Day 2 onwards

Today is the first day I've had a reliable and convenient internet access since arriving. The story so far......

Day 2.
Following the nightmare drive out of New York to Matamoras today is the first full day here. Unusually late waking up for a first day, the drive must have taken more out of me than I though. Nothing really planned so take a drive into the Catskill mountains for a look around. Very quiet place with mostly woods and small villages.

The hire car I have is a Chevrolet Impala and it is not very well. On leaving JFK a car pulled out in front of me requiring a little bit of braking. After a hair-raising skid and a lot of driving skill, I find the ABS isn't working (later find out not fitted) and the brakes lock up very easily. As I have to head near to Albany, plan on getting car replaced. National at Albany airport happily swap the car for another Impala. Within a hour this one is faulty too. When going over any lumps or bumps, a loud knocking comes from the front o/s wheel area.

Stay at the Best Western in Troy. For anyone who hasn't stayed at a BW, they are generally basic hotels with reasonable standards for the cost of about $100 a night. Most have a breakfast of varying standards through in. Mostly it's a continental affair which will satisfy most.

Day 3.
Off into Massachusetts do hike to the top of Mount Graylock, highest point in the state. it takes only a couple of hours to walk up the trail and the views are well worth the time. I have photos of the view to follow. The summit has a lighthouse as a war memorial. Due to construction work on the summit road, there are only 2 others at the top and the silence is wonderful.

Back to national to exchange the Impala for something else. Again, no hassle and it takes about 10 minutes. This time I get a Pontiac Grand Prix. Much nicer car and no strange knocks, bangs etc. and the ABS works fine. As with most us cars, it has the performance of a beached whale, but the ride is comfortable and quiet.

Day 4 to Day 6.
Off to Vermont to see my friends in Newfane. It's been a few years since I last visited, to my eternal shame. As always made to feel very welcome and just spent the weekend relaxing and waling in the woods. There are some deer that are quite tame and visit in the evening. I have some photos but not sure if I can rescue them from the lack of light.

Day 7.
Head further north into Vermont for 3 nights in Stowe. On the trip I have been using my TomTom to guide me. Instead of choosing the 'fastest' route, today I took the 'shortest'. This took me down unmade roads and through no horse towns. If you are ever in Vermont, I recommend doing this as you get to see the real state, not just the twee picture postcard parts.

Staying in the Snowflake Motel on the Mountain Road. I like motels like this, small blocks where you can park outside your door and there is none of the corporate feel of hotels. After the drive I feel like a dip in the outside 'heated' pool. Heated is a subjective point of view. It was certainly bracing. The hot tub was much better though. Dinner was at the Pie Casso pizza restaurant. I choose the "Heart Stopper", extra pepperoni, sausage and cheese. Very good too.

Day 8.
Off up Mount Mansfield today. When I was here in 2001 I hiked up the Hasleton trail to pick up the Long Trail. Today, 6 years older and little tubbier, I cheated and drove the toll road. From the parking lot, I followed the Long Trail along the ridge to the 'Chin' as this is the highest point. So far the weather has been fantastic and apart from the storm at JFK, clear skies and sun have followed me. Today was no exception and from the summit you can see all the way East to the White Mountains in NH, North, off into Canada, in the West Adirondacks and Lake Champlain and South pretty much to Massachusetts. This fills the day and boy do I sleep well.

Day 9.
Still in Stowe. After the good walk yesterday I take on of the hotel bikes and ride the 5 mile path that runs through the town. Mostly flat and quite well maintained, it puts the cycle paths of the UK to shame. You share it with walkers, runners and roller bladers but everyone respects the others right to use it. Pick up a tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream and chill out. pack early as I have a long drive tomorrow, across Vermont, New Hampshire to the Maine coast at Bar Harbor.

Day 10.
The long drive is here. About 300 miles to do along pretty much every type of road. I only really stop for a donut and hot chocolate and fuel. Arrive at Bar Harbor exhausted and hungry. A headache is starting as I hunt food. The town is very much like those Cornish fishing villages that found tourism much more profitable than fishing. As such the restaurants are over-priced and the streets full of coach parties wearing matching sweatshirts as the devour ice creams etc. etc. as they visit naff gift shops and the like. After food I feel better and am soon asleep.

Day 11 - Today.
Sleep right through until 8 this morning. Off into town for breakfast and to hire a bike for the day. The hire shop is just opening and for $21 I have a basic mountain bike to tour Acadia National Park. The park has what are called Carriage Road and are grit roads where only bikes, walkers and horses are allowed. Mostly flat it allows you to see the park without getting run over by giant pickups, SUV's or even worse, an RV. From several overlooks, I can see a cruise ship in the harbor and hopefully as the sun sets, I can get some shots of it light up and surrounded by the sea fog that is blowing in.

And now dear reader, I have to return the bike and have a late lunch/early dinner. More to follow........

Holiday - Day 1

Have arrived in one piece. To save time I have written a review of my flight on another website. Look here to see it

On Tuesday will be off on my holidays. While away, I will try do a daily update on here. Saves me having to spend hours telling everyone about it on my return.

It depends on me having internet access so it might be a bit sporadic.

Watch this space........

Ahem.....

Hello???
Anyone still there???
Yes!?!?!

Hope you haven't been glued to this screen waiting for me to post.

Must try harder I know.

We'll see........

Spot of weather I had

Well I survived Snowdonia and am back in the real world again.

Snowdon lived up to it's reputation for odd weather. Down in the valley it was a beautiful day, clear skies, sun and rather warm. This continued from Pen-Y-Pass along the Pyg track and until just about the summit of Crib Goch. From there on the cloud moved in and although not thick, it did hide the drops along the ridge. However things were on the change.......

By the time I reached the pinnacles the rain had started and by Blwch Coch the rain turned to hail and the wild suddenly picked up. Unfortunatley Blwch Coch is the original Rock and Hard Place. You have 2 choices, go back and risk increased wind etc. or, as I did, push on towards Crib Ddysgl. it might go againt all normal advice, but ithe next part is easier and no exposed areas. From there, you can escape using either the Llanberis path or the Pyg/Miners track.

Anyway, the weather continued to get worse with blizzard conditions at times. My plan to continue around the horseshoe. No such luck and back I came via the Pyg track. Dropped back into Llanberis and all I could see was blue skies and sun. Typical.

The following day didn't bode well either so I decided to have a quiet day and drove to llandudno. If you've never been there i would recommend it as a quiet resort. it's a classic Victorian seaside town with a long, wide curving promenade where the only beach front properties are hotels. The only arcades are in town or the slightly faded pier. The beach is more shingle than sand so not a bucket and spade resort like Rhyl.

Being Red Nose Day, i spent the day at work taking photos of the events and managed to catch a corker of my Boss getting a soaking.......

Hopefully on Monday I'll still have a job.

Oh the guilt.....

....of not posting for weeks and weeks...

In my defence I have been very very busy and am totally knackered.

For anyone still out there, I have spent the most of the last 2 weeks in Swindon on courses. Last week was part 2 of my Cisco CCNA course. Very confusing with information overload and still have a exam to study for. Eeek!!!

This week I have been on a Unix Fundamentals course. Very confusing with information overload. The good news is no exam.

Normally I work a 07-19 or 19-07 shifts and i now remember why. Outside of these hours, the roads are full of Numpty F***wits with the observational skills of shortsighted moles. Today I was nearly wiped out by Postman Pat playing 'guess which indicator means right' and some blind old biddy in a Micra who decided that my lane was much nicer and proceeded to try and share it with me - sideways!!

Roll on normal hours and I can commute in peace rather than Rest in Peace.

Fortunately I have a cure. On Monday I'm off to Wales for a few days in Snowdonia. Plans include, The Snowdon Horseshoe (done Crib Goch before) and a day on Tryfan and The Glyders with a crack at Adam and Eve. All is weather dependant as 50mph winds are not good on Crib Goch. Due to the time of year everywhere should be quiet and no train running. Even if it was, it only goes to Cloggy as the Cafe is no more - YAY!!!

If i survive, I'll post here. If not, donations to the usual address.

Enough of the boring chit-chat, off to do my homework.

Ciao

I know, I know!!!

Yes, this is a new post, nearly a month from the last. No excuse I know.

Just that life has been rather quiet (not that I'm complaining) recently. Work hasn't though with shift, followed by course, followed by shift followed by course etc. etc.........

Anyway, time for a moan or 2. Incidentally, one of these moans is what slipped my mind all those weeks ago.

First Moan!!

Back to shops.

Now, when I were a nipper (and all this were fields) i can remember shops giving change in a very specific way. I'm sure those over 25 will remember it.

If say you spent £6.43 and gave a £10 note, the cashier would give the change counting up from the purchase price to the total given, so first it would be a 2p, then a 5p, a 50p followed by 3 pound notes (remember them??). All the time they would keep a running total until you had the correct change.

These days, it's totally different. They just thrust a handful of change, both coins and notes, into your hand along with the receipt and expect you to sort it out. Of course, it's your responsibility to check it's correct before you leave - assuming the cashier can count themselves.

I say bring back the old way. It only takes a few seconds longer and is a much better customer experience.



Moan 2

Bookshops with a coffee shop inside.

Recently a new Borders has opened locally and they have a Starbucks inside to serve the insomniacs looking for a bedtime read with caffeine. great you might think, but not in my eyes.

Bookshops use to have big signs on the doors announcing "No food or drink allowed!", now it almost reads "Come in, eat, drink and be merry!!"

It wouldn't be so bad it they had a line beyond which no purchased books can cross into and no food or drink can go out of. Instead, we have a luxury reading library where you read any book in stock while drinking you coffee and return it to the shelf when you leave. never mind you've spilt your espresso on it and left bisccoti crumbs as page marks!!!

I say keep the 2 seperate, preferably by about 500 yards and a 6-lane motorway!

Enough rants from me for today. Off on nights tonight so back to bed. I'll try not to take so long to update in the future.