Nearly 40 Degree Temperature Differential in a Week!!!

Monday (0)  Yard work happened.  Bloody hell it was humid and disgusting.  We managed to get the bare minimum done and went back to the cool inside and binge-watched Boardwalk Empire.  WTF with this weather, we are spending more time hiding from the humidity than we ever spend hiding from the cold.  Blargh

Tuesday (3.2)  I thought about running and then I stepped outside.  I walked it sucked it was disgusting.  My left hip has this wonky pain.  I'm old and I'm crabby.  I wanted to sit in the AC and stuff my face with craft stout and craft donuts to achieve my lifelong goal of wearing mumus and looking like Mimi from Drew Carey.  Except I really look horrible as a blonde, all washed out.  But WAIT the blue eyeshadow could add much-needed color to my face?

I've walked under this at Riverwood quite a few times and just noticed it.
Pretty amazing the nest these creatures build.

Wednesday (3.5 1.3)  I ran, 1-minute walk 3:30-minute run.  It went ok, the weather was less gross and while I would like to do the whole Mimi thing, I'm really not sure about the blonde hair, so I guess I should leave that idea by the curb, for now.

"That is an odd mushroom." -- Jax

Took Jax to Riverwood, he had dinner on his mind and his mind on dinner so he was not at all interested.  Plus it is still pretty warm and humid for him.  We got a verbal lambasting from the children, they were probably 3 and 4, at the house before the gate "Hey Lady! Don't put your dog poop bag on the post!!!" they shouted.  I said, "But then I won't forget to take it home!"  I got some huffs and crossed arms "Ok, I'll put it down here behind the sign."  They laughed and shouted something to their grandmother.  It was cute!  

"Can it be dog dinner time now?" -- Jax

Thursday (1) Just one of those days with no motivation, so I didn't do much.   Walked Jax around when we got set up at camp, in the dark.  It is a good thing we aren't fighters because I can totally see why people nearly get divorced over parking a camper or setting up a tent or doing anything in conjunction with their spouse.  Seriously, just scope it out and if you don't know what the hell someone is talking about ask and BOOM it is all good.    Why screw up a perfectly enjoyable escape to the woods with a fight?  This perplexes me to no end.  Someone doesn't have to win and someone doesn't have to lose...

Ready to go to Charlemont!

Friday (3 19)  Took Jax on a hike on the Mohawk Trail and back to camp, short, but he wasn't really in the mood to do much more.  We took a long nap until Dave got back to camp and then I had a very short and uninspiring bike ride. I think the nearly 40-degree temperature differential had a lot to do with all of that.  The weather was supposed to be low 70's and sunny, it was 60 and cloudy.

Cold River

I did get to see another covered bridge in Charlemont, MA, that was nice and explored some dead-end roads.  Just felt flat and unmotivated.

Bissell Covered Bridge, Charlemont, MA

Saturday (6) Took Jax on a long hike on the Mahican Mohawk Trail and other trails around the campsite.  It was very chilly, but moving helped take off the chill.  High 50's when we started, no sun.  Kind of depressing to go from horribly hot and humid to cool, cloudy, and damp.   We had a nice hike and Jax was definitely enjoying the cooler weather and was a goofball for most of the hike.

Meadow in the Mahican Mohawk Trail, Charlemont, MA
The picture doesn't really do this justice, how the woods opened up to the meadow and the fog was just lifting off the mountain and the goldenrod blooming...

We went to Mount Greylock in the late afternoon.  The thought of getting on the road bike and being chilled really didn't appeal to me.  The 5 miles of downhill after the 15-mile climb would probably have frozen me to the bone.  I think Dave was more concerned I wasn't enjoying myself.  Oh yes, I was!  No cell service and fresh air are wonderful things.  This just hasn't been my year athletically, if I can even call myself an athlete.  More trying to figure out how I can do what I want to do and not end up with a Lupus flare  (for me this feels like I have a really bad flu, hot, cold, pins, and needle achy, all my joints hurt, it's really special, not) or pleurisy 

Deerfield River for a quick wade

Sunday (3) It got down into the 40's overnight and I was happy to have Jax curled up with me, he's not a blanket dog normally, he prefers to be on top of not under the blankets.  We had planned on staying later on Sunday and booked the site through Monday, but it wasn't going to warm up over 55.  Dave rode and Jax and I took a hilly hike to warm up.  The climb up was pretty gradual to the top of Thumper Mountain (it really is more of a hill, 800 some odd feet, but he can add it to his summit list) and then it was a quick sharp descent down.  He was very into the bombing down the hill part, and when that came to an end he headed straight to the ranger station to go back to camp.  Ok.  I would have been happy hiking some of what we hiked the day before, whatever.  I probably give him too much credit, or maybe not.  We got back to camp and he jumped right up into the people bed and was sawing logs in 2 minutes. 

I read and he slept and Dave came back from riding after having two flats.  Kind of a bummer, but he got in two great days of riding at Thunder Mountain and I got in some quality naps and good hikes.  

He was seriously thrilled with the steep drop off.

Books:

"This House is Haunted"
by: John Boyne

Started.

I picked one of the first books on the always available list on Overdrive.  The story is a cross between Rebecca and Jane Eyre and that was exactly how my review started on Goodreads, well yeah, I guess I read it before.   I'm still not really remembering it as I listen.  Not actually all that odd, enjoying re-reading a book I don't remember reading,  probably, I am in a different frame of mind a few years later and paying attention to different parts of the story of Eliza Caine as the Governess of Gaudlin Hall in Norfolk England in 1867. Books can be like that, can't they? 

Knitting:

Reknitting of the collar of Dark and Stormy is going well.  The top part of the collar is much deeper and will lay much better.  I have to get some new bigger buttons.  

The yarn hasn't arrived for More Stout, the next cardigan.  I'm getting excited to start on it when the yarn arrives.  I should be done with Dark and Stormy by that time.

My shoulder seems to not be rebelling against me.  I'll take that as a win.  

Sincerely,
Beth happy to have a few days of fresh air and sleep, and so happy to not feel as awful as she did this time last year.  

Lazy week

Monday (1) a loop around camp with Jax before we bugged out.  It was so lovely cool and nice in Maine, the temperatures crept up the further south we drove.  A harbinger of yet another blast of heat.  Blech

Hoping those storm clouds mean cooler weather is on the way!!

Tuesday (0) back to work and a calendar full of meetings, what is with people?  I think I had a dinner out, at an outside venue, it was hot and humid and miserable, good company so that was nice, then the mosquitoes came out.

Excellent Beer!

Wednesday (0) I have no idea

Little Bored Dog

Thursday (0)  I have no idea

Oh, that one had a kick to it and it did age well!

Friday (5.7) Walked with Ro, it was lovely out!  We enjoyed our hill route at a pretty peppy pace. 

Jax ready to go!

Saturday (4.4) I thought I  might bike but felt flat and unmotivated, I knitted and Dave texted about going canoeing.  He got the rack for the truck and I was all over that. 

A trip up to the attic to find the people and dog life vests, and the paddles.  I found two dog life vests, I swear we had three, one for each of the knuckleheads, but only found two mediums, the third had to be a large for Diesel, he had such a big chest.  The upper strap wouldn't buckle on Jax but between the neck strap and the bottom strap he seemed mostly secure in the vest.  I can make the strap longer and not buy a new vest.  I'm still perplexed what happened to the third vest.  Jax was pretty perplexed why he had to have a coat in the heat of the summer.  Boxers swim like rocks.  He didn't seem to understand.

Ninigret Salt Pond

The canoe, overall, was in great shape, we only used it a half dozen times when Dave bought it eons ago, and I'm not sure why we stopped, I imagine it had something to do with my truck at the time dying and not having anything to haul it with.  There was one sun fade spot on it and the cane in the seat, mine, of course, cracked.  Easily fixable, or so I'm told. 

Splined cane seat.  Not traditionally caned.

We went to Ninigret Salt Pond, and they had a map of where to go, or really what you'd see at different points.  That was fun.  Jax was a little iffy on all of this and a few times thought maybe he'd try and jump out of the canoe.  We should probably tie a rope on the handle of his life vest so we can drag him back to the canoe?  Wouldn't that be a sight?  My luck the dog would fall fast into the water and tip the canoe.  I am not a big fan of being IN the water, ON the water is ok. 



Sunday (10, 2.7) I took Dolly out to Arcadia for some gravel grinding.  The parts where the roads were packed down pretty well were good.  The sandy parts, slightly fun and slightly terrifying and very slow.  Definitely, need wider tires, and some traction.  I've been looking at 'gravel' bikes.  Dave suggested I should actually get a gravel bike and was a bit shocked when I said, "yeah, I think so."  Then the backpedaling started with well are you sure you need another bike, and yada yada yada...  and maybe I should ride the places with Barney and really decide if I need another bike.  Need? The only things we need are air, sunlight, and water... want is more like it.

Watchaug Pond
Do we really need another photo?

We went on a short paddle around Watchaug Pond after Dave got back from his adventure at Goat Hill.  This adventure included a trip to the emergency room and a trip back to South Kingstown to pick up Dace so she could pick up Bill from the hospital and his car and get them all back home.  Bill took a header off his bike and put his hands out to brace his fall on to a huge granite slab and busted his hand and wrist.   Dave thinks he was going to slow.  Well yeah, most of my falls mountain biking are a result of going to slow, no seriously, they are.  Bill's hand/wrist is likely repairable, however he will be out for the duration for biking.  Their buddy Steve, finished up the planned miles for the day while Dave took Bill to the ER.  Well I guess you might as well, no point in everyone standing around in the ER? 

A Man and his Dog

This paddle included a stop and a short hike.  I didn't wear my shoes in the canoe so it was rather slow with barefooted me in the woods, but Jax seemed fine with just getting out of the canoe for a bit.  This time we put a yoga mat in the bottom and he was much happier, to have something grippy under his paws and only once thought maybe he'd try and get out of the canoe. 

Reading:

"Girl Waits With Gun"
by: Amy Steward

Finished. 

Very good, well written and interesting.  Based on true events in 1915.  Three sisters living alone in an old house in the middle of nowhere cross paths with an angry man who tries to best them, it didn't work out so well for him in the end.

I totally spaced and didn't down load the books that came up on my hold list so I had to go back to the bottom of the list.  This is the first time in a while I haven't had a book to listen to in the car.  The radio is making me loony.  I'll find something before the drive home on Tuesday.

Knitting:

Finished the baby sweater.  Started another with what I think is the actual last skein of baby sweater yarn.  I need to make sure I didn't squirrel away a skein somewhere, I can't imagine I did, but I've met me, it is entirely possible.

Clockwise
RWB socks finished Acadia tour books, the sock I lost 6 months ago has been found, and the baby sweater.
I like the stripes on the arms. 

Got up the nerve to unpick the collar from the green cardigan with the intention of picking up the stitches again and knitting a deeper collar.  So far so good.  I do enjoy Thea's patterns and picked out another one and some yarn and am anxiously awaiting for the yarn to arrive so I can get started on another cardigan.

That collar around the neck is NOT deep enough.
The buttons also are not big enough.
Glad I got the nerve to unpick it and start over.

Sincerely,
Beth, not at all disappointed with a lazy week, must have needed one!

Escape from Westerly, a Vacation happened this week!

Monday (20) I caught a note from one of the EBAC Tour de Testosterone guys to me, Ro, and Charlotte (or Char-Ro-Be) as he calls us, wondering if the Ruby Gurlz would like to ride on Monday.  I was game.  The weather would be perfect for a ride.  Tom ended up wanting to go early but Charlotte couldn't meet till 5 so the Ruby Gurlz rode.  The weather ended up being more and more perfect as the ride progressed!  We even saw 4 deer on the Haley Farm bike path.  it was just what the doctor ordered!

"They've lost it."  Jax

Tuesday (1.5) Dave was out riding and so Jax helped me mow the lawn, then we played a bit, mostly him barking at me and running around, but what ever.  After that foolishness I took him on a walk to run some errands.  It might be his age or the camping but he is so much better around people and other dogs, he is not an angel by any stretch of the imagination, well maybe if you think Buddy Cianci or Kwame Kilpatrick were or are innocent.  He has improved greatly and just when I think we may be turning a corner he reminds me he is still crazy.

Wednesday (5.5) Ro and I opted to walk and not do the hill loop.  I think she wanted to run.  I can't run and talk at the same time and yes I'm still very insecure about my running.  We aren't strolling but we aren't running, and really our pace is only a minute slower than my typical walk/run pace.  Whatever. 

Carriage Road gate house

We left for Acadia after I got home from work!  The first destination: Cracker Barrel in Portsmouth ME.  We were spending the night in the Cracker Barrel parking lot.  I know it sounds a bit odd, but this is part of what we will need to experience on longer trips.  Dave doesn't like to drive for more than 6 or 8 hours towing the trailer.  I can't blame him and since he doesn't trust me to drive, it is all on him.

Jordan Pond

We pulled in to the CB parking lot about 10 p.m. made up Jax's bed, shifted some stuff around to half of Jax's bed so we could get into our bed.  We keep the solar panels and the chairs on the "big bed" while traveling.  Jax seems a bit miffed he had to share his bed.  The dinette makes up into a twin sized bed, there was room to spare.   As the CB is off the highway there was a bit (ok a lot) of road noise, plus we were in a parking lot.  I got a bit paranoid someone would rob us, but then figured Jax would sound the alarms and he looks pretty ferocious when he's spazzing out barking.  

Eagle Lake

Thursday (3)  We weren't robbed although none of us slept all that great.  Another RV arrived during the night, they were up walking their dog this was of great interest to Jax.  Dave went to CB to order some breakfast, I mean we used their parking lot shouldn't we buy food there? 

Jordan Stream Bridge

And we were off to Acadia!  Check-in time at Blackwoods Campground was noon and we were there at the crack of noon.  This was odd for both of us.  We weren't sure exactly what to do.  I took a walk around our side of the campground with Jax, help him get his bearings, and then we figured we'd take a walk down to the ocean, so we did that. OMG it was so beautiful, the teeniest tiniest bit of the shoreline we saw.  I certainly didn't remember this from the last time we were here in 2000, for Kris and Brooke's wedding.   After all that it was still early so we took a drive around the Park Loop Road to get our bearings.  

A bit of fall!

We did the tourist thing of driving up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.  Jax can add this to his list of summits, right?  We can't.  I think the drive around the Park Loop Road was far more spectacular.  Everything was spectacular but the drive was more so... if that can be a thing.  Basically, the Park Loop Road gave me some clue about Mount Desert Island (MDI) as well as Arcadia, they aren't exactly one in the same Arcadia is in MDI.  I knew we'd be there for a while so this was the first time I purchased a tour book specifically for the place.  After scouring Amazon I came up with a lot of recommendations for "Acadia:  The Complete Guide" by James Kaiser.  I was dubious when I ordered it because usually these things are filled with shopping, hotel, and restaurant recommendations, NOT at all what we consider important.  Food is just a thing we have to do, we had our own accommodations, and the thought of crawling through tourist town shops, when we live in one, isn't appealing either.   This book was worth every penny I paid for it, there was maybe a page on shops and restaurants, the rest was on the island and the park and all the fun outdoorsy things to do as well as a little history, just enough to explain the geology, geography, and history, not enough to put a person to sleep.  We both read it cover to cover on Thursday.

Friday (25 + 3)  Dave kept telling me I needed to bring my gravel grinder (Dolly) that the carriage roads would be what I wanted to ride.  I was mostly convinced.  I'm still not happy with her shifting and breaks and seriously need a new chainring or cassette, I need lower gearing.  From the tour book, I picked a few carriage roads I wanted to try out, and I read about the spectacular bridges, (yeah I too am getting sick of spectacular - I'm sounding like my FIL) and knew I'd see something even better than the drive on the Park Loop Road.    I could ride down ME 3 to the Park Loop Road and then pick up the Carriage Roads at signpost #17.  

Waterfall Bridge

Being my directionally challenged self, with no map I somehow managed to stumble upon a signpost and map that had, guess what, MAPS!  Yeah.  I decided I'd do the loop around Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake and then back to Sign Post 17 and sneak up the Park Loop Road going the wrong way and get back on ME 3 so I didn't have to deal with a gigungus hill on a curve (the curve had me more worried than the hill) on ME 3 heading back towards camp.   Seems like a fine plan, no?

Amphitheater Bridge

Well, I managed to get all turned around in the only area where bikes are prohibited and did a big loop.  Then I was stopped reading the map and happened upon a chatty rider, from Ohio. We midwesterners will talk to just about anyone.  Unfortunately, I've lost that gift after nearly 20 years in New England and come across as unfriendly.  I am putting a conscious effort into being more affable and approachable or at least chatty.  It is easier during high tourist season because the locals think I'm some stupid tourist and humor me.  It's the blonde/red hair and blue eyes, clearly, I am not from around here.  Anyhoodles, Mr. Ohio clued me into where I went wrong, he said, keep going to the right and keep the lake on your right but you can't really see the lake, and it is about a 10-minute climb (GAH!  So Midwestern!!).  He was dead on with his directions and time estimate.  

He finally sacked out in the canoe

When I got up to the tip of Eagle Lake my eyeballs were floating and I needed a restroom, TMI, but work with me here, I found two restrooms and the line was the boys' track team ab0ut 20 of them.  I hoped these were Men and Women rooms, nope unisex.  OMG for teenage boys in wee tiny running short they took F-O-R-E-V-E-R in the bathroom. Finally, I got my chance and was oh so happy to continue on my journey on the east side of Eagle Lake.  They were headding back from their warm up run as I was heading out on my return trip to Sign Post #17.  That side was a bit dull, very flat.  Beautiful, no doubt about it, just not as exciting as the other side.  

zzzzzz

I hit Sign Post #17 and out on the Park Loop Road, the wrong way.  I ducked into the grass on the side until someone stopped, a park ranger, indicating I was clearly breaking the rules and had to turn around.  I had maybe 1/4 of a mile to go.  But no.  I had to go with traffic, back up the hill I had been so joyfully coasting down.  Damn it!  When I screw up it's never on something easy, that is for damn sure.  I ground my way back up that hill to the entrance/exit at Seal Harbor and then up that nasty stretch of ME 3, the hill on the curve was as I expected a bit dicey.  But I made it and with tales to tell!

Cliff Views from the Ocean Trail

Dave went out that afternoon and had the benefit of my experience AND a map.  He did a different section of Carriage Roads.  In the morning he took Jax to Beech Mountain and they hiked up that.  Jax was a bit pooped but still up for some exploring around the camp, so we did that.  

I can't get enough of this view

Saturday (20 + 3)  I went on a shorter adventure on the Carriage Roads.  I did the loop he did.  This time I left from the access path from camp to the Park Loop Road, then to signpost #17 and rode the same roads up to Sign Post #10 and took a switchback route along Sargent Mountain.  The Carriage Roads were designed for horses to easily navigate so the uphill/down hill grade on the road is no more than 5% at the most and mostly a 2% - 3% grade, 5% where it needs to be that steep and only for a short time.  They are ideal for biking and running and walking and horses!  Rockefeller knew what he was doing!

Beautiful

There were a few people zooming down as I was grinding up, how could they just zip down while I was stopping and looking, in awe, at the sights.  Rockefeller designed these roads purposefully to blend in with the mountains as well as frame the views.  I haven't even touched on the bridges!  Holy cow, these aren't some slapped together ways to cross a stream, they blend in with the geography and frame some spectacular natural sight (such as a waterfall or a view).  

Happy to be on the return trip.

I studied the map a bit more and figured out I could hike my bike to ME 3 from the Day Mountain Trail.  It totally worked too!!

Dave took Jax to Arcadia Mountain, they summited, and this was NOT a climb for dogs, Dave had to hoist Jax up and down some of the boulders.  Jax was somewhat wiped out but ready for something else. 

He doesn't see many horses.

We went canoeing in the afternoon.  You can rent a canoe and a dog life vest so we did that.  Of course, the vest didn't fit Jax, boxers have deep chests.  We do have three life vests from when we would take Giz, Diesel, and Sage canoeing, all both times we took them.   Yeah, three boxers in a canoe is a sight.  They were better one at a time around Watchaug Pond and not all three in the canoe down the Pawcatuck River.   Jax was a little bit unsure of this but he was a bit wiped out from his hike so he settled in about 40 minutes into our paddle around Echo Lake.   I think he will do better in our canoe, there is more of a place for him to lay down in the middle.  Perhaps we will finally get some use out of it after all these years?  It was nice activity for all of us to do.  When you have a dog this is kind of how it works.  He would not do well if we left him alone in the camper.  

We aren't good at selfies

Sunday (8) Dave was off to Camden and I planned to hike out to Otter Cove and then to Thunder Hole with Jax, this would be about 3 miles.  I got a little turned around and didn't bring a map so we hiked Quarry Path till it met with a hard top road and I was lost.  No kidding, me lost in the woods, ha ha.  We hiked back and then went down to Otter Cove and found Ocean Drive Trail and hiked that to Thunder Hole.  It was as advertised not so great, timing is everything, while we were there the desired 2 hours before high tide, the seas were calm so no excitement.  Jax was decidedly unimpressed with the entire 4 miles we hiked.  I liked it.  We got back to camp and took a couple hour nap because we could!

Beautiful stairs!

On the way past the Ranger Station, I noticed there were books for sale so I took a quick peek.  There was one "Mr. Rockefeller's Road" by Ann Rockefeller Roberts (2nd edition)  I am really taken by these roads and wanted to learn more.  It was worth every penny I spent.  My mother is a book buyer and collector, I love books and reading, I don't need to have them, they can go back to the library and I am good with that.  So for me to buy a book to then have is kind of a big deal to me.  Did I really want to have this or not?  Well if it wasn't something I liked I could donate it to the local library book sale or leave it at the book exchange at work (it will be staying with me, if you want to borrow it, let me know).  

I wanted to explore more Carriage Roads but I was also kind of ready to not be on the bike.  I took Jax for a hike up Day Mountain (the trailhead I found on Saturday) on the Carriage Roads, walking up, with Jax sulking because he was now bored, was slow but really gave me the opportunity to see the views and the design of the roads especially after devouring 3/4 of the book I bought.   We hiked down the Day Mountain trail, single track, much steeper and far more exciting.  He sprung back to life seeing the single track coupled with downhill, two of his favorite things next to treats and his chair.  

On the way home!

All in this was a vacation not a getaway for the weekend, it actually felt like a vacation.  Dave will say our last vacation was "The Stupid Cruise"  in 2014. Ha! A week on a boat with his family a vacation...  ok...  I'd say our last vacation together was, hmmm before we were married?  We've had separate vacations, not many together.

A map so you can follow the numbers, maybe.

Knitting:

Baby sweater progresses!

Books:

"Acadia: The Complete Guide: Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island"
by: James Kaiser

Excellent resource!

"Best Easy Day Hikes Acadia National Park"
by: Dolores Kong

Great resource, should have purchased a book with more hikes, but I wasn't sure.

"Mr. Rockefeller's Roads: The Story Behind Acadia's Carriage Roads"
by: Ann Rockefeller Roberts

Fantastic book!  Interesting and great pictures.  

Sincerely,
Beth, can't wait to go back!