Old Orchard Beach 2009

OOB has a both the Hampton-like touristo vibe and the hot, sandy beach vibe going for it. Despite the stress and demands of this summer, we managed three nights this year.

Volkswagen Factory

The Maine Drag

Max in Charge

Buried

Hickory 2009

It was so cool to see the group that turned out at The Hickory last night. Driving east on 28, turning into the parking lot of this unfamiliar haunt, I was just a little uneasy. But I saw Karen getting out of her car, and instantly knew this can’t possibly be bad. In a few minutes I’m meeting old friends and making new ones. People I just met are buying me drinks. And a really kind cross-section of our life in the 70s showed up. Way cool. … So the plan is to do this again soon. Lots of little (or not so little) gatherings. Candy is thinking of a 33-1/3 reunion for the class of 1976 lot. Mike and Mary Lou got the group thinking about Memorial Day 2010 event at Davis Park. We had some trouble choosing between showing slides and movies on a big white sheet; or booking Phish for a stealth Bushkill festival. … Thanks so much to Jim Blatter for hooking us up; and to the Hickory staff. Let’s do it again soon.

Shep and Karen

The Trees Grow

My first substantial departure from home was not, as I suspect it was for others, going off to college. Although Rochester and Woodstock are separated by seven hours of Thruway; college never felt, for me anyhow, "away from home". My fledgling event was breaking out of the Bearsville orbit, jettisoned really, and moving to San Francisco. I recall my first visits home and the first thing that felt askew was that the trees looked bigger. The trees near my home. The trees on the village green. It was if my departure had somehow furloughed the arborists of Ulster County. The basal area of my teenage habitat had become swollen with grand oaks and towering pines.

Almost 40 years since I first sat (here) at the bar at Manitou House; and the dominant organic landscape change is the forest. There is something to be learned here, but I'm not precisely sure what it is. Aphorisms like "Leave it alone and it will fix itself" come to mind. But the way things were are not by any decree, the way things are supposed to be.

All of which fuels my excitement about getting together tomorrow night with some who were among the local shrubbery of the 70s.

Andy on Tractor

Mid-Course Crashing

I suppose I'm getting wiser with regard to "course management", but I'm still a frickin' klutz. And it seems to happen a lot with relatively benign 22-off passes, in July or August, and in odd calendar years! Take these facts: back in 2005 out of 3-ball, my forearm incident. back in 2007, same place, fractured patella. 2009, two hours ago, nowhere near as bad, but cut up my toe and banged up my shin after I turned early and ran over 4-ball and went out the front. Hope this heals quick so I can get back on the water Friday.

Blood on the Pylon

Brian and Dave Ski On!