The Reservoir

Bob Volin has posted some of his photos from the recent outing to Cape Cod. The video of the seals playing in the 6-7 knot current at Monomoy is nice.

More comments on the trip to come later, but here are a few photos from the weekend.

A view of my campsite for the Columbus Day weekend at Nickerson State Park. I don’t usually use a ridgeline rig for my tarps, but I decided to give it another try. I was very pleased with how this worked out – flexible, easy to batten down or open up (as pictured), and completely stable in strong gusts. The photo is to remind me for next time.

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Sid Stone, Bob Volin and I headed out for a quick night paddle to give us a chance to sort out gear and lighting preferences and gain a little more experience with night navigation.

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After being stopped by an NYPD squad car on my morning walk to the Staten Island Ferry and told to drop my paddle bag and step aside while the officer inspected it (yes, paddle bags do look a bit like rifle bags), I was then stopped inside the ferry terminal while the bomb dog went through my gear. To top it all off, as the group was returning to our take-out site on Staten Island north of the Verrazano Bridge, we were approached by three Coast Guard vessels, two NYPD boats and a helicopter – not to mention several rescue vehicles on the Belt Parkway. After repeated interrogations, they finally let us proceed under escort across the channel and past the bridge. The Coast Guard eventually explained that they had received a call of bodies in the water.

I’m not sure if the level of scrutiny I received that day left me feeling safe or violated. I guess that is the proverbial fine line of law enforcement.

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Working in a law firm certainly has its perks – another set of tickets to the US Open. Serena Williams v Mauresmo and Hewitt v Gasquet.

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After a rainout the day before, Doxia and I along with our friend Ross, finally made it to see the Staten Island Yankees (AA farm team for the Bronx Bombers).

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Doxia and I had the privilege of attending this week’s opening ceremonies at the US Open where the complex in Flushing Meadows was renamed USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The featured match of the night session was Andre Agassi’s first round match against Andre Pavel. Pavel played well, but Agassi wore him down and 3 and a half hours later, closed it out in the 4th set.

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A few photos from our recent vacation on OBX.

We stopped in Baltimore on our way back to NYC from NC to break up the drive. Traffic was awful, but that’s another story. Luckily we arrived just in time to catch an Orioles game. A Saturday game in late August against Tampa Bay isn’t exactly a sell-out kind of affair. 15 minutes before first pitch, we asked the box office for the best seats available. Here’s what they gave us. By the way, everything you’ve heard about Camden Yards being a beautiful stadium is true – what a wonderful baseball facility!

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One of the side-effects of running off to Vegas to get married is that our parents hadn’t met each other. Finally, introductions were made at my parents home in Virginia.

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I recently compiled a series of thoughts on minimizing the risks of leading a group through a surf landing under the cover of darkness. I don’t pretend to be an expert or have any particular depth of experience in this area, but I’ve found very little written on the topic. If someone has come across literature on the subject, please point me in the right direction.

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An eventful couple of days on the water in Rhode Island, including a night navigation and surf landing. Many lessons learned. I’ve posted a few photos.

Finally able to get on the water again to start the kayaking season with an easy beginner trip out of Peekskill. Hot and sunny, but the water is still cold. A couple of rolls just to reassure myself that I haven’t lost it yet. Actually, my form is a little sloppy and I busted a couple of butterfly rolls (not that I really ever had that one down pat). All in all, a good day on the water.

This Christmas cactus, which has historically been a Thanksgiving cactus (including this year), is in full bloom. I would think this is a wierd anomoly, but the one at the office is blooming as well.

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