Create Our World

Ticonderoga... a Mohawk word for "at the junction of two waterways."

“I don’t want to earn my living; I want to live.” – Oscar Wilde

Ticonderoga, New York.

I spend the night in Ticonderoga, then am up and back on the road.  

Meet Dick.

I am standing right outside town.  Tony’s Ticonderoga Sports is nearby with a parking lot full of snow mobiles, dirt bikes, and cars.  An older man is watching me interestingly.  He gets in his car and peels off.  Only to return saying he is headed up the road to Crown Point, NY, a town about 10 miles up ahead.

Way More than 4 Cars.

Dick is his name.  He knows Tony from Tony’s Ticonderoga Sports because they both like cars.  Dick is from Michigan.  Holland, Michigan to be exact.  He is headed to Crown Point to check on a car of his.  An Oldsmobile, “she is beautiful.”  Dick describes the different cars he owns and I tally up them in my head.  ”You own 4 cars!” I am impressed, I own about four-fifths of a car.  “I own way more than 4 cars!”  Dick corrects me.  

I can do whatever I want.

Dick is concerned that if he ever moves back to Michigan as to how he would get his cars there.  ”I think I would rent a train car.” He decides this is his best option and I am impressed again, commenting that I didn’t know you could do such a thing. “I can do whatever I want.” 

Dick's Oldsmobile.

I made my own ski’s.

Dick shows me his Oldsmobile.  Black, fuzzy interior.  It does look beautiful.  He then gives me a bit of the history of Crown Point as we drive through.  He is having a hard time watching a building that he used to own, not be kept up.  Dick wants to drop me off up ahead at the bridge heading to Vermont, he believes I will be able to easily get a ride here. 

“I made my own ski’s.  They were fast, too.”

So long, Dick!  The day is beautiful!  The light here is amazing and Dick is right, this is a good hitchin’ spot.  It is not long before Rob pulls over heading to Burlington.

Create Our World.

Ben

“I want to feel passion, I want to feel pain.  I want to weep at the sound of your name.  Come make me laugh, come make me cry… just make me feel alive.” – Joey Lauren Adams

Still hiking along Lake George headed towards Ticonderoga.

“A leader must have the courage to act against an expert’s advice.” – James Callaghan

Meet Bruce.

With about 28 miles to Ticonderoga, Bruce stops on my curvy road along Lake George.  He is headed up to Silver Bay, a small “place” about 15 miles south of Ticonderoga.  He works and lives there.  It is an interesting place.

Silver Bay.

This one minute video is a bit cheesy, but it gets the message across.

This video is less professional, yet more interesting.

If you can’t watch the videos, Silver Bay is a small community that people come to visit or live in.  It is right on Lake George.  Bruce is the champlain and he helps run leadership conferences.  He drives me through the community, but says he will take me up to Hague.  Hague is the next town up and a much better chance of getting a ride.  Silver Bay looks like a beautiful summer camp.  Kids are playing kickball, tag, wrestling, or just running around and they are doing so with the beautiful lake and mountains in the background.

What is your advice for someone whom wants to Lead?

I ask Bruce for some advice for individuals whom want to lead.  

Find your Gift.

“Picture a diagram that looks like a T.” He begins, “On the top axis, is what your unique gift is.” Bruce elaborates that we each have a special talent, skill, or thing that we can do better than anything else.  There is an infinite number of skills.  Talking to people, dancing, cutting hair; your gift could be anything.  But it is definitely something that you enjoy doing and are good at it.  This is our calling and it is up to us to find it.  “On the vertical axis, is what the world needs.”  He explains that at first you may not see the connection to how you are helping the world, “but it is there.”

Figure out your calling and pursue it!  The world needs it!

It took Bruce awhile to find his, but he feels grateful to do what he does.

Create Our World.

Ben

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision.  You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.” – Theodore M. Hesburgh

Moments after my replenishing swim.

“Don’t wait for your ship to come in – swim out to it.” – Anonymous

 Meet Ed.

I couldn’t leave Lake George without taking a dip.  I caught a ride with Ed, a local cruise ship captain, whom dropped me off a few miles up the road in Bolton Landing.  He points his knuckle towards the beach and recommends a dip.  I got a late start as it is already past 2pm, but I can’t pass up the opportunity.

I might be a Polar Bear.

It wasn’t that cold, not Polar Bear-ish, but I was the only one there save an older gentleman tanning.  I didn’t hang to long after the dip.  But I think I might try to hit a Polar Bear Club sometime this winter.  I have been relishing the rush of being emerged in cold water.

A Pastrami-loving Polar Bear, that is.

Pastrami is becoming my new favorite sandwich.  I downed a Pastrami sandwich on marble rye and walked out of town.  It was 28 miles to Ticonderoga and it has been tough getting rides.

If you are a member of the Polar Bear Club, please contact me.

Create Our World.

Ben

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson