Costa Rica, Guanacaste Province - A Family Adventure

We're freshly back from our second trip to Costa Rica.  Although we're not world travelers, after our first trip to Costa Rica, we knew that we had to come back.  It was just a matter of when and where, as life has it's way of getting in the way.  Kids get older, they get social lives and even jobs with schedules to keep.  It really changes the dynamic of just being able to pick up and take off whenever and wherever you want to go.  So several months ago we looked at the calendar, picked some dates, made the reservations and flights and we were booked.  As the time ticked down, we all got more excited for the trip.

The last time we were here it was quite a bit of an eyeopener for all of us, as adults it was really something since you're groomed to be timid or even fearful of what a place in Central America could possible hold.  Before that trip, the Bahamas were the extent of our trip out of the United States.  But that was completely different, everything was handled, tours, flights, hotels, meals, etc.  When we went to CR for the first time, we booked flights and did a timeshare intro package, where we got to stay at their all inclusive and get the "experience" with the hope we'd buy one.  The condo was included, the meals and shuttles, etc., all included.  We did pay out of pocket for a guided excursion, which included zip-lining, going to an amazing waterfall, visiting a rainforest with sloths and a private tour of a plantation.  It was amazing.  We learned so many things and really got an appreciation of the environment.  The people were amazing, the food was nice, the scenery and weather were perfect.  So we set our minds to come back and rent a car and do our own things.

Which leads us to this trip.  We booked the various hotels, rented a car and picked the places we really thought we'd enjoy going to.  We never knew whether we'd be thrilled or disappointed with our decisions, the one thing we knew for sure was the weather would be great.  At the time, where we live in Southeast Pennsylvania, it had been the coldest it's been in forever.  Snow and ice that came in late January had stuck around and was getting old fast, even though I love the cold and snow.  On this trip we stayed in Liberia, Bagaces, Tamarindo and Coco Beach.

Once on the road the culture shock of not having the immense luxuries we have in America came flooding back from our memories.  Most, if not all, buildings are made of concrete and tin roofs.  Many buildings are adorned with bars, barbed wire and various types of fencing.  When we first went down we asked our excursion guide whether it was safe, he explained that there is a lot of small or petty theft, which is why they have so many fences.  What you first see when you see those bars and fences can deter you, but after a little while you notice the beautiful flowers behind many of them, the well kept houses and even a birthday party going on in the front of the property.  It makes me think of that age old theory to not judge a book by it's cover.  Same thing goes for CR, and it was more evident on this trip than before.

When we landed at the airport in Liberia, we got a shuttle to the rental car location.  It was smooth sailing, the people working there were very nice, the cars clean and ready to go.  Our first night was in Liberia, kind of a rest from traveling and ease our way into our trip.  From the outside, it didn't look like much.  But inside, there were beautiful, flowering trees, a well kept pool, clean rooms and very nice staff.  As per the norm, I spoke to the people next to us who spoke English.  They were very nice and had been to CR many times, they had the benefit of speaking the native language fluently as I muddled through with my mighty two years of Spanish from high school.  We had dinner, showered and got to bed early.  A complimentary breakfast awaited us in the morning, we packed up and headed to our next location.

Rinconcito Lodge was our next stop, it was up near one of the volcanos.  We had had forgotten to restart our phones for directions so we quickly downloaded them at the McDonald's and hoped for the best.  Driving there is a very unique experience, there are many motorcyclists, one way roads and traffic patterns that we were not ready for.  It took some doing but we were out of the city and on the road to the lodge.  After about 45 minutes of a combination of dirt and paved roads, we saw our sign and pulled in.  The place was beautiful, lush vegetation, well kept grounds and hammocks on every balcony.  A beautiful bird that we recognized from our last trip was nesting in the area and greeted us with it's very distinct call.  The staff was very friendly and told us about the property and got us checked in.  The room was amazing, large balcony doors opened to an expansive view of the forest outside.  The hammock was the first thing the kids got into and was a highlight for the time we spent there.  The room was clean and well laid out.  The beds were comfortable and the bathroom was clean and with great hot water and water pressure, something I wasn't expecting up in the mountains.  We had a great dinner and wandered around a little by the pool before it was time for bed.  The next morning my wife and son went on a small hike to see a waterfall and a viewpoint on the surrounding property.  It was a great hike and the views were great.

Check out day sent us back down the same road into Liberia, where we again got Wi-Fi and directions.  It was off to Tamarindo for the night before our final destination.  We stayed at a hotel that we almost drove right by because the front really doesn't consist of anything fancy to stand out as a hotel.  We parked and walked down the steps to find a nice bar area and a open air restaurant with a walkway to the beach.  We put our things in our room and beat feet for the beach.  The beach here and touristy establishments were the highlight of this location as the room wasn't anything special.  We were only staying for the night and didn't need much.  The room was sparce, but clean.  It did the job for the night and we spent all day at the beach.  Sunsets are one of the reasons for us to stay at the beach until it's dark out, as we were on the West coast, they are absolutely stunning.  There were several engagement photo shoots going on, waves crashing on rocks in the ocean, horses being ridden down the beach and even a wedding.  We had a very nice dinner, showered and tried to get a good nights sleep.

In the morning we were out the door and down to the beach again for a brief visit.  Once checked out we were on our way to our third and final stop, Coco beach.  Here we splurged and got an Airbnb.  Another learning experience came when we were following directions and Google maps was taking us all over the place.  We stopped at a few beaches on the way and even one from our last trip where we had lunch at a small hotel right on the beach where we stayed a few nights the last trip.  Again, the food was good, people were super nice and the views couldn't be beat.  Once our condo was ready, we headed up there, and up there it was, it sat on the top of a mountain overlooking the ocean.  My wife wasn't comfortable with the incline of the driveway, so her and our kids walked up while I drove up.  It was steep, but it became very familiar after a few times back and forth to town.

We went to the local grocery store, got some supplies and settled in.  The views were again awesome.  The property came with an infinity style pool and a small gym. We went down to the beach and walked around, swam in the tidal pools and watched as the ocean surged in and out with the breeze and tides.  The first day the water wasn't the cleanest, a lot of natural debris was in the waves, but the tidal pools were crystal clear and there were plenty of things to explore with the surrounding rocks.  We had dinner at the restaurant right on the beach, it was a awesome place with a great menu, at the time we went it was mobbed.  We waited about 40 minutes before getting a table and then some more time waiting our turn.  The food was great and when done we headed back to our condo.

We ended the last day with a sunset cruise on a sailboat.  It was a traditional sailboat, of which I've never been on and always wanted to.  There's something about the smell of the cabin of a boat that you will never forget once you smell it.  We booked our trip with Exclusive Tour Costa Rica, they're out of Coco Beach cove.  We met with the nice lady who got us settled in for the tour, then we were off.  It wasn't a very long cruise to the snorkeling arear, but it was very enjoyable.  There were three other guests on the boat, along with three crew members.  There was fresh fruit, cervaza, frozen and mixed drinks plus plenty of bottled water.  The crew couldn't have been nicer.  The snorkeling area was nice, they provided everything and after we were done, on our way to see the sunset, they served us chicken salad wraps.  The feeling of being on a sailboat on a warm summer day, with the ocean breeze hitting just right, is a very special thing.

The last night we packed up, soaked up the remainder of the warmth and got to bed at a decent time.  There were some things that you have to get used to when you're there that I didn't experience before, since we didn't drive ourselves.  For starters, there are motorcycles everywhere, they don't seem to care about many things, it's just their way of getting around.  They're in and out of traffic, and you have to be very attentive about turns or you could clip someone.  Driving in CR is very similar to the USA, you don't need a special license, they drive on the same side of the road as the US and speeds (although in kph) are very similar to our speed zones.  There are a lot of STEEP hills around the beach areas if you have a place up there.  Also a lot of roads can be very curvy, sometimes dirt, sometimes paved, sometime both but always in questionable state of repair.  As for whether or not it's a safe place, in our experience, it's as safe, or even more safe, than any city US.  You need to be smart about your belongings, just like you'd have to be anywhere, be aware of the people around you and be respectful.  Everyone we met was very nice, very helpful and even if they didn't speak English and we didn't speak Spanish, common courtesy goes a long way.

If you end up going, I recommend having a stay at an all inclusive for your first trip.  Let them handle the shuttles and food and the experiences.  They will help you with anything you need or want to do.  Also, when you go to a restaurant, the tip is already on the bill, you don't need to tip more.  In-fact, I have found that the people don't seem to feel comfortable taking more money.  Also, get used to the fact that not everyone lives in a shiny 2000 sq. ft. house with all the amenities.  Most of the places you'll see on the road are small, concrete and metal roofed houses with fences and barbed wire.  And most places that aren't that are in gated communities.  I definitely recommend going in the dry season, but be prepared for seeing brush fires and no one doing anything about them.  It's a wonderful place with limitless natural beauty and wildlife.

First ever experience with a Bear in camp while backpacking

This is a story from back in the Summer that I am just now getting around to writing about.  It's not often that I get to sit and write when I get back and with the hell of a year that 2020 was, it slipped past me.  So here is the highlights.

Well, we're home... It was a hot and humid, a shock for a July 4th weekend. Went to a place I've hiked with my brother in the past, a short downhill hike to a nice open site near a creek on the Thunder Swamp Trail. Only a mile and a half down. Steven was a rock star, was super looking forward to it. Amanda was thrilled to carry her new pack... within 5 minutes, the complaining started. She turned it around in camp and made me a really happy backpacking father my sitting with my wife and going over the map to discuss where we were going the next day.

Not more than a few minutes went by, the dogs went crazy, took off to the edge of the site, to greet a bear. A freaking bear. The dogs didn't seem to phase him/her much. The bear turned and went off. As we were contemplating what to do, the bear showed up again within 10 feet of my hammock. At that moment, it was decided that it could be a troubled bear, habituated to the site, and we did the NASCAR packing pit stop and we were out of there. Was getting very dark and there was a panic in the air. We bolted uphill to the car without a complaint.

We passed one other campsite, there was no one there, an smoldering fire was going and three tents were flat. I don't know if they were collapsed from a bear or they were never set up. I don't know if they were gone cause of the bear, or what. There were no other cars in the parking lot.

Steven was disappointed because he was very happy with our site and to be out camping. He got to use his survival kit to try and saw some wood. Without fail, Amanda had to poo in the woods, she's a trooper. The kids had Ramen and we had Beef Stroganoff. He was happy to stay, which is shocking, Amanda talked about the bear the whole hike back.

Stephanie

blew out her voice making noise the whole way up.

The ride home included tired kids, tired dogs, an amped up Stephanie and various displays of fireworks everywhere. We were a little disappointed to leave, but feel as thought it was the right thing to do. Stephanie's not sure of her future backpacking trips, but she's optimistic.

I thought that was the end of the camping season for my wife, but she knows how much it means to me and she loves the adventure as much as I do. So she picked another place the next day and we were off. This time car camping, but without any luxuries. We found a place that was nice and out in the middle of nowhere for us and we went. Once there we headed off to a swimming hole (Sullivan Falls) that we never knew about and it was amazing. The water was very cold and I was very nervous having the kids just wandering around the slippery rocks, but they were enjoying themselves and to me, it has to be most important thing. No one got hurt and they were having a blast. No electronics, no distractions, just mother nature's playground. It was great. At the end of a dirt road and we were there. Swimming holes, water falls, cool rock features, it had it all. The only downside was we didn't get there early enough and the daylight started to fade. We grabbed takeout at a local bar and headed back to camp. Set up the tent, got a fire going and had a great dinner. Kids were pooped and so were we.

I'm very happy that we didn't let a scary thing ruin the weekend. We got ourselves back on track and headed back out there. The way it should be.

First Solo Overnight trip on the AT and a Wintery Weather Advisory

 I've been wanting to get out of the house and go backpacking since the failed overnight trip we took with the kids where the bear decided to ruin our dinner party.  I love camping in the Winter, the fire's more enjoyable, the skies are clearer, no bugs and less people... in this case, no people.

Last night was the last night where I could do something with my kids in the woods, or apparently myself, during the extended holiday break.  We spent the day doing two small day hikes, which wetted the appetite for more.  The weather was nice and the trails were muddy but we got out and enjoyed ourselves.  Well I wanted to see if my son, 11, wanted to go but it was getting dark and I wasn't going to get to where I wanted to go until well past 10 and he just wasn't up for it.  I decided, I'm just going to go.  My youngest daughter didn't want me to go alone.  She's not much of a camper and as I was heading out the door she was grabbing her coat and when I asked her what she was doing, she merely stated that I'm took old to go alone and she's going with me.  I assured her I'd be fine and that she couldn't go because I hadn't packed anything for her and it was late.  With tears in her eyes I assured her I'd be fine and off I went. 

It's one night, I'm an adult dammit and not scared of shadows in the woods!  An adult maybe but still scared...  

My first choice was going to be the Rausch Gap shelter on the Appalachian Trail but after getting close to the trailhead, the road took me through a military training area that I wasn't even sure I was supposed to be and then the road went to dirt and became steep.  I decided with the Winter Weather Advisory, that I wasn't aware of until I was on the road, that it wasn't going to be a good idea to try that road in any kind of weather.  So I went to plan B... and then C... and then finally decided that it was going to be plan D that was going to do the trick. 

I was already in the area and Peter's Mountain Shelter was nearby, a short walk in, a familiar place and somewhere I could drive out of if there was any kind of weather that amounted to much.  Arriving at the trailhead at 11, not exactly what I wanted to do, I packed up, took a breath and headed into the dark.  The trail, as many in PA do, went mostly straight up the side of the ridge.  The trail crew did an amazing job of building rock stairs for most of the trail.  This side trail was named, Victoria Trail, and was very nice.  With a bright flashlight in tow I plowed on.  With every step I got more and more comfortable with my decision.  I really was looking forward to getting to the shelter.  It's a very nice respite from the weather and a little piece of security.  With in an hour and a half I was there.

I'm not s little guy and was sweating even in the 20's.  Got into my bedtime dry clothes, set up my sleeping bag and tried to get to sleep.  I was still a bit jazzed up from the hike in so sleep wasn't right away on tap, but it came with time.  I was very cozy in my Big Agnes sleeping bag and Sea to Summit Winter pad.  There was no wind so it was very still.  I think I eventually drifted off around 2:30 and was in and out until 8:30 where I found the comfy spot and was out for an hour. 

Reluctantly I got out of the cocoon of a warm sleeping bag and made some breakfast.  Dehydrated Mountain House eggs never tasted so good or felt so good going down.  I took some photos, packed up and started to head out.  We had some stray blasts of ice pellets over the early morning hours so there was some traces of Winter but nothing exciting.  I was walking into a fog as the temps were raising a little.  The rain started intermittently on my way down to the car.  Nothing I needed rain gear for but enough to keep it interesting.  So different going down a trail and actually being able to see where you're going then being in the dark the night before.

Back to the car 20 minutes faster than the way up, which isn't a surprise.  I only slipped once, thought for sure that I was going to throw my back out but it was still good.  The car is always a nice sight to behold, especially when the weather is turning.  It's also a downturn as the main portion of the trip is over.  But I now know I can do it.  I've done it, without issue.  So the next time I want to get out, I can without worrying who will join me.

Maine Family Road Trip

We try to get to Maine every year or every other, but sometimes life gets in the way and other trips get in the way, so it's been a while.  Speaking of life getting in the way, this trip was from July and I just am not getting around to writing about it. 

My children are eight and ten, both have their own mindsets, abilities and things they enjoy.  Rarely do all of those things work together.  But it seems that whenever we get away, away from stuff, tech and comfort, it seems to really blend.  Normally the road trip is what drives me insane because they want to be there "now" and so do I, but you cannot rush through the wonderful New England area, just so much to take in and enjoy.

We ended up stopping on the way up at an off the beaten track hotel, with a pool, wifi and breakfast.  The kids were thrilled, but not greedy, which was a nice change of pace.  They were happy, appreciative and enjoyed being there.  We paid next to nothing for the room considering that we got a suite with two king size beds, one twin in a separate room and the above mentioned amenities.  My wife and I did some work while the kids snacked and played or watched TV.  Everyone got a good nights sleep and we got up and made our way further down the road to Maine.

It was a great drive, kids were happy, weather was nice, scenery was great.  My parents were meeting us in Maine, a first for them, and I was excited but terrified as to what the week would hold in store for us.  I wanted to do certain things with my kids and parents, but wasn't really sure what they had in mind.  They more or less said, whatever you want to do, but we're fine staying put.  We got there later than they did, they had already checked in to Eagle Lodge and Camps, a wonderful sportsman's camp in the fairly remote area of Lincoln, ME.  Weather couldn't be better.  The forecast looked amazing.  Unpacked and settled in, the kids already found the lake, fishing poles and paddle boat.  They were living their dream and so was I, I've always wanted them to enjoy the things I do.



The week involved a lot of baiting hooks and removing blue gills from hooks.  My kids, to my surprise and shock, love to fish, at least they did there.  My daughter said she was going to catch that big bass, every day we were there.  The camp owners have children my children's age and both were more than happy to see each other and have someone new to play with.  It was great to see them bond, they immediately were making plans to return and see their friend's that they've known for all of 20 hours again.

My wife had one goal, relax, and she did just that.

I had relaxation, exploration and photography on my mind.



I never got to do some of the many things I try to pack into a trip, like taking my dad to Baxter State Park, or a wilderness area in the general Lincoln area, but that's ok.  He had a good time.  They spent a lot of time bonding with our kids, we got to explore on the way to the camps places none of us have ever been to, ironically ran into people that grew up near us when they were younger.  I find it always to be a small world when you travel, whether 1000 miles away or 100, you can always run into someone you live close to back home.

The only downside, none of us realized that we were booked for one day earlier.  So when my wife said she wished she had one more day, we actually did, but instead stayed at a hotel.  A lesson for next time.

Really struggling the last few days

I don't know what it is.  If it's me or I'm actually in the right and they're behaving like complete morons.

The past few days has been full of disobedience, back talking, complete disrespect and not a care to do anything.  I don't know how to handle it.  I have always thought of myself as the rational person, someone who could keep a cool head with kids when they were acting up.  That's not the case anymore.  I lose my shit every time they do anything.

My son tells me I act like my father, which drives me insane because my dad flew off the handle like no one's business and yelled before ever knowing what was going on.  The kind of attitude where you yell first, and never apologize.

My wife feels as though they were just having fun.  Being kids.  But my daughter ran through a screen door and the other ones were pounding through the house, stomping feet, slamming doors, etc.  They leave their food everywhere.  Turn a light on in a room and never go back.  I'm miserable.  I'm stressed out.  I have no control of anything.  It's infuriating.

I'm sure thousands of parents feel just like me, some just give up, some fight the same fight day in and out, but I don't want that.  I want it to be fixed, I want the son that would help me do projects.  I want the daughter back who would run to my arms when I came home, screaming "Daddy!".

Yes, they're older, but not by much from when these things happened.  Anymore it's, "I don't care", "I want", "you get to do it, why can't we?"

Something has to change but I don't know what it is.  I've been nice, mean, hard, rewarding, happy, goofy, etc.  Gifts have been given, things taken away.  But nothing seems to work.

Kids, right?

Boy they can be fickle.

Been struggling to figure out my son since he was a baby.  He would sleep on my chest everyday when he was a baby, my daughter wouldn't think of it when she was.  He now hates sleep, and is an early riser, my daughter is a late night machine and would sleep until 1:00 in the afternoon if you let her.  Up until this point neither one of them would want to lift a hand to help around the house without constantly bringing up the topic.  Recently my son went through something that appears to have changed him, for the better.  He had a lot of questions and we were open and as honest as we could be, for his age.  After years of struggling with potty problems, he got a stomach bug and it cleaned him out good.  He was afraid to fart without being on the potty.  But then that came to a close and he was having issues again.  For whatever reason he's back being on the mend.  We upped his ADHD meds per the doctor, not something I'm for but it's still a very small dosage and his attitude is and has been remarkable to say the least.  I don't want him on medicine.  I'm on medicine and hate the fact that I have to take it.  I don't want him to be in the same boat but if it makes him more positive and live a happier life, than so be it.

Tonight, my son didn't want to watch a movie with us, I cannot say I blame him since it was a rerun of Overboard, which was pretty okay in the end for a rerun.  He ended up watching the whole thing, getting hooked in at about a third of the way in.  He wanted to watch the Goonie's for the fifth time, cannot blame him on that either, but we didn't want to rent it.  It was nice to enjoy the movie with him, no fights with his sister, no arguing, just good family time.  After the movie he wanted to find out about earning more money for chores and my wife said he could load the dishwasher and he did without hesitation, and even asked for help on how to load it the right way.

I'm not saying it's the end all be all that he's made the switch, as we speak he's fighting to go to bed, but it's a good day and that's all I can ask and hope for I suppose.

Harriman State Park Overnight - Visitor's Center to Stone Memorial Shelter

Somehow I found a weekend where I could skip out and get in the woods for a short trip.  My brother and I chose a oldie but goodie in Harriman State Park in New York state.  We chose a completely different place to go versus the other time's we've been to the park.  It was a cold, windy and brisk day, much to our surprise it was jammed with people.  It's an easy get away from the nearby metropolis and people flock there on just about every weekend possible.  I'm glad it gets used but at the same time it's a little hard to find parking and it's rare that you're not sharing the trail with dozens of people.  There's tons to see and places to go, trails everywhere, along with views and natural wonders.

We hiked from the visitor center to Pine Meadow Lake and then to the Stone Memorial Shelter.  The lake was frozen over and the sun reflecting off of it was nice and warming.  Eventually we made our way to the shelter, which was built in 1935 and is sadly showing it's age.  Most of the shelters in the area are in need of some attention.  Being as accessible as they are, and as popular of an area as it is, they tend to get used a lot.  They are stone shelters, with wooden floors and built in fireplaces.  They are a great respite from the rain or soaking snow, but we opted to sleep in our tent just behind the shelter.

The day was cold, clear and windy.  As the sun dropped below the horizon the temps were going with it.  The weather forecast in the local town was stated to be in the lower 20's, I'm pretty sure that we got down to the low teens.  Any water in our bottle or cups was freezing up before our eyes.  We made our dinners, had a solid fire (after some work to get it there) and chatted for a bit.  I was in a hurry to get into my sleeping bag since it was a new bag and I really wanted to try it out.  Soaked up the last of the heat, packed up for the night and headed to the tent.  With the exception of some wandering soul in the eight o'clock hour, the night was uneventful.

I was warm and toasty for the first hour or so, minus my toes (which only thawed out after using a heat pack).  I didn't feel like I slept much, although my brother swears I was snoring like mad so I guess I was out at some point.  Woke up for the usual and cold bathroom break around 3am and back in bed.

Woke up around seven or eight, Chris was determined to get a fire going again and we had some breakfast, packed up and hit the trail.  Someone went by our site while we were packing up, he'd already put in eight miles, doing this is a feat in itself, let alone by ten am.

We retraced our steps back to the car the way we came in.  It always amazes me how different things can look when you see them from the opposite direction.  Out of the twenty plus people on the trail we saw, only three were kind enough to return the enthusiastic hello my brother throws out there.

It was much warmer when we arrived at the car versus when we left the day before.  Still crowded, parking lot over flowing with cars.  Packed up quickly and headed to lunch in town.

We sat behind the most rude people ever, I feel bad if this couple represented the state of New York or even any part of it as I've never heard someone complain and be as rude as those people.  Our waitress was great and I'm sure they were terrible tippers.  Outside of that experience, the weekend was exactly what I wanted/needed, I'm always ready to go again.

Everything I read keeps telling me to do things now!

But the real question isn't when to do them, it's how.

How in the world can I pick up and disappear for several weeks, even a month at a time.  My wife can work where ever there's internet so that's simple, but I got into building my own business not a short while back as a home inspector, which kinda limits me to staying in this immediate area for the next 10 - 15 years.  As with all things, I should have done something on my own years ago.  But that's for a different topic.

My wife and I have two children of my own, a step-daughter and dogs.  We normally like to take our dogs with us where ever we go but also know that not every place is dog friendly nor would we want to have to need to care for them at every venue.  All of our children wouldn't necessarily be up for the adventure either, especially my step-daughter.  But she's old enough to make her own decisions and decide on what she wants to do and not do.  Our other children however, have other ideas as to what's important.

We've raised our kids to be outside as much as possible.  Every birthday party was held outdoors, took our son on his first backpacking trip when he was 1, trips to the beach, kayaking and day hikes have been a part of their lives from the beginning.  But technology, complacency and friend's hold them put.  Rarely do they complain when we get ready to go somewhere, but they're not always happy to be camping.  Lucky for us they make friend's where ever we go, but then they don't want to leave, so it's a double whammy.

In my perfect world, I'm traveling around the US and Canada backpacking, mountain biking, kayaking, climbing, overlanding and photographing as much as humanly possible.  That's the dream to me.  Having a home base to come back to is great, but it can also become an anchor.  I don't know how people live full time on the road with kids, home schooling them, working, etc.  It's got to be exhausting.  I don't need to be traveling full time, just several months out of the year would be nice.  This country and world are just too nice to ignore  behind a computer or desk.  As the saying goes, no one ever talked about how awesome a video game is when their 50 - 60, they talk about the great experience's they've had in life.  I want, desperately to make those experience's available, both for me and my kids.  Big trips and little ones.  Epic and subtle.

I feel like I've already wasted a lot of the good years of my life by not hiking the AT out of high school when I had no idea what I wanted to do in life.  There were trips that I could have gone on if I only let myself go, but was too scared to do them.  I don't want the next chapters in my life to be that way.  I'm not sure how to go about it, but I'm planning on finding a way.

Family camping trip through parts of New England

We had been planning an impromptu get away to the great state of West Virginia to explore the wilds we haven't yet seen there.  However, since weather dictates almost every aspect of planning we changed directions, en-route, and pointed due north to try to outrun the weather.

Our new destination, Massachusetts and the Appalachian Trail.  I have never even stopped in MA for very long in the past and never stepped foot on the AT there so this was very exciting to me.  My kids were on the fence about it but my wife was equally excited so it sounded good.  We had no information as to where we were going so we picked a local outfitters in MA and made a stop.

What an awesome place!  The building, as many do in MA, was strong in history.  It was a heavy timber framed building built in the 1800's.  There was a very nice hiking trail in the back of the property as they backed up to a park.  After being stuck in the car for a few hours it was nice for the dog, wife and kids to get out and stretch/explore a little.

The name of the store is the Arcadian Shop.  Complete with about the most gentle black lab I've ever witnessed, the store was loaded with goods, knowledge, personality and coffee.  While my 6 year old daughter took over greeting the dog, I met one of the friendly staff who asked what I was looking for.  I explained our predicament and asked for the maps of the AT in the area and whether or not they had any suggestions on where to go.  He pointed out a place on the map that met our criteria and off we went.

At the trail head the rain threatened.  We had not outran it but more or less stayed in step with it.  My wife was watching the radar telling me we got to get moving or we're going to get soaked.  I hurriedly packed up the packs with the loose items I didn't pack before leaving and fought to hold back the inquisitive puppy from breaking out of the car and eating the roving chickens that were near by and clearly not afraid of people.

The rain started every so slightly but never developed and we got on our way.  Unfortunately my son had a meltdown somewhere between getting started and something his sister did and for the next hour and a half it was pure hell dealing with him and his ADHD.  The heat, bugs and humidity didn't help.  As a parent I struggle every time this sort of thing happens because he's just not the loving happy boy we know and love when he gets in these moods and it's hard to enjoy sharing him these places and moments.

Once at camp, he was back to being his special, wonderful self.  There were things to see and explore.  He was responsible and helpful.  I got the tent and hammocks set up and then made dinner.  It was late, well late for camping anyway.  There were multiple thru hikers there and I didn't want to bother them with our family barging into their world.  My wife quietly read to my children in the tent Harry Potter as a light rain started to dance on our rain flys.  I was in the hammock, for the first time, due to the kids being bigger and having a dog, the three person tent that once used to fit all of us now is tight with the three of them and a dog.

I never thought I'd get to sleep, since I didn't have a bug net and the bugs were still a concern of mine.  Not to mention it takes a little getting used to before you can get comfy and sleep in a hammock.  However, before long I was snoring (so my wife says) and then my son was next to me at 6:30 asking me if he could take the dog to the lake.  I said yes with the usual comments about safety and knowing where he was going, etc.  He went and came back a short time later, proud and happy as can be... and hungry for breakfast!

The sun was out and it was going to get hot and buggy fast.  With the threat of possibly more weather on the way, we packed up and went down to the lake to enjoy the sunshine will we could.  The water was perfect, clear, clean and smooth as glass.  We had a nice swim, filtered some water, and after a while it was time to go.  Hiking back to the car was a nice change of pace from the day prior. Everyone was in great spirits and not a complaint was uttered.  We fought off the bugs, climbed the hills and got back to the car dripping with sweat and relief (my pack this trip was about 50 pounds and my wife's about 30).

We ended up grabbing some lunch in town, heading to Mount Greylock.  Bright sunshine, big white puffy clouds encompassed the area while we visited the visitors center and then headed to the summit.  My wife and kids got out at the top to explore and take photos.  There was a $10 parking fee and we weren't going to be there long enough to make that purchase so we did our thing and headed out.

Next stop was somewhere to spend the night in the rain.  And camping was not an option.  We ended up finding the Gray Ghost Inn, what a gem!  Dog and kid friendly, pool, hot tub and game room.  Affordable and comfortable.  We got to unwind on the back porch while the rain poured down.  The kids enjoyed the wifi and the owners dogs.  We ate at a local restaurant and got a good nights sleep.

Next we were off to the Rip Van Winkle campground in NY.  It's a great campground, especially if you have children, there's tons of activities and the kids love it!  After spending a very relaxing day and a half there we made a brief stop at a familiar place, the Saugurties Lighthouse in NY.

The kids love this place and it's great to check out every time.  We met some very nice people, swam a bit and enjoyed a break from the car.  We were running low on time so we beat feet and started the journey home.  Stopped at an unlikely restaurant in a ritzy hotel on the way for a very late dinner and made home before midnight.

A bit of a whirlwind trip, with some very craziness thrown in, but a very good trip no matter what.

Sure it's cold, but getting out in nature is even more than worth it

My friend's and neighbors often think I'm nuts.  For various reasons, most of which are true and good reasons to think that of me.  One of them though I don't think they think as crazy, they might even think it's an awesome idea, but none of them would venture out even for a few moments to try it.  I'm talking about getting out in nature when it's nice and cold.

We have a few nice parks around us, some with lakes or streams and most have a pretty good population of deer and bird life that are worth seeing.  Some places wouldn't meet up on some hikers lists of places worth going but when you've only got limited time and it's painfully close, you do with what you have.

Closest to me is Peace Valley Park.  There is a nice sized lake, with several trails both around the lake and in the woods.  I ventured to the Nature Center area of the lake today, it was surprisingly empty considering the overcast, snowy weather with the temps dropping and the wind increasing.  I was one of three cars in the lot, just the way I like it.  Once out of my 4Runner I heard my favorite sound of the wind whipping through the pines, it's a comforting whooshing sound that really relaxes me.  I made me way towards a mud and snow covered trail, camera in hand, and off I went.

Alone in the woods, the only prints in the snow were from deer and rabbits.  There were a few small birds around, I tried in vein to get a photo of them but due to the contrasting clouds none came out.  But that's fine.  The walk couldn't have been nicer.  The trail soft and quiet.  The sounds and smells of nature were out in force.  I made it to the creek, which is significantly lower then I ever experience it because they drain the lake pretty low in the winter.  It really allows many features that you'd normally never notice to pop right out of the remaining water.

The experience as a whole is so different, the silence, the wind, the cold cheeks, the soft footing... all things that you don't get in the summer and you certainly don't get by sitting on your sofa at home.

So the next time it's cold outside, get out some extra layers, head to a local park that you'd never go to in the winter and experience it for everything that it's not in the summer.  You might very well be surprised to see what it's all about.

First Snowfall of the Season

Today is the first snowfall of the season here in my neck of the woods.  It has brought happiness to kids and adults alike who love snow, happiness to plow drivers, anger to the people who have to drive in the snow and hate driving in the snow.  It's a mixed bag of feelings for everyone in the area.  My kids, myself and our puppies (especially the new one) is happy with the snow.

We picked out our Christmas Tree today, in the snow, which was a first and very enjoyable.  We're now having an enjoyable fire in the fireplace and the kids are playing a board game.  The sound of laughter and a crackling fire fill the house.  It's times like this, especially knowing the snow is coming down outside, makes it even more special.

I took a short walk outside with my headlamp on to get another piece of firewood.  There's something extra special to seeing the snow coming down in the beam of your headlamp.  The silence of the night adds to the peacefulness of my surroundings.

Writing this reminds me to enjoy the small things, be happy for the people that are laughing even if it just temporary, and enjoy the night.  That's not something easy for me, it never has been.  But it's worth trying.

We rented a Tear Drop Trailer!

I've been looking into renting a Tear Drop trailer for quite some time now.  But never thought to justify it due to the cost and I'm a tent camper at heart.  Well since it's late in the camping season and the temps are getting cooler and the prices to rent the trailer were cut in half, we picked a weekend and went.

It was very awkward from the beginning due to poor communication with the owner of the trailer rental place.  Since it's off season they have limited hours and are hard to get a hold of over the phone.  We didn't know for sure we were going until the morning of our trip.  I had gotten out a bunch of camping stuff, in the event the trailer wasn't big enough for all four of us.  Also I got out some cooking stuff, but in true form, I didn't lay everything out as to what I actually needed and was going to use.  That will come back to bite me in the but at some point in the story.

I picked it up, brought it home, threw everything in it, the kids in the car and we were off.  Our first stop is Hickory Run SP in Pennsylvania.  We got there in the dark, searched for the entrance (which was passed twice) and picked a spot.  Enjoyed a nice fire, some good dinner and the kids watched the movies we brought in the warmth of the trailer.

We took three dogs, another no no for those wondering.  I can only trust one of them off leash, the other two would go explore in a second if given the chance, that point was proven on an early, cold, Sunday morning.  The dogs mostly stayed in the car, while the puppy camped in the trailer with us.  She's small and doesn't take up much space, not to mention she'd not be happy to be away from us and would probably cry most of the night.

It turned out that condensation was also an issue in the trailer, never opened the vent until the morning on night one.  Even with the vent opened on night two it didn't do much better.  We took turns being comfortable.  Night number one the kids slept up against me and therefor my wife was on the more comfy side.  Night number two the kids slept up against her and I was more comfortable.  I honestly think that it wasn't really a king size bed, we fit with four kids in a queen the same way that we fit in the "king" size trailer.  However, it was pretty comfortable all things considered.  I had planned to sleep in the tent, while my wife and the kids slept in the trailer (even brought all the crap), but never did it and wish I had.  It'd be perfect for two people, which, ironically, is what it was designed for.

My favorite part of it was the kitchen area with the fridge.  Although there was limited storage and if I ever built one, I'd build it differently, it certainly was nice to have a countertop, stove and a fridge to prepare stuff.  I didn't need to lug along a two-burner camp stove and small propane bottles, everything was already there and attached.  We only prepared hot water, eggs and sausage but it was very nice to have.  I can image that in warmer months when hooked to a full service electric and water, it would be a complete pleasure to have the luxury of a microwave, sink and a/c.

I honestly don't know if I'd do it again.  The kids loved it but they mainly loved it for the novelty and the fact that it had a TV.  I'm glad I tried it and if it was just my wife and I, with the chance of raining (and funds allowed) I think we might contemplate it again.  For now, I'll stick with my 6 person tent.  The best parts of the trailer turned out to be the kitchen and the ability to throw everything we didn't want in the car in the trailer and be on our way.  I loved the night lighting around the kitchen and the trailer, makes for a very nice evening when wanting to have some comforts without a headlamp.

Annual Neighborhood Camping Trip... and turning 40

What a scary thought it is to leave one decade and move into another.  It's only fun when you're 9 or 19.  I'm officially 40 this year and it's scary to think about.  I know, 40 is the new 30, but I liked my 30's for the most part and loved my 20's...  Nothing I can do about it and I'm going to have to change my attitude cause it's here and the number is only going to go up.

For my 40th birthday weekend my family participated in the annual neighborhood camping trip.  Most of the group aren't campers, and we're only in a local campground, but the kids have the time of their lives and us parents, well, for the most part we get to to relax a good deal and enjoy ourselves as well.

We set up at the Little Red Barn Campground in Quakertown, PA.  A nice, family run campground that is very clean and organized.  Everything went off without a hitch with the exception of my MIL's dog got off his leash, which led to some serious bushwhacking through the local woods to find him.

The kids all played so well and they were beat by the day's end each day.  We received the remainder of Tropical Storm Cindy on our first night and never received a drop of rain in my tent, the Eureka Silver Canyon 6.  I have since learned they discontinued that tent, not sure why, but it's worked flawlessly for our family so far.

My wife and oldest daughter planned a special event with the rest of the neighborhood that was there to surprise me for my birthday.  They got me to go away then surprised me with a banner and cake when I returned.  It was very nice.  I'm not one for surprises but it was a good one.

After the overnight Friday rain we received from the storm, we arose to a beautiful June summer day.  Blue skies abounded and everything was getting dried out.

I had a plan for the weekend and that was to relax.  While attempting this I had my MIL's dog, Eno, hooked up on his collar.  The second he knew I was asleep, that collar came off and he was gone.  I summoned my wife and formed a search party.  Off into the briers and thickets I went.  In shorts and a t-shirt I dug my way through the woods and was always just a step behind the dog.  Like he was just playing with me.  Eventually he came out to my wife, thank god, got him hooked back up and in the crate.  The afternoon went on.

We had a nice dinner and a wonderful campfire with s'mores and sparklers.  The kids did crafts and played games.  Everyone was beat and headed to bed early.

Sunday the festivities continued with playing in the pool and then packing up.  The weather was perfect and it was hard to leave.

Brief Overnight Camping Trip

Well it's not officially winter yet, but I needed a night in the woods like no ones business.  After a week of being super busy, scheduling jobs left and right, keeping on top of home stuff and the kids, I needed a cold night in the woods.

A week earlier I called my brother who's always up for a camping trip.  Turned out that a few wrenches were thrown into my plans and I didn't think I was going to be able to go.  So I cancelled the trip.  Then, by the camping gods grace, I ended my tasks early on Saturday and made the call to meet up and go camping.  Him being his normal hesitant self, couldn't decide on whether or not he wanted to bother with the trouble of packing for one night's worth of camping.  But in the end, he caved and he met me at our usual car pooling location and we headed north, then west to get to one of the trails heading to the Pinnacle on the Appalachian Trail.

This was also my new dog's first trip in the woods.  Puppies being what they are have endless energy and she's no different.  My brother's dog and her were happy leading the way, through the cool dark evening through the woods.  My brother assured me that there was a great campsite located just up the trail.  He accused me of not believing him that he had the perfect spot located just ahead and endlessly threw it in my face when we got close to the site.

The site was located between two nicely flowing streams on either side, the chores of setting up the camp, collecting and starting a fire and making sure the dogs didn't wander off too far.  In no time we had a roaring fire, the tent was setup and my brother started on his dinner routine.  I had already eaten on the road so I didn't need anything.

I had wrapped up the puppy in a sleeping bag and blanket while we hung around the campfire.  The dogs were pretty tired from the hike but more importantly they were happy to be warm.

I was ready for bed from the minute I dropped the pack but my brother wasn't so we hung around and enjoyed the fire and after we burned the firewood for the night, we were off to bed.  I slept like I've never slept in the woods before, like a rock.  Warm and cozy buried deep in my sleeping bag.  The puppy was wrapped up in her bag huddled next to my brother's dog.

The morning came, I had responsibilities that I needed to get to a little later in the morning, so we had a small morning fire, packed up and out in recorded breaking time for us.  Made great time back to the trailhead, only to find a ticket on my truck.  Unreal.  We then got on the road and made great time back to the park and ride.  Then I was early to my appointment and everything went well.

I'm ready for the next trip but I'm not sure when that's coming.  It seems like I could be happy doing a trip every other weekend.  The feeling of being in the woods is such an enjoyable and relaxing time, it's like a drug.

A New Puppy! And the Chaos that follows it......

Well we have had two dogs for 12 years, both were rescues.  My wife had gotten them during her previous marriage, one who was 5 years old and later a puppy.  Well fast forward, today the 5 year old left us about two months ago, at the ripe age of 20.  The then puppy is still here, fifteen years later.  There's not but one real complaint about either of them with the exception that the now 15 year old, Lucy, is a trash eater, if she's allowed.

After two months we started talking about getting another dog, we went to several rescue adoption events and like most people, immediately fell in love with all the cute puppies.  We eventually chose one and started the adoption papers.  We had our three puppies picked out and by the time we got everything in order, two of them were already adopted.  So we went and adopted the third puppy.  She's asleep next to me on the couch as we speak.  A 12 week old hound, boxer mix that is about as adorable as they come.  So far has fit right into our family and seems to be enjoying herself.

I expected a lot of things when getting a new puppy, whining, chewing, nipping, accidents and early mornings.  I expected my kids being super excited and overwhelmed with the addition to our family.  What I didn't expect was my young son and daughter's insanity tonight when I brought her home for the first time.  To add to it we had my other daughter's, impromptu birthday dinner with my parents, my mother in law and my brother.  I don't know if the excitement of the new puppy or the other people coming over set my kids off but both of them were out of control fighting for pole position over the dog.  They were constantly trying to be first inline for the praise and admiration over the dog and each other.  It was exhausting.

It's official that they love the dog and they are both exhausted from trying to show off and wear down the pooch.

I'm looking forward to their love continuing and the fighting for pole position calming down.

Olympic National Park Adventure!

My wife and I made plans months ago to get to Olympic National Park for my 40th and sort of anniversary trip.  So we planned, researched and did it!  It was amazing!

We flew nonstop, 6 hours, from Newark to Sea-Tac and then drove for two hours to our first destination, Seal Rock Campground.  I highly recommend it, beautiful place, I saw a Bald Eagle, not 6 feet from my face, harbor seal 10 feet away and a whale surfacing some distance away.  Unfortunately I didn't have my camera or phone and my wife wasn't there to witness it, memories will have to do.  We had a beautiful night's stay and after some beach exploring in the morning and talking with the caretaker, we were off.

Next stop was Port Angeles, you could see Canada on the other side of the harbor and we explored the town a little.  It was immediately colder with the winds off the harbor and being exposed to the water.  Beautiful landscape to say the least.  The town was a little run down in spots, but I'm assuming the job situation up there isn't the greatest which would explain it.

Off to Hurricane ridge in ONP and our second night's stay.  Our plan was to backpack down to Moose Lake, a 4.2 mile trip down the trail was extremely hard, rewarding and enjoyable.  Switchbacks are not my friend and we eventually got there.  Amazing campsite, right on the pond, overlooking it.  Flat calm with fish jumping at every fly they thought they could catch.  The water was a deep turquoise and filled with fallen logs.  A nearby group of young adults tried their luck at skinny dipping the frigid pond, which didn't last long.  My wife unknowingly surprised the guy getting out who was excitedly shaking what he got, he wasn't embarrassed (good for him knowing the temp of the water).  It made for a funny story and sight.

We were in bed early and up early.  Much to my surprise the stars weren't anything to write home about, they were beautiful, but not as much so as other places we've been.  The morning was cool and gray, the sun was trying to peak out and eventually it did, just in time for us to be packed up and head out.  The group of skinny dippers were out early, by 7:30.  We came back the way we got there, all uphill with the same terrible switchbacks to keep us entertained.  The views were just as spectacular as they were the day before, if not more so.

We made it back to the car, stretched and drove to the visitors center for some lunch.  We hobbled in like a pair of old fogies and ordered too much food.  It was pretty good for being 5000 feet in the mountains.  After eating, we headed back down the mountain to several other stops, or so we thought.  We ended up (I ended up) getting a hotel room, I couldn't take it anymore, I was done driving, wanted a clean shower and comfy bed.  We got the last room in the town of Forks, from the Twilight movie fame.  Nothing like what they show in the movie BTW, but we ended up having dinner and drinks at the local bar/airport which turned out way better than I think either of us expected.

The next morning we headed down the road to Rialto Beach and Ruby Beach, Sul Duc Falls and the Hoh Rain Forest.  We had to rush through most of them, but we spent plenty of time at the beaches.  They were amazing.  We could have spent more time there, but just didn't have enough time to spare.

We did as much as we could do, including a trip to REI's Flagship store in Seattle, which was impressive to say the least.  Tried to find a place to eat but the downtown was crazy and there wasn't anywhere to stop and park.  So we headed to the airport, returned the rental car and found there were no restaurants open there either but the fast food joints.  We somehow got upgraded to first class, which is huge for me and my knees.  I actually slept on the plane, something that never happens.  Four hours later we were in Chicago for a two hour layover.  Some McD's breakfast and off to Newark for the completion of our trip.

All in all one of the best places I've ever been.  Our campsite couldn't have been beaten.  The hike was amazing.  We're hoping to get back to do the beach backpacking trip and maybe the drive down the coast to CA.  But that's down the road.  I'm glad we're home but ready for more outdoors time.