patsaricas222
Observer
Been super busy guys, just catching up now....and great news, I finally figured out how to post pictures the correct way!!! FYI don't bother trying to import images from desktop, use photobucket and convert to URL. SOOOO much easier, bu I digress.
Well, Shontae and I got married in Sedona, AZ at Red Rock Crossing. We eloped, just me, her, and our dog Linus. A few points on eloping. 1. Yes 2. Hell Yes 3. Thank you for a stress-free awesome weekend. It was so nice to not have to worry about anybody but ourselves. Actually, we had a 2 hour block where we talked to family and then the phones went back to the off position. We stayed at El Portal in Sedona, AZ. We chose the Grand Canyon room and I have to say I highly recommend it worth every penny, and a plus 100% dog friendly. While we were there at this quaint 12 room hotel, we enjoyed the company of the other guests around a juniper-wooded campfire. After learning that we were getting married and that we didn't plan on getting cake, they plotted not only to get us cake but got us really nice scotch too. Well played guests, well played.
After our wedding we did some other trips using Phoenix as a hub to go back to Joshua Tree, Prescott, & Flagstaff. We made it out to the Overland Expo in Flagstaff and got inspired and educated. I got to take the Frontier on Range Rover Coarse that they had set up too.
Overland Expo Above:
In June, we made the long trip back East to visit family and drop off our dog at my mother and father in-laws house as we had a 3 week trip to Greece planned. We made the trip from Phoenix, AZ to Cumberland, MD in 3 days and yes, we dodged another tornado!! This one was in Missouri, and we missed it by about 45 minutes.
On arrival back to the East coast, we rented a house to entertain friends and family that we haven't seen in over a year. Grilling and drinking beer with great people made the 36 hour drive totally worth it. We left to Greece, but not before finding out just 2 days before we left, that Shontae was pregnant. So we will be having a little boy or girl sometime early 2015!!
Greece was amazing! Although poor Shontae's appetite was not in line with authentic Greek cuisine for 3 weeks, we had a blast. Poor girl wanted mashed potatoes and mac'n cheese while I was eating octopus, squid, red mullet (sucking on their heads), goat... We visited in my families hometown of Litochoro which is a couple of hundred feet up on the eastern face of the Mt Olympus Range. We had plans of hiking it but with the first trimester's little presents we decided to climb it another time. And I didn't mind as I have climbed it in the past. So, we did a few short hikes, explored some really old towns and culture and lounged by the beach. While in Greece, we visited the islands Skiathos and Tsougria. All I can say is now I know why the Beatles wanted to buy the island Tsougria, and why Greece didn't sell it. Absolutely, beautiful.
After our trip back to America, I started a new job in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, at this current job I'm working 8 hour days 5 days a week
I had been spoiled with my three 12 hour shifts a week, allowing me to have nice extended weekends for travel. Thankfully, I've had a whopping 2 weekends off to actually get outside overlanding since I've been here. We made it out to the Adirondacks in New York and Green Mountain NF in Vermont. Unfortunately, not a lot of photos because it rained about 80% both weekends. We didn't care because the rain stopped every night around dinner time so we could cook over the campfire. And our Howling Moon Stargazer kept us 100% dry during some pretty heavy rains and high winds.
A word to the wise...Call and check about road closures before you go on a trip to somewhere you haven't been before. While in Green Mountain NF, we experienced several road closures that we were unaware of. This was disappointing because prior to our trip we actually called the Green Mountain Ranger station in search of knowledge of dispersed camping with off road access. We were given a list of several forest service roads that offered dispersed camping. Unfortunately about half of the list's roads had road closure access to get to them. Now you'd think that they would have mentioned something like, hey the road to get there has a bridge that washed out during hurricane Irene and hasn't been repaired yet. Despite these setbacks we had a great time. We also managed to go to Orvis' flagship store and I got a new rod and reel in Manchester, VT.
The Adirondacks...well what can I say except that 4 days was not nearly long enough. I used this trip as a scouting mission as the weather did not cooperate and was pretty muddy. But, what I did take away from this trip is that there is some seriously decent off road trails and dispersed camping in the Moose Plains area. Do you homework, get some maps, and go exploring. I am now thinking about my next trip there and how a canoe/kayak and a NY fishing license are in serious order.
Adirondack
Well that pretty much catches us up. More to come, sorry for the delay, but I got a baby on the way.
Well, Shontae and I got married in Sedona, AZ at Red Rock Crossing. We eloped, just me, her, and our dog Linus. A few points on eloping. 1. Yes 2. Hell Yes 3. Thank you for a stress-free awesome weekend. It was so nice to not have to worry about anybody but ourselves. Actually, we had a 2 hour block where we talked to family and then the phones went back to the off position. We stayed at El Portal in Sedona, AZ. We chose the Grand Canyon room and I have to say I highly recommend it worth every penny, and a plus 100% dog friendly. While we were there at this quaint 12 room hotel, we enjoyed the company of the other guests around a juniper-wooded campfire. After learning that we were getting married and that we didn't plan on getting cake, they plotted not only to get us cake but got us really nice scotch too. Well played guests, well played.
After our wedding we did some other trips using Phoenix as a hub to go back to Joshua Tree, Prescott, & Flagstaff. We made it out to the Overland Expo in Flagstaff and got inspired and educated. I got to take the Frontier on Range Rover Coarse that they had set up too.
Overland Expo Above:
In June, we made the long trip back East to visit family and drop off our dog at my mother and father in-laws house as we had a 3 week trip to Greece planned. We made the trip from Phoenix, AZ to Cumberland, MD in 3 days and yes, we dodged another tornado!! This one was in Missouri, and we missed it by about 45 minutes.
On arrival back to the East coast, we rented a house to entertain friends and family that we haven't seen in over a year. Grilling and drinking beer with great people made the 36 hour drive totally worth it. We left to Greece, but not before finding out just 2 days before we left, that Shontae was pregnant. So we will be having a little boy or girl sometime early 2015!!
Greece was amazing! Although poor Shontae's appetite was not in line with authentic Greek cuisine for 3 weeks, we had a blast. Poor girl wanted mashed potatoes and mac'n cheese while I was eating octopus, squid, red mullet (sucking on their heads), goat... We visited in my families hometown of Litochoro which is a couple of hundred feet up on the eastern face of the Mt Olympus Range. We had plans of hiking it but with the first trimester's little presents we decided to climb it another time. And I didn't mind as I have climbed it in the past. So, we did a few short hikes, explored some really old towns and culture and lounged by the beach. While in Greece, we visited the islands Skiathos and Tsougria. All I can say is now I know why the Beatles wanted to buy the island Tsougria, and why Greece didn't sell it. Absolutely, beautiful.
After our trip back to America, I started a new job in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, at this current job I'm working 8 hour days 5 days a week
I had been spoiled with my three 12 hour shifts a week, allowing me to have nice extended weekends for travel. Thankfully, I've had a whopping 2 weekends off to actually get outside overlanding since I've been here. We made it out to the Adirondacks in New York and Green Mountain NF in Vermont. Unfortunately, not a lot of photos because it rained about 80% both weekends. We didn't care because the rain stopped every night around dinner time so we could cook over the campfire. And our Howling Moon Stargazer kept us 100% dry during some pretty heavy rains and high winds.A word to the wise...Call and check about road closures before you go on a trip to somewhere you haven't been before. While in Green Mountain NF, we experienced several road closures that we were unaware of. This was disappointing because prior to our trip we actually called the Green Mountain Ranger station in search of knowledge of dispersed camping with off road access. We were given a list of several forest service roads that offered dispersed camping. Unfortunately about half of the list's roads had road closure access to get to them. Now you'd think that they would have mentioned something like, hey the road to get there has a bridge that washed out during hurricane Irene and hasn't been repaired yet. Despite these setbacks we had a great time. We also managed to go to Orvis' flagship store and I got a new rod and reel in Manchester, VT.
The Adirondacks...well what can I say except that 4 days was not nearly long enough. I used this trip as a scouting mission as the weather did not cooperate and was pretty muddy. But, what I did take away from this trip is that there is some seriously decent off road trails and dispersed camping in the Moose Plains area. Do you homework, get some maps, and go exploring. I am now thinking about my next trip there and how a canoe/kayak and a NY fishing license are in serious order.
Adirondack
Well that pretty much catches us up. More to come, sorry for the delay, but I got a baby on the way.
