Swim any day in November
I've woken up now. I spent the weekend celebrating original_b_boy & Erin's wedding, west coast style. Not there is actually a west coast style, but maybe this could be the start of new trend?!
It was an all weekend affair starting Friday. Time was short so we shot for Saturday. We carpooled with babaluma and got there before most. A few had stayed the night before and most arrived some two hours after we did.
I spent the day stuffing my face with amazing food, brought by all guests and some amazingly succulent pork prepared by < lj user="original_b_boy">. It was slow roasted in a pit for over 12 hours with constant maintenance throughout the night. The attention payed off. There was a surprise layer of ash covering all pit roasted meat, but they sorted that out, again with attention to tastes, and you would have never know.
The rest of the day I spent play with Mel and blue_schemata's chocolate labs Wyatt and Sampson. They're so cute together:
I also played Uno. It's worth a mention because I was thinking before I came how great it would be if someone brought Uno. It was a Batman edition.
The evening drew in quickly and the temperature began to drop. The fire was in full force and everyone migrated from tables and the surrounding areas to huddle around. Requests were made for ghost stories but no one knew any. Marshmallows and sticks were passed around and a number started to roast, char and flame grill their respective treats. Chocolate and graham crackers were passed around fo S'mores. I passed. I cannot stand Hershey's chocolate.
Ryan (i think that was his name), original_b_boy and August played a couple of tunes...
...although, bb could not remember much of it.
I started to loose track of time. It felt like midnight and was only about 9pm. Laura and I decided to take a night hike on a trail head only minutes away. The moon was in full force and lit up the night enough to see the trail. I had my headlamp to light the way for shaded spots and at one point startled a flock of bats. It was startling for both parties. I was not expecting that. About two miles into the hike the signs got a little sketchy. It wasn't clear where the loop connected at the end of the trail so there was little choice but to head back, or add a few extra unintended miles for scouting trip.
We returned to the fire, flamed grilled some of the roasted pig on the open fire, drank tea and hung out.
As with any good camping outlining, the day always starts with an English breakfast or at least a minimal one. I cook up using my new JetBoil system, which is awesome, and shared with Laura and babaluma. A couple of guys looked on with envious eyes but I couldn't make everyone breakfast.
Deer wandering around camp in the morning.
Everyone broke down camp and headed their own way until only six remain. We tried to work out the next step. The frigid morning had turned into an summer day - in November! - and the decision was made to head out to Red Rock, a local watering hole.
Even thought the weather was reminiscent of a summer that seems to grasping hold onto fall without any sign of surrendering, the water was not. It certainly was "invigorating". < lj user="original_b_boy"> was the first in and whose comments delay all whom participated entry.
If you're going to go in, go it with no way of turning back:
babaluma took a serious of continuious shots that I'm yet to see. I did it only three times. The third time I felt my body really starting to be affected by the cold. I began feeling weak. Extended submerges in cold water really does take it out of you. Last year in Milwaukee after jumping in the freezing waters of Lake Michigan I was tried all day and damn hungry!
I'm mildly sunburned, it's amazing for November.
We polished off the day with a trip to Cold Springs tavern, a hotspot for bikers on a Sunday afternoon, and at yet more meat. This time in the form of Tri-Tip sandwiches. I've not eaten that much red meat in a long while and so my stomach felt as if I had a couple of bricks to digest.
Back home, and exhausted. I slept for three hours as soon as I got in. I'm still tired but I want to sleep tonight. I think the water got to me a little. I've felt tired the last few day, which usually means I'm "sick". That's about as far as being sick goes for me but having plundered my body this afternoon and with all the smoke and dust from the previous night's activities, I'm starting to feel it.
But all is good.
Congrats to both f you guys and thanks for the invitation. It was awesome.
It was an all weekend affair starting Friday. Time was short so we shot for Saturday. We carpooled with babaluma and got there before most. A few had stayed the night before and most arrived some two hours after we did.
I spent the day stuffing my face with amazing food, brought by all guests and some amazingly succulent pork prepared by < lj user="original_b_boy">. It was slow roasted in a pit for over 12 hours with constant maintenance throughout the night. The attention payed off. There was a surprise layer of ash covering all pit roasted meat, but they sorted that out, again with attention to tastes, and you would have never know.
The rest of the day I spent play with Mel and blue_schemata's chocolate labs Wyatt and Sampson. They're so cute together:
I also played Uno. It's worth a mention because I was thinking before I came how great it would be if someone brought Uno. It was a Batman edition.
The evening drew in quickly and the temperature began to drop. The fire was in full force and everyone migrated from tables and the surrounding areas to huddle around. Requests were made for ghost stories but no one knew any. Marshmallows and sticks were passed around and a number started to roast, char and flame grill their respective treats. Chocolate and graham crackers were passed around fo S'mores. I passed. I cannot stand Hershey's chocolate.
Ryan (i think that was his name), original_b_boy and August played a couple of tunes...
...although, bb could not remember much of it.
I started to loose track of time. It felt like midnight and was only about 9pm. Laura and I decided to take a night hike on a trail head only minutes away. The moon was in full force and lit up the night enough to see the trail. I had my headlamp to light the way for shaded spots and at one point startled a flock of bats. It was startling for both parties. I was not expecting that. About two miles into the hike the signs got a little sketchy. It wasn't clear where the loop connected at the end of the trail so there was little choice but to head back, or add a few extra unintended miles for scouting trip.
We returned to the fire, flamed grilled some of the roasted pig on the open fire, drank tea and hung out.
As with any good camping outlining, the day always starts with an English breakfast or at least a minimal one. I cook up using my new JetBoil system, which is awesome, and shared with Laura and babaluma. A couple of guys looked on with envious eyes but I couldn't make everyone breakfast.
Deer wandering around camp in the morning.
Everyone broke down camp and headed their own way until only six remain. We tried to work out the next step. The frigid morning had turned into an summer day - in November! - and the decision was made to head out to Red Rock, a local watering hole.
Even thought the weather was reminiscent of a summer that seems to grasping hold onto fall without any sign of surrendering, the water was not. It certainly was "invigorating". < lj user="original_b_boy"> was the first in and whose comments delay all whom participated entry.
If you're going to go in, go it with no way of turning back:
babaluma took a serious of continuious shots that I'm yet to see. I did it only three times. The third time I felt my body really starting to be affected by the cold. I began feeling weak. Extended submerges in cold water really does take it out of you. Last year in Milwaukee after jumping in the freezing waters of Lake Michigan I was tried all day and damn hungry!
I'm mildly sunburned, it's amazing for November.
We polished off the day with a trip to Cold Springs tavern, a hotspot for bikers on a Sunday afternoon, and at yet more meat. This time in the form of Tri-Tip sandwiches. I've not eaten that much red meat in a long while and so my stomach felt as if I had a couple of bricks to digest.
Back home, and exhausted. I slept for three hours as soon as I got in. I'm still tired but I want to sleep tonight. I think the water got to me a little. I've felt tired the last few day, which usually means I'm "sick". That's about as far as being sick goes for me but having plundered my body this afternoon and with all the smoke and dust from the previous night's activities, I'm starting to feel it.
But all is good.
Congrats to both f you guys and thanks for the invitation. It was awesome.