TCC for 2/17/09

The Caretaker's Concern 2/17/09

The Caretaker is fully shaved and shorn (bowl cut of course until he can get his head into the hands of a professional for a proper trimming, photo will follow tomorrow).

Total software failure, got to keep it short.
Lake ice quite lively tonight during return walk, doing quite a bit of knocking about.

All photos taken this morning:

TCC for 2/16/09

The Caretaker's Concern 2/16/09

2/16/09
Inside the Ghetto, the Caretaker is busy at his desk where all the "magic" happens.


2/16/09
This could be the last day of the Caretaker's beard, tomorrow could be the day it gets shaved off.


--The Caretaker

Posting of the Caretaker’s Journal entries from 2003 began on the 2nd of February 2009, if you’ve missed the earlier posts click on “TCC for Feb 02” on the left in the “Blog Archive” and begin reading from there.

The Caretaker's first stint on the Island was during the mid-nineties, then he returned for the Summer of 2003, the text that follows has been edited only for spelling, it is basically a verbatim transcription from his journal (thus unedited except for coherency), this tenth entry is from his tenth day back at the Island. It is as follows:

June 6th, 2003, Friday

Another long day, very busy. Worked on the master bedroom, will finish the screen door tomorrow. It was a cloudy day with rain off and on. In the afternoon I went for a bicycle ride, it turned into my own personal cycle-cross event. It was a great ride.

I went North on route 9N out of town and then at the Riverbank road I went onto North Bolton Road. According to to the map, the route I had planned was all on "major local roads". I was later to find out that "major local road" does not necessarily mean paved road.

Just as I started up North Bolton Road I saw what at first glance appeared to be a Peacock ducking into the the woods on the left side of the road. Now I only saw it briefly so I was not sure, but I did know one thing: if it is a Peacock, someone is missing it, Peacocks don't live here naturally. The bird ducked into the woods about 30 feet ahead of me so I continued up the hill and moved over to the wrong side of the road with hopes that perhaps the bird had just hid there waiting for me to go by, thus I'd be able to get a better look at it. When I get to the spot where I thought the bird went into the woods there was no bird to be seen. I then saw that a car was approaching so I went back to the right side of the road. Then, all of a sudden, as I continued up the road, I heard a loud flapping of wings and then saw this huge black bird with bright red fleshy head and neck fly across the street in front of me and up into the trees. This was no peacock, this was a wild Turkey, and a very large one at that, enough to probably feed 10 people, but this wild Turkey could move. I think it went from standing to flying in a moment, no running, just "I think I'll fly away now." And it did. I found it to be a rather impressive site.

Eventually North Bolton Road becomes Padanarum Road, along the way I saw a few Salamanders along the shoulder of the road. I also saw a Goldfinch, or at least I think I did, it was bird that I only glimpse of and I saw a flash of yellow, but who knows? (Or, maybe it was a Peacock? --Caretaker's note 2/16/09)

After a while on Padanarum Road a dead end road branches off of it, Trout Falls Road. This where this "major local road" becomes a dirt road. Truth be known, I wasn't too surprised that this was the case. It is not too wise to ride a street bicycle down a sand and gravel dirt road, but having taken my road bicycle off road before I wasn't too worried. So I begin pedaling down the dirt road when in a short while the road surface becomes too soft for my narrow tires, I must dismount. I think about turning around but decide to walk the bike to the top of the rise to see how the road conditions are up on ahead. After the rise the road hardened up so I got back on my bicycle and continued on my way and in the end was extremely glad that I did.

So now that I have begun pedaling again I knew at this point I was committed to completing the route I planned. I carry with me a spare tube and patch kit so I wasn't worried about a popped tube, however, I carry no spare tire, my only concern was if I shred a tire I'm up a creek. Thankfully that did not happen.

So I'm pedaling along for a while when all of a sudden from the woods on the left hand side of the road who jumps out in front of me about 20 feet ahead? None other than Mr. Fox. I don't think he was expecting me, it looked as if he was planning on crossing the road, but when he saw me he turned and started to run ahead of me up the for about 10 seconds or so and then he ducked back into the woods on the left hand side of the road. I must say though, the Fox did not seem too frightened he did not dash ahead of me at an all out sprint, we were maintaining the same pace, I was able to get a good look at him. This was no peacock. He was light brown, almost tan, a big bushy tail, white on the underside. Pointy ears. It was very large, the size of an average American dog. It was beautiful watching its steady gait, it seemed to be just trotting along nonchalantly ahead of me, it was a bit faster than a trot, but certainly not a full out gallop.

Later on the road surface became a bit soft and the incline too steep so I had to dismount, during this entire trip it was only twice I had to dismount due to road conditions. However, this second dismount allowed for the mosquitos to get at me. This served as motivation not to dismount again--I forgot to bring bug repellent. Here on the Island there are so few mosquitos that I often forget about bug repellent when I travel the woods on the mainland.

Now it wasn't as if there were hordes of mosquitos, but one mosquito is too many for me. So once the road leveled off and hardened up I pedaled on again.

Eventually I came to the "T" where Padanarum Road spurs off, once continue straight or make a left at the "T" and head for the town of Horicon, my loop did not include Horicon so I continued straight, it is also at this point where one sees a sign informing the traveler that the road is not maintained during the winter months. I did not mark this as a sign that the road was going to get better, and it didn't, but it did not become too terrible. Eventually Padanarum Road joins with Round Pond Brook and much of the brook can be seen from the road all the way back to where it joins with Route 9N. It is a beautiful brook, there is one set of falls that are great to see. There are also some great ferns to be seen along the road. I will certainly return to Padanarum Road again but will either take my mountain bike, hike, or go by car.

Once Padanarum Road meets with Route 9N the rest of my way was obviously paved. I took 9N south back to Bolton Landing thus completing my loop. For all the bumps and loose teeth from Padanarum Road it was a very nice ride, the worst part of the whole trip was on 9N having to listen to the Stick Twisters roar by.

End Journal Entry for 6/6/2003
Coming tomorrow the Caretaker’s journal entry for 10/4/2004.

TCC for 2/15/09

The Caretaker's Concern 2/15/09

The Caretaker hopes everyone had a happy Valentine's Day. Today's post is going to just be a journal entry from his first year back to the Island. The posts for the next few days will most likely just be entries from his journal. The Caretaker needs to focus his attention on his submission for the Australian job, Tourism Queensland of Australia refers to it as "the Best Job in the World" however the Caretaker begs to differ, he already has the best job in the world but he is willing to take a step down in employment (not to mention that 150,000 Australian dollars for 6 months of work is a pretty easy pill to swallow). So, when the Caretaker finishes his 60 second video submission and uploads it to the job website he will be sure to let you know so you can go view it. You will also be able to rate it, his only request will be that if you find his submission funny and entertaining than give it a high rating, if not give it a low rating.

--The Caretaker


2/15/09

Posting of the Caretaker’s Journal entries from 2003 began on the 2nd of February 2009, if you’ve missed the earlier posts click on “TCC for Feb 02” on the left in the “Blog Archive” and begin reading from there.

The Caretaker's first stint on the Island was during the mid-nineties, then he returned for the Summer of 2003, the text that follows has been edited only for spelling, it is basically a verbatim transcription from his journal (thus unedited except for general coherency), this tenth entry is from his tenth day back at the Island. It is as follows:

June 5th, 2003, Thursday

Much of the day was spent doing work for myself and the Island. In the afternoon I went for a bicycle ride on my 12 speed road bike. I biked North on route 9N to the trail accesses for the Tongue Mountain range on the other side of the street from the trail access is a river with a nice water fall. I hung around there for a while letting the sounds of the falls block out the noise from the road. After a while I returned home. Overall it was a nice ride, around 14 miles round trip. The only drawback were the packs of Stick Twisters, and of them it was really only the noisy ones, thankfully Americade is only a week long. It's good for commerce they're here, but it will be nice for the peace and quiet when they're gone.

The Canadian geese are passing through, yesterday while hanging laundry a gaggle flew overhead in "V" formation, from end to end was probably over a mile long. They make enough noise at times to almost be more of a nuisance than the Stick Twisters.

Overall today was quite long. Most of my days have been long. Which is good, pretty soon I will have finished all that there is to do here on the Island and will have to get work off Island. I am not looking forward to that, but a man's got to do what a man's got to do--hopefully I can figure some way out of it.

(The Caretaker didn't get no job. Of course he figured a way out of it. It was simple, he didn't look. This probably needs not be stated but if you haven't noticed, the Caretaker is perhaps the world's greatest procrastinator, lazy as lazy can be.
--Caretaker's note 2/15/2009)

End Journal Entry for 6/5/2003
Coming tomorrow the Caretaker’s journal entry for 6/6/2003.

TCC for 2/14/09

The Caretaker's Concern 2/14/09


2/14/09


2/14/09


2/14/09


2/14/09


2/14/09


2/7/09

Not wanting the post for Valentine's Day lonely without verse the Caretaker has posted another poem, this too, lyrics to a song, it has no title as of yet, he often uses it as a warm up so for now the working title is that.

"Warm Up"

I need to know
What it means to let you go
Through that door
For a while
Until you return my smile.

Heart grows dark
When we part
I miss you more and more
By my side through the night
I love to feel you sigh.

It's okay it's alright,
It's okay it's alright,

It's okay it's alright
Until we say good-bye.


Happy Valentine's Day.
Love,
The Caretaker

TCC for 2/13/09

The Caretaker's Concern 2/13/09

The Caretaker has been away for about 7 days or so, he is now back at the Island. He's got plenty to report but is still trying to get caught up after having been away for a while. He's got lots to share and lots to explain, he hopes to be able to do so come tomorrow.

In this post is a photo from today, and in honor of Valentine's Day the Caretaker has posted a photo of a rose that he took while he was away. Also in honor of Valentine's Day the Caretaker has posted a poem, it's actually lyrics to a song that he came up with a while ago but hasn't made the time to finish writing it so what he's got for now will have to do (it's just a working title). It probably doesn't really read too well but it does sound much better when sung, someday the Caretaker will sing it for you.

2/13/09


2/7/09


"If For No Other Reason"

So I,
Wanted you
To know why,
I'm in love with
Your mind
And all of your
Heart and your soul.

It feels right,
By your side
When we hold tight
Through the night
And I know I,
Will never,
Want to let go.

Some
Times,
Want you now,
But daylight
Crowds your brow.
I fall high
Without you now
So low.
Oh babe,
Don't go.

In my arms you'll always be
Home.

In my heart I'll always dream
Home, with you.

--The Caretaker

TCC for 2/11/09

TCC for 2/11/09

Posting of the Caretaker’s Journal entries from 2003 began on the 2nd of February 2009, if you’ve missed the earlier posts click on “TCC for Feb 02” on the left in the “Blog Archive” and begin reading from there.

Unfortunately the Caretaker is currently having some trouble uploading photos, not that he took any today, and there really isn't much to report, so instead the Caretaker has decided to dig out his journal from when he first started working again at the Island. His first stint was during the mid-nineties, then he returned for the Summer of 2003, the text that follows has been edited only for spelling, it is basically a verbatim transcription from his journal (thus unedited except for coherency), this tenth entry is from his tenth day back at the Island. It is as follows:

June 3nd, 2003, Sunday

Woke up and was out of bed before the sun so I decided to watch it rise. I don’t often watch the sunrise in the summer, that’s more of a winter thing, but I was up so I figured why not? Brought my laundry to town and washed it. I then brought it back to the Island to hang on a clothes line to dry. (While living in Amsterdam, Netherlands the Caretaker had a conversation about line drying laundry with a Scottish woman who commented that it was worth the effort because it made the clothes smell nice. When the Caretaker returned to the Island he made a point to test her theory, she’s right, it is worth the effort. If you’ve ever been to Lake George and think it generally smells nice then you should line dry your laundry there if you get the chance, especially on a nice sunny windy day. Whenever the Caretaker has the time and weather permits he always line dries his laundry on the Island, it is certainly more work but well worth the effort. –Caretaker’s comment 2/11/09)

After I put the laundry on the line I left for the big city to take care of some errands that I wasn’t able to do the last time or forgot to do. On the way to Glens Falls I decided to take Route 9 through Lake George Village, it being Americade and all I figured why not see what the stick twisters were up to, pretty much the same old thing: twisting sticks and making a lot of noise or talking about twisting sticks, and making a lot of noise, some probably even offered to let others twist their sticks, and make a lot of noise. (Americade is a large motorcycle rally that occurs every summer in Lake George Village, it’s about a week long, brings in lot’s of tourist dollars and a ton of noise. –Caretakers comment 2/11/09)

I accomplished most of what I wanted to in the big city, there are a few things left to do and I will get to them in due time. However, it looks like I may have to go to the metropolis, Saratoga, to accomplish some things but that will be at a later date.

I returned to the Island, put things away and then began to make dinner. After dinner I took down my laundry. While taking it down the Lac du Saint Sacrement passed by the Island, I noticed on the starboard side of the bow of the ship there was a banner of a motorcycle company, this company makes many other things besides motorcycles, any way, when I saw the banner with the logo I knew what that meant, it was a boat load of stick twisters. (The Lac du Saint Sacrement is a large tour boat for hire that plys the waters of Lake George. –Caretaker’s comment 2/11/09)

Before starting the dishes I went down to cocktail point with some white grapes to take in the view for a while, I walked right out to where the grass meets the rocky shore with a chair and sat down. Just as I did so I looked to the right and about eight feet away from me was some sort of water fowl, gray top, beak like a gull, the gray feathers were fluffy. Perhaps it was a gull with a rather large body? It was feeding under water. It would stick its entire head underwater and root around for a while then come up for air. It followed the shoreline around from the East side to the West side, quite close to shore paying no mind to me. It was as if it didn’t notice me, nor care to notice me.

The debate over loons is still on, I think what I’ve heard so far has actually been a gull, who knows?

Saw the moon for the first time this year from the Island. It was in the Western half of the sky so will set before the evening is through. About an 8th of it or so was reflecting towards me.

Oh yes, while taking in the laundry I noticed the Island has its own thunder hole on the South shore. It really sounds more like a sink draining but “sink rock” does not sound so good so I shall instead name it “gurgling rock” or perhaps “babbling stone”. Either way I’ll be sure to listen to it again and see what comes to me. The rock is a large one, but the ice will mostly likely move it next year and so it may not “talk” like it does now when the water of the lake flows in and out of it.

End Journal Entry for 6/2/2003
Coming tomorrow the Caretaker’s journal entry for 6/6/2003.