blog
Going under the hood at “Automania”
There’s a hunk of art in the house and it’s called “Automania!” The rotating iconic car exhibit debuted in July and George and I rolled into MOMA with his two hipster twenty-somethings arriving by train from nearby Brooklyn. What began as an assemblage of nine European showoffs and one American-made model dwindled to less than […]
Sightseeing in Atlanta with Honest Abe
If this fuzzy mug looks familiar it’s because Gene Griessman might possibly be Abraham Lincoln incarnate. I kid you not! The award-winning actor/writer brings the 16th to life with reenactments, books, and films and, as luck would have it, he’s also my friend. On my last day in Georgia, Griessman volunteered to co-pilot as […]
Stillwater Mountain: A trailhead buried in the backwoods of the western Adirondacks
It’s the first day of Spring; got fire tower fever? We sure do! There are 52 fire towers in the Adirondacks and George and I have only hiked about half. “Cheap” views from atop steel girders raise the temperature of fun for all who can pinpoint the trailheads. Sometimes, that’s half the battle! Case in […]
Huddle atop Spruce Mountain fire tower for true excitement
Who’s needs a Superbowl when winter hiking with friends is life’s greatest metaphoric touchdown? True “gridiron geeks” are found tackling fire towers, like this 73-footer on Spruce Mountain, in near-whiteout conditions. I’ll wager that ducking under fallen trees propped up by toothpicks and fumbling with cold sandwiches as your hands’ freeze builds more athletic character […]
Unapologetic Gawker on Birthday Patrol in Lewes, Delaware
For my big 5-0, I wanted to soak in the sun and savor the delights of an island-inspired birthday. I chalked up enough frequent flier miles in 2020 to earn a free flight to Hawaii. The state had reopened the border on October 15 and it sounded safe. But, as November neared, I thought better […]
Flat-out good time on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail
There was a blowout on the bumpy Wallkill Valley Rail Trail this past week. Make that two flat tires in total. George’s about 6 miles short of our destination and mine nearing the parking lot trailhead in the town of Gardiner. George and I carried tools and CO2 cartridges but no spare inner tubes. We […]
Earth Day efforts in my backyard
Happy Earth Day, everyone. A whopping 50-years! As I watch events unfold on www.earthday.org with Ed Begley Jr., I’m trying to stay optimistic. It’s hard though when the coronavirus global crisis steals attention away from the equally serious long-term threat of climate change. The thing is the two go hand-in-hand, the more climate change affects the […]