New York Traveler.net

Wordless Wednesday: Whoa Woes

Hmmm. I think I can say I speak for multitudes or people right now about this. Isn’t is a sad state of affairs. We are stuck right now because gasoline is just too durn expensive.

What an Xperience!

Oh man. This is an amazing thing. If you like wild and different things to do, you have got to check out this website, the Xperience Days. I think it’s amazing that you can actually do some of these things! You’ll have to see the website to soak everything in, but these things would make terrific and unqiue gifts for an adventuresome dad for Father’s Day, a crazy mom for Mother’s Day, or even for yourself! There’s a ton of stuff for the New York tri-state area, but there are locations all over the United States. Cool!

Basically, this company offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences. For example, take a helicopter ride over the Manhattan skyline (and affordable $110), be a virtual combat fighter pilot (more expensive at $1,900) complete with lessons and video of your exploits, or get a chef for a day in a wine and cheese tasting meal ($400). Those are the things that jumped out at me– there’s a ton more things! Surfing, hot air balloon rides, culinary classes, hang gliding, and culinary experiences are some other things available. Some things are rather pricey, but some things are very affordable! And if you’ve got a group of siblings all willing to pitch in for a Mom and Dad anniversary gift or something- WOW! It could be amazing.

Check out the website! It’s an amazing experience in of itself!

My Entrecards Update

I love Entrecards. WEven after they changed their entire pricing structure, I didn’t care. I’m appreciative of the traffic and I have loved meeting new bloggers and discovering new blogs. Some people have been posting about their top ten EC droppers as a way of thank you. I thought that is a pretty good idea, so that’s what I am doing. I appreciate you guys visiting my humble little blog. I hope you are learning new things about New York State.

Here are my top ten droppers:

Thanks for dropping your cards!

Discount Magazines

Looking for some cheap magazines? By “cheap” I don’t mean “inferior,” I mean “inexpensive.” Magazines prices have been climbing up while subscriptions have been going down. This is a good time to check for discounts on magazines. Companies are eager to please and you can get excellent prices! MagsForLess.com is one such discount magazine business. You can order right from their website. I noticed a couple of travel magazines for sale, but my favorites are the Family Handyman, Country Home, and Log Homes magazines. Mmmmm. The prices are very good for yearly subscriptions. Prices are affordable, and the company is a family-owned business out of New York. Check them out if you are in the market for some excellent deals on discount magazines!

Up the Hill

It’s been so busy here for us, with spring plantings and the kids’ school work that we haven’t had any time to really go anywhere. An appointment in a distant town might take us to a little exploration, but we really have no time for a lengthy exploit.

Some of this blog’s readers have expressed curiosity about our geography where we live. We live in the Mohawk Valley, the lowest geographic point of New York State. There’s the Catskills to the south and the Adirondacks to the north. We have plenty of hills here in the Valley, though! Up behind my house is a very steep hill (we call them hills, but I suppose they might be considered mountains elsewhere?). We went for a little hike. It is very rugged countryside. I took my camera along and snapped some photos for you to see.

Here’s the gorge where most of the water comes spiling down from the hill. We have to have such gorges (they are man-made) otherwise, our homes and everything around them are washed out during heavy rains.

And here’s a shot of us going downhill. It’s a strenuous exercise!

Those are the only photos that came out well. I’ll try to take more next time we are out. The view from the top is breathtaking!

Be Bewildered No More

My kids are tremendous Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett fans. They even have the “gear”: coonskin caps, Kentucky rifles (toy, but they look real), and various Indian paraphernalia. They are also in the process of collecting each and every one of the old television series from the 50s and 60s. Funny! They love Boone and Crockett because they were such rugged frontiersmen. You know– all that exploration in the frontier wilderness, eating squirrels, quoting the Bible, and defending the Constitution!

We were joking recently about something Daniel Boone once said. He was an old man, sitting for a portrait for which posterity to remember him. The artist painting the portrait, a young man named Chester Harding, chatted on and off with the aged legend of old. (Harding’s painting is the only live portrait of Boone, by the way!) The young man asked, “Tell me, Mr. Boone, have you ever been lost?” Mr. Boone reportedly scratched his head and answered with his customary drawl, “Well, no, I can’t say I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.”

For some strange and utterly uncalled for reason, every time the children and I go out for a drive in the Adirondacks, they bring that little story up. I wonder why! Ha! Maybe it is because I get lost sometimes? I’m always checking out the weekly specials at Buy.com, and came across this gorgeous little gadget.

It’s a Garmin StreetPilot GPS Navigation System! Isn’t it the cutest little thing! Buy.com always has such great deals– this is a whopping 64% off right now. Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Maybe I should drop some hints. Well, the kids read my blog, so WINK WINK, KIDS! Shipping is freeeeee!

Just think– if I get this, I’ll never have to hear how Daniel Boone was “bewildered” for three days, again and again! Although, it’s become a family running gag now. Maybe I could name my new little GPS System “Dan’l Boone,” in honor of the old guy.

A Drive to Hinckley Reservoir

Early last week, we had a dentist appointment north of where we live, and decided to take a little car trip further to the lovely foothills of the Adirondacks. Spring is just coming to the area, and the tree lines are a mixture of still-scraggly limbs and little green buds. The air was fresh and invigorating. I like to think that the Adirondacks are the epitome of Upstate New York life: austere and slightly acidic, but independent and noble. The Adirondacks is no place for soft living!

I really didn’t have any particular place to go. I just drove for the pleasure of driving. I enjoy the view on Route 365, so we followed it, north. We stopped at a parking area along the West Canada Creek. The view of the creek is lovely.

Further down the creek we could see two majestic loons swimming and diving for fish. Every once in a while, one of the loons would stretch open its wings and expose its enormous wingspan. They were too far away for my zoom-less camera, unfortunately.

North of us, we could see the peaks of the Adirondacks. How they beckoned us to come see them!

We had to resist them. We did putter up north >>> Read more of ‘A Drive to Hinckley Reservoir’

Winner of My Little Contest

For my Saturday Photo Hunters post, I asked a trivia question and offered 100 Entrecard credits for the first person who got the right answer. Jesie of Jesie Blog Journey got the correct answer! I’d asked in what movie was this quote by Benjamin Franklin written on a plaque:

Do not squander Time, for that is the Stuff life is made of.

The plaque with this quote was in the 1939 movie “Gone With the Wind.” It is featured early in the movie, at Ashley Wilkes’ estate.

Congratulations, Jesie! I will be sending you your 100 EC credits. Thanks for playing!