Create Our World

Tallest Uncle Sam... in the World.

“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

Would you drive across the USA for $1,138?

I want to go to Burlington, Vermont.  

Burlington has a great local music scene, is right on beautiful Lake Champlain, was home to Ted Bundy at one time and also Horatio Nelson Jackson.  Horatio bet someone 50$ that he could drive his car across the United States (it had never been done before).  He did it and if he still had that 50$ now, it would be worth $1,183.25, approximately.

Still in Lake George though.

I digress though.  To get to Burlington, I am planning on stopping in Ticonderoga.  A historic little town very close to Vermont.  I spent a night here a couple years ago on a vacation with my little brother, Max.  Check the previous post. It actually was the starting spot to a hitchhiking adventure we had going up to Burlington, after my Honda’s radiator blew.  I have fond memories of the place.

Route 9N.

I have chosen Route 9N to be my path.  A small, windy road along the coast of Lake George with what look to be a steady stream of tourists and vacationers.  Nice, shiny cars zip past.  

Before I leave Lake George, I meet some English folk.

The Broke Serbians.

Evan and Mios came to Lake George to make some dough during the summer.  They are Serbian college students.  They didn’t make much though.  Evan wrecked his car recently after going 100 miles per hour.  He smiles as he tells me.  He doesn’t smile though as he describes it eating into the money he had saved.  They don’t think I can make it.  “I tried to hitchhike.”  Mios describes his hitchin’ story.  “I waited for an hour… No one stop.”  They take me about 5 miles out of town.

Local Cruise Ship Captain.

I will tell you about Ed and my dip in Lake George tommorrow.

Careen.

She had a rough day at work. Careen stops after I had walked for quite awhile.  I had almost given up for the day as it was almost 5pm.  She was so tired, she misunderstood where I said I was going so our ride was short lived.  So she took me back to where I was.  “Sorry!”  She was very sorry about the incident and the state of disarray of her car.  

The Chaplain of Leadership.

Bruce and I had such a good talk, I have to give this guy his own post.  After Ed, I will tell you about how he answered my question, “What advice would you give someone whom wants to be a leader?”  He is the Chaplain of a community named Silver Bay.  

Dave Saves.

With 10 miles to go, but thunderstorms imminent, I am scanning for cover.  Hague is a beautiful community right on the water.  Dave stops right in the middle of the road though.  As I ask him where he is going his eyes are right on his rearview mirror, “Ticonderoga.”  He is all business at first.  As the rain starts, he loosens up.  Entering Ticonderoga, a steady rain falls that I am happy to avoid.  

I am happier though that I am back in Ticonderoga! A 3 block downtown city that slows down considerably in the winter time.

Create Our World.

Ben

“A journey is like marriage.  The certain way to be wrong is to think you can control it.” – John Steinbeck

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”  ~John Muir

Lake George, New York.

Approach your Life like you hike a Mountain.

When I was in Lake George, New York, I wanted to camp somewhere overlooking the lake.  Lake George is supposedly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.  It is oligotrophic, which means it doesn’t have much organic matter, therefore is very clear.  

I bought Virginian Ham, only because I wanted to reminisce.

While buying my dinner of a Virginian Ham sandwich, a Granny Smith apple, and some Dove Turtles, I decided to poll the grocer.  An older woman, whom has lived here a long time, said that I had to hike up Mt. Prospect.  I was not sold at first.  I had hiked about 8 miles to get here.  ”It’s a good hike.” Her persistence pays off and I yield. I pack my dinner and look forward to eating from the top of this mountain. 

“It’s a good *hike*.”

As I begin, I am confident this will not be much of a problem.  Quickly, I am humbled.  I pass two folks on their way down.  They didn’t make it too the top.  They were forced to turn back as it was getting dark.  “Up ahead is the one third mark.”  So I had gotten more than I bargained for.  

As the trail continued to ascended, I realized my mistake.  The grocer had said, “It’s a *good* hike.”  She emphasized the word, “good” which I took to mean, not that challenging.  She should have emphasized, “hike.”  “It’s a good *hike*.”

My good friend Mario gave me this primate to keep me company on my journey. He's a slow hiker though.

Enjoy the View.

It was worth it.  The summit was deserted, save two youngsters that quickly departed.  I had a great campsite that was primed to watch the sunrise.  Plus, it was nice to be in nature again and away from people.  I had forgotten how much nature can revitalize me.

Live your Life, as you would hike a Mountain.

As I descended the next day, I thought that hiking well is similar to living well.

Find your own personal rhythm; not too slow or too fast.  

Stand tall, no matter how heavy your pack is.  

Drink, when you are thirsty.  

Eat, when you are hungry.  

Enjoy the feeling of your body.

Watch where you are putting your feet, but don’t miss the scenery.  

Rest, when you are tired.  

Breathe.  

When you decide to place your foot, step and step confidently; no regrets.  

Enjoy the view.

***

Share your hiking experience with the community.

Create Our World.

Ben

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

 

The Gambler Nun & Radio plays the Oneonta Theatre.

“Strangers are just friends waiting to happen.” – Anonymous

 The Gambler, the Nun, and the Radio.

Ernest Hemingway wrote a short story about a Mexican gambler, a nun, and a writer who constantly listens to the radio.  The moral is that “all people need opium to keep them from suffering too much.”

I think this is Rusty. The Gambler's cat.

Back to Oneonta.

Well, I am not back there, but I never said much about the place, although I spent a week there.  After Bruce had dropped me off here, I had planned to move on the next day.  That was until I met Trevor.

Trevor introduced himself at the local pizza joint.

The Gambler Nun & Radio.

Trevor is the lead singer of the local Oneonta band named The Gambler Nun & Radio.  Trevor is also a pizza dude at the local pizza restaurant, Cosmos.  This is where we met.  I was grabbing a couple slices of pizza before I was going to camp nearby.  Trevor introduced me to his roommate and the bass player in the Gambler, Dan, whom after some conversation offered their pad as a place to crash.  We struck up a bond!  

Playing some pool with Eric, Dan, Jamey, and Dylan

A Packed House.

Trevor, Dan, Eric, Dylan, Jamey, and another Dan are all the members of the Gambler and all live in the same house with a rehearsal space on the main floor.  They also live with Nick, a friend, Kevin, their energetic dog, Rusty, their cat, and another cat whose name escapes me.  Although, the house was no mansion and my living space was a couch that was a bit grimy, it was more than enough for me.  After a couple days, I decided to prolong my stay till Saturday when they were playing at a local theatre.  

Dan & Eric took me to the get some of the best ice cream "east of the Mississippi."

It felt great to have a Home for a week and a fun, hospitable, and enlightening group of friends.  Good music too, if you like rock and roll that is a bit psychedelic, check out their website or their myspace page.

That is Dan, the keyboard player with origami on his head.

Thank you to the men of the Gambler Nun & Radio and all their friends!!!

I kinda snuck out after a week, because I was embarrassed at how melancholy I was feeling about leaving.  Plus, I felt like, this is not goodbye… but till we meet again.

Create Our World.

Ben

“Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.” – Aristotle