09/01/14 07:30 - ID#59355

Jabe Wildlife Resort

I think I put my engineering education to its most practical use yet. I built a resort for minnows and other wildlife on the campsite beach.
It was in a beautiful location - spoiled by its first condo.

(e:yesthatcasey) served as landscape architect and (e:terry) was the union contractor.

The foundation were the larger rocks, which I then filled the gaps between with smaller gravel and then sand. It helped stop erosion from wave action on the outside.

Terry helped out by catching some minnows, and I got a newt. But then I felt cruel for keeping them in the dirty water, so I built an exit canal for them.

The sand ended up washing away slowly with the wind, but the rocks held steady. I think I should keep my day job.

Permalink: Jabe_Wildlife_Resort.html
Words: 138
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 09/02/14 12:18

Category: birthday

08/31/14 04:40 - ID#59347

Happy birthday Terry

On Thursday we got to celebrate (e:Terry)'s birthday at the campsite. (e:Paul) and I went into Ticonderoga and searched for a cake. No luck, but we found a delicious cherry pie and were able to gift shop right from our phones.

Happy birthday Terry. I love you. Here's to another amazing year.

Permalink: Happy_birthday_Terry.html
Words: 58
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/31/14 05:04

Category: hiking

08/31/14 04:26 - ID#59345

Climbing Whiteface mountain

Well climbing a small part. We got up most of the way by driving up the windiest and steepest road I've been on.

You drive through a small castle to get to the lot. In that lot there is a bike rack. I think I'd die on this kind of hill. But I want to meet the guy who could.

Then there is an elevator and a rocky trail up to the peak. Its another kind of view to enjoy.

The top of the mountain was absolutely insane. I've never been so high up. You could see from Vermont all the way to Lake Placid.

One set of parents let their kids play over a shear cliff.

There was a weather station running Linux in the castle on top.

The cute boys had something to do with exploring the mountain. I can't remember what though.

On the way down we took an elevator through the mountain, and a long tunnel out to the lot. The fact they built this in 1920s is pretty impressive but weird. Why an elevator?

Permalink: Climbing_Whiteface_mountain.html
Words: 209
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/31/14 05:12

Category: camping

08/31/14 03:58 - ID#59344

Squirreling around the tree tops

For my birthday my parents got us a gift certificate for ziplinig at a place near Jabe.

I felt like a squirrel flying around in the trees. Some parts were super hard but I always wanted to go faster and faster.

Terry and I barely made it but we got to do the last and hardest course. Somehow we were much better at it then the super fit typs in front of us, that thought we did the course before. It really works you out.

Permalink: Squirreling_around_the_tree_tops.html
Words: 91
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/31/14 03:58

Category: camping

08/31/14 03:45 - ID#59343

Jabe Pond beginning

Getting to Jabe Pond was so crazy. The road on the way up is tore up from the floor up. In reality its not too long from Lake George and a lot of touristy things but it felt a million miles away. Like most of the week we started the day at 2.

Schlepping everything in the canoe is fun. I wish it were more like a rowing shell. I think I got it down though.

Paul and I took a trip to one of the islands with a giant stone fireplace. Was there a cabin or something here?

It took all day and a lot of holz collecting but we were set up by night.

Permalink: Jabe_Pond_beginning.html
Words: 127
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/31/14 03:45

Category: food

08/26/14 06:27 - ID#59334

Timberline cafe

The next day on the way to Jabe Pond, we stopped at the Timberline Cafe in Speculator. They had the most amazing breakfast foods. Terry and I split French toast and a cheesy egg sandwich plus a salad with Paul. Terry got a second sandwich plus Paul got a huge mocha. The waitress thought we were insane for eating so much.

Permalink: Timberline_cafe.html
Words: 61
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/26/14 06:27

Category: camping

08/26/14 06:17 - ID#59333

Comfort Point campground

The first day we were a little late (of course) so we stopped at Comfort Point campground on Lake Pleasant. It was beautiful and very family oriented. We went for a night canoe.

The best part is that even out there they had recycling. I'm looking at you, Brushwood.

Permalink: Comfort_Point_campground.html
Words: 55
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/26/14 06:17

Category: vacation

08/22/14 04:02 - ID#59325

Unterwegs

We're on the way to the Adirondacks. We left about 2pm which is amazing for us. We rented a Suburban which is appropriate because its like a tank from Clarence. We also managed to somehow almost fill it.

I just found out Letchworth is only 300 feet deep and the Grand Canyon is a mile deep. I always thought Letchworth was deeper than that but now it makes me wonder how they call it the grand Canyon of the east?

Permalink: Unterwegs.html
Words: 82
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/22/14 04:02

Category: family

08/19/14 10:25 - ID#59321

Family picnic

After swimming in the redonkulous pool, we had a picnic with my family. It was a good day - we had a cookout, played frisbee, and romped on the playground with midnight. The family camped over, but we had had some smores before we headed home. It just makes me more pumped to go to Adirondacks in a few days.

Permalink: Family_picnic.html
Words: 84
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 08/19/14 11:34

Category: swimming

08/19/14 10:23 - ID#59320

The Letchworth pool

The pool at Letchworth is amazing. I've been there a bunch of times with my family - my dad used to go all the time growing up.

The pool is olympic size at least, plus a diving area. The water wasn't even chlorinated. A mini-(e:terry) got us to do flips, because we were too scared. And I managed to swim across the pool in one breath, after trying forever.

Like everything else in state parks, the poolhouse and pool were super 60's. It had to have been built for thousands of people - is it because there used to be more families? The style is actually neat.