Quechee, VT (USA)

[after work (1700), I drove to White River Junction and returned Jenn S's kayak to the Adaptive Sports trailer - it was raining a bit by then - took US-4 to Pizza Chef in Quechee and joined the Balloon Festival Volunteer Thank You Celebration (1745-1845) - the pizza was really good, I had a nice beer and talked to several of my friends (most from the UVAC) - the whole event was very nice and I left as the group started to downsize - rain all the way home (arrived 1915)]

New London, NH (USA)

After work (1600), I drove to New London because I wanted to attend a Notre Dame Alumni event in the evening.  On the way, I stopped at Hannaford to pick up some food (for the potluck) - it took some time to find good things but I was successful (1645).  Next, I drove to Peter Christian's Tavern so I could meet up with Jerry C.  While waiting for him to arrive (1700), I got a call from Amanda C. so talked to her for a bit.  After Jerry got there, we had a nice happy hour (sitting outside on the patio).  At 1800, I said goodbye to him and drove (about 10 minutes) towards the Notre Dame "Student Sendoff" event.  It took place in a neighborhood next to Pleasant Pond (very pretty).  While there, I met several new people but also saw a few others I recognized from previous events.  The food was good, the music and camaraderie were nice - everyone was dressed in Irish gear.  I stayed until 2000 and then headed towards home - talked to Amanda C. again on the way.  Arrived at my condo by 2045.  It was a nice evening of visiting!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[teleworking very early - at 1455, I drove to White River Junction (UVAC) - spent 45 minutes swimming (52 lengths) - then drove home (arrived at 1615) - more teleworking]

Enfield, NH (USA)

After some good traveling around this month, I decided to stay close to home today.  This morning, I did some work in my condo.  Later, I spent time with a good book.  At 1630, I drove to Lebanon and filled up my gas tank.  Next, I drove (via US-4) to Enfield and parked at St. Helena's.  Before attending church, I walked around in town for about 30 minutes.  I then went to Mass at 1730.  Afterwards, I drove east on Shaker Hill Road, looking for the boat launch at Crystal Lake.  This required using some back roads - I had no internet so I wasn't exactly sure if I'd find the spot.  Fortunately, I arrived there by 1830 and quickly unloaded my kayak.  I'd first learned about Crystal Lake a few years ago when I was hiking the Collette Trail (along Bicknell Brook).  It was so pretty that I vowed to paddle it someday - today was that day! I definitely had good outing on the water and even saw a bald eagle.  The conditions were pleasant and I spent a full hour (2 miles) in a counterclockwise circuit.  Highlight: visiting Oliver Island.  Afterwards (1930), I made my way to NH-4A and (via US-4 and I-89) headed home (arrived before 2000).  Great paddle!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

Brenna's last day... I got up early to start teleworking (0600) and got a lot of work done before Brenna was awake (1000).  She got some breakfast and helped me clean up the condo a bit.  At about 1045, we departed the condo, enroute to the Train Station in White River Junction.  I had a work telcon (I did in the car while we were driving).  Brenna asked that I stop at Dunkin' Donuts in Lebanon and she used several of the gift cards I'd given her to get an iced coffee.  We next drove across the Connecticut River (via NH-10 and some side streets) and arrived at the station by 1125.  The bus (replacing the Amtrak north of New Haven) arrived about five minutes later.  Brenna said goodbye to me and got on the bus - it was hard to watch her leaving...  After I was sure she was OK, I left the area and went to get some lab work done at the VA Medical Center (1145).  It was raining (a lot) when I was finished.  At around that same time, Brenna texted that her trip was going OK but wished she'd been able to stay with me longer (I agreed with the sentiment).  After I got home (1200), I teleworked for the rest of the afternoon.  Brenna continued to text me throughout the day about her itinerary (delays in Springfield and, eventually, meeting the Amtrak in New Haven).  We also talked a bit about how much she'd liked visiting and enjoyed the food I'd sent along with her (pizza leftovers, snacks from the Trail Magic, cheese from Billings Farm).  It was a great visit - I hope we don't have to wait too long to see each other again!

Quechee, VT (USA)

I started teleworking very early (0530) and Brenna slept until about 1015.  After she got up, she ate some breakfast (leftovers from Eggsquis) and spent time reading and relaxing.  Meanwhile, I had meetings until 1400.  After that, I suggested she get ready for an excursion and we were able to leave my condo by 1430.  We first drove around in Lebanon and I showed her several places (my Church, LISTEN Center, Colburn Park, etc.).  Next, I took her across the Connecticut River and we got on US-4 so we could explore some of Vermont.  I took her to the covered bridge at Quechee - she liked that.  Afterwards, we went inside the Simon Pearce and watched some glassblowers working.  Next, we drove west to another covered bridge on the outskirts of Woodstock.  Brenna got pictures in each of the locations and commented that she really liked Vermont. I took her to the Billings Farm and we walked around on the grounds of the National Park for a short time (she liked seeing the animals and pretty scenery).  Backtracking towards New Hampshire, we stopped at the Quechee Gorge (south side of US-4).  From the parking lot, we walked (on a brand new trail) down to the bottom of the gorge.  Brenna took lots of photos and put her hand in the (very cold) water of the Ottauquechee River.  It took a lot of energy to reach the top of the hill again but we were soon on our way (via US-4) to I-89.  After crossing the Connecticut River, we stopped at the Powerhouse Mall and did some window shopping - Brenna really liked the LL Bean and Lemon Tree Gifts.  After exploring most of the building, we made our way to Lui Lui so we could get some dinner.  We sat down at 1705 and ended up having a wonderful meal  (pizza!).  Brenna wanted to do some more shopping in the Powerhouse Mall but most of the stores had closed by the time we returned (1800).  She was especially disappointed that the Yankee Candle store wasn't open.  Instead, we left West Lebanon and drove north (on NH-10) to Hanover.  We parked behind Molly's and then walked around on the Main Street area.  Next, we crossed over to the Dartmouth Green and walked around near the Baker Library.  We passed by several Frats and Sororities - Brenna was fascinated.  Upon reaching the Aquinas House, we walked (through the woods) down to the Crew Clubhouse.  I wanted to show Brenna where the monument for John Ledyard was and we found it next to the Ledyard Canoe Club (1855).  After that, we walked to the Ledyard Bridge and back up to the top of Wheelock Street.  Returning to the car, we drove towards my house and arrived there at around 2000.  I thought Brenna might take a nap but she was interested in watching another movie - this time, I chose some YouTube videos about the movie "Dave" (we'd talked about how it was almost true to life).  She enjoyed those and we also watched some "How I met Your Mother" clips.  Brenna told me she wanted to watch another movie that I liked so I chose another one from my services - it was a hit!  We were done watching videos at around 2200 and I went to bed (she stayed up a bit later).  I wish the visit could last a lot longer...

Montreal Trip - Day 4

On our last day in Montreal, I woke up at 0600 and got ready.  Last night, I'd asked Brenna to pack and I was pleased to find her bags ready.  Meanwhile, she slept while I finished up my own packing, went to breakfast and double checked the room for items we might have forgotten.  At 0745, I managed to convince Brenna to wake up.  I then got most of the bags and walked to the parking garage (under the nearby Hyatt Hotel).  Once I located my car, I managed to get it out of the tight-fitting spot and (after some trouble with my credit card) carefully exited the low-ceiling garage without damaging my car (0815).  During the time I was gone, Brenna ate breakfast.  When I got back to the hotel, she brought the bags down to the lobby and we checked out.  Overall, it was a nice stay!  Next, we loaded up the car and headed towards Mont Royal.  The weather was beautiful again.  We took surface streets to the parking area and paid our fee at a kiosk (0855).  We then walked towards the nice overlook spot - Brenna liked the view.  Next, we walked around on the road that circled the top of Mont Royal and visited the big cross.  Making our way back to the car, we looked inside the visitor center building before departing (0955).  We drove a short distance to the entrance of the Notre Dame Cemetery (Cote des Neiges) and located Owen Coogan's stone.  Since my last visit, the grass had been cut - things looked much better.  Next, we explored the area a little and made our way towards Griffintown.  We located the Parc Du Fauberg-Sainte-Anne (ruins of the St. Ann's Church, where our family had attended).  During this time, Brenna asked me lots of questions about family history.  In Griffintown, there was a LOT of new construction, mostly apartment buildings, but very little parking.  We got lucky, though, and found a place on the street near Lock #3 for the Lachine Canal.  I had to laugh because this was the exact location for the "Lock and Paddle" that we'd missed the day before...  There were LOTS of bikers and people doing yoga in the area and we spent time exploring the history, bike trails and wonderful views.  By 1055, we were back at our car and made our way (again via the ruins of St. Ann's Church), towards the entrance to the Victoria Bridge (Rue Wellington, Rue Bridge and QC-112).  The route was a tight fitting squeeze for my car and the surface of the old bridge was metal.  The views were good, though.  I'd hoped to take Brenna to the Ile-Notre-Dame (for the Olympic venues) but couldn't make it work due to the way the roads were organized.  Instead, we got on A20 and headed south; this route took us to A15.  I'd briefly considered getting on the "normal" road, A10, but took the scenic route along the Saint Lawrence River.  Brenna was getting hungry by this point so I suggested we get some crepes at Eggsquis.  She liked that idea and we found one along our route, although we had to backtrack through farm fields (after getting off A15) to reach the restaurant  (located in St-Constant / Delson, QC).  Once seated, we both ordered some good stuff (crepes) enjoyed a nice meal.  After that (1215), we used A30 to get back to A15 and drove south.  Brenna decided she wanted a break from talking - she put on her ear buds and listened to music while I drove.  She eventually fell asleep and got a nice nap.  As we approached the border at Blackpool, QC Google Maps suggested we drive east (on Montee Guay) to the border crossing at Rouses Point, NY (used QC-223 and US-11).  This turned out to be a good suggestion and we arrived there at 1305.  The line of cars wasn't too bad and, by 1315, we were through the checkpoint.  Next, we got on US-2 and headed towards the southeast.  This route took us across the Lake Champlain islands and Brenna liked the scenery.  At about this time, I remembered that Mollie had once shared a Facebook Message with me about a bike trail called the Colchester Causeway - I recalled that it was nearby.  I managed to locate the spot and we headed over there (via US-2 to US-7  and back roads).  Once parked (1430), we took a walk and enjoyed the wonderful trail conditions - we saw LOTS of bikers.  Brenna enjoyed the scenery and we spent about 45 minutes there.  I was quite relieved that our car didn't get towed off of the "Private Road"...  Backtracking towards I-89, we started driving towards home.  Since President Biden had just announced that he would no longer be in the running for 2024, Brenna and I talked about this for a while.  During this time, we made good time to the Connecticut River and stopped in West Lebanon so I could do some shopping at Home Depot (1645).  We also stopped at the Beverage King (to look for a drink that Mollie wanted; no luck) and then headed home (arrived at 1715).  Brenna unloaded her stuff and then took a three hour nap.  Meanwhile, I did some chores in my condo.  Brenna was awake again by 2030 and we ate some dinner (leftovers) together.  We then watched another movie on my streaming services.  It was over before 2200 and I headed to bed (Brenna stayed up for a little while).  It will be hard to say goodbye to Brenna after such a nice visit!

Montreal Trip - Day 3

This morning, I was awake by 0630 but Brenna slept late again (until 0930).  Meanwhile, I went to breakfast (0730), read, did Duolingo, worked on the ND Alumni Notes.  I also took care of planning for my upcoming kayak trip.  Eventually (1015), Brenna was fed and dressed.  After listing off a few activities that she wanted to do that would require a car (most on Mont Royal), I requested that she find a location that was closer to the hotel.  She then told me she was interested in visiting the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (she'd noticed it on the map yesterday) so we walked there.  It was about 45 minutes away from the hotel but the weather was nice.  We just had to make our way to Rue Sherbrooke and head southwest.  On the way, we talked about other activities we might do later in the day.  When we arrived at the entrance, Brenna bought tickets for us and we went into the first of three buildings that the museum had.  For the next several hours, we walked around all of the exhibits (including one special event with Flemish painters).  Along the way, we saw some good (famous) artists and some crazy modern things that we didn't consider "art".  At one point, we found a restaurant in the main museum building and ate lunch (1245).  Following lunch, we continued exploring the exhibit floors in the second and third building.  Overall, we did a LOT of walking.  After almost four hours in the museum, we finally departed and made our way back towards the hotel.  Brenna had a hankering for some "good" coffee ("not Tim Hortons again") so we looked for a local place.  This led us through part of McGill University, which was under a sort of lockdown after the Pro-Palestinian rally camp had been removed.  Eventually (near the gated main entrance), we found a café called "Second Cup" - fortunately, it had the iced coffee that Brenna wanted.  Afterwards, we walked further east to Boulevard Rene-Levesque.  On the way towards our hotel, we passed the Courtyard Hotel that I'm almost sure was the place we stayed during our visit in 2006... Brenna was getting tired and wanted to "chill in the room" so, after we reached the hotel (1630), we both took a break.  This was a bit disappointing to me because I'd hoped we could go to Notre Dame (for Mass) or to the Lock and Paddle event in the Lachine Canal.  Brenna, however, just didn't seem interested in walking around too much more.  While waiting for her, I ended up falling asleep again and so did she.  I was awake at 1800 but Brenna kept resting for a while.  Meanwhile (1900), it started raining and this curtailed plans we had to return to the Festival International Nuits d'Afrique.  Instead, we went to a nearby corner store (D & B Depanneur) to pick up some drinks and snacks.  Back in the room, we ate, drank and played one of the games (Racko) that Brenna had brought.  We had a good time and enjoyed all of the food and fun.  It kept raining all evening.  We watched some of the local TV and were getting ready for bed (2200) when we suddenly started hearing strange noises outside.  It took a bit but we soon realized that fireworks had begun at the nearby amusement park, La Ronde (I guess they decided that the weather had improved enough).  We were able to watch them from our hotel room and they lasted for about 30 minutes.  Brenna was really glad for this unusual treat.  Afterwards, we wound down to bed-time with a bit more television and talking.  Both of us were lights out by 2345.  Another fun day with my daughter!

Montreal Trip - Day 2

After a good sleep, I got up very early (0530) and started teleworking in the hotel room.  I took a break for breakfast in the hotel restaurant (0745) and then resumed my work (meetings).  Meanwhile, Brenna slept until 0930 and only got out of bed to go to breakfast when I warned her that the restaurant was going to close in 30 minutes.  She came back with stories of all the differences she'd been noticing about Canada versus the US.  While I continued working, Brenna got ready to leave the hotel.  At about 1100, she went looking for a Tim Hortons and, for the rest of the afternoon, she kept contacting me to send photos and tell me about her adventures in Old Montreal (including the Notre Dame Basilica).  She seemed to be having a great time and I was happy for her.  During this part of the day, Mollie texted with me for a while (mostly to talk about a trail she'd heard about in Canada near Lake Huron - it sounded like a nice place to visit).  I finished my telework day at 1600 and texted Brenna to see where she was.  She replied that she was walking to a museum she wanted to visit and wouldn't be back for several hours.  When I told her I was OK with this, she suddenly changed her mind completely and returned to the hotel (1615).  I thought this meant we would go out to explore but she ended up spending the next two hours reading and relaxing in the room.  Feeling a bit bored, I took a nap and didn't wake up until 1830.  By then, I actually had to wake Brenna up to get her to go out exploring.  Once she was ready, we walked over to Rue St. Denis and then took Rue St. Catherine towards the south. I wasn't expecting to find an event going on in the area where I'd attended the Jazz Festival but we encountered something called "Festival International Nuits d'Afrique".  There were many more food trucks and music, even stand-up comedy.  Fortunately, the weather was very nice.  As we explored, I realized we were close to Lola Rosa, the vegan restaurant I'd discovered in June.  Brenna said she was interested in having dinner there so we got a table on the mezzanine level inside.  We then ordered a Caesar salad, some tomato bread, lasagna (for me) and a quesadilla (for her).  I also got a local beer and Brenna got some Sangria.  All of the food was excellent - Brenna commented on how good much good stuff was in the quesadilla.  We topped off the meal with some carrot cake (also good).  During our dinner, we had a great conversation.  After finishing (2100), we decided to continue touring the festival venue, which turned out to be smaller than it was for the Jazz Festival.  We eventually reached the Scene TD Stage in Partierre du Quartier des Spectacles (a park where I'd spent a lot of time in June) and watched several musical acts, including Sofaz (from Reunion, Maroc and Burkina Faso), a DJ Set and Bim (from Benin).  All the music was good and there was a lot of French being spoken.  There was also a lot of Africa and other French Colony food/drink but we didn't try any (because we were still full).  I found a program and learned there were several more evenings of the festival.  Brenna asked if we could return the next day and I told her that sounded like a good idea.  Eventually, we both decided that we were tired and made our way out of the venue (2230).  On the way back to the hotel, we encountered several of the "pink baby" mascots that seem to represent the area of town (Brenna liked them).  At one point, we found ourselves in a rather secluded area - Brenna was not happy about this and asked that we backtrack to Rue St. Catherine.  Heeding her request, we made our way in that direction and found a LOT more people there.  Since it was still nice weather, I took her farther towards the north (into the LGBTQ section).  After watching some live music and buskers, we headed to the hotel.  My key didn't work so I had to get it fixed in the lobby.  Once in the room again (2300), we both relaxed and unwound and talked about current events.  I was in bed by 2345 and Brenna followed soon afterwards.  What a nice day!

Montreal Trip - Day 1

Brenna slept in at my condo until almost 1100.  Meanwhile, I started my telework day and then departed (at 0915) for the Trail Magic event I was conducting (with my friends) in Hanover (at the Black Recreation Center).  We hosted a big cookout for the Appalachian Trail Thru Hikers who were passing through on their way to Maine or Georgia.  In addition to many of the same friends and neighbors who helped make this event a success last year, we were joined by members of the local Trail Angels group and the staff of the RWB Rec Center.  The hiker feed was definitely a hit and many of our visitors took advantage of the nice weather, cooling shade and all the space we had for airing out gear or swapping out equipment they’d received at our Post Office. Along the way, we were inspired by the drive and determination of our guests.  In turn, I believe we were successful in sharing some Upper Valley cheer for their amazing journeys.  Overall, our collaboration with the town produced a great event that benefited 24 NOBO and 3 SOBO hikers.  It was a perfect day of food, fun and trail stories - I’m proud to be connected to our wonderful trail town and such awesome friends!  Brenna texted and called me several times as she woke up, got coffee and did some reading.  Eventually, she texted that she was going to walk down to the event; when she arrived (1230), she happily joined in the fun.  She met lots of hikers and talked to my friends.  Near the end of the event (1500), she helped me to clean up items and load things in the car.  We'd heard that one of the hikers wanted to go to the Urgent Care facility in Lebanon so Brenna and I drove him there.  We dropped him off for his appointment and then drove to West Lebanon to pick up some items I'd left with Chan Chan's Alternations/Sewing.  Next, we drove north towards Hanover and stopped for gas at Irving in West Lebanon.  Arriving at my condo after driving through Hanover again, Brenna and I discussed how we needed to hurry and get out of town.  She quickly packed while I unloaded/reloaded the car and then we cleaned up the condo a bit (note: I also loaded my inflatable kayak, in case we could participate in Lock & Paddle).  By 1620, we were on our way towards Montreal.  To leave town, we drove through Hanover (that took a little while) but then made good time on I-91 to the I-89 entrance.  From there, we drove north towards the Canadian Border and had some nice talks on the way.  We tried to stop at a rest area before the border checkpoint but it had already closed (1820).  Instead, we drove right to the border and arrived to find only a few cars waiting to cross.  It actually took less than five minutes to clear Canadian Customs! Brenna had a lot of questions for me before and after we drove into Canada.  After that, we talked about what we were going to do in Montreal and about some family history.  The weather was very nice and Brenna told me she liked the flat terrain ("but not as much as the mountains").  We hit traffic a few times but were able to reach our destination in the city (Hotel le Roberval) by 1950.  We quickly got checked in, moved our gear to the room and checked out the Murphy Bed (Brenna liked that).  I then tried to find some parking for our car (that took about 45 minutes).  When I returned to the room, Brenna was ready to go out for a walk near the hotel.  I took her over to Rue St. Denis and we explored the pedestrian-only area.  It was a bit cooler than we are used to in the US so we each wore longer sleeves.  At about 2115, we sat down at Frite Alors, a cute little restaurant with Poutine as a specialty, and ordered some food/drinks.  Brenna got the classic poutine and I got the signature (named for the restaurant) version.  Our drinks were a red beer for me and a chardonnay for Brenna.  She didn't really like the drink so I asked the server if she could improve on it.  The nice lady (younger than Brenna) converted the drink to a Sangria which Brenna liked a LOT.  Our conversation flowed freely and we ended up closing down the restaurant (last ones there).  Before departing, though, Brenna got some good ideas from the server about things to do on her first trip to Canada in many years.  Afterwards, we walked back to the hotel (arrived at 2230) and settled in for the night.  Brenna stayed awake a bit longer than me but we both had our lights out by 2330.  Let the Montreal fun begin!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

Brenna is coming to visit!  She was on the Amtrak "Vermonter" all day and kept me updated on her progress.  One surprise: the train switched over to buses to the north of Springfield (MA).  Meanwhile, I teleworked at my condo.  After my work day was completed (1600), I drove to West Lebanon for some errands.  Also ended up getting a late work call.  Next, I crossed the Connecticut River.  While waiting for Brenna to arrive, I didn't want to stray far from the area around White River Junction.  Still, I wanted to try to find a place to go kayaking.  My first attempt was the North Hartland Reservoir but (after getting through some nasty construction on US-5) I found it was closed to boat traffic.  Backtracking towards US-5, I took Clay Hill Road north towards Quechee, looking for paddling places (no luck).  I then tried finding a launch spot at the Quechee Green (also no luck) and then drove all the way around the golf course, Quechee Club and towards Woodstock (back roads towards the covered bridge).  When I reached the Ottauquechee River again, I took the gravel road on the north side of the river but still couldn't find a good place.  Returning to the covered bridge, I crossed the river and got on US-4.  Feeling a bit defeated, I drove back to White River Junction and parked at the Amtrak Station.  After that, I walked around in town until Brenna's bus arrived (1800).  It was great to see her!  Once we'd retrieved all of her stuff, I took her to dinner at Big Fatty's.  It was crowded there, with a long wait for food.  The delay was ultimately OK - Brenna enjoyed her meal.  We were at the restaurant until 1915 - after that, we crossed the Connecticut River again and did some shopping in West Lebanon.  Eventually, we drove to Hanover so I could take her on a tour of the Dartmouth Campus.  Brenna enjoyed seeing how the college kids lived and we even found the John Ledyard memorial stone.  The weather was nice for a walk and I feel like I really showed Brenna what it was like to live in my little town.  We arrived at my condo by 2000 and spent some time relaxing, talking, prepping for our Montreal trip and watching a movie.  We finally went to bed after 2200.  So excited for our time together!

Fairlee, VT (USA)

Third paddle in four days - in the third different vessel!  In preparation for an upcoming kayak camping trip, I picked up a kayak (borrowed from Jen) in White River Junction after work today (1600) and (after also getting some dinner at Panera, 1620), headed to a paddling spot.  I used I-91, VT-113 and VT-244 (through Thetford Center and Post Mills) to reach Lake Fairlee, a place I've long wanted to visit with a kayak.  Arriving at 1700, I was able to quickly launch (after a brief conversation with the Lake Host) my borrowed boat (I’m calling her “Azure Dagger”) for a test drive on Lake Fairlee this afternoon.  The weather was hot, muggy and overcast but these were initially good conditions for paddling.  Visuals: there were pretty waterfront homes, kids jumping from floating docks, fancy cabins at summer camps (complete with dinner songs), loons and ducks, water skiers and pretty mountain profiles.  Along the way, I tested out the moveable keel and watertight storage area - I also got used to maneuvering a longer (and less stable) boat.  Will try some more test runs before departure but things look good so far!  I managed to make a clockwise circuit of about 2/3 of the shoreline before I noticed a huge spiderweb of lightning to the west - in the end, I paddled two miles in an hour (done at 1800). Will need to come back to finish the rest of the lake!  Afterwards, I drove home via back roads and US-5 - on the way, it started raining.  Home by 1830, I felt pretty good about squeezing in another day on the water!

Grafton, NH (USA)

With some big plans for volunteering the afternoon, I began my telework day very early.  At 1245, I left my condo and drove to the Richmond Middle School in Hanover so I could volunteer for Prouty cleanup.  I was there for 90 minutes (they didn't need me for the full two hours).  With the extra time, I was able to stop by my apartment to take care of some work stuff (and a phone call) but then left again (1455), bound for White River Junction.  I arrived at the UVAC before my swim lane reservation (it was planned for 1515) and spent 45 minutes swimming (52 lengths).  Afterwards (1555), I headed towards my next event.  I did have another work phone call as I drove (via I-89, US-4 and NH-4A) to Grafton Pond but was able to meet with the VA Medical Center Adaptive Sports and NEHSA Teams at Grafton Pond by 1630).  Between, 1645 and 1815, I helped Jen and Carly as they led a group of Veterans through three miles of paddling (mostly in the northwest end) of the pond.  Overall, it was a beautiful evening, with a light breeze and loons diving close to our boats.  We finished at 1815 but I stayed to help clean up afterwards and didn't leave until 1845.  After departing, I drove home via NH-4A, US-4 and I-89.  Arrived at my condo by 1915 and did some more teleworking before calling it a full work day.  Whew!

Piermont, NH (USA)

Prouty Day 2024!  I got up early, did my normal reading and Duolingo.  At 0730, I left my condo and drove to Sacred Heart in Lebanon, where I'd thought there was going to be a regular meeting of the Men of St. Joseph - instead, it ended up being canceled.  With the extra time, I made my way to the Richmond Middle School in Hanover (arrived at around 0830) and parked in the preferred area (CRREL).  After I registered, I got my Prouty Gear and returned it to the car.  As I was headed back to the main area, I ended up in a long conversation with a Vietnam veteran who had some fantastical stories about his life as an Army Ranger, Navy F-4 pilot and POW (not sure how much of this was true)... After that, I decided to try to do one of the Prouty Day Activities.  Even though I participate virtually in the fundraising, I’ve been able to attend a few of the actual Prouty Days in person as a volunteer.  This year, however, I took in the full experience as a participant.  For my active event, I chose the Wooded Walk, a 5K “hike” through the Storrs Pond area (I recognized a lot of the trails because I’d skied them earlier in the year).  The route had good tree cover but the air was quite warm and muggy.  The trail was also pretty hilly.  The Prouty organizers had left little stuffed bears for the kids to find and I encountered a lot of youngsters doing related activities.  Almost all the adults were walking or biking in honor of (or in memory of) a friend or family member whose life had been affected by cancer and I heard a lot of moving stories. Finishing up after about an hour, I enjoyed some delicious food that had been prepared by local vendors and veterans groups.  While sitting at a table under a huge tent, I ended up in several more conversations about why people “Prouty”.  So many tributes and harrowing tales of survival!  It started to rain after I’d been there for 3.5 hours so I made my way back to the car (1230).  Driving north on NH-10, I found myself on the bike routes.  Despite the inclement weather, there were still hundreds of brave souls peddling their hearts out.  Passing through Lyme (lots of cones and police cars), I made my way towards Piermont.  Turned on to NH-25C there and drove east.  Fortunately, I stayed ahead of the weather most of the way and arrived at Lake Tarleton State Park by 1325.  The lot was full but I got a parking spot when someone else left. Spent a short time talking to Park Host (he surveyed me about my kayak's travels).  At 1335, I launched “Tequila Sunrise” from the boat ramp and spent 75 minutes (2.5 miles) paddling (clockwise circuit).  Actually, I’ve been wanting to kayak here since I hiked the nearby AT section in 2020 - glad I finally made it!  I got some good views of Mount Moosilauke, saw kids enjoying a summer afternoon at Kingswood Camp for Boys and had fun watching at least 10 different loons that dove and surfaced within five feet of my kayak.  I’m guess I’m pretty lucky because I have animal encounters almost every time I get on the water.  I also had an interesting conversation with a guy who was building an addition on his grandfather’s 1949 fishing cabin (all tools and supplies needed to be brought in by boat).  He’s living the life, I think… Passed lots of stand up paddleboarders and water skiers - everyone had smiles on their faces.  Before I was finished, though, we all got soaked with a steady, cool rain that crept over the mountains to the west.  After dealing with the heat earlier in the day, I wasn’t upset to be wet.  Didn’t dare try to take photos, though… Very pleased to have visited the lake today - would definitely return to see the loons again.  After getting done (1450), I decided I should try to go to Mass somewhere nearby.  My choices at that point were Lebanon, Wells River (VT) or Woodsville.  Since I'd never been to the latter two names and wanted to try something new, I went to Mass at St. Joseph & St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Woodsville (1600).  The service (as usual for my experience in New Hampshire) was totally different than I was used to seeing.  Still, the congregation was very engaged and I was glad to be there.  On the way home, I tried to get some ice cream at Hatchland Farm (1655) but they were too busy.  Instead, drove back to Hanover via NH-10 and River Road through Lyme.  Erin called on the way and we talked until I arrived at my condo (1750).  Today was a great day of immersion in Upper Valley culture and I had a great time.  Needless to say, Prouty Day is HUGE for our town, hospital and Dartmouth College - very glad I could be a part of it! 

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[teleworking very early - at 0800, I drove to White River Junction (UVAC) - spent 45 minutes swimming (52 lengths) - then drove home (arrived at 0930) - teleworking for the rest of the day]

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking earlier than normal - at 0615, left condo and drove to White River Junction for a Physical Therapy appointment at VAMC WRJ - afterwards, got some lab work done before heading home (arrived at 0815) - continued teleworking for the rest of the day]

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[teleworking very early - at 1455, I drove to White River Junction (UVAC) - spent 45 minutes swimming (50 lengths) - departed for West Lebanon and did some errands - then drove home (arrived at 1630) - more teleworking]

Claremont, NH (USA)

Paddled 15 miles on the Connecticut River today - the weather was great!  After tinkering around my condo until 0800, I drove (via a quick stop Shaw's in West Lebanon, I-89 and I-91) towards the south on the Vermont side of the river.  I arrived at Hoyt's Landing (Springfield, VT) at about 0845 and my planned "car shuttle" (Herman and Sharon) arrived about five minutes later.  After I loaded everything in their truck, we drove north (via Lovers Lane, NH-11/12 and NH-12A) to Ashley's Ferry Landing (Claremont, NH).  We arrived at 0920 and (with some walking) I got my kayak in the water from a makeshift landing (the main one was closed for construction).  Saying goodbye to my friends, I then paddled upriver to my last "boat out" spot and began my paddle south (0930).  The skies were clear and it was pleasantly sunny!  There were LOTS of motor boats in this section, which was nearly as calm (with very little current) as a lake - I rode lots of wakes as a result.  Saw a bald Eagle, lots of geese, kingfishers, red winged blackbirds and great blue herons.  Encountered some deer at the water’s edge and managed to get pretty close to them before they spooked.  Passing Hoyt’s Landing, I paddled another three miles south until I reached the Charlestown (NH) Lower Landing Boat Launch.  This then required me to backtrack towards my car - it was a lot of hard work during the last few miles.  Ended up on the water for almost five hours (finished 1420).  Afterwards, it took me a while to get the kayak attached to my roof rack (VERY busy boat launch area).  Next, I crossed the Connecticut and drove north on Lovers Lane to NH-11/12.  I used that road to reach Claremont and eventually located the Common Man Inn and Restaurant (1500).  This visit was for a purpose: I had a gift card (given to me by my sister).  Unfortunately, the latter business didn't open for another hour so I killed time by walking all around the area (inside the Inn, past St. Mary's Church, crossing a bridge over the Sugar River).  At one point, I sat down on the edge of the river and was almost lulled to sleep by the rushing water.  Right at 1600, I sat at the bar and got some drinks and lunch/dinner.  Everything tasted good and the vibe was nice.  Finished at about 1655, I headed north out of Claremont on NH-120.  I used this road (and one cutoff) to reach US-4 and then drove to St. Helena's Parish for 1730 Mass (arrived five minutes late).  Afterwards (1815), I drove towards Hanover and arrived at my condo by 1845).  Overall, I felt pretty good today as I chipped away at “section kayaking” the Connecticut River and sampling some of the excellent food/beverages of the Upper Valley!  

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[teleworking very early - at 1100, I drove to White River Junction (UVAC) - spent 45 minutes swimming (52 lengths) - departed for West Lebanon and did some errands - then drove home (arrived at 1300) - more teleworking]

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[teleworking from early in the morning - at 1045, I drove to the LISTEN Food Pantry and volunteered for 1.5 hours (emptying donation bags from the Price Chopper) - at 1230, I drove to White River Junction (stopping for a free item from Cumberland Farms in Wilder) and worked out at the UVAC (45 minutes in the pool, 50 lengths) - after 1145, I drove to West Lebanon and did some shopping at Target, Staples and Home Depot - home by 1515 and resumed my telework day until after dinner]

Montreal Jazz Festival Trip - Day 4

Happy Canada Day to my friends up north!  It was finally time for me to return to the US and, I guess, my body clock knew that.  I was only able to sleep until 0515.  This did allow me to some some teleworking very early from the hotel.  At 0800, I went to breakfast in the lobby (VERY crowded again).  Back in the room, I continued teleworking.  I'd asked for a late checkout (due to some meetings) but the hotel front desk called at 1215 to ask "why haven't you checked out?"  I assured them that I had coordinated a late checkout and they relented.  Fortunately, I had packed the night before so, at 1245 (done with my meetings), I departed the hotel.  Another bonus: I was able to carry everything back to the parking garage on Sanguinet (UQAM) in one trip.  After using my paper ticket, I got to my car and then left the garage (1255).  I found this parking location to be very inexpensive.  Next, I drove west towards the Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery.  At around that time, one of my work colleagues (Rakesh) called but I asked to call him back later.  Carefully avoiding tickets (I do feel like I know the traffic rules better now after I researched them online), I drove through town until I reached the NDdN entrance near the St. Joseph's Oratory.  After trying to get my bearings inside the cemetery, located the family plot (1330). Owen Coogan was a direct ancestor who didn’t complete the journey from Ireland to the US like the rest of his siblings, cousins and children. He was living in Montreal when the Constitution Act, which officially created the Confederation, was signed in 1867. Since his death in 1885, the rest of the family departed the country and the upkeep of the family plots was left to the cemetery staff.  I’ve actually been in touch with them during the last few years and believe they have done a good job.  However, the elements have not been kind to the stones and I was starting to get concerned they’d be illegible in a few years.  Fortunately, I recently learned some new techniques for tombstone upkeep from one of my New Hampshire friends (Denis I.) and thought I’d try to make improvements myself.  This idea was inspired by my experience during El Dia de Los Muertos in South America, when family members spent a holiday improving the final resting places of their departed cherished ones.  The love and respect they showed was very moving and I hoped to emulate their dedication,  Ultimately, I think I made some good strides towards getting the letters to “pop”.  The cleaning even revealed a different spelling for Owen’s wife’s maiden name: O’Here vs. O’Hare, as we’d always read it.  The weather was great while I worked in the tall grass of our family’s plot and I even had time to clean a second stone.  During this project, I was startled by fearless families of groundhogs and raccoons - they got so close!  Hopefully, today’s efforts will ensure that the lettering on the stone that memorializes Owen’s journey across the sea can be appreciated for years to come!  I left the cemetery at about 1430 and got on A-20.  Making my way to A-10, I drove out of Montreal and crossed the Saint Lawrence River.  I made one work call (Rakesh) after I'd hit some traffic (camper broke down).  Got on A-35 and later stopped in St-Jean-Richelieu for lunch at a restaurant called "Scores".  My order ended up being a nice platter of meats, veggies, rice, etc.  Also got pie ala mode - mmm... At 1535, I got back on the road (A-35 again) and made good time to QC-133.  Passed the time with audiobooks and calls with my daughters.  Made it to the border by 1615 and there was only one car in front of me - maybe Monday traveling is smarter than other days.  From there, it only took two hours on I-89 for me to reach home.  Unpacked at 1815 and resumed teleworking for part of the early evening.  Overall, I had a great trip!