The deafening roar of - silence? Life along the Kern River

KERNVILLE, Calif., USA - Except for the ever-present whooshing sound made by the Kern River (about 75 yards from our door) our cabin in this high desert campground is nearly as quiet as Valois, New York on a hot summer day.

And that's quiet, considering last summer, sitting on the end of the dock, I often could clearly hear the flapping of ducks' wings as they flew overhead. And once, very early, I could make out the sound of a butterfly's wings in motion, as it hovered near my ear.

That's quiet, amigos, quiet.

The nearby campground does resonate on and off at times with a buzz created by the upcoming wedding of Greg Retkowski and Cherie Sogsti. After Friday night's hillbilly themed party, tonight we are looking forward to a pizza, beer and mustache event.

Mustache? Yes.

Everyone will receive a stick-on mustache of some kind. But where you choose to wear it, well, that's your choice. There's a rock band set to play, too. Last night people danced until past midnight - and that was to a hillbilly band. (Photos to follow later tonight...)

Admiral Fox and I have made many forays out and about, first to breakfast at a store within walking distance, then a trek along the river, and most recently, a wine-and-beer run into Kernville itself. We bought Mexican beer, of course, though we forgot the limes.

Carumba!


Scene along the Kern River this morning

And besides the sightseeing (and beer and mustaches), I have been trying out my new Panasonic video camera in anticipation of our Washington, D.C. trip Oct. 30 to attend the Rally to Restore Sanity. We are going to be writing stories about it. The video will be a bonus and a trial run for using more multi-media.

If anyone reading this knows someone who is going to attend the rally, please send their name along to me. Adm. Fox and I want to hook up with folks from NY, California and, well, wherever, before the rally. And maybe after, too.


Jon Stewart announces the rally

Here's a short video of the Admiral at work in her Kern County office this morning.

Ready or not, summertime fun about to hit Seneca Lake this weekend

VALOIS, New York, USA - The north wind is blowing a steady 20 knots today, with gusts to 25, (and temperatures about 58 degrees, brrr...) but the weather forecast calls for calm winds and temperatures in the 80s starting tomorrow - and continuing all weekend on the southerly part of Seneca Lake.

And that's a great thing, because this weekend would seem to be the official/unofficial beginning of summer fun at the lake with a beach party Friday, cardboard boat races Saturday and Jen and Karl's wedding Sunday.

Monday has been officially declared Detox Day at this house. The cases of ginger ale stand ready.


A dock party at Cousin Ruth's two years ago

The beach party is being thrown at the Guy Schamel house, just south of Peach Orchard Point and if it is anything like the floating party of two years ago - the weekend when Matt and Shannon Schamel were married - it will be a hoot.

This party is to celebrate Jen and Karl's impending nuptials and while it won't move from place to place, the Peach Orchard waterfront should be a lot of fun. The Schamel clan has plenty of water toys to keep party goers amused.

And keeping hydrated - in the expected hot sun - will be critical, of course.

The Spirit of Louise is likely to be pressed into service to get the Admiral and I the three miles to the party, depending on wind. Or perhaps we might take the Red Rocket sailboat. There's plenty of beach to leave the Red Rocket if sailing home isn't an option.


The nurses' entry in last year's Cardboard Boat Race

Saturday, the annual Cardboard Boat Race will be held in Watkins Glen inside the sheltering breakwater of the marina.

Last year the weather was simply miserable, with rain, wind and cold temperatures. Really cold temperatures...

But even at that, the participants seemed to have a great time, even those who barely made it away from the start line before shipping water and sinking. I got soaked in the rain and was freezing, but still enjoyed watching. It was a lot warmer than trying to swim to shore, dragging a soaked (and half-sunken) cardboard boat.

As with the Friday beach party, if the weather is good (and predictions say 90 degrees and sunny Saturday, woo-hoo), the Spirit of Louise might make a guest appearance at the marina. It would be a great deck to sit on while the racers paddle - or sink - nearby.


That water was cold

And then Sunday afternoon, Jen and Karl will be getting married at the church in nearby Hector, followed by a reception in Watkins Glen at a beautiful new hotel on the waterfront.

If the reception is half as much fun as the partying at Jen's sister Kate's wedding several years ago, it will be a great capper for the weekend. Then again, now that the family already had one wedding, this could be twice as much fun as the cavorting when Kate and Steve were married.

The Admiral and I will be prepared for everything but doing the Chicken Dance at the reception. The Hokey-Pokey might be ok. But the Chicken Dance? No way...

I'll also get to continue field testing my new combination still/video camera again to document the event - between trips to the dance floor, of course.

And if the Chicken Dance does sneak in, well, there will be video.


Karl, Jen and the Admiral in Mexico

In the not-so-wilds of Red Bank, New Jersey, with a wedding ahead

RED BANK, New Jersey, USA - The Admiral and I zoomed down the highway from Valois to New Jersey Friday so we could attend today's wedding of niece Marion Fitzgerald to her fiance Peter. The trip was quick and very quiet - thanks largely to Brother Dan lending us his Prius for the trip.

We averaged 55 miles per gallon for the 280-mile trip.

Red Bank was a nice surprise. I didn't expect it to be, well, so well done. I remember it from 20+ years ago and it was not the place it is today.

Then again, I've changed a little in 20 years, too.

The town is full of restaurants and neat places, and, best of all, a gorgeous waterfront on the Navesink River. We arrived late afternoon, had a quick beer on the deck and then headed out for pizza (and more beer, hydration is important) before returning back to our temporary, upscale housing for two days.

Our digs for the two nights, the Molly Pitcher Inn, has a beautiful marina right in front. Not too many boats set to go yet. But  Friday afternoon the marina was buzzing with owners washing and waxing their vessels.

They probably didn't see the forecast for today: thunderstorms, rain, and wind, followed by more thunderstorms, rain, and even more wind.

The hotel is very classy, but the beautiful swimming pool - shown in all the brochures and on the hotel's website, is closed and won't be open for weeks. So much for packing three swimsuits.


Closed for now - boo!

Today's wedding will be at a nearby church at 2:30 p.m. afternoon, with a reception to follow at a country club (also nearby). A shuttle is being provided for guests from the hotel to the reception later, which means Brother Dan's Prius will stay locked and loaded for our return to Valois Sunday.

Now, I just need to find all my wedding garb, assembled hastily by Adm. Fox in the last few days. And I also need to remember how to make a Windsor knot in my neck tie. It's been a long time.

Ah, the Internet has already provided...


How to tie a double Windsor

A look at Tenacatita and a preview of a wedding

TENACATITA, Jalisco, Mexico - After spending a lot of time out in Arroyo Seco the past few weeks, we opted to check out our beach property in Tenacatita - the property that launched this entire adventure about 18 months ago.

We bought the lot there without much hesitation but since discovering Arroyo Seco, have put most of the construction and site plans at the beach on hold.

Our neighbor (and amiga), Nancy boosted our interest this week when she met us at a vivero (a plant nursery) to check out the 35 trees she is planning to plant around her adjacent lot.

Yes, 35 trees.

We opted for just seven trees along the edge while we plan our palapa and other buildings for next season.


Our lot - and Nancy's in Tenacatita


Nancy and Sylvia planning where to put palm trees

While we there checking out where to place trees, a car pulled up and out popped a soon-to-be bride and groom along with a couple of photographers and their assorted cameras and gear.

The rocks in front of our properties apparently are sought out as a place for photo shoots for weddings and others who are seeking exotic-looking backdrops.

I have to remember to alert my friend Mario - arriving back in Tenacatita in a few weeks - to keep his eyes out for any cars or photo trucks bearing the familiar Playboy symbol this summer.

Just in case.


Walking through the sand


For the wedding album