civilized ku # 2804 ~ surfing to Vermont

plowing through the waves ~ Ferry on Lake Chanplain, NY • click to embiggenSaturday last was a very windy day on Lake Champlain. It made our crossing very interesting. The Cinemascapist and I were ferrying Hugo to Vermont for the first game of his new hockey season.

Hugo is playing for a "select" team - tryouts for selection (by a group of college hockey players) to the team - this season, the Plattsburgh Roadrunners. The first game was against a team of AA selects from Vermont. The game was very competitive and the Roadrunners won the game by a score of 2-1. Hugo scored both goals and I would surmise the coaches were quite pleased that Hugo was selected for the team.

diptych # 85-87 / civilized ku # 2801 ~ sweaters, not sweating

witch on dashboard ~ Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
window w screen ~ Rist Camp / Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
colorful tangle ~ Rich Lake / Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
Lakeside Knoshery ~ Long Lake, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
murky evening light ~ Rist Camp / Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenAutumn is in the air and the witch on the dashboard has built a fire. Building fires at Rist Camp is what we will also be doing over the next week inasmuch as night-time lows will be near the freezing mark - great weather for sleeping and day-time (low 60s) hiking.

civilized ku # 2799-2800 / ku # 1283 ~ one good thing after another

guy w dogs at beach ~ Minerva, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
Donnelly Beach ~ Minerva Lake, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
island on Minerva Lake ~ Minerva, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenLast Saturday, while driving to North Creek for pharmaceuticals and groceries, the wife and I ventured off the beaten path and discovered Donnelly Beach in the town of Minerva. I have to admit that it gives the beach a Newcomb a run for the money, best beach in the Adirondacks wise, but ultimately it's in second place.

We also ventured to nearby Olmstedville (population 500) for a look-see at / test paddle of the Hornbeck New Tricks-13. Nice boat. It's on the next-spring acquisition list.

While in Olmstedville, we bought fresh-filled cannolis at a weird little restaurant / bakery. And, while it was not our intention to dine out - we were on a grocery run - I knew of a very good restaurant, The Owl at Twilight that was located in the village, or at least it was 12 years ago. Turns out it's still there and thriving.

So we were first in the door at 5pm - had to get back to camp by 7:30pm for the Notre Dame game - and had a very excellent meal. Add to that the fact that Notre Dame cleaned Michigan's clock so, all in all, it was a very good day.

FYI, there are more NEW pictures at Rist Camp Diaries

diptych # 84 ~ just a thought ....

clarity and vision • click to embiggen

You have to believe in something. Everyone does. Even atheists believe in the unbelief. If they didn't, they'd go mad. The misanthrope believes in his hatred of his fellow man. The gambler believes he's omniscient and that his knowledge of the future is proof he is loved by God. The middle-income person who spends enormous amounts of time window-shopping and sorting through used clothing at garage sales is indicating that our goods will never be ashes blowing across the grave. I suspect the drunkard believes his own self-destruction is the penance required for his acceptability in the eyes of his Creator. The adherents of Saint Francis see divinity in the faces of the poor and oppressed but take no notice of the Byzantine fire surrounding themselves. The commonality of all of the aforementioned lies in the frailty of their moral vision. It is also what makes them human. ~ Dave Robicheaux / lead character in Pegasus Descending by James Lee Burke

FYI, there are more NEW pictures at Rist Camp Diaries

civilized ku # 2792-94 ~ life's a beach - or a bitch, if you don't obey the rules

beach rules / notices ~ Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
beach capacity ~ Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
lifeguards ~ Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenThis Monday past (Labor Day) the wife, Hugo & Johnny, and I bicycled to the Newcomb town beach which is located on Harris Lake less than 1/4 mile from Rist Camp.

The beach is, by almost any standard / criteria, the best beach in the Adirondacks - 200 yards long, 100 feet deep and covered with beautiful sand. The beach is backed by a grove of nicely spaced cedar trees (standing in sand) which provide a shaded area (I like shade at the beach). A sand volleyball court, horseshoe pit, extra large jungle gym, docks and a floating diving platform, picnic tables (outside and under a large pavilion), restrooms with changing rooms, and a snack bar (hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, etc.) complete the setup.

All of that written, the beach is also a bit of an oddity. Despite the sign stating a 1400 person capacity, we have never encountered more than a handful of people - take notice of the 3 (and only 3) swimmers (the wife, Hugo & Johnny) at the beach on Labor Day, the last big holiday of the summer season, leaving the place 1397 people short of capacity. And then there's the notice pointing out that NO PRESCHOOLERS WITHOUT PARENTS are allowed. Apparently some parents were dropping off preschoolers at the beach as a sort of free daycare location.

Someone in authority also felt it was necessary, in addition to multiple NO DOGS ALLOWED notices, to post the NO ANIMALS ALLOWED IN THE SWIMMING AREA rule. Which begs the question, were people bringing chickens, goats, cats or other animals to the beach? If so, are they allowed in non-swimming areas?

FYI, there are more NEW pictures at Rist Camp Diaries

kitchen life # 57 / ku # 1282 ~ everywhere you go there's bound to be a sink

produce ~ Rist Camp / Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
village shoreline ~ Long Lake, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenSpent some time in Long Lake over the holiday weekend with Hugo and his friend Johnny. It rained on Sunday so the wife and I took them to the Adirondack Museum. On Monday PM the kids flew home in a seaplane (I was the co-pilot). Life goes on at Rist Camp.

FYI, there are more pictures at Rist Camp Diaries

civilized ku # 2791 ~ working it

seaplane ~ Long Lake, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenI have moved all my computer stuff to Rist Camp and am using some time to finally get my new mini-mac and related new software up to speed. So far, all is swell.

civilized ku # 2788-89 / ku # 1281 ~ stream of consciousness

dormer alcove ~ Rist Camp / Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
clock ~ Long Lake Diner / Long Lake, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
Santanoni Mountain ~ Newcomb, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenWhile at Rist Camp, I will be posting pictures - only pictures - at a new blog, Rist Camp Diaries. When viewing the blog / pictures, think of it / them as a sort of stream-of-consciousness, picture wise.

Let me know what you think - comments always appreciated.

FYI, I will be posting entries / pictures here on The Landscapist, most likely on the same day on which I post pictures on Rist Camp Diaries.