Winter Epic: January 2012

Again I ask for people to follow my blog, I like to see all the travelers out there.

I was at the armory first thing in the morning. I really had no expectations for this, I looked up where I would be driving and this was the only point of interest. Turns out it was worth going to. Everything part of gun making was done here; from design and engineering to manufacturing and production. The facility is huge with many buildings, today the buildings are used for a community college. Here they do a great job of showing the evolution of gun making. There are hundreds of different models on display, all with slight differences. It was cool to see they original machinery that was used too. When I was finished there, it was about 60 degrees outside. I was shocked, and I couldn’t waist it. I let a lot of things slide due to cold, cleaning my car, putting things away in the right spot, things like that. So the car was really a disaster and had a serious man smell. I got that all taken care of and I needed an oil change. I thought I was going to have it done whenever I need it. But with weather like this I was glad to do it myself. I picked up what I needed and found a dry spot in the movie theater parking lot. It wasn’t the smoothest oil change ever but I got the job done. I was able to find a car dealer that would take my old oil, better then throwing it away. There isn’t anywhere around to go hiking or anything, so I figured I would just see a movie. I’ve never gone to a movie by myself and I thought it was going to be weird. Considering it was like 1:00 on a Tuesday, no one was there. I saw the new underworld movie, one of the most bad ass things I have ever seen. When I got out of there it was only like 3:00, still really nothing to do. I considered just staying in the theater and hoping to another movie. But I haven’t done laundry sense I left and it was really time. I didn’t have a lot just the same cloths I wore every day. So I took my things to a place that just dose it for you. It was like $6 for it. I would have wasted more than that just by messing up at a coin laundry place. While I was waiting I ate the rest of my lobster and crab, this is a challenge in a car not to make a total mess everywhere. I stopped at a small dive bar for a beer until my laundry was ready. After that was taken care of I drove to Heartford, CT. I considered going to Rhode Island just to hit every state but there’s really nothing there. I asked a few people about if there was anything to see there. All they told me was the beaches, beaches are great, when its 80 degrees and sunny. I didn’t have any real reason to go to Heartford but I ended up sneaking into a hot tub for a while and then calling it a night.

I really wanted to get some hiking in, I felt like a log. I knew I was going to be in cities for the next week, or more. So I drove out of the way a bit to an area that seemed like it would have some good trails. When I got there it was more of a resort and the people at the front clearly never hiked the trails before. they gave me a piece of paper and I could tell it wasn’t what I was looking for. They told me of another visitor center down the road. In attempting to get there one I got all mixed up and took the correct way thinking it was the wrong way, so I turned around and when went the wrong way thinking it was right. After driving for about 30 I decided to check my phone. I was nowhere close to where I should be. There was no easy way to get to where I wanted. I would have had to turn around and drive an hour to get there. I said fuck and just kept going to New York City. The way I took, took me through New Jersey, along the river over looking Manhattan. Surprisingly it was a pain in the ass to get to the New York side. You couldn’t use cash on the Washington Bridge and the signs took me on some crazy detour that took me right back to the same spot. After driving to a tunnel, and a $12 toll, I made it. Not surprising, driving is crazy, I just wanted to find a place to park; I knew it was going to hard. I drove down the main strip and saw a lot of things I wanted to look at but I had to watch the road. My friend mike called so I just pulled off and talked to him for a bit. He has a friend in the area that I’m going to try to get in contact with. I started driving back to the New Jersey side, my plan was to just go to a park and ride each day and take a bus into the city. But I found parking that was $30 for 24 hours, it was open 24 hours a day with someone working. They also let me park in an open end shed. Perfect for me. $30 isn’t bad when going back through the damn tunnel would have been $12. So I parked and just walked around for several hours. I walked around time square, it crazy to see all the screens, they just cover the buildings. I went up to the empire state building. You are so high up above everything but it’s hard to realize, everything around you is huge too. Next I walked to Madison square garden. I didn’t really do anything here but it was cool to see. I went to a bar for a beer, when it was $7 I only had one. I walked back to the car and planed out the next day.

This was a really busy day and I really wanted to get it all in. I bought a train pass and went up to central park. It was nice but really sad that this is where some people go for nature. I walked through it in a little over an hour. After that I took the train down to the world trade center. They are doing a ton of construction here and workers are everywhere. A lot of the area was blocked off so it was hard to get to the memorial, but I should have just asked the little help desk to begin with. First you have to go to a building about 5 blocks away, they give you a pass to go in to the memorial. It’s free so I’m not really sure why you need a pass. The memorial is a very peaceful place. It must be amazing in summer. There are lots of small trees and grass. With lots of walking areas of black stone. The main focus is 2 huge square flowing water falls. They really did a great job with how everything is laid out in memory of the people who died that day. They have all their names carved into the black stone surrounding the water falls. I asked a cop about all the construction going on. I was surprised they were all new building, I thought they were just damaged in collapse but there were like 5 other building completely taken out. Next I walked to Battery Park; from here I took a ferry to the statue of liberty. The weather was pretty crappy, cold, windy, rain. You couldn’t go into the statue at all; they were putting in a new stair case. I got to talk to the tour guide by myself for awhile. I always seem to get way better info when I’m by myself. He explained everything very well and told me a lot I had no idea about. Next was Ellis Island. I only had about an hour fifteen before the last ferry back. This is a place you could spend a whole day at. It’s too much to take it all in, in that short of time. Everything these people went through is incredible. Just to get here from where ever they were from shows character that just isn’t around today. From the minute they decided to go to America they knew the rest of their life was going to be a struggle. And they did it anyway because they believed it was going to be a good place and their families would continue to build off of what they started. When I took the ferry back, I quick walked down Wall st. I saw the stock exchange and trump tower. The last thing I wanted to see today was South st. sea port. I made it here right when it was getting dark. They had two cool ships in the harbor but other than that it was just a shopping mall. Then back to the car. I looked at it and I pretty much did saw everything I wanted to see in the city. When I left for this trip I had several people I was going to try to meet up with. Beth from San Diego was the person I was really looking forward to seeing; she was a very interesting person to meet. I should have kept in contact; she got a new number and I can’t get a hold of her. Then I thought I was going to be here earlier, my friend Ceaser was in town the weekend before. And my old roommate’s band was touring the east coast from Florida up and they were passing through also. There’s a girl from high school that lives out here, Kate, I got in touch with her but school started back up for her so I might see her on the weekend. Then there’s Adams old friend Matt. He lived in Milwaukee for most of his life and I hung out with him around there a few times. He was at the Sundance movie festival and just so happened to be getting back in town tonight. I offered to pick him up from the air port and we went back to his apt. Matt, his roommate Joe, and I went to a bar down the street for the night. With every beer you buy you get a free small pizza. And they had a deal $5 you get a beer, a shot, and a pizza. That’s a little more like it. We joked around for a few hours and turned in for the night. They have a great pull out couch with my name on it.

the museum is the larger building on the far left side

different ways for making parts

oops!! the top one was struck my lightening

different trench weapons

time square

the screens cover the building and make it look like brick i thought that was strange

empire state building

view from up top

waterfall in central park

belvedere castle central park

911 memorial

all the names wrap around the waterfalls

Korean war memorial

skyline

guess what that is

ellis island

this hall would be full, with up to 5000 people coming to America

brochures for each state, so you could pick where you wanted to live

things left here

dosen't that look like fun sleeping

how it all works

stock exchange

Saturday morning I drove around MIT and Harvard. Then I went to goodwill, I wanted an “east coast” coat. I found a nice one and meet a crazy guy; he claimed he came up with the idea that fixed the leak in the golf. I was torn between playing along for more stories and walking away. Apparently he worked at the governor's mansion in Colorado. Then I headed downtown, my plan was to find parking and just walk around for the day. It was snowing out, and I figured I could park anywhere it said permit parking. The snow covered everyone’s car so you couldn’t see the parking passes anyway. But with my car already getting towed once, I figured it would stop snowing right after I walk away from my car. I stopped at Mike's Pastry for a mint chocolate chip cannoli. Very tasty, then I drove over by the USS Constitution, I didn’t stop but at least I saw it. I was still on the hunt for parking. There was a hockey game going on and I got caught in horrible traffic, that’s what happened when you drive in front of the stadium. But after that I did find a good spot. 2 hour meter parking, but it took credit card. I walked past the holocaust memorial, and took a look at that. There was a huge farmers market going on, it was strange to see. They basically made a tent city down 2 streets, and sold sea food, and fresh produce. I stopped at a nice little cheese shop and bought a few things. After that I went to The Green Dragon, it’s pretty much the place the revolution started. It was pretty early but I was thirsty, so I got a beer and looked around the place. Next I walked over to Faneuil Hall; they had a park service guy speaking there. It was interesting to hear about all that went on there. It’s still used today for different events, including protests, and graduations. I got to hear him finish talking but I had to run back to the meter. I paid again and went back over to check out the rest of the hall. Turns out there wasn’t much else there. Right next to that is Faneuil Hall Market Place, and Quincy Market. This area is basically a smaller mall for tourists; they sell a lot of street type food, and souvenirs. I walked around looking for awhile then stopped at a bar in Quincy Market. They were playing the hockey game I got to watch everyone walking to. They ended up losing. After that I went back to my car to try to find something to do for awhile. I had to look up a place I could park and sleep for the night, but it had to be close enough to the bars. I found a parking structure that worked just fine. I waited around for a bit and headed to the bars. The first bar I went to, The Blackstone Grill, felt weird to be by myself. After that one I went back to the union oyster house. I sat next to a guy who I think was with a prostitute, can’t really be sure without asking but it seemed like it. Then I walked past the bell in hand, they had a cover. So, back to The Green Dragon, they didn’t have a cover yet. I hung out here for the rest of the night. I met a few people, one couple was getting married in Boulder, CO. Then there was a really drunk guy next to me, turned out he was a soldier. I think it’s ironic for a solider to get wasted at the bar that started the revolution. I walked back to my car and on the way found a buffet tray full of chicken wings. I had several drinks in my at this point and all I saw was dinner.

Sunday I was thinking of going to the wine expo with Will, but I figured I’ve done enough drinking around here. So I drove north to New Hampshire, they are supposed to have good ski hills. I looked up the biggest one in the area, Cannon mt., and planed on going to that in the morning. The nearest town is Franconia. It was actually a nice drive once I got near the mountain, very scenic. They had a very nice best western resort that looked very appealing. I walked in looking for the pool area. You needed a key to get in, I think I was the only person in the hotel other then the receptionist. I just asked her at the front if I could use it. I actually said “I’m from the Wisconsin and the hotels there let people use the pools openly, do you do that?” she said it supposed to be $10 but no one’s here. So she just let me, they had a great hot tub and a 9 foot deep pool. After that dad called me to see how things were going. He told me about the patriot’s game and that the giant’s game was just about to start. I drove over to a very local bar and watched the game there. It reminded me of when I was in Greenwater, WA with Curtis Yanasak. It was just a small mountain town where everyone knows everyone and everyone skis. This was more a tourist town then Greenwater, but the bar had the same feel. There was a lady who was a huge packers fan. When she heard I was from Wisconsin she came and gave me a big hug for “our loss”. After the giants won I drove back to the best western and watched a movie in my car.

It was pretty cold that night, so I was up early. I made it to the mountain right away and got a few hours of boarding in. but the weather was just shit, very windy, freezing rain. By about 11:30 all the runs were iced over and everyone was heading out. After that, I had planned on going west to Vermont for a day of boarding, and lake placid the next day. I called the mountain I was going to and they had the same conditions and there was no snow coming until next week. This really sucked, I wanted to hit a few mountains around here but that just isn’t going to happen. So I drove down to Springfield, MA. I will check out the armory tomorrow. I want to be in NY, NY for the weekend and I really don’t have anything to do until then, so I will just have to throw something’s together. I sat at a bar and watched 2 more movies on my computer. They had a ball room dance lesson here for people like 60+.