Wintertime blahs

I think that when I was much younger, winter didn't get to me as much as it does now.  It's not just the cold, all the time cold.  It's also the short days, waking up in the dark, and darkness returning in late afternoon. 
I spent a week on an island in Southwest Florida, at Sanibel.  I was warm there.  The days weren't much longer - sun rose about 7:15 am and set about 5:35pm. 

But the midday warmth made all the difference.  And the warmth slows things down, including people, who are warmed up and friendly.  The friendliness begins with a joke at the Chamber of Commerce.

There's a beach there.  It's not groomed, ever, except for the guy in the truck who drives on the beach and picks up pig knuckles (crabbers use them for bait and they wash up with the tide).  The beach has no lights, so no one's there at night except stargazers.  The reason is because on summer nights sea turtles crawl up the beach and lay their eggs in the dunes. Then 35-40 days later the baby turtles burst from their shells and scamper back to the sea, at night.   Lights would disorient them and they'd go the wrong way.  But why is the beach not groomed?  I couldn't get an answer to that.  But here's what it looks like.  Some of that stuff is red-brown macroalgae washed up in the storms a week before, but most of it is shells.  Lots and lots of large pen shells, many white scallops and small whelks and others that I cannot name.



Despite what it looks like, this is not man-made trash.  It's mostly large shells and macroalgae washed in by storms.



A funny beach creation has pen shell goatee, scallop shell nose, barnacle-crusted sunglasses, and macroalgae hair.

And there are always shell seekers walking on the sand or in the low tide shallows.  I've joined them, and brought home sacks of shells.  But I don't do anything with them.  They just stay in their sacks.

Ardent sheller at early morning low tide

Also shore birds galore.  Long-legged willetts, three kinds of gulls, and there are terns and little tiny things that scoot along just at the edge of the waves, stitching back and forth so quickly their legs disappear.

And in the wildlife refuge or out on Tarpon Bay, I see great large birds - cormorants and egrets and herons and the wonderful white pelicans.

cormorants and white pelicans share one of the oyster shell bars in the bay

And at the end of the day, the sun goes down behind the palm trees.

Bayou Bakery brings back memories

 There's a new restaurant in Arlington.  The Bayou Bakery has been open about 3 weeks now, near the Arlington County Courthouse.  The wonderful thing about this place is that it serves New Orleans style food.  The chef grew up in New Orleans, and knows what makes authenticity.  The website's opening page brought back such memories:  It shows fresh beignets.  http://bayoubakeryva.com/index.html

Joe and I, many years back, had headed for New Orleans.   He knew the city well. I'd never been south of the Potomac River in Maryland.   We left Chicago in March on the night train - there was snow and ice on the sidewalk along with an ace of spades playing card as we walked to the train station.  The following morning we entered Mississippi, where the sun shone and flowers bloomed.  We arrived in New Orleans in mid-afternoon, in what felt like summer weather.  I thought we'd landed in heaven.  Azaleas and exotic-looking greenery everywhere.  Warm and humid air surrounded us. 

We left our baggage in the French Quarter apartment of a firend of Joe's and went to the Cafe du Monde for coffee and - - what else?  Beignets. 



 I'd never heard of them.  Was dubious of all that sugar - - and as if there wasn't enough coating the pastries, each little table held a shaker full of more powered sugar.   (Wearing black wool dress in Chicago made sense, but here was unwise - not just hot & humid weather, a lap sprinkled with white was unappealing).  Three puffy squares of fried dough covered with a thick layer of powdered sugar.  I was an instant fan.  And I still am.  I've made beignets here at home.  Not often, though.  It's a time-consuming process.



I was not so attracted by the chicory coffee.  I drink my coffee black, which isn't wise in New Orleans.  Way, way too bitter and strong.  I learned to add water when I was out.   And at home I'd use just half as much New Orleans-style coffee.

Bayou Bakery gets it right with both the beignets and the coffee (which I still drink black).  Here's a link to Joe's initial blog about the place: http://joeb-tallyho.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-orleans-comes-to-arlington-virginia.html.  And a follow-up, continuing to rave. http://joeb-tallyho.blogspot.com/search/label/Bayou%20Bakery



Next thing is to try the Bayou Bakery's muffaletta sandwich and compare with the ones we go at Central Grocery on Decatur Street. 

Sunday hike

Last week my emailbox had an announcement:  "Sunday, Nov. 28, Rachel Carson Trail, Silver Spring, MD".  This is a WanderBirds hike.  This group has been around since the 1930s, hikes every Sunday all year through, frequently in the Shenandoah area.  They travel by bus when the hike is 2 hours away.  http://wanderbirds.org/.  This hike was suburban - in Montgomery County.  Two trails:  The Northwest Branch Trail and the Rachel  Carson  Greenway.  Here's a description, copied from the announcement:

"The hikes start and end at the Brookside Gardens Visitor Center.  They will wind past the Garden's lagoons and wetlands gardens, pass by the Brookside Nature Center and after one minor road crossing, turn southward onto the Northwest Branch Trail, a relatively flat trail closely following the right bank of the Branch.  One 7-foot scramble down a streambed is necessary due to floods this last March. The northern section of the trail passes numerous vernal pools that are the breeding ground for many frog and salamander species.  South of the Burnt Mills Dam (Rte 29 crossing), the hike crosses the branch and then goes upstream along the hillier Rachel Carson Greenway. A temporary sign will be placed at a side trail that leads to Rachel Carson's house.  At the north and south ends of the Branch are numerous signs explaining the ecology of the Branch and paying tribute to Rachel Carson.  The hikes will end near the stunning Brookside Conservatory which hikers are encouraged to visit. "

The day was sparkling and bright, and at 10:00 was chilly.  Wanderbirds hikes are two lengths, called Long and Moderate.  The Long hike was between 11 and 12 miles; from past hikes, I've learned that the long-hikers are also FAST hikers.  So I took the Moderate walk, about 8.5 miles total.  All the trees and shrubs were bare except for mountain laurel.  The day was still and quiet - no wind to be heard or felt.  And oddly no birds either.  The stream (or Branch) seemed not to flow at all until we passed gentle rapids here and there, where sunlight sparkled on the moving water.   During the last few miles (between 1 and 2 pm), we saw a kingfisher several times.

Altogether quite satisfying.  However, back at home I really had to lie down for a while - feet, knees, hips all sore!!
Here are some links:
Brookside Gardens:  http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/
Northwest Branch:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwest_Branch_Anacostia_River
Rachel Carson Greenway: http://www.montgomeryparks.org/PPSD/ParkTrails/trails_MAPS/NorthwestBranch.shtm

Am I showing my age???

Do all old people forget things?  Important things, like what day is the flight back home and where did I put that credit card and didn't I return that client's phone call?   In the short span of one week I've done all those things.  It's worrisome.  I recall how my Dad became more and more child-like, once turning on the burner under the skillet to cook bacon for his favorite sandwich, a BLT, and then walking away to do something completely unrelated and then wondering why the kitchen seemed very smoky.   When that forgetfulness started. though, he was ten years older than I am now.  But will that be me?  and sooner rather than later?  Sometimes I forget to turn a burner off after cooking.  Ok, Lorelei says it was probably because I was really preoccupied with Obree and distracted by doing housekeeperly things like vacuuming the rug and doing laundry and loading or unloading the dishwasher.  She's being kind.   I hope!

A wet week in the Poconos



Off we went on September's final  Saturday, from Rochester NY toward somewhere in eastern Pennsylvania . . . .  after the World Canals Conference.  With Barb driving, Pat navigating (sort of), and Linda and I enjoying the ride.   Our destination was a timeshare house in Eagle Village resort in the Poconos area.  But on the way Barb insisted we break up the long drive with a long walk - - to see waterfalls.  So we stopped at Ricketts Glen Park in Pennsylvania, where the first thing we did was buy tie-dyed bandana scarves printed with a map of the park.  There are 2 dozen or so waterfalls, all of them named, and most of the resembling the one before or the one after.  But the day was lovely, the waterfalls were refreshing, and the trail was interesting and in some places challenging. 

We stopped for dinner where the waitress caused me to burst into hysterical laughter when she told Pat that they had woodchucks in a bottle.  When I finally composed myself and wondered if I'd heard her correctly, Pat explained that "Woodchuck" is a brand of hard cider.  We pushed onward, hoping to reach our destination before sundown.  Which did not happen.  We overshot the entrance and realized it about a mile later.  Eventually, car parked in front of the house, luggage inside, beds sorted, kitchen inspected, we went out to find dinner and then a grocery store.  Four women shopping for breakfast and lunch and snack supplies and drinks meant several compromises. 

Sunday we awoke to see deer outside the dining room; they were eating acorns and drinking from the lake.  Did I mention that our living room had a splendid view of Lake Tamiment?   The day was nice and clear.  We went off to Honesdale, the western terminus of the extinct Delaware and Hudson  Canal that carried Pennsylvania coal to New York.  We saw a hitching post, a mounting block and a canalboat stubbing post.   No canal any more..



Relics of 19th century transportation

Then we drove to the Roebling Aqueduct across the Delaware river.  It is now a bridge.  Let me explain:   The Delaware & Hudson Canal ceased operation around 1898; the aqueduct was paved over and became a toll bridge.  It's still a bridge, but no longer charges tolls.  Roebling's legacy is the suspension bridge.  Nice lunch on a restaurant terrace overlooking the aqueduct that day.

Roebling's suspension aqueduct - the cable is barely visible within the wooden trusses

But the next day was cloudy and drizzly. Not a nice day for hiking, but we were next door to an abandoned and derelict resort with a large golf course. So we wandered over there and walked along the golf cart trail.

 That kept our footwear relatively dry and there aren't roots and rocks waiting to trip me up. How did we pass our evening hours?  After dinner we'd work on a 500-piece crossword puzzle. 

The next day looked to be a repeat (weather-wise) of the day before.  So we packed our ponchos and headed off to the Poconos Environmental Education Center (aka PEEC).  Fortunately the day was not quite so drizzly, and the Center had several really nice trails through hemlocks and pines.  And wildlife.  Very small wildlife.  Little bright orange salamandars seemed to freeze right in front of us on the trail - - were they hoping we would just pass on by?  We were afraid of trampling the tiny things. 

 

cute little salamander, just the size of my hand



PEEC on that day was educating a large number of enthusiastic 4th and 5th grade children.  Such an interesting place.  I'd not mind being a 5th grader again if I could attend PEEC.  At the end of the day, driving into the resort, we saw an 8-point buck with a small herd of deer wandering across someone's lawn.  The other great surprise was a flock of wild turkeys strutting down a driveway.

Wednesday the weather cleared up, so that was to be another waterfall day.  Off to Bushkill Falls.  I recommend it to anyone who finds themselves in this part of the Poconos (near Stroudsburg).   This is a business, unlike the state and US parks we had visited: a fudge and icecream store, a gift shop, an outdoor gear shop, a restaurant, and an admission fee of $9 or so.  But the fee was worth it.  The trails are well marked and have safety features like secure railings and steps, particularly where a trail crosses a stream.  And at the head of each trail are clear maps and warnings.

But Thursday was not a day to be spent out of doors. Rain, rain, and more rain. We needed to stay indoors, but the house being fairly small and the puzzle having been completed, we'd do something else. Barbara's old boots had given up the ghost the day before.  The logical thing to do was: go shopping. We spent the better part of the day an outlet mall looking at: hiking boots, children's clothing, halloween costumes, kitchen supplies, lingerie, outdoor clothing, and running through the rain from one mall section to another. Barb eventually replaced her boots with a pair from Timberland. As we passed a store selling evening wear, she mentioned that she needs a dress for her son's upcoming wedding. Ha! Another reason to go into more stores. And I found a store that sold umbrellas. It was not hiking but we spent a lot of time on our feet.



Silver Thread Falls



The last day was much like the day before but without the incredible downpours.  But not dry.  We went to three different parks:  Dingman's Park, Raymondskill Park, and  Child's Park.  All with great rushing water.  At Dingman's Park, we'd stopped in on an earlier day and noted that Silver Thread Falls was simply water trickling through a series of three successive slots in a tall cliff.  But this day it had grown stupendously to a series of torrents.   Down the boardwalk to Dingman's Falls, the roar of the water and the mist that it threw up gave strong hints of the great volume ahead.  Raymondskill Park has Upper, Middle and Lower Falls with overlooks at the top of each one - a great volume of water, brown above the falls, then white as it crashes over rocks til it explodes at the bottom. 



We packed up, locked the house, and started for home.  Although the drive home was just long and for me very tedious, we did stop once for a 3 miles walk.  But great to be home, with Joe, in Arlington.





Glad September is over

Last month I briefly listed the September events.  So many things happened after that post (Sept. 6th).  First off, I turned 70 on September 12.  I'd planned a birthday event mainly to head off my siblings' plans for a surprise celebration.  I took a bunch of people to lunch and a baseball game:  Washington Nationals vs. Florida Marlins (surprise:  I wasn't paying attention to the game). 
Lunch was in the PNC Diamond Club.  

How kind of Joe to point to my age!

Now that's a nice venue with a well-prepared and varied series of buffet tables.  According to my contact there, the menu changes seasonally.  Those lucky people were, in addition to Joe and me, my brothers John, Charles, Paul and Richard (Regis was in England for some shoot or other) and my sisters Ellen and Elizabeth.  And also Letty (Richard's wife) and Ric (Ellen's husband) and Mary (Regis' wife) and nephews Chris, Dave and John, and cousin Leo.  And, best of all, Lorelei, Andreas and Obree and Ray, Tara and Matthew.  So once that was done and I hauled all those presents(!) home, time to think about and pack for the next three weeks when I'd be gone.

Little fingers sneaking into the frosting . . . .

Where did I go?  First on Sept. 16, I flew to Chicago where Obree's 2nd birthday was to be celebrated with a party in the local park.  Well, it rained the night before and morning of, and who wants to party on wet ground?  So the apartment was cleaned and cleared, additional chairs brought in, food and drink set out, birthday cake refrigerated, and even Obree joined in the cleaning - - he likes to do what the grownups are doing.  Andreas' parents, Bruce and Carol, arrived first, complete with a really neat model plane that Andreas had as a kid.  They hung this great thing from the very high ceiling where air currents gently turned it this way and that. 



Bruce & Carol & the plane





Tiny guests enjoying O's tent.



Obree's bedroom was turned into a playroom for the 14 or 16 kids who came.  They were pretty much children from his Montessori school, from little Violet at 9 months up to Oliver, age 5.  Incredible energy and noise and fun happened in that playroom.  Adults wandered in every now and then and back out again to enjoy adult conversation and sandwiches and beer.  And of course a cake and presents and goodie-bags for kids.

I flew on to Rochester the following Monday, for the World Canals Conference.  Too bad I missed the great flotilla and celebration held the day before I arrived.  But I was there for the amazing "Dinner in the Ditch" - - the ditch being an old Erie Canal aqueduct over the Genesee River, on top of which a road bridge had been constructed.  But what is amazing is that the aqueduct STILL EXISTS!  And there are plans afoot to restore the old Canal AND the aqueduct through the city.  Yes, there was a great dinner on the old aqueduct.



The aqueduct is below the bridges small arches.





Add carpeting, lighting, furniture:  voila!



The conference was full of interesting papers being given and interesting nearby Erie Canal towns to visit and a great many old and new friends to spend time with.  There were 15 of us from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Association.  All the many Davids from England and Canada (and France, where one expat Brit resides).  And a group of funny and interesting US and Canadian women, all working for their national parks.

The final event - a treat! - was a visit to Niagara Falls - about 3 dozen of us did that.  What an experience!  Getting blasted on the little Maid of the Mist boat by great hurricane-gusts of wet wind - no wonder we were each handed a blue plastic poncho.  The volume and force of the water flowing over the rock is wondrous to behold and to feel, even from a goodly distance.  The roaring sound of the falls, the rocking of the little boat, indeed, the tiny size of the boat in relation to the waterfall . . . definitely worth being there. 
Following that, I spent the next week . . . . but that's another post altogether.



The American Falls at Niagara



Drenched on the Maid of the Mist boat.



David Edwards-May attempts to dry his soaking shoes.  Please note the puddle beneath his feet!



Globus Tour, June 21 - on the mainland to Sorrento

I'll add some photos to this later on . . .

Back on the good old Globus bus to the ferry station, and cross the sea from Sicily to Messina.  Then a long long ride through some farming country, with a brief reststop at an Agip for the tiniest espresso ever.

We zipped past Amalfi and the coast and found ourselves in Sorrento - facing a hotel entry that was really a long tunnel.  Perhaps the town of Sorrento is on such a cliff that tunneling from the road to the hotel was more practical than using valuable surface land for a driveway?

We had a really lovely room overlooking the pool area on the left and a large patio area with many tables, chairs and couches well spaced from each other.  The rest of the afternoon was unscheduled.  It was a short walk into the town.  There is one wee street too narrow for vehicles, but crammed with shops of all varieties.  And like the street, the shops were also narrow but long.

Today's schedule called for an open-air dinner, after touring a shop that sold inlaid wood pieces.  Too bad that there is so much selling being pushed at us.  It's not my preference, and besides, I was never big on accumulating lots of stuff.  So - - the dinner was in a fairly large square beneath a tent.  It was a fixed menu - like all of the other group dinners, you ate it or not.  But it was a very pleasant evening  We sat at two very long tables.  A wandering guitarist stopped to serenade several of the diners.  And the weather was perfect, the town was quietly buzzing, and the food was good - not memorable but good.