The World OutsideMy brother Sky and I went camping up at Lake George in the Adirondacks this past weekend, with his buddy Charlie and a bunch of other FDNY families and friends. We got rained on quite a bit, so I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few.I picked Sky up bright and early in Park Slope, and with corner coffee and egg, sausage and cheese sandwiches in hand, we hit the open road.We finally got a car stereo and were thus able to score the drive up with some Master of Puppets, Tiny Vipers, Loscil, and Andrew Bird. The rig is holding up really well so far and getting surprisingly good mileage.Like I say, we pretty much got doused with rain the whole time, so there was a lot of this under-tarp action going on, and a slightly outlandish amount of beer consumed (as per usual, but more). During brief clearings we managed to take a really amazing little fishing trip out on the lake in a boat one guy brought up, we had some really good FDNY-sized meals (meatballs, seafood pasta, huevos rancheros, more meatballs), and we took a cool hike along some rocks by the lake.Early morning, heavy-handed vodka tonics led to a Travel Scrabble game with probably the widest array of three- to five-letter words either of us have ever witnessed on a Scrabble board.Take a guess who won.The Adirondacks are beautiful. When Emily and I first started getting out and exploring the Northeast several years ago, I think we both expected it to be super-populated, with tons of sprawl and crummy strip malls everywhere. Once you get up north a bit, though, it's really nice, with large swaths of well-preserved land. New York State has been especially good about balancing its natural and commercial landscape. These are some pictures from a trip we took to a different part of the Adirondacks, a few years back:I like it when trees grow over things.We got rained on that time too. No matter, we come equipped like Lil' Dap. Well, not exactly like Lil' Dap.... We have a bunch of tarps, a canopy, and a waterproof tent (best wedding present ever, from my brother). Once that's all rigged up, it's actually fun to hang out undercover, play games and engage in aforementioned activities.Hiking in the rain is also not bad if you have some light gear, or some well-placed plastic bags—and you get to see and hear things from a different perspective than when it's sunny.Emily and I went up a really steep rock trail to this lookout tower when we were there.She still had the cornrows she got in Spain earlier that summer.(In Spain earlier that summer.)We usually spend one day in local towns (groceries, thrift stores, bars) and one or two days hiking. Sky and I didn't get to hit up any of the towns this time out but took a few random shots on the drive back.Santa, Uncle Sam, and a deranged-looking Paul Bunyan guard the Magic Forest. Yes, of course they do.We didn't get to the see the diving horse, but there's always next time.
I picked Sky up bright and early in Park Slope, and with corner coffee and egg, sausage and cheese sandwiches in hand, we hit the open road.
We finally got a car stereo and were thus able to score the drive up with some Master of Puppets, Tiny Vipers, Loscil, and Andrew Bird. The rig is holding up really well so far and getting surprisingly good mileage.
Like I say, we pretty much got doused with rain the whole time, so there was a lot of this under-tarp action going on, and a slightly outlandish amount of beer consumed (as per usual, but more). During brief clearings we managed to take a really amazing little fishing trip out on the lake in a boat one guy brought up, we had some really good FDNY-sized meals (meatballs, seafood pasta, huevos rancheros, more meatballs), and we took a cool hike along some rocks by the lake.
Early morning, heavy-handed vodka tonics led to a Travel Scrabble game with probably the widest array of three- to five-letter words either of us have ever witnessed on a Scrabble board.
Take a guess who won.
The Adirondacks are beautiful. When Emily and I first started getting out and exploring the Northeast several years ago, I think we both expected it to be super-populated, with tons of sprawl and crummy strip malls everywhere. Once you get up north a bit, though, it's really nice, with large swaths of well-preserved land. New York State has been especially good about balancing its natural and commercial landscape. These are some pictures from a trip we took to a different part of the Adirondacks, a few years back:
I like it when trees grow over things.
We got rained on that time too. No matter, we come equipped like Lil' Dap. Well, not exactly like Lil' Dap.... We have a bunch of tarps, a canopy, and a waterproof tent (best wedding present ever, from my brother). Once that's all rigged up, it's actually fun to hang out undercover, play games and engage in aforementioned activities.
Hiking in the rain is also not bad if you have some light gear, or some well-placed plastic bags—and you get to see and hear things from a different perspective than when it's sunny.
Emily and I went up a really steep rock trail to this lookout tower when we were there.
She still had the cornrows she got in Spain earlier that summer.
(In Spain earlier that summer.)
We usually spend one day in local towns (groceries, thrift stores, bars) and one or two days hiking. Sky and I didn't get to hit up any of the towns this time out but took a few random shots on the drive back.
Santa, Uncle Sam, and a deranged-looking Paul Bunyan guard the Magic Forest. Yes, of course they do.
We didn't get to the see the diving horse, but there's always next time.