Category: travels

yup. a few days out of town, which included a surprise look at this wonderful creature. Back to rambling soon….

We got up early Saturday and headed out, getting up to the Catskills just shy of noon, so took a nice hike to Vernooy Falls (although finding the trail head proved to be rather challenging!). Water was too cold and the rocks a bit too slimy for me to get in past my calves, but refreshing nonetheless. We spent the night in Pine Hill, then did a more adventurous hike (for us) to the Giant Ledge. Not long into the hike, I recalled what someone remarked on one of the hiking websites: “if you have to use all four limbs, it’s a climb, not a hike!” But well worth it once we saw the first peaks through the trees, and then on to the actual Giant Ledge. My partner got way way too close to the edge of that Ledge for my comfort, so I braced myself against some rock, and used the zoom to make up for the few feet.

Other than a daytrip up to Woodstock, had never been to the Catskills. Was just beautiful! And I had no idea how many reservoirs, and how many little towns were destroyed to make these reservoirs, just to make sure NYC had plenty of drinking water.

he likes to take me places. he’s discovered that when he gets me out of the city, i become a kid on vacation. not always giggling and silly like when we’re at the ocean and he lets me out of the car and off my leash, running until i am out of breath. but still, even when it’s not obvious, i get a chance to relax; a chance to be silly, or stare through the camera, framing and scoping and clicking. driving down the garden state parkway, he pulls over. i stay in the car while he mumbles something about getting a shake. i sit, looking at the indecisive grey blue sky, and the leafless tree a few feet away. a few moving black spots catch my eye and I pull out the toy, the new camera. playing with the dials and focusing and zooming, the birds decide to fly off. soon i spot them gathering on another nearby tree, hopping around various branches. i focus on one, preening and occasionally calling out to no one in particular, his yellow beak the only bit of contrast to his black feathers.

returning from the bathroom he asks “did you get any pictures, honey?” I smile to myself, feeling taken care of by my man. he likes to take me places