Last Monday I headed to the airport very early to catch a flight to Oakland, CA. I had a short layover in Phoenix an arrived in Oakland around noon. I picked up my car and checked into the Hampton Inn near the bay. I had a good workout, bought some groceries and a pizza for dinner.
When my workmate arrived I took him out to shop and then I just hit the hay early.
I always stay on east coast time when I come out here. That usually means crashing out around 8 pm and waking up around 3 am or so.
That was the case on Tuesday morning, but today I slept in to 4 am.
Yesterday's visit to a leadership meeting was good. We had a large showing, but there wasn't a lot of questions from the junior techs.
After the day was done, we retired to the Chief's Hut, which I have never been to and had a few.
We finally got back to the Hotel when my mind was telling me it was after 9 pm. I ate some pita chips and cheese and crackers for dinner and my lights were out shortly after that.
I had a sore throat on Monday morning when I woke up and have been sneezing and blowing my nose a lot all week. This won't hinder my AT trip, which grows closer every hour.
Yesterday I called the 4H Club which has a place near the trail right off 522 and we will be leaving our car there instead of on the road lot. Last April some cars were busted into in that lot and the 4H offers a somewhat safer place to leave our car. I just have to fill out a form to let them know when I plan on returning and leave it with them when we arrive.
The excitement grows. Time to go check the weather for next week...
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Lowrie Family Reunion - 2012
We all got together again. It had been, I think, four years since we last did this, but everyone came out to celebrate US again. There were a few sad subtractions to this celebration, but they were made less painful by the many new additions to the family.
I really missed my Mom #6 and her sister Colette, my Godmother #1, but we had a great time and seeing everyone was just a perfect thing after a perfect week up the cottage.
Here is us all trying to get into one small area. There were quite a few of us there. I think our numbers go up to #153 right now, but there were more than that with cousins and guests.
...
I really missed my Mom #6 and her sister Colette, my Godmother #1, but we had a great time and seeing everyone was just a perfect thing after a perfect week up the cottage.
Here is us all trying to get into one small area. There were quite a few of us there. I think our numbers go up to #153 right now, but there were more than that with cousins and guests.
...
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Conneaut Lake 2012
On Sunday, August, 5th, we loaded up the van and headed to PA for our annual week up Conneaut Lake. Dad had paid for the week this year as a thank you for those of us who helped out with the costs of Mom's funeral. We made his presence a condition of the deal, as he had not come up the last few years.
After about 6 hours of driving, we arrived to a nice day. I was playing with my new phone and have some photos to share. I take one photo over and over. It seems like it is a little different each time I take it.
Here is the first days sunset.
Each day, I was the first one up and it was always fun to walk around and enjoy the quiet. Monday morning dawned still and calm. This photo shows a very still lake.
I took the kayak out that morning and paddled to Wolf Island. The wind had picked up by then and heading to the island was against the wind. Coming back was much easier. I explored the island once again. Someone owns it now and has a dock and campfire area along with some storage. I still like checking it out. Mark Twain spend a Summer there one year early in the last century.
Turk came up in the evening and we had some good party times.
That night it cooled off some and the we had a misty morning.
Today, when I took the kayak out near the dock, Ginger acted like she wanted to come along. I went into the shore and she jumped into the water to come to me. I pulled her in and we paddled around the area. She had second thoughts about it after she got in, but we went out together one more time the next day. I stayed up until 1 am that night listening to my iPod and drinking Tom's home made wine.
Megan spent a couple days up with us before heading home to go somewhere with her BF Mike who then proposed to her. Looks like two wedding are coming up. (Kristan's and whenever Megan's will be).
On Wednesday, the weather changed somewhat. We had fun watching the thunder storms approach from the West. It got pretty intense and dumped quite a bit of rain on us. We had fun trying to get a picture of lightning until Austin figured out you can just take a video and see it that way.
We went to Crackle Barrel for dinner.
On Thursday we tried to make a meat sauce that was close to what my Mother used to make as a tribute to her and her wonderful cooking skills. What we ended up with was pretty good.
On Friday, more storms came through. One late in the day left behind a spectacular rainbow. I tried out my new panorama function on my phone to try and get the whole thing into the picture.
On Saturday I did my second annual walk around the lake. It is about 10 miles and I just like doing it. Ginger came with me this time and I think she liked it too.
On Sunday morning, we all packed up and headed to Pittsburgh for our Family Reunion.
All in all we had a good time. My Dad mostly laid around most of the week, but at least he was there with us. I love Conneaut and will always have the most fondest memories of that place that I have been going to ever since I was a fetus in my mother's womb.
After about 6 hours of driving, we arrived to a nice day. I was playing with my new phone and have some photos to share. I take one photo over and over. It seems like it is a little different each time I take it.
Here is the first days sunset.
Turk came up in the evening and we had some good party times.
That night it cooled off some and the we had a misty morning.
Megan spent a couple days up with us before heading home to go somewhere with her BF Mike who then proposed to her. Looks like two wedding are coming up. (Kristan's and whenever Megan's will be).
We went to Crackle Barrel for dinner.
On Thursday we tried to make a meat sauce that was close to what my Mother used to make as a tribute to her and her wonderful cooking skills. What we ended up with was pretty good.
All in all we had a good time. My Dad mostly laid around most of the week, but at least he was there with us. I love Conneaut and will always have the most fondest memories of that place that I have been going to ever since I was a fetus in my mother's womb.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Overnighter Day 2
1. Date: 29 July 2012
2. Day 2
3. Miles traveled: 6.9 or so.
4. Temp: 65 degrees @ 0700
5. Weather: Clear, calm and pleasant.
6. End point: Route 70 bridge @ 1030
7. Events: Large wasp nest near Dalgren Church
Log: I had some trouble sleeping last night. It seemed I just layed there for two hours as the cacophony of tree frogs and crickets rivaled anything a shelter full of snorers could do. I just didn't feel tired. I read for another hour then did sleep some. As the night cooled I realized I should have placed my reflector pad that I had brought to test out. Around 0400 I got up and dug it out of the pack and could immediately tell the difference. I dozed until the birds took over for the now quieting frog song. It's 0630 now. Time to start the day.
I started breaking camp as I boiled some water for some oatmeal and coffee. I headed out at 0730 and started back north towards the trail-head. I ran into two guys who had headed north yesterday from Weaverton and had gone to the monument and back to Dalgren campground. I passed a few backpackers and day hikers as I made my way back. I didn't take any long breaks, just about 10 minutes at the monument to fill some water and rest a bit and was seeing how fast I could get back.
When I was climbing the last hill, I almost bonked and had to get a good drink and munch on some trail mix. Before long I was at the trail-head and at the van.
I threw the gear into the van, headed to McDs for a second breakfast and headed home.
This is a good hike that can be done again and again, with little side excursions or going a little further to the cabin or staying at the campground. I will put it in my list of hikes for future reference.
Parking at the trail-head: free
Filling my water bottles at the parks along the way: free
Stringing a hammock between two trees behind the shelter: free
Making a fire and staring at it for a few hours: free
Hiking the AT: Priceless
2. Day 2
3. Miles traveled: 6.9 or so.
4. Temp: 65 degrees @ 0700
5. Weather: Clear, calm and pleasant.
6. End point: Route 70 bridge @ 1030
7. Events: Large wasp nest near Dalgren Church
Log: I had some trouble sleeping last night. It seemed I just layed there for two hours as the cacophony of tree frogs and crickets rivaled anything a shelter full of snorers could do. I just didn't feel tired. I read for another hour then did sleep some. As the night cooled I realized I should have placed my reflector pad that I had brought to test out. Around 0400 I got up and dug it out of the pack and could immediately tell the difference. I dozed until the birds took over for the now quieting frog song. It's 0630 now. Time to start the day.
I started breaking camp as I boiled some water for some oatmeal and coffee. I headed out at 0730 and started back north towards the trail-head. I ran into two guys who had headed north yesterday from Weaverton and had gone to the monument and back to Dalgren campground. I passed a few backpackers and day hikers as I made my way back. I didn't take any long breaks, just about 10 minutes at the monument to fill some water and rest a bit and was seeing how fast I could get back.
When I was climbing the last hill, I almost bonked and had to get a good drink and munch on some trail mix. Before long I was at the trail-head and at the van.
I threw the gear into the van, headed to McDs for a second breakfast and headed home.
This is a good hike that can be done again and again, with little side excursions or going a little further to the cabin or staying at the campground. I will put it in my list of hikes for future reference.
Parking at the trail-head: free
Filling my water bottles at the parks along the way: free
Stringing a hammock between two trees behind the shelter: free
Making a fire and staring at it for a few hours: free
Hiking the AT: Priceless
Overnighter Day 1
1. Date: 28 July 2012
2. Day 1
3. Miles traveled: 6.9
4. Temp: mid 70s @ 0945
5. Weather: Some clouds but very pleasant not as humid as at home but still sweat inducing.
6. End point: Rocky Run shelter
7. Events: Hung out with Andy and Kevin
Log: Headed out at 0825 and arrived at parking lot at 0935. Hit the trail after cleaning up a Repel insect repellent leak in my top pouch. Made everything sticky. The trail is very nice here. I saw a few day hikers and also some section hikers. I met Kevin and his father Andy at the Washington Monument. I stopped for lunch at the Dalgren campground and they caught up to me there. We talked a while and I lent them my iPod charger. I arrived at Rocky Run at 1400. I scouted the area and found a place to put up the hammock behind the shelter. I made a few trips to the spring to get some of the fluid back in me from sweating all day. I made a little fire for the atmosphere even though it was in the 80s and there really weren't many bugs. Dinner was noodles and chicken and a little Tabasco. I took a little walk and brought some wood back to replenish the supply under the porch and hung out until the sun set behind the ridge at 2000. I retired to the hammock with just the woovie and was hot at first but feel comfortable now as I write this. I will read some then see how this thing sleeps. A good day of hiking and I do like the solitude, but having my honey or my babies here would be good too.
2. Day 1
3. Miles traveled: 6.9
4. Temp: mid 70s @ 0945
5. Weather: Some clouds but very pleasant not as humid as at home but still sweat inducing.
6. End point: Rocky Run shelter
7. Events: Hung out with Andy and Kevin
Log: Headed out at 0825 and arrived at parking lot at 0935. Hit the trail after cleaning up a Repel insect repellent leak in my top pouch. Made everything sticky. The trail is very nice here. I saw a few day hikers and also some section hikers. I met Kevin and his father Andy at the Washington Monument. I stopped for lunch at the Dalgren campground and they caught up to me there. We talked a while and I lent them my iPod charger. I arrived at Rocky Run at 1400. I scouted the area and found a place to put up the hammock behind the shelter. I made a few trips to the spring to get some of the fluid back in me from sweating all day. I made a little fire for the atmosphere even though it was in the 80s and there really weren't many bugs. Dinner was noodles and chicken and a little Tabasco. I took a little walk and brought some wood back to replenish the supply under the porch and hung out until the sun set behind the ridge at 2000. I retired to the hammock with just the woovie and was hot at first but feel comfortable now as I write this. I will read some then see how this thing sleeps. A good day of hiking and I do like the solitude, but having my honey or my babies here would be good too.
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