Hey all,
don’t know how this will work I have never edited a post before. So if it deletes all the comments I apologize. Lester had a conflict for the weekend before, and he is the guy who brings all the nice gear so … we’re happy to accommodate him.
Friday, it appears that Lester, Jen, and Katherine the great will be heading up to Housatonic State Meadows campgroup to reserve some spots for us in the morning. I think we should try for sites 22, 23, and 24. There is a little traffic noise that may be heard over the river, but Route 7 is not all that busy so it may only affect the light sleepers. Maybe bring earplugs if you think it may be an issue.
Which leaves apple picking. Apple picking is fun, but its not a whole day activity, or really camping worthy. We decided that there should be the possibility of hiking and there is a section of the AT near Kent, CT (Bulls Bridge) that is handicapped accessable. Which means that a stroller can be pushed along, and my niece can enjoy the beautiful fall foillage.
Hot apple cider is calling me, and I think it would be a great way to warm up.
So this leaves a couple of options available to us. See the links below and voice your opinion by posting a comment.
Housatonic Meadows State Park located just north of cornwall bridge, CT on route 7.
We can hike a mile or two of the applachain trail, or go to kent falls and picnic, or both. Alchohol is prohibited in both locations (as it was in Harriman) so you will need to get creative. Fishing there is catch and realease (thanks a lot GE for polluting the river) {PCB’s WTF?}
Please post a comment if you think you can make it be sure to include
do you have any dietary restrictions?
any menu recommendation?
any beverage recommendations?
any other activities that you may want to do?
August 6th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Ahh, memories. I went on a canoeing trip down the Housatanic with the YMCA when I was 12 and we stayed at Housatonic Meadows State Park. The covered bridges are very cool.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:06 am
You guys want to come camping? Hot apple cider!!!! Sleeping with your wife in a tent!!!
We are in the market for a car camping tent and figure we might as well keep future family and dogs in mind since the McGuires are known for keeping their tents for 20 years. I like this one http://www.rei.com/product/719299 but I have to go see it. I don’t want another hotel California. Too big. There might also be an issue with the poles. have to go up and compare to REI base camp which is Lesters favorite.
August 7th, 2008 at 7:19 am
I’m so excited for the next campout.
- Hell yah I can make it!!
- I love all the ideas. I have never been on the AT. A day hike to falls and bridges is awesome. All the places don’t have to be stroller friendly because we will have kid carrier backpack by then. Apple picking looks good. Katherine can get her first pumpkin too. Asian pears should also be in season at the farm. I can make apple sauce (even though I was against apple sauce last year)and pear sauce for Kat.
- Dietary restrictions: Must be good food made with love by my friends and family.
- maybe a hearty stew
- spiked hot apple cider with Fisherman’s friend to cap off the night. (I never said it was bad, I just couldn’t handle another shot.)
Michelle, I like the huge vestibule on the tent.
August 7th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
You guys keep picking dates that we cannot make…..Got tickets to drag racing that weekend, bunch of my Dad’s friends are coming in from out of town so I have to be here…..I’ll let you know if something changes.
The weekend before (Oct 2nd-4th) we will be camping in PA for an off road event that my club sponsors. Lester do you want to bring the Heep?
When are we going to West Virginia for a Upper Gauley rafting trip? November?
August 7th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Is there any water left in November? Would I need a wet suit? dry suit? or should I just go naked? Ha ha just kidding… Denis would kill me!
August 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Jen, so glad you liked fishermans friend. I love the aftertaste, where the spices come out. Mmmmmm hot apple cider (rum?). I am thinking roasted fruit with marscapone for desert, we can even make caramel sauce for apple dippin. big salad, chicken stew in a mashed potato bowl? a big thing of hot oatmeal with walnuts, craisins cinnamon and butter for breakfast? sandwiches, or Dawns tuna bruschetta for lunch.
Just ideas. Has anyone found any good canning books? minus weird additives?
August 8th, 2008 at 5:42 am
My bad…..it’s open in September and the beginning of October…
If Aaron didn’t unpublish his post titled: ‘How To Add A L!nk’ I wouldn’t have to do this:
http://www.narr.com/upper_gauley_river.html
August 8th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Very nice, Michelle. Dawn’s off today. Come over tonight. We’ll get some drinks at Puerto Allegre.
Norm, I republished the old post and removed commenting. It’s under “How To”.
August 12th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
We’re in for that weekend. I loved Harriman and Little Pond, but I also am a sucker for the good ole AT. Um… apple picking was kind of slim pickins last year in October, since it’s toward the end of the season for that farm. That same farm (Maskers) was actually really nice earlier in the season, so I’m wondering if all the apple farms might be low on apples in Oct.
But really we’ll do anything (that doesn’t involve boats).
August 13th, 2008 at 5:20 am
I feel soo bad Tobi, I feel like we have boat scarred you. Glad you are in for some fall fun
August 13th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Aw, Michelle… You didn’t boat scar me. The waves pouring directly into my boat and sinking it into the Long Island Sound boat scarred me ;-) Seriously though, a spray skirt would have avoided that whole thing.
Can’t wait for the Fall trip. Last year, sipping cider by the fire at night and waking up in the tent with the autumn leaves all around was just perfect.
It just occurred to me… that will be the first camping trip with MY HUSBAND!!!
August 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
In that case tell Barry to watch out for the lightning. As its his job as the husband to check and see if the windows are zipped up in a downpour.
August 13th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
If you had zipped them all the way in the first place…
August 29th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I just called Reserve America. The will not accept reservations after September 2. So, that means that we will have to grab some sites on early friday. can we pull that off? Michelle is trying to work some magic up in that direction so she maybe abel to claim one or al three sites. I just don’t know. Let’s see what we can pull off. I think we should try for sites 22, 23, and 24.
August 29th, 2008 at 9:13 am
oh I mean the sites at Housatonic Meadows State Park. maybe even site 21.
August 29th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
So far we have the following party
Me Denis
Lester and Jen
Tobi and Barry
Nichole
Jen Thayer
Hemal and Harry
Pat Connoly and kids
August 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
We can definitely get the sites. I’m willing to get there early on Friday, even if it means Lester drives over later. (Who knows what his work schedule will be.)
I’ll see you all in 3 weeks. I’ll come down to Les and Helen’s the first weekend I get back. We’ll be sure to make the rounds.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:53 am
My time off request has been denied for that weekend, it is the start of the fall sale. :(
How is the weekend before?
September 3rd, 2008 at 6:47 am
I also just realized that weekend is Yom Kippur - the most important Jewish holiday of the year. We are *definitely* expected to do family stuff Friday night - maybe even Saturday. We need to talk to his Grandma and Mom about what the holiday plan is. Not going would be like missing our first Christmas as a family.
So, the weekend before is better for us too. If that’s not possible, we’ll join when we can on Saturday.
September 7th, 2008 at 5:58 am
How is the weekend after?
bueller?
September 8th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Doh!
Sorry, needed to talk this over with Michelle, then just forgot to post back. The weekend before is Rene and Noah’s wedding(congratulations). Michelle and I had plans to try to make it, but that was before we saw this amazing house. We put an offer in on it last week. This means we will be extremely poor and unable to afford to go to Noah and Rene’s wedding (truely regret that). SO that in turn frees us up for the weekend before. Though, it might throw off the head count of the second half of the group Michelle posted.
Buying a home is stressful, and well, it makes my head spin. So don’t mind me if I seem a bit off.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Congrats on the bid! *crossing fingers for you*
September 9th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
how is the weekend after?
September 10th, 2008 at 6:56 am
The weekend after is fine. Although it does get cold up that way near the end of october. I would really like to nail this thing down. Let me know what works for you Mo. There is a scout fishing trip the first weekend of october. so maybe the third weekend in october might be better. Just let me know what works and I can work with that. Flip Flop. flop flip.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Hey Lester,
Is this you? This is Jeanine, from CT. Remember me? Think of you often. I’m finally married with a beautiful baby boy, Liam. If it’s you – contact me, I’d love to share family photos with you. How’s it all going? I’m doing great!
J
September 28th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
OK, the good news is it is free camping!!
September 29th, 2008 at 6:34 am
What you mean to say is that the sites are free. The food we are buying still costs. But it does reduce the cost of the event.
\that was awkward.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Hence- “free camping”
The food will still cost & there is no water at the site.
The toilets are dry. Showers and bathrooms done for the season.
Edgar is coming too.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Bring my water filter!
September 29th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Even with the filter you can’t drink the water from the river, PCB’s. I will bring a 5 Gal. Blue container to match the 3 Gal. you left in my truck. I will also bring a few more, collapsable too. (if I can find them)
September 30th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
So any input on the menu?
Jen & I will do the buying, $20.00 a head.
I am thinking beef stew with wild mushrooms and creamy polenta for Saturday dinner.
Breakfast buffet? for Saturday morning. (I know Michelle thinks its routine, but it is inexpensive & easy).
Friday night snack?
Saturday lunch?
3 gallon? I thought it was 5………
September 30th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Yuck, yuck, yuck yeah it’s 5 Gals.
I don’t care for shrooms.
apples for lunch? with a side of applebutter, and a glass of cider? Sammichs. IDK, whatever I am easy.
friday night snack =chips and gwac/salsa or k-sa-dill-a’s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woxP8Ak-nbc
Applecore….
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:31 am
I have collapsable water containers too. I will bring them.
Saturday lunch: I love Michelle’s taco salad/burrito thingy (no pun intended).
Snacks: I’m always a fan of chocolate anything. Not really into apples or apple desserts because we’ll all be up to our elbows in apples for the next month if we go apple picking.
Should we bring cider and brand again? (This time I’ll bring ten times more.)
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 am
Yeah Bring water, water containers, cider and brandy and or rum.
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:11 am
Chocolate is always good. Also, I was thinking of making two pumpkin pies at home then bringing them. What do ya’ll think.
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:48 am
What will everyone else eat for dessert?
om nom nom nom.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
LOL! I love ya Denis. I almost forgot, one your you and one your me.
October 7th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Punkin’ pies? I could eat *you* up!
Just a reminder, the Hive is now cast iron independent. I have much supply (thank you all :-) so let me know if you want me to bring the dutch oven, frying pan or grill top.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:41 am
There is a cast iron fetish. Between les and myself I am sure that we have things covered. However, if you have unused, unseasoned cast iron that requires seasoning bring it on up. We can get a beautiful seasoning that will color your iron a dark black. If that’s the case then give a heads up and I will bring the necessary accoutrements.
October 10th, 2008 at 7:16 am
I’m working on seasoning the cast iron every day, so I’m set there. So far, the frying pan is winning the “seasoning” race (between the stove top grill, dutch oven and fry pan). EVERYTHING gets cooked in the frying pan.
I did make a nice pot roast in the dutch oven. Browned up the roast on the stove, then put the whole thing in the oven with some veggies. Yum!
October 15th, 2008 at 8:17 am
I gave meghan a dutch oven in bed last night; it was well-seasoned.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I thought that was a covered wagon? Are you still bitter about being on the reservation?
OK we got more. Edgar is bringing Judy.
Drew and Hurricane Carly are in.
Total is now 12.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Hey, A couple of friends of Barry’s want to come too. Is there room for 2 more kids?
October 15th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
I don’t see why we can’t add more. Give me a call or text on Thursday morning with a confirmation. I have to go to the grocery store to get a bit more food. Sweet! This is turning into a real party!
October 16th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
NICE!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am
Where are the pictures?
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:12 pm
ugh, I need to upload them. Been kinda busy at work this week doing a short sale review. This is actually kinda funny. I feel strongly about naked shorting, and now I have to review for it and It’s a lot harder to find then one might think.
But hey let’s just say that the trip was a cool one with good peoples. Though we didn’t actually do much but lounge around and eat. It was a good time. Tobi and Nichole told me some crazy things by the river.
/46 comments strong and growing?
//top that!
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Well, technically, while 47 comments is very impressive, it actually places the post in the #3 position for all-time* most-commented post.
#2 - Interesting Find (51 Comments)
#1 - Denmark Travel Arrangements (62 Comments)
* The archive goes back to 2004.
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:23 pm
We can change that…..
I wish we were there!!!!!
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Hey if I move closer to CT, we should plan a winter camping trip….
October 24th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Stangely, I already have plans for one that is just waiting for the right amount of snow. Call it the “blonde-dyke” derby (a play on the scouts Klondike derby).
the weekend consists of throwing tarps over the enterences to lean-to’s at ward pound ridge and BBQing all day while we get drunk on hot-chocolate and brandy and sled until we can’t stand up.
October 25th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Norm, you need to head this way.
I have a lot of work that needs to get done on my jeep.
And I need a teacher so I can learn how to do it myself.
Plus the camping trips keep evolving and getting better and better.
And now that they’ve gotten kid friendlier……….