Maine 2010

My blogging routine has decayed into oblivion, mostly as a consequence of Facebook which is just so easy and yet....well.....crap.  I say this because Facebook does not (as far as I know) allow you to archive your memories in the same way a blog does.  On the other hand I get about 1 comment a year on Blogger whereas Facebook is happenin' baby.

So after Dave and Peter Woods left town we had a week of calm before heading out on a road trip to Maine.  This was all very last minute.  In fact, we didn't know what the plan was when we left the house (I LOVE this kind of traveling) so we packed for multiple outcomes including camping.  In the end we spent one night under canvas in Poe Paddy State Park in PA and then legged it up to Bayside Maine which is where we ended up last year.  I usually prefer to explore new places but Bayside is unique! At this time of year, most of the North East USA is sweltering.  I am sitting here writing this in Pittsburgh with the temps in the 90s and humidity is way up there.  In contrast, Maine is just right....with nice sea breezes on the coast, sunny days and cooler nights.  Bayside itself is a collection of Victorian cottages on the coast (near Belfast) that surround a small sailing club.  There is nothing of commercial interest in the village so nobody bothers going there except the few folks "in the know".  The result is that Bayside is perfect for a family holiday.  Plenty of other kids, somewhere nice to swim and kayak and enough to go and visit so as not to get bored.

During the first week we were joined by some friends from New Hampshire, Vicky, Mike and Sasha.  Mike's last name is "Striech" (pronounced Mike "Strike")....cool eh?

Pretty normal scene at the dock in Bayside.  Adam and Soph spent lots of time just chilling down here

The bikes in Belfast Maine are part of an art installation that you can play on. My kind of art!

Splendid local "Andrews" Pale Ale brewed in Lincolnville

One memorable day trip was out to Fort Knox. This was probably built to keep out the Brits but we did a pretty good job of getting there. They were having a re-enactment of the American Civil War when we were there.  Good stuff.

I managed to aim it at his head :)

Revenge!

Yes Sah!

Mini-Shaz does a quick Travolta routine during the Civil War re-enactment (surreal)

Another memorable day out was spent on the Amity Sloop.  Run by Captain Steve (originally from Oz) and his son. It was a bit calm for good sailing but maybe that was a good thing given how sea-sick I get :-) 

Amity

 

Dave and Peter Woods

We are having a very pleasant time entertaining Dave and Peter Woods.  Adam adores having Peter (16 years old) here. Peter is a great musician and footy player. A good role model for our boy! Trumpet lessons are underway, as is a healthy resurgence of a scouse accent (although only from Adam...not Soph :))

Most of the weekend was spent chilling out although we did hit the pool and of course we watched all the available footy.  Last night we went to Leo and Joanne's annual summer music fest.  Adam and Peter did a turn off the back of about 10 minutes rehearsal.  Hats off to Peter to accompanied Adam on the guitar despite having never actually heard the tune before!!!

Here is a link to a vid of the "fab 2"

Ooh...almost forgot.  Adam competed in his first swim race at the Edgewood Club last week.  The team is called the "Edgewood Eels". Have to say it was an excellent day out.  Lots of great kids, great parents, great coaches.  Just good fun.  I am impressed!

Bike Camping With Scallywags

Shame on me for being being such a slacker. Life has been busy, cameras have been lost and found, Facebook serves as an easy distraction for sharing news but, let's face it,......I must try harder!

Loads has happened.  Much of it forgotten (which is exactly why this blog needs maintaining).

Adam played the Spring footy season at Pittsburgh Dynamo.  I coached...which, frankly, was a bit of a disaster because I naturally revert to "Scouse Git Man" whenever there is a large round ball nearby.  None of the kids (except Adam) has any idea what I was rattling on about but we won all our games anyway so something must have gone right. Actually, I think we did well because, well, a) the kids can actually play well and b) Brent Plummer did a top job of translating and organizing and....er....coaching.  So well done us.

Last weekend was Father's day here so Brent and I took our boys (and the Soph) bike camping.  We rode 16 miles South East along the Yough trail to Adelaide with all our gear and camped overnight.  It was a great weekend!  Adam and his buddy Caelen rode their own (new) bikes.  Soph rode on Brent's tandem and Aiden rode with me.  Packing was a bit of a nightmare. I took too much and forgot half of what I actually needed (including raingear) but we saw a Copperhead snake, got rained out in a lightning  storm and then sprayed by a skunk so what more can you ask for?

Shaz's brother Dave and his son Peter arrive tomorrow. Will try and update with more news soon.

2010 East End Brewery Keg Ride

Last week was the annual east end brewing company keg ride. This year we had an estimated 800 riders and once again  shut down most of Shadyside and Point Breeze. My favourite part is the fact that most car drivers just chill out and wait for us to ride by. Of course there are always a few nutters who get upset and try and force their cars through the mass ranks of cyclists. Of course this gets them nowhere which is very funny :) 

Busking at Bedtime

Adam and I had some fun messing about on the computer before bed tonight.

All I can say is that the boy has "got the chops".

(If only that old fart on the keyboard could make the chord changes at the right time)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COgfaGLUNKI

Spring has Sprung

We've had a couple of weeks of ridiculously hot weather. Spring seemed to last about 24 hours and we are consequently all sneezing our heads off and rubbing our eyes thanks to levels of tree pollen that have left everything carpeted in a thick green baize

I had an unusually early Saturday bike ride, heading out with a buddy from work along the Allegheny river. It was perfect weather and we rode an easy 40 miles before returning for a slap up breakfast.

Sharon was rehearsing with her quartet today and Adam went of with his mate Caeden so Soph and I had a dads and daughters kind of afternoon with a lazy visit to Shadyside on the tandem for books and ice-cream.

Ohiopyle, footy and well....everything!

Exactly two months ago there was 6 foot of snow in my garden. This week it has been 80 degrees.  Adam and I tried heading out on the tandem for a kick around yesterday but we lasted about 10 minutes and ended up retiring to the ice cream stand to cool off.

My mum has been in town for a few weeks and on Thursday we headed to Ohiopyle for some fresh air and fun.  The Youghiogheny River is still full of snow melt and so it was a roaring spectacle.  Sadly my mum is heading back to the Pool on Monday so the kids will miss their granny treats and Shaz and I will miss the on-tap babysitting.

Shorts!

As usual at this time of year, Pittsburgh has gone from about 50 below to 60 above freezing in a matter of hours.  My mum is in town for 3 weeks so Shaz and I took advantage and escaped to OhioPyle for a couple of days.  Hiking in shorts, reading in the sun, sleeping in!! A nice change.  But forgot my camera! Ooops!

Anyway...this is where we stayed, which is here and near here.

The river water was REALLY high...probably cos of all the snow we've had this winter. 

Roll on summer!!

And then the Sun Came Out

After 24 hours of nothing but snow, Mr Sun came shining through and we had the most amazing couple of hours with bright blue skies and snow everywhere.  We optimistically walked/sledded down to the library in Squirrel Hill with the kids but of course it was closed.  It was an amazing glimpse of life with no cars.  Everybody was walking or skiing or sledding along the main drag. Somehow the world seemed calmer and happier.  Of course I am even more convinced now that we should abandon our cars and ride bikes everywhere! But don't forget your snow tires!