Do Any Of You Get Up This Way?

Bud, that whole dream thing was great! Trust me, that rooster gives me nightmares. Once in a while he decides to test me so I chase him around with a short 2x4, but man he's fast like lightning! Now I see why people get guns.

To all of you guys, shoot me a message if you're heading this way. Like I said, I normally plan out my adventures a couple of days ahead, depending on the weather and my recent activities, so I won't always be around on short notice, but often times I will.

To anyone heading up the north way, there are three points of interest I'd like to bring to your attention. 1. Exit 9 rest area, which also serves as a NYS DOT Inspection site, High Peaks rest area...North Hudson mm100 and just south of Peru...exit 35 is a inspection site. They are all pretty active this time of year.

Yes, as I was coming up I-87 on my way here there was an active inspection site going on, and I saw one the other day too. It's funny, cuz back before the 9/11 attacks New York was basically a free pass. I used to breathe an audible sigh of relief coming into the state cuz there was only one permanent weigh station, which is on I-87, and it was normally closed. Basically nothing else to worry about for hundreds of miles.

After 9/11 the inspections started statewide in earnest and haven't let up since. One time I was pulled in and the trooper that was going to inspect me was really cool. I told him all that and he looked around to see if anyone was listening and confided in me:

Before 9/11 we could do inspections and bill the DOT for our time. But after 9/11 they setup The Department Of Homeland Security which ruled that any inspections done with (I think it was) 50 miles of the border, they consider it border patrol, so we could bill the DOT and then bill Homeland Security at the same time. So inspections instantly became a revenue stream for the state.

He went on to say, "Trust me, none of us like doing these inspections anymore than you guys like having them done. I didn't sign up for this to become a mechanic on a greasy roller underneath trucks all day long."

I told him I didn't doubt that for a moment. He gave me a five minute once over and turned me loose.

So yeah, anyone coming into New York, make sure you have your ducks in a row. And as in most places, State Troopers do the inspections and they take themselves very seriously.

I ran 9N into the Lake Placid/Saranac lake area. That's where you may find some nice terrain. Have you seen the Chasm yet? Should be right around the corner from you.

Indeed! I have been down 9N and in fact I'm heading down that way either today or tomorrow. Might take the doggy to hike up Cascade Mountain tomorrow which would be my first 4,000 foot peak. It's a 1,900 foot climb from the base, which would compare to the 1,250 foot observation deck of the Empire State Building. So we're waiting for things to dry out a bit after the rain.

Have you seen the Chasm yet? Should be right around the corner from you.

Forgot to say......no, haven't been there yet but yeah, it's only a few minutes away from here. Definitely on the list.

Let me know Pianoman!

Bud, that whole dream thing was great! Trust me, that rooster gives me nightmares. Once in a while he decides to test me so I chase him around with a short 2x4, but man he's fast like lightning! Now I see why people get guns.

Great, after reading today's comments and threads, I'm probably going to have a dream where the rooster and I are trying to rescue Old School and you from Rainy D.'s dungeon in Mexico, but then we get pulled over because the rooster isn't wearing his seat belt, and then suddenly Rick starts chasing the trooper with a 2x4 and telling him the law doesn't apply to domesticated fowl. It all ends with a big celebration for Big Holli passing the CDL test. And it's on YouTube. And I oversleep and my dispatcher calls asking where the hell I am.

I'm afraid to go to sleep now...

Bud, that whole dream thing was great! Trust me, that rooster gives me nightmares. Once in a while he decides to test me so I chase him around with a short 2x4, but man he's fast like lightning! Now I see why people get guns.

Great, after reading today's comments and threads, I'm probably going to have a dream where the rooster and I are trying to rescue Old School and you from Rainy D.'s dungeon in Mexico, but then we get pulled over because the rooster isn't wearing his seat belt, and then suddenly Rick starts chasing the trooper with a 2x4 and telling him the law doesn't apply to domesticated fowl. It all ends with a big celebration for Big Holli passing the CDL test. And it's on YouTube. And I oversleep and my dispatcher calls asking where the hell I am.

I'm afraid to go to sleep now...

I don't hike much anymore, since I'm wwayy out of shape. Rattlesnake in willsboro is a pretty, but easy hike. As is silver lake mountain. Shorter drives than the high peaks area.

I sold my canoe a few years back but that said, I have friends who hike and play in the water pretty frequently. I can ask them if they would like company, be ready to do one of the 46 though 😂. I guess Giant isn't too bad, either.

There's also the 'Gulf unique area' in mooers which I guess once served as a moonshine run between the states and canada. Supposedly there's a waterfall and its a short 3 mile walk. I brought my niece up last year but the bugs just about carried us away so we turned back.

As is silver lake mountain

Ha Ha! I just did that one yesterday afternoon. Great hike indeed.

Giant is one I was looking at, and today my doggy and I were packed and ready to head out for our first 46'er, Cascade, but they're calling for a reasonable chance of rain and possibly a bit of thunder and I didn't want my first 46'er to turn into a complete mess. Cuz you know it wouldn't start raining until I got to the top and had to figure out how to get down. And you don't want to get yourself hurt in May when you have the full season ahead, and I hike all winter, too, so I'm gonna play it safe this time. But I have to say, I'm pretty miffed. And the sun is out at the moment, tormenting me even further.

But like they say, there are old climbers, and there are bold climbers, but there are no old bold climbers.

Yeah, if you know some really friendly people who wouldn't mind a new hiking partner and they're cool with me bringing my dog, give em my email and have em contact me. I'm the new guy around here so I don't want to insert myself boldly into people's pleasant existence and put them on the spot if they're not looking for anyone new coming around. I totally get that. I've joined some groups on Meetup.com to try to hook up with some people, but they revolve around planning things way ahead of time and I tend to make plans maybe one or two days in advance.

Thanks!

I'm afraid to go to sleep now...

Bud - that's hysterical!

Roosters really are a nightmare. I've had that one for years and anytime I'm near him it's a Mexican standoff. We walk by each other slowly, facing each other, never taking our eyes off the other, and if anyone makes a sound or flinches it can turn into a brawl in a second! Never a comfortable moment around those roosters.

I've had people tell me, "Oh, our rooster is real friendly" .......of course he is, until he puts your eye out one day for no reason.