Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 21

I woke up at 0600 (still in White River Junction) and started my telework day immediately.  Went to breakfast at 0700 and then resumed teleworking.  Lots of snow fell overnight and it continued through the day.  I ate lunch in my room (1230) and then did more teleworking.  Wrapped up my work day at around 1500 and then drove across the Connecticut River to West Lebanon to pick up some wine at the NH Liquor Store (1535).  I then decided to try to get in some cross country skiing miles in Grantham and drove east on I-89.  Because of the weather, the drive was kind of scary!  It was slow going on the Interstate and I passed several accidents.  I eventually arrived at Eastman Cross Country Course (Clubhouse) at around 1600 and started skiing.  Unlike my normal visits to the trails, there were LOTS of kids today.  Since it was still snowy, there were still no tracks.  On the positive side, this was my sixth straight days on skis!  Even though I only got an hour on ungroomed trails, the session was productive since I worked several big hills.  By the time I finished (at 1700), I was pretty tired.  I changed clothes in the Clubhouse and then drove to Hanover.  I talked to Eileen on the way but had to concentrate a lot on the drive again (it was still scary and I took it slow in several places).  I arrived at my condo by 1745 and got some personal items out of my unit.  A quick assessment revealed that the workers have made very little progress...  I stopped at Monte's unit (1800,) and enjoyed a nice dinner (soup, vegetarian mushroom wellington, bread, cheeses, cupcakes, sweet cakes) with Monte, Peter, Ann and Beth.  The wine I'd brought (Argentinian Melbec "Ruta 22") was a big hit!  We all had a great time visiting and talking about our recent international travel (that was the point of the whole evening).  I stayed until 2100 and then departed.  It was still snowing and I was focusing all of my attention on the road when I suddenly realized I'd forgotten my coat.  Fortunately, Monte had not yet gone to bed (he is an early riser) and I was able to retrieve it before heading back to White River Junction.  I arrived at 2130 and found that there was almost no parking.  Luckily, I still managed to get into a spot in the garage...  Back in my room, I sorted through things I'd brought back with me (including leftover food) and did some reading before I went to bed (2245).  Today ended up being a fun day, despite being cooped up in my "displaced lodging" for yet another day.  Hoping winter weather conditions will improve through the week so I can visit the ski trails again - but (even more) hoping that my condo is completely repaired before too many more weeks at the hotel...

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 20

After another nice night at the High Peaks Resort, I woke up at 0600 and started teleworking immediately.  Not wanting to interrupt the limited time I had to log hours for my job, I ate breakfast (leftovers) in the room and stayed online until 0800.  After checking out of the hotel, I drove west on NY-86 to the Whiteface Club & Nordic Center.  Using the pass the High Peaks Report had given me, I was able to go skiing from 0830 to 1000.  I found Jackrabbit Trail again but had to wade through deep snow to even connect to where Eileen and I had skied the previous day.  The weather was nice (sunny and mid teens temps but no wind).  Sadly, my winter fun was wrecked by an “important” call from my landlord, who indicated that I might not be able to move back into my condo for “several more weeks."  Oh well.  Back in my car, I attended a work meeting via Zoom (1000 to 1045) and then took a walk around the area near the Whiteface Club.  Down at the lake, I got some amazing views of Whiteface Mountain on the other side and saw pretty little cabins.  Before leaving, I walked into the main lodge (very swanky) and a clerk told me the cabins started at $1000 a night (!!!).  By 1130, I was back at my car and joined another work telcon - I had to stay in town to keep a cell signal.  Before leaving Lake Placid, I looked around for the Jackrabbit Trail as it followed roads - it was possible but NOT easy...  I then followed NY-86 west to Carolyn Road and used to reach Old Military Road, which bypassed the town center.  A bit later, I reached NY-73 and headed east.  I got disconnected from another work call on the way so stopped at the Adirondack Mountain Club Cascade Welcome Center to try to stabilize the connection.  While there, I bought Eileen a map of the trails in the area (1155).  Back in the car, I continued south and then turned east on NY-9N.  Near Keane, I got on Water Street, which became NY-9N again.  I lost cell signal a few more times but continued to rejoin the telcons as much as I could.  Eventually, I crossed the Thruway (I-87) and then reached the western shore of Lake Champlain.  From there, I continued south (still on NY-9N until reaching NY-185) and crossed the lake at Crown Point.  In Vermont, I used NY-125 (and part of NY-22A for a bit) to reach Middlebury.  One of my work calls ended at around that time so I stopped for lunch at McDonalds (1330) and ate while joining another meeting.  When that was over (1400), I resumed my drive towards White River Junction.  I used US-7, VT-125, VT-100, Bethel Mountain Road and Camp Brook Road to cross a series of mountain ridges.  The weather was OK but there were slippery spots and several cautious drivers.  After finishing another few (short) work calls, I listened to audiobooks.  Eventually, I reached VT-12 and then followed I-89 until I got on US-4 just east of Quechee.  I arrived at my hotel at around 1530 and unpacked.  After that, I spent the rest of the afternoon teleworking.  When work was finished, I started emptying bags and talked to Erin on the phone.  I ate dinner in my room (1715).  At 1745, I drove over to Hanover (via I-91) and attended a Maple Syrup Seminar with the Hanover Conservancy (at the Howe Library).  I got to sample some of the syrup (it was good) and then walked back to my car (checked out bars nearby but didn’t go inside).  I drove back to White River Junction via I-91 (it started snowing on the way) and arrived by 1930.  After that, I watched movies in my room until 2130 and then went to bed (early). As I fell asleep, I reflected on how much I'd needed the change of scenery I experienced in Lake Placid.  After living in a hotel in the Upper Valley for about three weeks, I began to feel stifled.  The High Peaks Resort (located in the heart of the Adirondacks) provided something different - personal choice and freedom,  Of course, it also had great views and lots of incentive for outdoor time. The whole weekend was very cold - below zero when I arrived and in the teens the rest of the time; it also snowed almost continuously for nearly 48 hours - but I loved these conditions!  I got to spend a lot of time on skis, mostly on the Jackrabbit Trail.  Without a map, it was hard to find but I eventually visited almost the entire section near town (probably about seven miles).  On top of the fun in the snow, I tried food at several awesome restaurants, took in a movie in an old-timey cinema, sampled local brews and original mixed drinks, walked a borrowed dog, relaxed in a nearly private hot tub (no one else used it or the pool), enjoyed a warm fire with champagne and cookies, read some good books and (for some of my vacation) shared the good vibes and ADK wildness with another adventurous spirit.  I’m sure I’ve said (maybe too often) that I had an unbeatable weekend but this one takes the Olympic Gold for 2023!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 19

I was awake by 0530 but Eileen wanted to wait to get up.  She tried to sleep longer so I eventually (0730) took Mika for a walk out on Mirror Lake.  It was snowy and a bit cold by not as bad as the previous day.  On the way back, I picked up coffee for Eileen from the High Peaks Resort lobby and this made her happy.  We took our time getting ready and looked online to evaluate the weather on top of Whiteface Mountain (-10 degrees with 40 mph winds and snow).  Since I'm not as good of an uphill (or downhill, for that matter) as Eileen, our options for such a "varsity" hike/ski were limited.  Ultimately, Eileen told me that she wanted to make sure we could stay together throughout whatever activity we chose so we decided on another ski on the Jackrabbit Trail (west of town this time).  Eventually, we went down to have brunch at the Dancing Bears restaurant.  I got a “DB Melt” sandwich and Eileen had eggs Benedict (both had home fries).  We were done eating at around 0930 .  By that point, we’d started a political debate so it took a bit longer to get ready to leave the hotel...  Mika was very patient throughout the waiting period!  By 1030, we departed (to the west) on NY-86 and then used Whiteface Inn Road.  Eileen dropped me off at the Whiteface Club & Nordic Center so I could get ideas about opening times and rules.  After that, we drove a short distance to the nearby Jackrabbit trailhead.  There were two places to park but we chose the one with fewer cars.  By then, it was warmer (mid 20s) than yesterday and I felt tremendously over layered.  Still, snow was falling throughout our time on the trail and it made the air feel a little cooler.  Between 1130 and 1330, we skied uphill (northbound) to the Placid Lean-To - it was very hard to climb with skis but I never took them off.  We passed a lot of people who were having a great time too (most had climbed quite high on the ridge).  After resting for a bit in the shelter, we began our descent.  Mike didn't like that I started out in front (Eileen said her dog sees every outing as a race).  Only a little while later, though, stopped to give other people a chance to pass and ended up in the rear of our little trio.  From that point, we raced precipitously downhill.  I fell a few times but still didn't need to take off my skis.  I felt pretty happy to reach the car again and checked out a little section that we hadn't used initially.  After that, we headed into town and decided to stop for some food at Generations Tap and Grill.  We first arrived at around 1345 and were told we couldn't sit down until the lunch/dinner period started about 15 minutes later.  In the meantime, I got some Good Fortune beer (1350) and Eileen mingled with other waiting guests.  Starting at 1400 we ordered some Italian Wedding Soup (which we shared) and then Eileen had the Rueben sandwich while I had a delicious flatbread pizza (“The Boathouse”) with chicken and bacon.  We talked for a long time and watched the snow plows working overtime to clear the parking lots.  We could see lots of folks departing for home after their vacation and knew our own time would soon arrive for the same thing. Reluctantly, we decided (1530) to go back to the hotel but took our time moving in that direction.  At 1600, I got all my things out of Eileen’s car and we said goodbye.  She needed to head home immediately but I had another night in the room so I dropped by the lobby to make sure they had checked out Mika (to skip a second night of pet fee).  I found this area packed with people checking into the Resort but, fortunately, got my question answered quickly.  For the next hour or so, I spent some time relaxing in my room (reading mostly) and talked to Mollie on the phone.  At 1745, I went back to the hot tub for about 30 minutes of relaxing.  I then (1855) went for a walk on Mirror Lake and across the town of Lake Placid, mostly following the Jackrabbit Trail map.  It was still snowing and I began to wonder how Eileen's drive was going...  I got some good photos of the town at night but also noticed that it was mostly deserted.  Just as I was finishing my walk (2005), Eileen called to say she was close to her home (I was relieved).  Back in the room, I did some more reading and packing and went to bed at 2200.  The weekend turned out to be really fun and I hope we can have another adventure like this again soon!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 18

I was up at 0515 (still at my hotel in White River Junction) and got ready for my trip.  Since breakfast hadn't started yet, I ate a snack in the room.  While I was packing my car, I figured out that the temps below zero... Left WRJ at around 0600 and used I-89 and VT-14 as I drove west.  Along the way, I could see where state and town plowing "changed over" (most towns didn't seem to bother).  Next got on VT-107 and used it to reach Church Street, Camp Brook Road, Bethel Mountain Road, VT-100 and VT-125.  I could see ADKs on my way into the Middlebury area!  After that, I used US-7, Cross Street, College Street, VT-125, VT-22A, VT-125, VT-185, NY-9N, Water Street, NY-9N, NY-73 and Main Street to reach Lake Placid (arrived at 0840).  Throughout the drive, I exchanged texts with Eileen we later made calls to coordinate our arrival time.  The weather was very cold but sky was mostly clear.  After arriving at the High Peaks Resort, I visited the front desk and learned more about the amenities.  It was too early to get into the room so I waited for Eileen, who arrived about 20 minutes later (she then went through the same processes). At 0915, we took Mika for a walk and then ate breakfast at Big Mountain Deli and Creperie.  I got sausage gravy & eggs crepe and Eileen got a smoked salmon crepe (we also bought a sandwich called "Nippleback" for later but never ended up eating it).  Next (1015), we went back to hotel to check on spa availability (no dice) and get directions to hiking trails.  We then drove around the north end of Mirror Lake and parked at Cobble Mountain Lodge (with the nice proprietor's permission) so we could access Jackrabbit Trail.  This multi-use trail passed through the golf course across the street from there we'd parked.  From 1140 to 1340, we skied and had a great time!  It was snowing almost continuously.  We both had some falls on the rolling hills through the trees.  It was a bit frustrating to not have a map but we eventually found one posted at a small kiosk along the trail.  During this whole period, I had to do a lot of walking (without skis) but Eileen and Mika were having a great time.  We turned around at a point where the trail crossed a road near a creek (south end of the map I'd photographed).  While we were skiing, I got a voicemail that our room was ready so we went back (took the same route around north end of lake) to check in.  After checking out the accommodations and settling Mika temporarily, we drank some Champagne and spent time relaxing near the fireplace in lobby (there were cookies too).  We then got Mika and explored in hotel for a little while.  After feeling like we'd found everything, we returned to the lobby with her and had a bit more Champagne.  Mika was wearing her bandanna and got lots of compliments!  Eileen had wanted to go to the Spa before we'd arrived but, since they were booked, she asked if we could see a movie together.  Dropping Mika off at the room again, we walked to the Palace Theater for the 1600 showing of “A Man Called Otto”.  The venue was very vintage/retro (cash only) but wasn't too crowded.  We got a large popcorn and finished it quickly.  Ultimately, we both decided we really liked the movie.  After going back to hotel (1815), we drank some of the Sangria I’d brought from home.  Later, we took Micah on a walk around the full circuit of Mirror Lake.  Since it was already dark, we enjoyed the pretty lights and great views of the constellations.  Finished our chilly walk with a stop at the Toboggan tower.  To return to the Resort, we used Main Street (more interesting sights).  With Mika back in her little bed (provided by the hotel), Eileen and I went to dinner (1930ish) at the Dancing Bears Restaurant.  During discussions about the drink menu, I convinced Eileen to try my Old Fashioned - she liked it and ordered her own.  We ordered grilled brussels sprouts and two great entrees (I got a turkey BLT and Eileen had a stuffed mushroom burger; we both had fries).  After some delicious food and nice conversation, we finished dinner (2045) and then headed back to room.  Mike was doing fine.  Not wanting the day to end, we changed for the hot tub (2100).  At first, we had it all to ourselves and the whole experience was really relaxing and enjoyable (no bubbles, though).  At 2130, though, a HUGE group of kids arrived and really messed up the mood.  Reluctantly, we went back to the room and spent the rest of the evening reading and talking.  Bedtime was at 2230.  We both agreed that it was a great day!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 17

I slept pretty well and woke up (still in White River Junction) at around 0530, feeling rested.  I teleworked until it was time to down to the hotel lobby for a quick breakfast (0640).  Teleworked some more until around 0800.  Next, I drove across the Connecticut River to do some shopping at Walmart.  Since they didn't have what I wanted, I ultimately had to go to Target (done at 0845).  Since there seemed to be enough snow, I decided to try my luck again at Eastman Cross Country Center, this time on the John’s Glen area trails.  I arrived at 0915 and found that the conditions were worse (temps in mid teens, windy, icy) than yesterday but I still was able to make a few circuits for one hour outdoors (finished at 1015).  I could have continued but decided head back to the Holiday Inn Express so I could fit in some swimming in the late afternoon.  Arriving at the hotel just after 1030, I encountered a huge number of people checking out of their rooms (I guess "February Vacation" was coming to a close).  Teleworked until lunch-time (ate in room at 1230) and then did more teleworking.  During this time I was able able to laundry - the machines were not the best at cleaning but it was the first time I'd had a chance to replenish my wardrobe since I moved into the hotel.  At 1500, I drove over to UVAC and did 45 minutes of laps in the pool.  Back at my hotel by 1615, I did some more teleworking  I knocked off for the day at 1635 and began packing for my trip to the Adirondacks.  When I finished, I had time to do some more Shutterfly uploads.  I also did some organizing and drying clothes in the room.  At 1800, I drove to Sacred Heart (in Lebanon) and helped my fellow Knights put on the first Fish Fry of Lent.  I did eat a little food while there but never really had a full dinner.  Afterwards, I socialized a bit and stayed at the church until about 2030.  Eileen called and we talked for a little while during my drive back to White River Junction (on the way, I got gas at Irving in Lebanon). Even after I reached the hotel (0855), we talked for a little longer before I went to my room.  Once we said goodbye, I finished packing for our trip the next day and went to bed at 2200 so I could leave first thing in the morning.  Although I hope to have great weather for my drive, I also hoping an upcoming storm will improve the conditions in the Upper Valley...

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 16

Still in White River Junction, I started my day early again (0530) and teleworked until breakfast (0645).  We'd gotten plenty of snow overnight (at least five inches) so it made sense that many things (including some volunteering I'd planned) had been canceled.  Another nice thing: the Holiday Inn lobby eating area wasn't as busy as I'd seen it earlier in the week.  I managed to remember to continue my (late starting) Ash Wednesday fast/abstinence... After I was done eating, I encountered (for the second day in a row) a room that had the door and windows wide open - I assume this was to clear the pot smell I'd been noticing whenever I passed it earlier in my stay...  Back in my room, I did some more teleworking until lunch time (1245).  After eating in my room, I resumed my telework day.  At 1430, I left White River Junction and drove to Eastman so I could do some cross country skiing.  It had been 22 days since I was last able to ski (yes, I’ve been counting) and I wasn’t sure I’d get another chance this season.  Starting at 1500, I managed to get two hours of skiing on the rolled trails near the Clubhouse.  Temps were in low 20s but snow consistency was perfect.  I only saw one other person taking advantage of this great opportunity.  The maintainers only rolled the track area today but I’m hopeful that low temps tonight (and more snow on the way) will help set a good base for the next few weeks.  For those of you constantly talking about the “end of winter”, I respectfully request that you keep on wishing for that to happen somewhere else!  Just as I was finishing (1700), Eileen called and we talked for a while about our weekend plans.  Meanwhile, I began my drive to Hanover so I could join my Jesse's Happy Hour friends late.  The conditions on I-89 were wet and icy and it was a bit difficult to drive... I got to the pub at around 1720 and managed to catch everyone just before most of them departed.  I then hung out with Bob until about 1815.  On the way home, I stopped by my condo to pick up mail (I didn't check anything else).  After that, I drove back to the Holiday Inn and did a little more teleworking.  In the end, I didn't really eat dinner (just a small snack) and spent the rest of the evening reading and watching movies.  After a full day, I went to bed at 2200.

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 15

[started my day (still in White River Junction) early again (0545) and teleworked until breakfast (0635) - teleworking and meetings until lunch time (1230) - ate lunch in room - because I still had to go through the remaining chicken (the last frozen food I was keeping in a cooler), I ate meat for lunch before I started my Ash Wednesday fast/abstinence - back to teleworking - at 1445, I left the hotel and drove to Whaleback Mountain to meet up with Jon H for a few drinks - I tried some Lawson's Finest "Little Sip" (it was good) and hung out with him and the other employees until around 1615 - everyone was excited for the chance of snow during the overnight and I crossed my fingers for them - I drove to my condo to get my mail and a few other items and ended up talking with my neighbors (Beth and Ann) for a little while about the repair timeline (I got another "it should be about two weeks") - after that, I drove to the Dartmouth Campus so I could attend Ash Wednesday Mass at the Aquinas House (1700) - the sanctuary was packed and I had to stand throughout the roughly 30 minute service - when it was over, I went back to my condo (I'd forgotten something) and went back to the hotel - at around 1830, I ate dinner (all veggies) - after that, I did some reading and did some more Shutterfly downloads/uploads - at 1915, an online meeting I'd previously scheduled with my Financial Advisor began - the internet speeds were horrible so it ended up being mostly on the phone - we were done talking by 2130 and I watched some movies after that - bed was at 2230]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 14

[I was awake in White River Junction ultra early (0400) and couldn't go back to sleep - read and relaxed for a little while and then started teleworking (0600) - kept at it until breakfast (0640) - lobby was very crowded (continued "February Vacation" effect) - teleworking again - weekend trip planning with Eileen - working until lunch time (1245) - more teleworking - stayed online until 1600 - took a walk near the hotel (snow falling) for about an hour - light dinner in my room (1815) - planning for my NZ-Australia trip - then watched movies until bed time (2145)]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 13

I woke up at 0615 (still at Holiday Inn in White River Junction) and got ready for my day.  I went to breakfast at 0645.  At 0730, I left the hotel and went to UVAC for a 45 minute swim, 7 minutes in the sauna, 7.5 minutes of rowing, 8 minutes of biking and some weights (0745 to 0915).  After getting back to the hotel (0930), I got some new linens from the maids (who were working near my room).  I then did some reading and uploaded some more photos to Shutterfly.  At around 1130, I ate lunch in my room and then got ready to leave for my volunteer session in Woodstock (VT).  Departed my hotel at 1230 and checked in with the Billings Farm staff so I could assist during the "Magic of Maple" Week.  Between 1300 and 1600, I volunteered at a Craft Station in the main building.  There was almost no one around (the weather was a bit rainy).  I got to try maple syrup poured over ice, with a cucumber pickle chaser.  Also toured area where buckets were dripping maple sap.  Finished with my "docent" duties (helping little kids make Abraham Lincoln masks) and departed at around 1615.  I drove (via US-4 and I-89) to West Lebanon and bought some rum (Bacardi prices have soared!) at the NH Liquor store (1635).  I then headed back to my hotel room, where I ate dinner in my room (1830).  Then listened to audiobooks and did some other reading - also watched movies until bed-time (2200).

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 12

[woke up at 0500 (still in White River Junction) - very sore from three hours walking yesterday - went to breakfast in the hotel lobby at 0700 - spent a little while organizing, and cleaning up my belongings - ended up taking a nap from 0830 to 1100 - then worked on Shutterfly stuff - got to talk with Brenna on the phone - ate lunch in the room (1230) - then did some reading - at 1500, I drove across the Connecticut River to Lebanon - I parked at the Price Chopper on the Miracle Mile and then (1515) walked the entire length of the Mascoma River Greenway and the newly paved section of the Northern Rail Trail - temps were in the mid 40s - I also walked around in Lebanon and, when I got back near my car, walked in the parking lot until I reached three hours of outdoor exercise (1815) - I then drove back to my hotel (arrived at 1830) - dinner in the room (1845) - watched movies - more Shutterfly - bedtime at 2200]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 11

I didn't sleep well (probably only got about four hours of actual rest) and woke up at 0530 (still in White River Junction).  Overnight, Eileen had texted that she would like to reschedule our get together to the next weekend and I told her that was OK.  I took my time getting ready and didn't go down the lobby to eat breakfast until around 0715.  The noises I'd heard in the hallway during the night were finally clear when I saw that someone had pulled the "do not disturb" sign from my door.  The clientele of the hotel changed tremendously for the weekend... I did some admin work in my room for a little while before deciding to go explore the junction of the Cross New Hampshire and Cross Vermont trails.  I left White River Junction at around 0930 and drove north on I-91.  I got off the Interstate at VT-25 and then used US-5 to reach the town of Wells River.  Listened to audiobooks on the way.  I had hoped to find parking for the rail trail(s) on the Vermont side but didn't.  Instead, I crossed the Connecticut River and parked at the Railroad Park in Woodsville (1015). From there, I explored the old tracks as they reached the river crossing.  The temps started in the high 20s and eventually climbed to the mid 30s.  The railroad bridge looked sturdy but had fences across the entrance.  Instead, I walked across on the US-302 bridge and then clambered up an embankment on the other side until I was walking on the tracks.  They ended up joining the active train line that parallels the Connecticut all the way to White River Junction.  I decided against continuing...  Disappointed, I walked down a side street then then continued deeper into Wells River.  At an information kiosk, I found a map that indicated how most of the Cross Vermont Trail was only a road surface bike path, at least until it reached the Blue Mountain Union School (close to I-91).  So, I walked back to my car to drive up there.  On the way, I found an iPhone on the ground (it was still charged) and dropped it off with one of the local stores - they said they would give it to the Police department.  I then got in my car for a drive to the next trailhead (1115), located in Boltonville (VT).  I used US-302 to head west and parked at Blue Mountain Union School (1125).  After that, I walked on an icy/slippery trail (it was basically an ice rink and I definitely needed micro-spikes) behind the building until I reached the Wells River Rail Trail, which was part of the Cross Vermont Trail.  From there, I walked the entire trail: first (southbound) to where it met US-302 south of the school and then (northbound) towards the I-91 bridge.  I kept going and eventually reached US-302 again (near Boltonville Landing).  I walked a short distance to the dam on the Wells River and witnessed the amazing power of the water.  Next, I backtracked to my car via US-302, stopping at a few points of interest along the way.  As I crossed I-91, I got an amazing panoramic view of several white-capped peaks to the east - it looked like you could see Moosilauke, the Kinsmans and the northern end of Franconia Ridge.  Wow!  Overall, the only people I saw on the trail all day were some dog walkers at the very beginning of this second hike.  Got back to my car at 1325 and found a $10 bill just as I was finishing - score!  Feeling refreshed, I drove a short distance to I-91 and headed back to White River Junction; the trip was about 45 miles.  Again, listened to audiobooks on the way - lunch was snacks in the car.  I arrived at the hotel at around 1415 and spent the rest of the afternoon reading and watching movies.  I got to talk to Mollie on the phone just before dinner.  Made some food in my room (1900) and then did some more reading.  Went to bed at around 2200.  Great day on the rail trails!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 10

[up early (still at hotel in White River Junction) and started teleworking (0545) - breakfast at 0630 - more teleworking - ate lunch in the room (1145) - more teleworking - it rained most of the day - I spent much of the day waiting for Eileen to call to tell me whether she could get together over my upcoming long weekend - the Feds got an early dismissal (for the long holiday weekend) so it was pretty quiet - after I was done working (1600), I took a walk around the area near the hotel (1 hour) - it was much colder (20s, with wind) than the previous few days - back in my room, I finally had a chance to talk to Eileen (her daughter had COVID-19 so it was going to be impossible for us to meet up) - after our conversation, I ate dinner in my room (1930) - almost all of the frozen food is now gone or in the fridge - spent the evening watching movies - also did some reading and ended up staying up way past my normal bed time (0030)]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 9

[(still in White River Junction) awake early - started teleworking at 0530 - went to breakfast at 0700 - then walked to VA Medical Center for my 0730 Physical Therapy appointment - that went well and then I walked back to the Holiday Inn Express (total walking time in early AM = 0.5 hours) - more teleworking - lunch in room (1215) - teleworked some more - took a break from 1250 to 1420 for a walk near the hotel, a lot of this walk was on the VA Medical Center Property (1.5 hours) - more teleworking - at 1530, left my hotel and drove back to Hanover so I could go to happy hour at Jesse's - stayed from 1600 to 1800 - picked up my mail at the condo - then drove back to White River Junction - later dinner in room (1845) - reading, watching movies - bed at 2245]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 8

[started teleworking at 0600 (still in White River Junction at hotel) - went to breakfast at 0655 - then went back to teleworking - lots of meetings - during a break, snagged some toiletries from one of the maid's carts - ate lunch in my room (1300) - teleworked until 1600 - worked on some paperwork (taxes, etc.) - went for a walk near the hotel (1730-1830) - on the way, met a guy to was looking for an open mic night (at Big Fatty's?) because he wanted to play his spoons (I tried to help him find the place he was looking for) - ate dinner in my room (1900) - spent the evening reading and watching movies - bed at 2230]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 7

[awake at 0500 (in WRJ) and immediately started teleworking - went to breakfast at 0645 - back to teleworking - talked to Eileen, trying to make plans for the coming weekend - ate lunch in my room (1230) - more cooking to use up remaining frozen items (finally down to just a cooler, after having to use a giant trash-can to preserve items since I moved into the hotel) - teleworking until 1500 - got some new towels from the maid in the hall - then (1515) went to UVAC for a 45 minute swim, 5 minutes in the sauna, 15 minutes of biking, 5 minutes of rowing and some weights - picked up my prizes for completing the BeFit January Challenge (got a "buff" and exercise roller for my back) - back to the hotel by 1700 - dinner in my room (1745) - exchanging Valentine's Day texts with the kids - watched movies and read books until bed time (2200)]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 6

[I woke up (still in White River Junction) at 0600 and started teleworking - went to breakfast in lobby at 0630 - back to teleworking - lunch in room (1215) - more teleworking - took a walk near the hotel from 1250 to 1350 (weather was very nice) - more teleworking - since meetings at 1400 were canceled, I knocked off work early (had some extra hours banked) - drove across the River to Lebanon - stopped at Parish Office to visit with Camille and Cathy - did some volunteering from 1445 to 1635 at LISTEN Community Center in Lebanon (mopping, sweeping, packing orders, packing dog-food) - then went for walk on Mascoma Greenway (1635 to 1735) - dinner (sandwiches I'd made) in parking lot at Sacred Heart (1745) - Knights of Columbus meeting (1800 to 1900) - helped move tables and chairs in preparation for Mardi Gras Night - drove back to White River Junction and my hotel (arrived at 1930) - reading, paperwork, watching movies - bed at 2245]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 5

I woke up this morning (0630) with a plan to continue volunteering this weekend during the Backyard Winter Bird Survey (conducted by NH Audubon).  Even though I got a good bit of data yesterday, I wasn't finished looking for birds.  With snow conditions continuing to be a bust for skiing, I decided to look for a place where I could do some hiking and hills today.  Over breakfast in a quite crowded lobby this morning (0715), I spent some time consulting my maps and some online resources.  During this time, I found an interesting area off I-89 (and old NH-10), the Grantham Town Forest, that was crisscrossed with lots of trails between the towns of Grantham and Plainfield.  I wasn't in a big burry to leave White River Junction, however... Back in my room, I did some paperwork, reading, organization, etc. until it was time for (early) lunch (1030).  By this time, I was getting really annoyed by the strong smell of weed that permeated the entire hallway and, even, my own spaces.  Hoping to escape the hotel room doldrums, I left Vermont, proceeded into New Hampshire and headed south on I-89.  It took a bit of driving on muddy, unmaintained roads to reach the location of a trailhead for the Grantham Town Forest - when I got there (1100), I found that no one had plowed the parking lot recently (since November?).  Fortunately, there was just enough room to park on the “side” of the road and I headed into the woods from there (1115).  There was a lot more snow in this area, which was on a high ridge above the valley where the Interstate is - if I got off the track (groomed for snowmobiles), I sank in up to my knees.  So, I didn’t get away from the good surface and had a nice walk.  After passing (and looking inside) a warming hut on Miller’s Pond Road, I arrived at a “four corners” junction.  The main trail that went north-south was called the Croyden Turnpike and it looked the most traveled.  So I followed it to the south.  What a nice day - temps were in the high 30s and there weren’t any clouds!  Several snowmobiles passed but I was otherwise alone.  Backtracking after a while, I retraced my steps until I passed the four corners again - this time, I continued north.  A bit later, four snowmobiles passed me and pulled out onto an overlook just ahead of me.  When I caught up to them again, I ended up in a good conversation about the trail systems.  They were board-members for their local skimobile club and immediately tried to recruit me for trail maintenance and merry making.  I declined their offer but, when they mentioned they’d give me a ride (!!!) north on the Croyden Turnpike (“to see the view from Little Mount Washington”), I eagerly accepted.  On the back of one Snowcat, I got to experience the thrill of racing through the snow, up and down over crazy moguls, curving and weaving through narrow passages.  I’ll admit that one hand was death-gripped on a handle I found but I’m still very glad I got to ride!  The driver took me to the top of Little Mount Washington and I was greeted with a spectacular panorama of all the snow capped peaks for 50 miles: Sunapee, Kearsarge, Cardigan, Moosilauke, the Kinsmans and (maybe) Franconia Ridge and the edge of the Presidentials!  The view was tremendous. The guys told me that the Croyden Turnpike actually connects NH/MA border with a place deep inside Quebec - a trip on that trail would be an amazing winter adventure!  I said goodbye to my new friends and then walked back to my car, which was about 2.5 miles away by then.  The snow surface was really good and temps were in the high 30s.  In the end, I got two hours of pleasant outdoor time in the woods, good exercise in the unseasonable weather and an adventurous ride in the last remaining snow near my home - can’t beat that!  At 1315, I drove over to Eastman to check on the trail conditions.  Since everything was covered in ice, I decided to do some more work on the Bird Survey (1330 to 1430).  The weather conditions vastly improved but this didn't seem to help me find many more birds...  By the time I finished, though, I felt very good about how I'd been able to participate in the annual event.  My initial plan had been to spend the weekend at home, looking out the window and recording my finds.  In the end, I did spend one hour in the parking lot of my unit but also visited four other areas (two on each day, for one hour each) to see if the number/types were different.  Over the two days, I saw at least nine different kinds of birds (including, among others: sparrows, mocking birds, starlings, nuthatches, chickadees, crows, tufted titmice, blue jays, cardinals) and listened to them singing in the quiet of trail systems, riverways and a golf course.  Since I was never near any bird feeders, the number and types were much lower than they might have been at someone else's home.  But I am glad that I wasn't pinned down on being at my condo - it took a lot of research to identify some of the different birds I saw and I needed extra time to get back into the "birding" mindset (thank goodness for internet photos and bird call recordings).  At 1435, I drove back to White River Junction and arrived at the Holiday Inn again just before 1500.  I ate early dinner in my room (1730) and also spent time online recording the NH Audubon Backyard Winter Bird Survey results.  After that, I spent the rest of the evening reading, cooking, watching movies.  I went to bed at 2230.  The whole birding exercise brought back happy memories of watching feathered friends as a kid while my mom would look them up in her bird book.  Hoping I can try another one of these surveys sometime!  

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 4

Time to get outside!  I woke up (still in White River Junction) at 0515 and worked on uploading my photos to Shutterfly.  It was snowing lightly.  At 0645, I went to breakfast in the lobby and then packed up for my day outside.  I drove across the Connecticut River and went to Men of St. Joseph at Sacred Heart (0815 to 0915),  Next, I made my way to my condo to pick up some items.  After that, I set out from home to complete my three planned hours of Backyard Winter Bird Survey for NH Audubon. They asked volunteers to look for different types of birds in their backyards on February 11 and 12 - when I signed up a few weeks ago I thought I only needed to stay home all day to record my sightings.  However, since I was recently displaced from my condo, I had to get creative.  My first stop was at the Greensboro Ridge Natural Area, where I walked the trails (also checking them for downed trees as part of my volunteer position with Hanover Conservancy) between 0930 and 1030.  The temps were in the high 30s.  Before the water leak incident derailed most of my plans, I’d thought about attending a wine tasting event at Farm-Way in Bradford (VT); I decided to stop by during a break from other “outdoor Saturday” activities and head up there (via I-91).  I arrived at around 1145 and located the special table the Montview Vineyard had set up - they had several selections of their unique offerings from which to choose.  My favorite was their Vermont Sangria because of the maple syrup infusion.  In fact, it was so good that we are probably going to this Vineyard  If you come to visit me!  I bought a bottle to take home and then walked around inside Farm-Way for a little bit.  Back in the car (1300), I ate lunch I'd packed (snacks) in the car and talked to Mollie on the phone.  Following VT/NH-25, I crossed back into New Hampshire and used NH-10 and River Road (Orford) to reach the Edgell Covered Bridge (Lyme), where I hoped to be able to observe more birds.  I ended up spending an hour there (1330 to 1430) and saw lots of interesting birds.  To identify them, I had to constantly consult the internet (sounds, pictures, descriptions of habitats).  Still, many of them looked familiar from the time when I was very young and my mother loved Birding.  It was clear and cool and I didn't see any other people.  Afterwards, I drove south to Hanover and spent more time bird watching at my condo (1445 to 1545).  After logging three hours, I felt pretty good about how the Backyard Bird Survey was going!  Next, I headed south to Lebanon and attended Mass (1600).  Afterwards, I went to Shaw's in West Lebanon to get another one of their great free items.  Finally, I drove back to White River Junction and ended my day at the Holiday Inn Express.  Before forgetting about it, I went online and recorded my volunteer time for Hanover Conservancy.  I ate dinner in the room (1830).  For the rest of the evening, I read books and watched movies until bed time (2300).  What a great day outside!

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 3

[I woke up (still in White River Junction) at 0515 and started teleworking - went to breakfast in lobby at 0645 - back to teleworking - early lunch in room - at 1115, drove a short distance to UVAC to workout (45 minute swim, 5 minute sauna, 25 minute bike (5.4 miles) - back to hotel for lunch and more telework - finished at 1645 and ate dinner in my room - spent the rest of the evening reading and watching movies - bed at 2230]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 2

[woke up in White River Junction - I was up by 0500 and started teleworking - went to breakfast in lobby at 0630 - back to teleworking - noisy housekeeping staff - getting used to my new accommodations - lunch in my room (1230) - more teleworking - went for a walk near the hotel (1 hour) - it started to snow but then later turned to rain - more teleworking - at 1530, I left the hotel and drove over to New Hampshire - talked to Eileen on the way - got gas at Irving in West Lebanon on the way (1545) slushy roads (plows were out trying to clear the roads) - happy hour and dinner (salmon BLT) at Jesse's from 1600 until 1800 - stopped at my condo to get a few items and found that the workmen had completely removed all of the drywall in the front of the unit - even though most of the power was secured, I did find the heat was still running - I also found windows open (?), the door unlocked and that someone had used the bathroom (smh) - stopped in to see Monte and he told me he'd resolve all the issues - after that, I drove back to White River Junction (hard to see the lines on the roads because of the rain and fading paint) - did some more teleworking for a while and then read some of my books - continuing to dry items from the wet condo - trying to keep my frozen items from melting (lots of hotel ice) - watched some movies on my phone (the TV didn't have streaming services connection) - bed by 2200]

Burst Pipe Adventure - Day 1

The dust (or, really, water) from the burst pipe in my building (on Sunday) seemed to have settled when I woke up yesterday.  With fans and dehumidifiers, I was feeling pretty lucky by Tuesday - there didn’t seem to be much negativity to show for the freak accident.  But that’s when the real fun began: insurance adjusters, property managers and mold mitigation experts showed up at my place at noon that day and quickly declared that I had until 0800 on Thursday (February 9) to vacate my condo for up to 30 days of renovation and repair!  It turned out that everyone in the building got the same news because so much water had entered the walls and other voids.  As a result of the disruption, my neighbors and I had to spend the next 30 hours trying to get our stuff moved out of the damaged area so work could begin - not fun.  In more than 35 years of moving and renting, I’ve never had to do so much packing and carrying in such a short time.  Along the way, I got to see just how valuable/important (or not) all my stuff was and realized that I could definitely downsize... Through it all, I was assisted (as always) by the wonderful residents of the Upper Valley, especially my neighbors and landlord.  Although I made some progress last night in getting ready to move, I still got up this morning at 0400 and resumed moving all of my personal belongings to the back of the condo.  In an attempt to maintain a bit of normalcy, I started teleworking at 0600 and ate a light breakfast at 0800 (had to try to use up a lot of food or it would spoil).  I ended up having work meetings almost all day.  I was able to eat lunch at my condo (1200) and kept working for my company.  At 1500, went to The Fort (Lebanon) to meet up for coffee with Jerry C.  We visited until 1600 and then I went back to my condo to telework some more.  At 1700, I stopped my work day and then continued moving all of my stuff out of the living areas.  My landlord came by at around 1730 and helped me move some furniture.  After he departed, I kept going until around 1915. I ended up eating a light dinner (more perishable items). At around this same time, my insurance company (USAA) came through with better assistance than I’d ever dreamed of in response to my most significant property insurance event ever; they made a reservation for me at a local hotel for the extended period I expect to be displaced.  In that moment, I went from wondering where I was going to go to having significant peace of mind only hours after making my claim.  This development gave me an incentive to hurry up and vacate the condo (so I could start the next morning in an "office mode."  I packed up my car and drove across the Connecticut River to the Holiday Inn Express in White River Junction (checked in just after 1930).  This was apparently the only hotel with a kitchen that would allow a long-term stay on the dates I needed.  The lady at the front desk told me I got the last room - whew!  With some difficulty (the only cart I could find was too small), I got my car unpacked into my room and then set up for three weeks in the room.  I had more difficulties with fitting frozen items into small fridge but used some coolers I'd brought in an effort to save the rest.  I got to bed at around 2200.  I’m now resettled and feeling blessed to have such good support systems in place to take away the stresses and worries of life...

Wilder, VT (USA)

Some people have asked me why I enjoy walking so much after a career of flying at high speeds (“it’s such a slow way to get around”).  I usually tell them it’s my therapy - give me several hours “in the zone” on a trail and my mind is almost always clear.  But walking is also a way to really get to know a place at a pace which doesn’t allow you to miss (like passing by in a car does) interesting businesses, animal behavior, great scenery, shortcuts and homes that might be worth having.  After the worst of the cold weather passed the Upper Valley overnight, I considered going skiing  but the snow was old, crusty and dry.  Instead, I drove across the Connecticut River and walked for three hours (0925 to 1225) between Norwich and White River Junction.  Fortunately, the temps today were between 18 and 30 F during this time.  Along the way, I explored several neighborhoods in the town of Hartford (Wilder and WRJ) and checked out the frozen outflow on the Dam that keeps my house powered.  It's nice to know a little more about the area where I live!  I then returned home (arrived at 1300) and started relaxing on my couch. I was enjoying a good book on my couch when the fire alarm went off (1400).  I took my time going outside because the temps were back in the high 20s but, when I opened the door, encountered Niagara Falls coming down from the landing above.  It appeared that my upstairs neighbors’ sprinkler system had deployed so I checked on them, only to find them bailing buckets of water out of their unit!  From there, gravity took over and soaked all the other units below - what a mess... The Hanover Fire Department came and, after securing the water, helpfully shop-vacc’d most of the moisture away.  I was fortunate to not have as much damage as everyone else and didn’t even lose any of my property.  We speculated that our -18 F weekend weather had frozen a sprinkler line - the firemen said they’d already been to over 20 other apartments earlier in the morning!  Spent the evening drying out my stuff - hope things settle down after this...

White River Junction, VT (USA)

This morning I spent several hours assisting the Upper Valley Aquatic Center staff in White River Junction with one of their Swim Meets.  Between 1230 and 1530, several of my fellow volunteers and I braved the temps (-2 to 8 F!) to direct visitors to open parking spots.  I didn’t realize how it would feel to work three hours outside on a day with a Polar Vortex.  I do now - yikes!  Fortunately, the worst of the cold (-18 F) was only during the night.  Still, my boots and socks were not really effective in the conditions and I was quite relieved when the event was over...  Still, it was great to assist members of my community in putting on a world class event!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[teleworking in the morning - later, went swimming at UVAC in WRJ between 1430 to 1515 - then took in a sauna (5 minutes), rode 3 miles on bike, did some rowing and worked with the weights (done at 1600) - home by 1615 - more teleworking]

Grantham, NH (USA)

I teleworked, starting very early this morning.  With an Arctic Blast on its way toward the Upper Valley, I then raced over to Eastman after work to try to log some miles on my skis.  For about two hours (1445 to 1645), I had fun getting exercise.  The whole trail system was basically an ice rink but I did my best until the sun went down.  Brrrr...  I then drove home (arrived by 1700) and did some more teleworking.  I am making the best of the rotten winter weather we've had in 2022-2023...