(no subject)
About a month ago, I decided that I should go on a road trip. Not a long one - I don't have vacation days yet - but a weekend of hitting the road, alone or otherwise. Originally, I was going to set on on a Friday, pick a direction, and just drive until I needed to sleep and, upon waking, decide whether to keep going or turn back.
Then I realized that Wardenclyffe is only a little more than four hours away, so I decided on a destination (changing the entire nature of the trip, but I was alright with that). I know a few people around here that I figured might be interested, so I mentioned it on Facebook, and Rosilee asked if she could come with. The time line had to be adjusted a bit, but that wasn't a problem. Joanna asked to come, too, and we started to work out details.
I picked up the ladies somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00 on Friday, put down the top on the '72 Catalina, and we hit the road. It was overcast and got dark fast, but I maintain that (short of a downpour) weather is a secondary concern at best. Good drive up, with a bit of chatting with people in other vehicles at lights in NYC. Joanna's first time there, so there was a bit of a permagrin situation going on.
There's an America's Best Value Inn a few miles away from Shoreham (where Wardenclyffe is), in Port Jefferson Station. All things considered, under ninety bucks for a two-bed room isn't bad, so we booked that place. Basic motel room - albeit with a fantastically beige bathroom - so it was pretty much perfect. We drank a fifth of Jack and threw a minor party because that's what one does in a motel.
We set out around eleven on Saturday. I missed Tesla Street on the first pass, but realized my error within a block and we circled around to take a look at what we could see from the fence.
My timing has generally been pretty terrible, but that didn't hold true Saturday.
I grabbed a space and we got out to take a closer look. We weren't there long before another car pulled up and parked in front of the fence (as opposed to across the street, which is a residential neighborhood). I can't speak for the ladies, but I was wondering if we were about to be told to get lost.
The man who got out of the car glanced at us, then walked along the fence while glancing back and forth between the gate and the houses across the street. His two sons got out of his car and followed after him as he came back to where we were and asked what we were doing. We told him we were taking a look at Wardenclyffe, and he nodded while looking toward the houses again. Then he gestured for us to follow him.
Turns out he could unlock the gate. In between muttering about how he was worried the locals would call the cops, he told us he wanted to show his kids the place. Then he popped the lock and we were on the property.
We pretty much followed him around for a while, eventually going into a building that had one of its overhead doors standing open. There was a lot of equipment still sitting around, but I'm pretty sure most (probably all) of it was stuff that was put in by Peerless and/or AGFA, after Tesla's time. Though the buildings are right up against each other, I don't think we made it into Tesla's original building. Still pretty nifty.
I got separated from our benefactor (we never did get his name) when I went back to pick up Rose's camera case from where she left it when we entered the building. I jogged most of the way through the building and back (if you ever get the chance to jog or run through creepy abandoned and overgrown buildings in very low light, I recommend it - it's fun), but our benefactor was gone by the time I got back to the door they'd used to exit the building. So were the girls, but Joanna called me and we met up again. The gentleman who gotten us in had left, but he'd left the lock open for us. We decided that meant we didn't need to hurry out, so we wandered the property a bit more.
We came across a house, then a small pack of deer, then the remaining foundation of Tesla's tower.
A good time was had by all. Even if dark and desolate buildings might bring out the frightened horror movie protagonist tendencies in one of my companions.
We eventually left to head back to NYC to finish up the day. Just as we were about to pull onto the Williamsburg bridge, though, the Catalina died. Just up and turned off at the last exit before the bright. Pulling a car that size over to the side of the road and coming to a stop without power is...interesting. Tried to start it a few times - it turned over, but wouldn't catch. Once we smelled gas, I stopped trying and waited a bit, in case I flooded the carb. A police officer pulled up behind us and came up to find out what was going on, and he called a tow truck.
We got towed off the highway and dropped in a space (a legal space, with ample room in front of it, with no meter or charge for parking - the tow guy knew what he was doing). I had to pay, since AAA doesn't operate on the highway there, but I should be able to get at least partially reimbursed. Will probably swing by AAA tomorrow to find out.
We had a couple of options - try to find a garage in Brooklyn that could work on it immediately, call AAA to get towed home immediately, or say "fuck it" and wander New York for a while before worrying about it. We chose the third option (TV Tropes has taught me to always take a third option). Wandered around the Williamsburg neighborhood, which is a nice area (later, the tow guy who brought me back to Reading praised my taste in where to break down). Found a great dive bar called Cyn. It is absolutely a dive, and a great place to grab drinks in Brooklyn.
We eventually decided to take the subway up to Times Square. If you've been, you know the drill. Lots of light, lots of people, etc. Fun.
After stopping by Cyn for another drink, I called AAA. Then went back to the car to get the intersection right and used Joanna's phone to call again as mine was on its last legs. We determined that it was unlikely the tow truck would have room to carry all three of us, and looked up the bus schedule (Bieber has buses that run between Reading and NYC until around midnight). The ladies stuck around until the tow guy showed up, then ran back uptown to the Port Authority to catch a bus while I rode home in the tow truck.
I haven't heard from my mechanic, so I don't know what's up with the Catalina - I tried it again Sunday, and got it to cough and sputter once, but it wouldn't actually start. Wound up spending over $300 more than I intended, some of which I should get back, and they had to fork over whatever the bus cost them. I think we're probably in agreement that it was worth it, though. My photos are up over on Facebook, and I may well put them up elsewhere at some point for those who can't see them there but might be interested.
Then I realized that Wardenclyffe is only a little more than four hours away, so I decided on a destination (changing the entire nature of the trip, but I was alright with that). I know a few people around here that I figured might be interested, so I mentioned it on Facebook, and Rosilee asked if she could come with. The time line had to be adjusted a bit, but that wasn't a problem. Joanna asked to come, too, and we started to work out details.
I picked up the ladies somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00 on Friday, put down the top on the '72 Catalina, and we hit the road. It was overcast and got dark fast, but I maintain that (short of a downpour) weather is a secondary concern at best. Good drive up, with a bit of chatting with people in other vehicles at lights in NYC. Joanna's first time there, so there was a bit of a permagrin situation going on.
There's an America's Best Value Inn a few miles away from Shoreham (where Wardenclyffe is), in Port Jefferson Station. All things considered, under ninety bucks for a two-bed room isn't bad, so we booked that place. Basic motel room - albeit with a fantastically beige bathroom - so it was pretty much perfect. We drank a fifth of Jack and threw a minor party because that's what one does in a motel.
We set out around eleven on Saturday. I missed Tesla Street on the first pass, but realized my error within a block and we circled around to take a look at what we could see from the fence.
My timing has generally been pretty terrible, but that didn't hold true Saturday.
I grabbed a space and we got out to take a closer look. We weren't there long before another car pulled up and parked in front of the fence (as opposed to across the street, which is a residential neighborhood). I can't speak for the ladies, but I was wondering if we were about to be told to get lost.
The man who got out of the car glanced at us, then walked along the fence while glancing back and forth between the gate and the houses across the street. His two sons got out of his car and followed after him as he came back to where we were and asked what we were doing. We told him we were taking a look at Wardenclyffe, and he nodded while looking toward the houses again. Then he gestured for us to follow him.
Turns out he could unlock the gate. In between muttering about how he was worried the locals would call the cops, he told us he wanted to show his kids the place. Then he popped the lock and we were on the property.
We pretty much followed him around for a while, eventually going into a building that had one of its overhead doors standing open. There was a lot of equipment still sitting around, but I'm pretty sure most (probably all) of it was stuff that was put in by Peerless and/or AGFA, after Tesla's time. Though the buildings are right up against each other, I don't think we made it into Tesla's original building. Still pretty nifty.
I got separated from our benefactor (we never did get his name) when I went back to pick up Rose's camera case from where she left it when we entered the building. I jogged most of the way through the building and back (if you ever get the chance to jog or run through creepy abandoned and overgrown buildings in very low light, I recommend it - it's fun), but our benefactor was gone by the time I got back to the door they'd used to exit the building. So were the girls, but Joanna called me and we met up again. The gentleman who gotten us in had left, but he'd left the lock open for us. We decided that meant we didn't need to hurry out, so we wandered the property a bit more.
We came across a house, then a small pack of deer, then the remaining foundation of Tesla's tower.
A good time was had by all. Even if dark and desolate buildings might bring out the frightened horror movie protagonist tendencies in one of my companions.
We eventually left to head back to NYC to finish up the day. Just as we were about to pull onto the Williamsburg bridge, though, the Catalina died. Just up and turned off at the last exit before the bright. Pulling a car that size over to the side of the road and coming to a stop without power is...interesting. Tried to start it a few times - it turned over, but wouldn't catch. Once we smelled gas, I stopped trying and waited a bit, in case I flooded the carb. A police officer pulled up behind us and came up to find out what was going on, and he called a tow truck.
We got towed off the highway and dropped in a space (a legal space, with ample room in front of it, with no meter or charge for parking - the tow guy knew what he was doing). I had to pay, since AAA doesn't operate on the highway there, but I should be able to get at least partially reimbursed. Will probably swing by AAA tomorrow to find out.
We had a couple of options - try to find a garage in Brooklyn that could work on it immediately, call AAA to get towed home immediately, or say "fuck it" and wander New York for a while before worrying about it. We chose the third option (TV Tropes has taught me to always take a third option). Wandered around the Williamsburg neighborhood, which is a nice area (later, the tow guy who brought me back to Reading praised my taste in where to break down). Found a great dive bar called Cyn. It is absolutely a dive, and a great place to grab drinks in Brooklyn.
We eventually decided to take the subway up to Times Square. If you've been, you know the drill. Lots of light, lots of people, etc. Fun.
After stopping by Cyn for another drink, I called AAA. Then went back to the car to get the intersection right and used Joanna's phone to call again as mine was on its last legs. We determined that it was unlikely the tow truck would have room to carry all three of us, and looked up the bus schedule (Bieber has buses that run between Reading and NYC until around midnight). The ladies stuck around until the tow guy showed up, then ran back uptown to the Port Authority to catch a bus while I rode home in the tow truck.
I haven't heard from my mechanic, so I don't know what's up with the Catalina - I tried it again Sunday, and got it to cough and sputter once, but it wouldn't actually start. Wound up spending over $300 more than I intended, some of which I should get back, and they had to fork over whatever the bus cost them. I think we're probably in agreement that it was worth it, though. My photos are up over on Facebook, and I may well put them up elsewhere at some point for those who can't see them there but might be interested.