuesday's before departure to Arlington, VA. En route... Cynthia was less than her normal calm self upon discovery of a tick in her head Instead of saving it to compare species it quickly went out the car window. Likely it was a brown dog tick. It was too large to be a deer tick. We are checked into a Hilton Garden Inn with a very comfy bed even though the parking garage is very inferior. Good night