Cape Ann Camping

Well it is supposed to be a diver's retreat but it seems that only about five of the twenty or so people that go actually dive. It seems that Mel Rich (the coordinator) has been going to this particular camp for many years now and arranged for our group to have a section of approximately fifteen sites reserved for us. Cape Ann is located a little north of Gloucester, MA along the salt marshes. Obviously since Jaedyn and I don't dive we dropped the kayak in off one of the jetties and paddled through the salt marshes, which were defiantly a different experience. They start out like a very calm river following the tides, weather is going in or out, and then they get narrow and start to wind around like a maze. Every once in a while I'll come to a dead end and have to turn around and remember how I got in to begin with. Oh who am I kidding, they were all dead ends. A couple of times I tried to stand up on the grassy marsh and see if I could find a way through to the river but it just looked like one big grassy field. As the picture can clearly show, between the grass are small thin water ways that i was paddling through. Sometimes I thought that I was coming to another dead end and suddenly a water way would appear around the high grass. This was defiantly like nothing I'd ever paddled through. I only wish Jaedyn had gotten to see it. Yeah she feel a sleep about twenty minutes into our trip and I had to wake her up when we arrived at the boat ramp.

Now how could I forget about dinner on Saturday night... This is what we were all waiting for. The LOBSTERS. I'm not talking about your 1 1/2 pound'ers that you get at the market. These babies were right off the boat. Lets see, we drove into Gloucester Saturday morning around 9:00 A.M. and went to the back door of warehouse on the water and waited for a scruffy old gentleman to let us in. We walked into a room with large crates floating in water that was being circulated by large hoses, kind of like a jacuzzi for lobsters, only the water was really COLD. Then we just let him know what size we wanted, payed and left. I can tell you that know one got anything less than three pounds and the largest was ten pounds. We opted to get a six pound that we split. Next time we're going to get a ten, because at six pounds it cost us $46 and a ten only costs about $12 more. Oh, we ate well that night. We had already brought our own corn potatoes and butter but it seems that Mel and his friends had already chipped in to get corn and potatoes for everyone, thanks any way.

On Sunday we drove into Gloucester and walked around shore and by the statues on the coast, like the "old man and the Sea." Then finished out or trip by having lunch at "The Gull" restaurant, which supposedly have the best seafood chowda. I'm glad that we went and if at all possible I really want to go again next year. Although the way things are looking right now, Jaedyn, Autumn and I may be living in New York in our first home. So we have a lot of good things going on right now and we are all really excited.

He's done it now...

High Exposure that is. I finale led High E with minimal beta on a beautiful September day. Meghan and I warmed-up on Horseman and broke it into two pitches to give her some practice at breaking down the anchor and giving me a little bit less rope drag after the traverse. Then we made the long walk down the carriage trail to a place I've never been, the base of High Exposure. It's only rated a 5.6+ but the final pitch has a lot to do with that. It sounds strange but my first reaction when we got to the base was, "I thought it would be bigger."

The first pitch was simply a means to an ends, it got me to the GT Ledge, the real exposure. When we first got to the ledge I didn't know what to do, organize myself for the next pitch, rest, take pictures. For the first time I was at a loss. I was just taken in by it all, the view, the people around me and what I was about to conquer. Now, that first reach around to the face where there is nothing but air to your left, right, above and below you was exhilarating, frightening and accomplishment all wrapped into one moment. The holds are all there, it just messes with your head a bit. I was so jacket up preceding the last pitch that I forgot to give Meghan and indication of what she was in for or how to approach this climb, not that I really knew myself, I didn't know what was in store for me beyond the roof, but I should have at least given her a little pep talk. When I reached the top I was hooting and hollering and dropping F bombs like a drunk trucker. Yes, I was excited. Meghan had a different expression on her face when I saw her at the top. Her face said it as well as her voice, "I'm so glad to see you." So, after she whipped the tears from her face she started to smile again. All was good as we rappelled down, Meghan likes the repelling part possibly more than the climbing.

We headed down the carriage trail back towards the parking lot and stopped at Ken's Crack for one last climb of the day. I was dreading the though of putting my shoes back on but I made it quick and as painless as possible. Meghan was just too tired to complete the route but it still ended off as a great day at the Gunks.

The Last Horah!!

The count down to kindergarten is coming to an end with ONE DAY LEFT. As summer is coming to an end I decided to take the family on one final camping trip. We decided on Lake Warmaug state park in New Preston, CT. Autumn actually did a wedding several years ago at the country club right down the road. The days prior to our trip had me a little worried because the fuel pump on the Saab broke and had to spend some time in the shop. So I was a little uneasy about going away an not knowing if I was going to have a car on Wednesday to get to work. Everything did work out and Barney and the boys at Swedish motor works took care of everything while we enjoyed the cool night by the campfire and kayaking around the lake. It seems that the company that rents out kayaks close down at 4:00 and by the time we had set up the camp site and gotten our bathing suits on they were no longer renting for the day. No worries, Autumn and I just took turns chauffeuring Jaedyn around the lake. After dinner, smores and a good nights sleep we woke up to a cool morning and a nice hot fire to eat breakfast by.

After packing up the camp site we headed off to Kent to see the falls and check out down town. The falls were nice; I can only imagine what they'd be like in the spring time after a good rain. Autumn was talking the whole time about filters and her other cameras and coming back in the spring to photograph the falls again. All in all a good couple of days to relax before we take on a new adventure with Jaedyn and for us.

When Sean is away...

Well, for the past four weeks I've been opening a new "Stir Crazy" in Estero, FL, which by the way went amazingly well. Before I returned home my parents took Jaedyn to Vermont to give Autumn a little break. While I was gone my family had several momentous events happen. The first being my daughter Jaedyn riding her bike by herself for the first time. My sister, Melissa and my brother in-law Dan, are expecting their first child. The one big project that has been dragging since I left is the new deck my father is putting on there house. It looks great now and is the final stages of being complete.

Another good day at the Gunks...

Seeing as how I'll be leaving for Florida in about a week to open a new restaurant, I won't be climbing any time soon. So I was going to make the most out of the time I had. I was meeting up with several people today, Meghan at Rock and Snow, and Danny and Angela at the base of Horseman. A foursome, I've never had one of those before... So, after suiting up Meghan with all the appropriate gear we were off to the Gunk's. Despite the many times I've visited, I'm still amazed at how easy the access is to some of the best climbing in the north east. We literally got out of the car walked down a flat carriage trail and were climbing in under 10 minutes. Yeah, I got a little side tracked...

Danny and Angela were running late so I decided to set up a top rope on the first route I saw, Black Fly. A nice little warm-up to get the blood flowing. After cruising that route we headed down the carriage trail even further to meet up with the rest of our group. With guide book in hand and eyes looking up to the cliff, like a Japanese tourist, I knew this had to be them. They had that look about them that I all know too well. The look of excitement and awe that most of us get our first time to the Gunk's. So lets get it on...

Getting four people to the top of a 110 ft. cliff is no easy task with two ropes. I lead, of course, and Meghan followed cleaning the gear as she climbed. Nice job by the way. Danny was next to climb. He seemed to struggle with this one a little. Trust me, going out on to the traverse can be a bit scary. No worries though. We all made it to the top and down safely. Next up was Rhododendron, a beautiful 5.6 crack. This was my highest on site at the Gunk's and it felt great, I only wish the route was longer. Angela did a nice job using some text book techniques and Meghan learned a couple of new ones herself. The ever popular foot jam and her first lay back. (tear)

To finish off the day I was looking for a nice easy multi pitch, Belly Roll is what I found. (I love the names) The first pitch might have taken a little bit too much out of Meghan, that or it had just been a long day of climbing but she just couldn't muster up the energy to finish the second pitch, so I lowered her to the bottom. Luckily two climbers on a route near by were willing to do a double rope rapell and let me clean all my gear on the way down. Thanks Max and Dan. The sunset from the top made the day a little bitter sweet. By the time I had reached the bottom the darkness had closed in and we were collecting our gear by flash light. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "I've never met a climber I didn't like." Today proved me right once again. Thanks again to Dan and Max as well as Angela and Danny for another good day at the Gunk's.