Sunday, May 17, 2009

Phoenix hits the water....

The beginning of the day, after rain storm #2. The Phoenix is on the ground and the framework of the second kayak is on the sawhorses. Chris and I left at 3 that day due to thunderstorms, but at least the kayak got out in the water before that.
And in the water with grace. Sure the wind was whipping up white caps, and in fact the waves actually buried the bow under water a couple of times. Still, it rides well.
And I almost tip it into the river. At this point I am trying to get it turned around so I don't catch waves broadside.
That look of severe concentration is just me trying to figure angles for docking again.
And those were the others on the water and the dark clouds overhead.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Burlington and all of that...

So I took a trip up to Burlington last weekend, something that I have been far too slow in putting down in this digital tome. I am planning to move up there, but constrained by finances I decided for a visit first (which is a new thing for me, I have moved across the country having never been there before). It is about 700 miles from Pittsburgh so I had a stop-over with my friend Mike in Rochester NY. The second half of the ride was through the Adirondack State Park with stunning roads and woods, something that caused me trouble later. The city stands much like I remember from when my sister lived there when I was 8 years old. This is Church Street, the pedestrian walkway that is basically downtown. Lots of good food and interesting places...

This is my compatriot in taking names and kicking asses, Heather, on the shore of Lake Champlain.

This is from the southern point of Lake Champlain where I crossed over to the Vermont side. Originally a fort, there are only cool ruins left. An excellent place for lunch if I may say so.And there were Donkey Farms... really.

The trip home was beautiful and despite a speeding ticket was a collection of curving roads and clear skies that just makes a motorcycle sing.