Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Hi There! Hope you are enjoying your 2009 Thru Hike of the AT. Here is a pic of us on the trail. We're your local trail angels in Vernon NJ serving up fresh water along the trail on Waywayanda Moutain. If you happened to find this link by coming across our cache please leave a comment and let us know if you have an online trail journal and where to find it. We love to follow those who pass through here. We hope you really liked New Jersey while you were here and wish you luck on your way to Maine (or Georgia )

Sidecar, Foopie and Blue Muffin

We're Back

Sinterklaas Bake Off

Today we took advantage of the free time on Saturday ahead of this years coming of Sinterklaas on December 5th. Snurpy was helping us out making our traditional Dutch treats to kick off the holidays with some yummy Pepernoten and Speculaas. I aslo whipped up a batch of Bourbon Boerenjongens which should have been done at Labor day giving them time to age. We made a nice supper of Aardappel Soep with some smoked Gouda and a fresh baked loaf of bread. No Heineken's on hand but we washed it all down with some Amstels.

Brock-Oh-Lee

Today was a great day to take in the late harvest at Honey Brook Organic Farm. We got the invite from our freinds and members Aunties J&J to partake in taking in as much organic produce as we could carry. We hit the motherload and probably more that we can possibly consume before it turns. Here Snurpy is holding up some of the fresh Broccoli she had just picked. All in all we got Broccoli, Cauliflower, Radishes, three kinds of Turnips, Red & Golden Beets, Chives, Thyme, Cilantro, Rosmary, Parsley, Arugala, Red & Bibb lettuce, Cabbage, Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Radicchio, Bok Choy & Nappa. MMMMMMM Fresh. So wit all of this we whipped up a great big salad and about a gallon of vegetable stock, baked a loaf of french bread and later turned that into herbed garlic croutons. We kept the baker ovens going and along with that loaf we made some homemade cranberry walnut bread and classic cinnamon rolls.

Now That's a bathtub!!

"Leggo Mama! - I'm goin' in" Snurpy must have been thinking when she got a look at the indoor pool at Penn State's Hazleton PA Campus. We stopped by here on our way back home to strecth out legs and give the babe some outside time.

Skyline Drive

Careful Mama!! We took a ride into Shenandoah today first stopping at the Byrd visitor center for our stamp and then hit the story of the forest trail to connect to our 600ft decline to Dark Hallow Falls. The trail goes by the cliffs and there is a warning sign pictured above that needs no translation if you cannot read English! The trip was an easy .8 mi repeater that took under an hour. Much easier than our last visit to this park where a trip up and over Old Rag Mountain brought 3000ft of elevation gain over 7 miles and took all day. Well as the saying goes... "A Baby changes everything." Sometimes for the better. (At least our feet thought so.)

Happy Halloween

Snurpy couldn't wait for Halloween to come so she could wear her Kangaroo costume to the spooky trail in Luray VA. She snagged some treats and stuffed them into the little joey pouch. too bad though Mama and Daddy ate all the chocolate!!

Snurpy visits Mecca

Today we took the snurpin to Mecca! Headquarters to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy in Harpers Ferry West Virginia. Last time we were here on 5/27/05 the little one wasn't even on our radar and look how big she is now!! We got her a new backpack and some other goodies for dada. The volunteer at the desk managed to guilt me into renewing my membership which I Left slide over the last year. We had a good time strolling in the park that sits along the confluence of the Shenandoah & Potomac Rivers. Later today we arrived at our cabin and visited the local Food Lion in Luray Va. - Over in the baby food aisle there was a sign posted near the baby formula. Verbatim - note the spelling... Enfamil formala is now located in the ciggerette case" Formala? Cigger? - Yankee go home!!

Frederick in the Fall

Me and the girls are heading south to check off four new states for snurpee - PA,MD,WV & VA. Tonight were chilling out in Frederick MD. Keeping the miles below 300 we stopped here to stroll through one of the towns parks that has a canal running through it. Tomorrow we'll stop at the ATC in Harpers Ferry again before we head to Shenandoah N.P.

Pumpkin

Snurpy gets her first look into the Jack-O-Lantern as the cameras long exposure in the dark makes it appear to gaze right through her as she sways in and out of its light. ooooohhhh spookey.

Spooky Maze

Me and baby girl taking a stroll through the spooky maze at Kids Day NYC @ Madison Square Park for some City Fall fun near the Flatiron Building.

Oktoberfest @ NJ Botanical Gardens

Look Daddy! I'll distract the guy in the hat so you can make off with the Pedal Steel!!

That's my Snurpy - knows how I'd love to get my hands on that slider and 10 string. Today we went out to Oktoberfest at the NJBC and enjoyed some country music, cold beer, and some nice flowers out in the gardens. Snurp got to play in the grass with her pal I from playgroup and the mommas took lots of pictures.

Harvest.

So many Pumpkins! So little time! Pick a Pumpkin Snurpy? She tells Papa "I'll take this one!"

September Finale.

Most people long for the chance to roast a marshmallow and sit around the campfire. Snurpy on the other hand would just rather sit IN the campfire! Today we laid a little low and didn't have any real hiking plans so we just laid a blanket out hillside at Harriman's Silvermine Lake. Snurpy and I trekked up the nearby abandoned ski slope where she discovered this fire ring just perfect for sitting in. H stayed down below soaking up some sunshine and tried to powernap. That was quickly interupted by the S.F.R's who screamed as they push-pulled each other into the lake and then the 400 participant charity Harley Ride. Both events we could here just as loudly from the mountain top.

Play Ball!

Snurpee just loves herself a puppy! and all doggies for that matter! Today we took a trip out to Stillwater feild to see cousin M's Ball game. We watch below attently when my nephew was up to bat. consequently he got beaned in the side with this pitch and got to take his base. Sorry Snurpy - not going to see cuz hit a homer today! He did however steal second base but didnt make third as the third out was made before he got there. Next shift in the outfield little M made a great play fielding a deep outfeild drive and threw the ball to second base for a forced out and the 2nd base-gal capped off the double play by getting the ball to the first basemen. Great Job Stillwater team!!

Fall Season Begins

The Girls enjoy some sunshine atop Tom Jones Mountain. September officially begins the fall hiking season where we go from all green to all clean as we'll be sure to get outside each weekend from here through November when the trees will be bare.

More mini-pool fun.

ooooohhh that's some nice water!! Snurpy enjoys a dip atop the deckside pool out in the country and nana & papas house.

Wildlife

Snurpy got up close and personal with this doe along the Surebridge Mine Road near Times Square.

Out with the old in with the new.

Snurpy takes "George" out for one last spin. After 6 1/2 years of loyal service we had to retire the 2001 Cherokee. George had some suffered some setbacks that were not worth repairing based on his high mileage. For the most part it wasn't until this year did we find ourselves faced with another $1000 repair bill after another. A suspected failing water and oil pump is what forced us to turn it in. Below meet the new addition to the family. We'll call this one "Pat" a 2007 Patriot Sport 4x4 brand spanking new with a fair dinkum size of bells and whistles. This one isnt trail rated either but who needs to spend an extra $3g's for a skid plate and an souped up cooling system. We'll keep Pat at the trailhead just like George and save the trails for our boots... He'll have plenty of fun in the snow anyhow. - ( err! if it ever snows again!!)

Summer Fun

Who needs a fancy resort? Snurpy just brings her own pool oceanside for some summer fun with our freinds J&J in the background.

Party Time.

It's all Happening at the zoo

Go for the Kneecap!

Ocean Side.

Farm tour

Can't surf yet.

Life's a Beach

Happy Birthday Snurpy Girl! One year old today and out at the beach for the toes' first dip in the ocean. Much more to see and do with our little girl and we look forward to every day. Click the little beans photo below for a look back on the previous year.

Sophie Turns One

Solo Flight

Happy Da-Da Day.

Island Pond Road

In spite of the rain that drove us south two days early and which still lingered here locally, S&H found some time to field test the Kelty adventure pack. We let Snurpy navigate us down the unmarked Island Pond Road. Vacation is not over yet!!

Freeport Friday

Snurpy waves hi for the camera during a stop in Freeport to visit the home of LL Bean and their huge retail store for some summer clothes for all. Both my girls looked like they'd rather be playing outside.

Red in the Morning?

Well we didn't see any red but we're foiled by the rain along the Down East Coast. Forecast has it wet around here for six straight days. Cold down to the thirties too! Packed up today and headed for home.

Bar Harbor

Sunset view from the pier in Bar Harbor, ME.

New England Clam Bake

Dare come this far North and East in the U.S.A - Then this is a must have dinner, the classic New England Clam Bake! To Go!

Before -



And After....



Courtesy of the the Fish House Grille - Bar Harbor, ME.

Little Hunters Beach

Snurpy loves to clack together the cobblestones on Little Hunters Beach.

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day says Snurpy who's snuggled up with Mommy. Today we took an easy stroll through Bar Harbor, ME, along the shore path. Such a beautiful day--H was very happy to be here and so was the rest of her family.

Little Orchard Beach

Me and Snurpy enjoy a little break at Little Orchard Beach on the Maine Coast on our way to Acadia National Park.

GTM # 4

GTM day #4 - Where'd the time go? Married in Arizona and celebrated GTM 1 & 2 in Acadia and then the Smokies having made solemn promises never to spend this day in New Jersey we found ourselves once again unable to escape it this year. Reason being we had to alternatively have our out of state adventure planned for next week so H could wrap up some work and the place we secured wastn't available for this weekend. The original Plan was to go to FLA to see aunt A & Unc and little cuz Jaker but the airplane and the miles we figured be too hard on our little bean. Sorry to all in FLA we love and miss you and hope to see you real soon!!

Earth Day 2007

Celebrating earth day with Snurpy at Pine Meadow Lake. Was a cakewalk getting here but to avoid the repeater on the return trip we had dared head up and over halphway and diamond Mountain. Felt like it was 1ooo ft up and straight back down in the summer like heat. We'll be sure to cut the miles and elevation changes a bit lower when we have the rabbit in tow as it starts to get even hotter. GPS Tracks below show our clockwise progress from the top - beginning at Lake Sebago Boat Launch and head up and over Conklin MT. to Lak Wanosinks south shore; follow the fire road to the Tuxedo Mt. Ivy trail along Pine Meadow Lakes North Shore and then West away from the lake to the Yellow and then Orange trails up and over back down to Lake Sebago's south shore heading Northeast back to the car.

Lake Skemonto

Hanging out with Snurpee at Lake Skemonto. We've managed to get a bit further into the Harriman Backcountry with each passing week. On this trip we started off NY 106 past Little Long Pond at the victory trailhead and followed Victory right onto Ramapo Dunderberg up and over Parker Cabin Mountain and left onto Y-Triangle to lake Skemonto. From the direction we came from this spot feels perfectly remote however just over the hill in front of us is Sebago beach which is teeming with hundreds of people every summer weekend. The peacefulness of our lunch break on the lakes northern mini-penninsula was broken only by the quintessential unleashed barking dog that passed by. It's not that I don't like dogs it's I just don't like them cruising the parks trails unleashed. We hooked back up on the victory trail passing the appliance graveyard and closing our four mile loop with our baby girl.