Fields O' Plenty, Part 2: Nighttime

My cousin Chuck sure knows how to throw a great party, and what a fantastic setting it was to have it! Past his new blueberry field, with his gorgeous house overlooking it all, lies another field with picnic tables, a fire pit, and the now famous Boogie Barn! We had such a fun evening visiting people and relatives we hadn't seen in years. Plus there was delicious food and a fabulous band (with Chuck as one of the two drummers).

 
Since we had come directly from the truck show, we unloaded the Tally Ho wagon and Farmall and went for a tour of the property with Kerstin, Kenny, and Ashley. In a couple of years these 2700 blueberry plants will be mature, so you'll definitely want to head to Star Farm to pick your own.

We had a bit of a problem going up the hill when the gas ran to the back of the Farmall's tank and it stalled. We ended up having to unhitch everything and get it turned around and pointed downhill, without it getting out of control at the steep angle. All part of the experience!

Thanks so much Chuck for a memorable night! Now it's time to trade in my heavy coat for my swimsuit and head south. Dave will stay home for a bit, but I will spending a month in Daytona before we both fly to Abaco. What an awesome season in the north it has been!

Fields O' Plenty, Part 1: Daytime

This weekend was the annual truck and tractor show in Ballston Spa. Dave brought up the Farmall tractor and the Tally Ho wagon, along with his award winning Trail 70 on Saturday.

The show was very well attended and it looked to have more participants than I have ever seen. People brought their rigs from all over the Northeast, including Canada.

Many were antiques, which is always interesting...

 Friend Tim and his company Timco had this miniature tractor trailer on display. 

It even had a motor and Dave got to take it for a spin. He could barely see, and getting in and out was a challenge. I sat on the back while Dave was driving and it is amazingly fast.

This weird looking trailer was for sale and no one could figure out what it was used for. The lid lifted up and there were all partitions inside of it. 

Here are a few more photos from this event that we look forward to all summer long. What I have shown is only the "tip of the iceberg" though.

What an extraordinary day and we still can't believe the price of admission is only $1.00. Now that's a lot of entertainment value for a buck!

Fall Is Here!

A few days ago, on the first day of autumn, it was still 84 degrees out. Such a perfect continuation of our great summer weather. Before it got too warm out, we decided to take a hike up Cook Mountain, which we haven't done in many years. Once we were into the 1 mile hike almost straight up, I remembered why we hadn't been there in so long. I would caption the photo below: the WTF look...how much farther and steeper does this trail go?

Eventually my knees couldn't handle it and I know going down at such an angle is even worse. I sat on a log and told Dave to keep going for a little way to see if we were near the top. I certainly didn't want to miss out on the view if we were almost there. It was so beautiful and quiet with just a couple of chipmunks running around. Then I heard rustling and looked around to see a huge porcupine heading my way with its quills out! I yelled "HEY" to keep it away and it did stop, but Dave also heard me and called out to see if I was okay. I told him about the porcupine and asked if he was "there." He said yes, so I started heading up, only to find he was heading back down. Me: "Why did you come down?" Dave: "I thought you wanted to know if I was there, not THERE." In other words he was in hearing distance but not at the top. I showed him the porcupine who was still rummaging around in the leaves and Dave went to take a photo, startling it and it immediately climbed up a tree, something I didn't know they did. At least it wasn't a bear!

We figured this was an omen to abort our hike and decided it would be much more fun to go out on the lake in Moxie one more time. Definitely a good decision. We got to see the Mohican tour boat that has been hauled out on the railway in Ticonderoga. They are putting a new bottom on it and we could see straight through it in the front.

Dave couldn't resist taking one more plunge into the water before we headed back and winterized all the boats.

Too bad all of fall isn't like this, but our life down south is calling. We'll back boating in another body of water that is always clear, soon enough!

Round & Round We Go...

Or not! Dave and friend Pete (who also has a fertile imagination and eclectic talent for projects like this) have been working on Dave's latest creation. A spring loaded twirling motorcycle ride. A few years ago, we wanted a spring from a children's playground ride, but ended up with a much larger and heftier spring, so we could really go big...perfect for adults. It even spun around, which was an added bonus. With Dave's mind that never rests, he came up with the idea that we should be able to be transport it to some of the motorcycle, truck, and tractor shows we attend. The guys mounted it in a campfire ring and welded it to this little trailer.

Then Dave poured concrete to secure the spring in the base. 

Next they mounted an old non-functioning Bridgestone motorcycle to the spring.

Unfortunately the added weight and height made it too top heavy and wobbly, or in nautical terms, it was very tender. Dave hung on to the New Holland tractor for stability and wouldn't let go. It would definitely be too scary to spin around and bounce on this ride, especially so high up.

So it's back to the drawing board, but stay tuned, because you know eventually Dave will succeed!

Silence Is Golden

Or perhaps more like On Golden Pond. Since we are in the process of wrapping up the summer fun, I knew I would have very few kayak trips left. After Labor Day, Putnam Pond is a great excursion with hardly anyone camping or on the lake...except loons (as it should be!). What a serene day with only the sound of the wind in the trees and my paddle going through the water.

If this was the last time I get to go out, it was a perfect ending and I will be content until we reach the Bahamas!

Pulling The Plug On Summer

And what a good summer it was! Labor Day weekend was kayaking with John and Lynda, and then Dave and John went to the waterfalls at the Bass Hole. On Monday, Kerstin and Kenny joined us for some swimming with Moxie and then frolicking in the falls too.

It was a perfect ending to summer. Then it was time to take back the lake(s), with very few people around once the kids go back to school. After a Sea Doo exploration of Lower Lake George on Wednesday with Jim R., I took my kayak to Sacandaga Lake on Friday. This gives the literal meaning to pulling the plug. Sacandaga is a reservoir that they drain down after the summer, for water down the Hudson and New York City (Originally there was a town before they flooded the valley to make the reservoir). It is going down a foot a day.

You have to be prepared for this. Some boats are still floating and others are high and dry. 

I wouldn't suggest going down this 'water' slide...

Now we are finishing up our long weekend of Adirondack Nationals Car Show, Tugboat Roundup, and Rice-O-Rama motorcycle show and swap meet, where Dave won second place in the mini-bike class with his Trail 70. He also brought his KZ1000 and RV90 (the only one there).

This morning I woke to 46 degree temps and turned the heat on in the house for the first time. Ahhh, summer of 2016, gone but not forgotten!