A walk in the woods

I went for a hike yesterday. Whew- I am out of shape! But I obviously want to get in shape for ski season, so I can at least attempt to ski with my fellow instructors (when there's no one signed up for lessons).

Anyways, I headed to Branbury State Park where, across the street, there are lots of trails. I had hear the trail to Rattlesnake Cliffs was one I had to do, and just beyond that was the summit of Mount Moosalamoo. I started through our campground, where there's a "nature trail" that goes up and over a bunch of cliffs and rocks (not as crazy as it sounds) and meets up with the Falls of Lana trail (the other side of Sucker Brook is the Silver Lake Trail). Here's a link to the maps- too many to cut and paste here- http://www.moosalamoo.org/Hiking.asp

There are 2 ways to Rattlesnake Cliffs (and no, there isn't any rattlesnakes). There's the Aunt Jenny Trail (harder I've been told) and the Cliffs trail. I took the latter. There were many trees down (many meaning 5-6) throughout the hike and it felt more like a steeplechase than a hike at times. I met up with a group of people who, angered me. Angered isn't the right word- perturbed maybe? Anyways, I'm hiking up and they have stopped in a not-so-good place~ in the middle of the trail and didn't even bother to move over. So I said "Excuse me" and gently pushed through. I had to stop a bit further up and they passed me again, talking the whole time. Seriously, didn't they get the memo that I wanted peace and quiet with God and nature?? apparently not. hmmph. I passed them again and hiked as fast as I could to get away from the din of their voices. I had a feeling they would be going on the overlook trail, so I kept going to the Moosalamoo summit (apparently another mile beyond). I never did see the summit because I was so hungry and tired I had to stop. I'm sure I wasn't far, but the trail started to go down and I didn't want to go up again. I found an overlook to the east- and here's what it looked like:

So I ate my snack and headed to the overlook. Beautiful. Here's what the overlook looked like-

my initial view from the top- the water is Lake Dunmore

Beautiful Addison County

Along my hike I spotted these things- they look like something out of a Doctor Seuss book:

And then I hiked back down to my car. I was thinking of going the easier but longer route back to my car, but I said naah... I'll go back the way I came- over cliffs and rocks. Well, I didn't go back the way I came because the trail wasn't marked well! At least it made a loop back into our campground and I knew where I was. 4 1/2 hours total was my hike. Whew. I've got blisters on my heels (my socks weren't thick enough) and my legs are toned. I need to do that more- say, once a week- before ski season. Maybe this will be the year I learn to to moguls! Um.. no.

My walk in the woods
 (Bill Bryson's book by the same name is pretty good.. just saying...)

25 things you didn't know about me...

1. I used to pretend I was Ginger Rogers or Gene Kelly and dance and slide around on the linoleum when I was a kid.
2. My first concert I remember was Peter Paul and Mary.
3. The first CD I ever bought was Pearl Jam's 10 at a pawn shop. My first and only time at a pawn shop.
4. My first new CD was Green Day's Dookie.
5. I got glasses when I was in fifth grade. I broke them playing tether ball the next day.
6. I'm pretty good at trivia and name that tune.
7. I learned how to drive stick, but got my license on an automatic when I was 19.
8. I've been to 25 states and 4 provinces (so far).
9. I first learned to play the flute when I was 9. I learned the drums/percussion at 13 and the cello at 15.
10. I'm right handed and left eye dominate. (aka weird)
11. I like most all music- the exception being thrasher metal and gangster rap.
12. I've had a dream of working for LL Bean since I was a little kid.
13. I learned how to ski when I was 18/19 years old. (no, falling down a kajillian times at Mad River Glen at 13 doesn't count)
14. My parents tell me I used to wake up at night and roam the house when I was real little. They cut my door in half (Dutch Style door) to keep me in.
15. My first car was a 1984 Volkswagen Quantum. I t-boned it in Pittsburgh while at school in the area, and got stopped by a cop in New York State because I had a huge hole in my exhaust coming home at Christmas. Vera the Volkswagen.
16. Yes, I name my cars. Vera, Silvia (silver Ford Escort), Mr. Miyagi (Mazda Protege), and Blue? (Toyota Matrix)
17. I never met my real maternal grandmother. I had the best step grandmother that I thought was my real grandmother until I was a teenager.
18. When I was a kid, people thought I was Indian (now called Native American) because of my dark hair that my mom always put in braids and skin (in the summer) and I dressed up as one every Halloween for 3 or 4 years.
19. I am the baseball fan of the family and started collecting baseball cards when I was 9.
20. I've been to 7 major league ball parks- Fenway, Old Yankee Stadium, Montreal Expos Stadium, Tampa Bay, Florida Marlins (Dolphin Stadium), Dodger Stadium, and Toronto.
21. I'm a big U2 fan but have only seen them once.
22. I'm also a big Van Morrison fan. Must be an Irish thing..
23. I've been to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.
24. I love getting mail and sending mail- cards, packages, post cards.
25. I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. It seems like I only get older, but not grow up. Maybe it's not a bad thing... the jury is still out on that one...

September, I'll remember

Wow. September 10th already! This summer sure has flown by. I've done lots and still have lots to do. I've made 2 batches of pickles- dill and bread & butter, made a couple of pies, made my birthday cake (if you want a good one, you do it yourself, right?). I still need to make some strawberry jam, homemade bread, more pickles or relish, and of course some pies for Thanksgiving. Even though that's 2 months away...

It's getting cooler- in the upper 30's here at night tonight. Almost snowmaking weather! The leaves are starting to change. I wore jeans for the first time since April or May today. Almost time to break out the sweaters and corduroys! For now, it's sweatshirts and fleece jackets. I was thinking about starting to knit today. Last year, I knit 2 hats (or 3), usually I only do scarfs, so I'll have to find a new project to knit this winter. I have to finish the socks that I started a few years ago... not an easy project to do. Maybe mittens this year? who knows...

I'm moving up in the world (a little). I have a new title- Assistant Ranger until October 16th at the state park. I get to do night rounds- starting once a week then twice a week. I get to stay in a "house" at the state park. I say "house" because there are more mice living there than people. And the stove is literally falling apart. I tried cleaning the bowl things under the burners the other day and three had rusted through. At least I have one and a refrigerator and a comfy new bed. And a dehumidifier. And a radio I'm going to abscond from the garage. And a flashlight that can double as a weapon. Tomorrow is my first night on duty, so it should be blog worthy.

There's no TV (which is fine) and I have a laptop that is Windows 98 and doesn't read CDs/DVDs anymore, so I can't use it. I think I may give it to my nephew to take apart. Or not... we'll see. I have a couple of books to read- the last of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, a (hopefully) lighthearted book about geography nerds (like myself), a detective book based in Vermont, and the very highly publicised book about the Navy Seals killing of Osama bin Laden. I wanted to get it on 9/11, but since I have night rounds, I got it today. So many to choose from... I think I may read the Navy Seal book in honor of those who gave their lives that day and for the 11 years since.

In 2005, I went to NYC for my birthday to see the Red Sox play at Yankee Stadium (the house that Ruth built). Luckily, I survived. While touring the city, my friend Liliana and I went to the Twin Towers site and I took this picture. Please, never forget 9/11.