Category: Family

Taconic State Park and Camp Pontiac

Posted on by Pete Schloss

June 21-24, 2022. We are camped for 3 nights at New York’s Taconic State Park, located a few miles from the small but charming village of Copake. More important to us is our proximity to Camp Pontiac which for the next 7 weeks will be “home” to our daughter Alexis and her 3 children. We have arrived here with the intention of visiting them as we continue north and east.

The land for Taconic State Park was donated in 1924 to the State by the prominent NY couple, Francis and Ella Masters.

They loved the area and hoped to preserve its beauty from future commercial development.

The Park underwent improvements in the 1930s thanks to the efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corps, active during the Great Depression. Level tent platforms were constructed in the woods and could be rented for 4 dollars a week, tent included.

Those platforms have been maintained through the years and are still in use today. However, you must bring your own tent.

Stone buildings constructed 90 years ago remain, some of which are cabins available for rent.

A historic iron foundry that operated from 1845 to 1903 is here and undergoing restoration.

Local features include Copake Falls, swimming in the former quarry, rails-to-trails hiking, and a wonderfully modern campground.

The Taconic Mountains stretch north into Vermont and are old mountains that once towered over 20,000 feet above sea level. They were “tamed” by glacial forces and today the highest peak is a mere 2,311 feet.

Camp Pontiac is like no summer camp experienced by us in our youth.

Founded in 1922, and celebrating its centennial, its current owners and operators are twin brother doctors and their wives.

They have been the camp’s caretakers for nearly 30 years.

    This from Pontiac’s website: “Camp Pontiac is a 7-week sleepaway camp in NY, located at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Only a 2-hour drive from NYC, our sleepaway camp is situated on 150 picturesque acres with a beautiful 65 acre spring-fed lake. Each summer Pontiac welcomes girls and boys aged 7 to 16 from all over the country to their home away from home in a traditional sleepaway camp setting.“

    For 2 of the last 4 years (COVID prevented opening in 2020) our daughter has served as the camp’s head nurse, managing two infirmaries and a staff of 15 nurses.

    They, in turn, provide health care to the camp population that can number over 700, plus camp counselors and over 80 adult staff members. Of course, the physician owners are also fully involved in camp operations and care.

    We knew to expect an extraordinary facility, but what we have seen exceeds all expectations.

    Camp Pontiac has more in common with an upscale resort or an Olympic Village than it does with summer camp of my youth.

    There are multiple soccer fields.

    A driving range.

    Miniature golf.

    A performing arts theater.

    Sand volleyball.

    Multiple tennis courts.

    A huge gymnasium.

    Multiple baseball fields.

    Roller hockey.

    Scores of pristine cabins.

    4 swimming pools.

    Outdoor basketball courts.

    A lake with kayaking and a man made adventure island.

      A gymnastics and martial arts facility that also features spin cycling.

      A separate fitness facility with free weights, cardio, and weight machines

      If that were not enough, there is also an “American Ninja” training facility and aerial acrobatics training!

      There is more, but you get the idea.

      It is no wonder that Kane, Phoenix, and Paisley count the days each year to the start of camp…

      For Alexis this is 7 days a week, 24 hours a day on-call work… that she loves.

      Peace Everyone. Pete

      PS. From here we plan to spend the next 8 nights camping in Vermont and Maine. On June 2nd we board a ferry in Bar Harbor, destination Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

      Buck Pond, the Adirondacks

      Posted on by Pete Schloss

      June 18 – 20, 2022. This is the last of 3 nights spent camping on Buck Pond, a peaceful and remote campground in the northern Adirondack Mountains of New York.

      Yesterday, June 19th and our 45th wedding anniversary, was spent in part wandering around Lake Placid, 25 miles to the south.

      We treated ourselves to a nice upscale dinner, ice cream and later at camp a fire, which staved off the chilly twilight temps.

      This morning I performed some Dutch Oven magic, baking a breakfast casserole for 2. Dinner was another Dutch Oven creation, Italian peppers baked with seasoned vegetables. (Sorry, no pictures)

      I spent much of the early afternoon hiking an old railroad grade, and then ascending a trail to the top of “Little Haystack”, one of countless Adirondack mountains.

      The trail was steep and challenging, but the view proved that the effort was worth it.

      Grand vistas may be the goal, but mindful attention to the little things brings its own rewards.

      Peace Everyone. Pete

      PS. Tomorrow we travel 4 hours south to New York’s Taconic State Park, located near Copake, NY. We will be there for 3 nights. This is especially exciting for us as we will be visiting our daughter, Alexis, and her 3 children/our grandchildren, Kane, Phoenix, and Paisley, as they begin their 7 weeks at Camp Pontiac, a summer camp that was founded in the 1930’s. Alexis is head nurse over a staff of 15 nurses. The camp serves over 700 children, ages 7 to 16. Oh to be young again!!

      Thoughts and Words, Chickens and Eggs

      Posted on by Pete Schloss

      June 18, 2022. Internet has been a real challenge thus far. I write and upload when I am able, but not enough to satisfy the urge.

      The last two nights we camped on Wellesley Island, in the Thousand Island region of New York, looking out onto Canada across the St. Lawrence River.

      There must literally be a thousand islands, and any large enough to fit a house…

      We have been told that in order to be considered an island there must be at least one tree, and through the course of a year the island must remain above water. In the absence of those two qualifiers it is deemed a shoal.

      Hot and muggy transitioned into falling temperatures and rain, but not before I enjoyed a solitary 5 mile hike along the coast.

      At one point Canada was literally a stone’s throw away.

      At another I encountered a few glacial “pot holes”.

      These curious features are circular impressions “drilled” into solid rock. Over thousands of years rushing meltwaters occasionally cause stones and debris to whirlpool over a single location, gradually eroding a downward tube into the rock. One of the pot holes I saw was 3 feet across and reported to be over 15 feet deep. It was full of water, leaves, and dead stuff. Out of concern for the safety of hikers its opening was covered in protective metal screening,

      This morning we awoke to temps falling from the 50’s into the 40’s. A bone chilling drizzle persisted throughout the day.

      We are camped for the next 3 nights at Buck Pond, a wonderfully primitive campground located in the northern reaches of New York’s expansive Adirondack Park. Temps have continued to fall into the 30’s and threaten to freeze water overnight. A campfire is not so much a want as it is a need.

      Nevertheless, the absence of biting insects, the skyscraper pines and the endless carpet of soft pine needles is salve for the soul and senses. We are content.

      Tomorrow is a milestone. 45 years ago we each said “I do!”. Among other things we promised to love, honor, and respect each other. We have kept those promises as humans do, imperfectly. What matters most is that we continue working to perfect our efforts at marriage. We will seek an appropriate dining venue about 20 miles away in Lake Placid, famously host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, for our celebration of life well lived together, and Father’s Day.

      On the road today we trolled radio stations, seeking the right station for our mood. In the process we briefly paused on a talk-radio channel that caught our attention. The male “shock-jock” was waxing inelegantly about the “virtues” of womanhood. To us he was deeply offensive. I will only share the least inappropriate “joke” that he recited: “What does one shout if a man on a ship falls overboard… MAN OVERBOARD! What does one shout if a woman falls overboard… FULL SPEED AHEAD!!”

      It takes some intelligence to host a radio talk show. I wondered, did he really believe what he was saying, or was the station’s business model requiring that he play to the perceived audience of Neanderthals? I doubt that he could have gotten away with such off-color “jokes” aimed at Jews, people of color, veterans or Christians. Certainly not guns, pickup trucks or hunting dogs. Why are women as a group acceptable targets of such insult?

      I once read that it is difficult to hold on to dark negative thoughts if one expends their best effort to maintain an honest smile. Just as the face reflects ones mood, there is some indication that facial expressions can actually influence ones mood.

      If the “shock-jock” believed that what he said was funny then did he come to the belief because he was required by his job to say the words, or did he say those words because they reflect his personal beliefs? Did thought induce the words or did the words induce the thoughts. It’s like that old saw, “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” Corrupting that phrase in the context of the radio DJ, “What came first the chicken shitting or the chicken’s shit?”

      Just as I believe that journey is more important than destination, I hold that questions are often more important than answers. Questions generate contemplation, answers typically end it.

      Peace Everyone. Pete

      Geneva on the Lake

      Posted on by Pete Schloss

      We arrived on the south shore of Lake Erie at Ohio’s Geneva State Park on June 12th. Registered for two nights we are finally transitioning into “real“ camping. However, not completely.

      A two mile walk from the park leads to the town of Geneva on the Lake, a resort community that dates back to the mid-19th century.

      The charm of that era has been replaced by a strip of arcades, ice cream shops, bars, and all things that attract families with children, motorcyclists, classic car aficionados, and old campers like us.

      We have enjoyed our campsite and campfire but we have not yet broken out the camp stove. We were intrigued to read of a restaurant in Geneva On the Lake, the GOTL Brewery, which serves its entrées atop an 850° lava rock.

      You are responsible for the temperature of your protein which you then cook at the table. Christine’s steak and my Ahi tuna were exceptional, as was the beer. About 10 minutes into dinner Christine exclaimed, “We’ve been here before!“ A short discussion comparing the eerie familiarity we both sensed, confirmed her observation. Apparently, there is a downside to the amount of camping we have done over the last seven years… we are beginning to forget where we have been!

      For us the principal entertainment boiled down to walking the strip, taking in the sights, and finally enjoying sunset at the beach.

      We have also enjoyed a nice 6 mile hike that revealed a “fairy village“ laid out neatly at the foot of a large tree in the woods.

      Next we head up the shore of Lake Erie, through Buffalo, and onto the south shore of Lake Ontario in the state of New York.

      Peace everyone! Pete

      PS. As I was seated at a picnic table near the park office, taking advantage of their WiFi to type these notes, a bicyclist rode up and addressed me. His was a heavily laden touring bike, and his first words betrayed a foreign accent. “Sig” was from Sweden. He was spending his 5 week holiday bicycling the south coast of Lake Erie, bound for Niagara Falls. He sought some guidance on securing a campsite.

      As the result of our discussion, “Sig” obtained a site for the night and later joined us at our campfire. A few beers and hours of pleasant conversation are proof that it takes only kindness to shrink the world one smile at a time.

      April in New York City

      Posted on by Pete Schloss

      We are on the road again bound for northeast Canada’s Labrador and Newfoundland. Our first day was not without issues. A few days ago I had replaced the trailer tires, but as we approached St. Louis I discovered an unusual bulge in the sidewall of one of the new tires. A 20 mile detour delivered us to a Discount Tire Store.

      They had the tire in stock and within 45 minutes had us back on the road after swapping the defective tire at no cost to us. Near Terre Haute Indiana we encountered a torrential downpour that made for some real “white knuckle” driving. At 500 miles from Kansas City we stopped at a Texas Roadhouse restaurant which provided a meal, a beer, and a parking lot where we “camped” for the night.

      Since we are now just making miles this is a good opportunity for me to step back into April and share five wonderful days that we spent visiting New York City.

      These last three years have left us feeling travel starved. Christine had accumulated some free companion airline tickets and spring in New York City beckoned to us.

      We booked a hotel in New York City’s Times Square, and purchased tickets for the Broadway production of “Macbeth“, featuring Daniel Craig of 007 fame.

      Times Square may at first overwhelm with its crush of humanity, endless traffic, cacophony of sounds, and kaleidoscope of light.

      A beer, and perhaps a hot dog, can do much to normalize the experience.

      Once acclimated a visitor can begin to more fully appreciate the human diversity.

      I suppose to these folks, we represent “odd”. It’s a symbiotic relationship in which they provide color and entertainment for the visitors, and the visitors provide income in the form of tips given for a photo opportunity.

      There’s a lot to see in New York City’s Manhattan Island. A “hop on – hop off” bus tour is a convenient way to take in much in just a few days.

      It’s not perfect. Pop-up spring showers are known to occur with frequency.

      What is a visit to New York city without a panoramic view taken from the top of the Empire State building?

      This remarkable 1,454 foot skyscraper is a monument to the ingenuity of early 20th century America. It long stood as the tallest building in the world, but has since been eclipsed by 53 other buildings, 6 being in New York City. What may never be equaled is the rapidity with which it was built. Ground-breaking to opening took only 13 1/2 months!

      New York City’s skyline is breathtaking as viewed from atop this wonder.

      We have reserved a visit to One World Trade Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a few other sites for another time, perhaps next year.

      Highlights of this visit included:

      St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

      Saint Sharbel is a patron Saint of Lebanon, homeland of my maternal grandparents. I lit a candle to their memory.

      The New York Public Library.

      Bryant Park.

      Grand Central Station.

      We found Central Park so compelling that we visited it in on two separate days. The first visit was courtesy of a pedal cab tour. Our guide, Chouib, was knowledgeable and very entertaining.

      At the urging of Colorado friends we contacted him and made an appointment. The tour of nearly 2 hours exceeded all expectations. If you wish his contact information please reach out to me privately.

      There are literally thousands of benches in Central Park. Each bench can be rented for $500 a year during which your personally selected message is affixed to the bench. This one caught my eye.

      Is this building familiar? Who you gonna call?… Ghostbusters!

      Our second visit included a delightful lunch at Tavern on the Green.

      There were two other exceptional meal experiences. The first of these occurred when Kansas City neighbors sent a message asking, “Are you in New York City?… So are we!“. This resulted in dinner together at Carmines Italian restaurant. It is indeed a small world.

      The second dining experience came on the heels of an expensive disappointment. Dinner at Gallagher’s steakhouse was an elegant 2+ hour affair.

      The disappointment: At a cost of nearly $600 we had purchased tickets to see Daniel Craig in the Broadway production of “Macbeth“.

      There was virtually no scenery, “costumes” we’re mostly 20th Century street clothes, and actors frequently stepped out of their roles to execute “special effects“, such as holding flashlights on the faces of the other actors, and walking around the stage with a handheld smoke machine. Macbeth‘s “royal robe” was a common bathrobe, and his “armor” was a bulletproof vest. Of course, performance pictures were not allowed. However, this shot of the stage is what constituted “scenery”.

      The critics (rightfully so) gave terrible reviews.

      We had no intention of returning to Kansas City with any souvenirs. However, an artist fair in Bryant Park resulted in the acquisition of two tapestries which now adorn the great room of our home.

      Unfortunately, we unknowingly returned home with another souvenir…

      Peace Everyone! Pete

      PS. Spending this excellent time with my wife has caused me to ponder what is the difference between thankful and grateful. I invite your thoughts.

      Over the next two months we will wind our way north and east through New England, onto Nova Scotia, Labrador and Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Québec, and Ontario. There will even be a day-trip to France. I hope to share images and narrative as Internet connections allow.