The Curtis Clan - Fall 2021
Fall Equinox to Winter Solstice
20th Wedding Anniversary
We celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary and the Equinox by taking off in the afternoon to see the delightful movie Coda at Frontenac (we can see why it was a hit at Sundance). After that, we got Faratto's pizza and toasted ravioli to picnic to see the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on the Art Hill lawn with a couple thousand others on a 70-degree night. The evening ended with fireworks over the lake (and in hearts).
| Art Hill for our 20th Anniversary |
Fireworks |
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Pepper kisses
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Annual Fall Camping TripPulltite at Ozark National Scenic Riverways
or Too Many Selfies of Randy
Took off a few days from work to meet up with the retired guys for our annual fall camping trip. The Wannaosaurus (Kia Soul) readily taking in all the camping gear for me, Bethany and Cate with room to see out the back window completely (Two kayaks on the roof too).
| Gassing up before heading out |
At the Pulltite sign |
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| Firewood - the BEFORE pile after burning on it for a day |
Jane's kayak made the trip even though she didn't |
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I've been going on the Fall camping trip since the early 1990s and it's always good times getting together with former Tuxedo Blvd. neighbors and extended friend base. On Thursday, we had a good float from Pulltite to Round and on Friday from Alley Springs to Pulltite, though we had to break out the rain gear for periods on both days.
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Frog Toggs getting a work out Day 1 on the Current
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Anthony got in early Friday to join the float but Cate and Bethany decided to take a pass as the weather forecast for Friday night called for intensive rain with more on Saturday (The projected rain on Saturday dissuaded a number of folks planning on joining the group on Friday Night). Fortunately, the worst came after going to bed and before we got up.
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Friday's group on the Current
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| Bill and Zeke scouting the way |
Dan Burk passing the Parkers |
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| Wanting to show of my Flying Tiger shark teeth stickers on the front |
Doing a Tusken Raider pose at Cave Spring |
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| Friday night Hollow Log circle |
Hollow Log circle Other Half |
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On Saturday, we floated a shortened distance from Pulltite to Current River State Park to avoid the predicted deluge that was coming after 2 pm.
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Anthony frying up some leftovers for a hash breakfast (It was even too much on the adjusted R&A scale)
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| Anthony chilling in Skull Cave |
Randy doing the same in the other socket |
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| A gaggle of ducks |
Drifting with the Current |
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Another selfie
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Canopies and rain gear helped when it did rain on Saturday and I played the smart phone app game Headlines with the Burks (Dan, Caroline and Kathleen). It's a good thing there was drinking or some of the adult categories may have been too awkward to play with his 30-year-old daughters. Many folks bailed out on staying the night but it turned out to be the Best hollow log night.
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Dan, Uncle Charlie and the Burk twins
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The remaining crew breaking camp on Sunday
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I was very thankful for having a garage to spread out the gear to dry out over the next few days before putting it away.
Grape Picking in Columbia
The second weekend in October, Bethany and Randy drove to Columbia and meet up with Anthony and Lesha to join their wine CO-OP for their annual grape picking and squashing. A local farmer allows them to pick that row ends of his Norton grapes which are harder for the mechanical pickers to pick thoroughly for a cut of the finished product. This year, a couple dozen folks picked for an hour and a quarter followed by a couple hours of grape squashing and de-stemming at the Rebel Lounge storage units, which netted six ~40-gallon cans of squashed Nortons. The picking was just enough time to be fun without devolving into work. The romance of squashing the grapes was a briefer interlude but there's was plenty of previous years efforts flowing to make it an enjoyable task as well.
| Bethany picking the grapes |
Randy eating the grapes |
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| Feeding each others because we are tres romantic (That's French) |
Bethany squashing grapes (and not disappointed in the least to NOT being doing it like Lucy) |
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Couldn't pass up frozen dairy treats at a name sake store or maybe a side hussle in west Columbia?
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WGHS Friendship Dance
Saturday evening was Webster Groves HS annual Friendship Dance though COVID protocols made it a bit different than in the past: it was outside, a month early and not in conjunction with arch rival Kirkwood HS. We hosted a pre-dance gathering for Cate and her group of friends along with an after-dance fire pit gathering. a beautiful and unexpectedly warm October evening.
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Cate sporting a sassy hair length and color and digging her pockets
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Cate and friends before the dance
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Leaf Peeping Visit to New England
Like most Freshman engineering students, Jane's first 2 months of classes were a very rough and rude awakening in difficulty, teacher effectiveness, and amount of effort required versus results. It wasn't all drudgery as she became good friends with her two roommates who along with a trio of guys became regulars at the school's Tuesday Trivia Nights. She also got off campus weekly to take Sailing for WPI credit at Regatta Point on Quinsigamond Lake, which forms Worcester's eastern boundary.`
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Jane's Tuesday night Trivia team
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| Regatta Point at Quinsigamond State Park Worcester & WPI sailing and rowing center |
With her sailing friends |
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With four student suicides in less than three months, WPI unexpectedly extended the break between the A& B fall terms to a week and a half off, placing student mental health to the forefront. Jane's "home" was to far to get an easy ride back like all her friends that lived a couple hours away, not that she was enthused to do that anyway after the uncomfortable August experience. With Use or Lose Leave, Randy offered to fly out there and take her Leaf Peeping and camping after a tough first term. Jane's "Hell Yeah" response sealed the deal and Randy made airline reservations for a couple weeks hence, leaving the rest of the plans to the chances of the open road.
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Open Road Leaf Peeping in the Adirondaks
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On Wednesday 13 October, he boarded a direct Southwest flight at 0730 am with a bag of clothes and another packed with two tents and camping gear. He won the Priceline rental car roulette of a "compact" becoming a red Chevrolet Equinox that was great for camping (not really a deal as it was $700 for the week). After picking up Jane at WPI, they made a Wal-Mart run buying additional cheap but weighty, large or items not allowed on the airplane: $10 inflatable mattresses, $7 chairs, a $10 cooler, propane and lighter. After using meal sipes for dinner, Jane stayed in her dorm but outsiders weren't allowed as per COVID rules (her roommates had already left), so Randy got a Priceline La Quinta hotel room in nearby Auburn.
The next morning, we headed off to Maine. The fall colors were amazing as the leaves were peaking in the northern part of New England and Jane knocked off State #47 in her Life List. Camping proved a challenge as most places closed on 1 Oct, Columbus Day, or 15 October in the northeast. We checked into Hadley Point Campground, the last public or private camping choice on Mount Desert Island (MDI) at 4. After quickly setting up our tents, we headed over to Acadia National Park to see what we could of it as daylight was fading.
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Acadia National Park sign selfie (a bit underwhelming compared to the entry edifices at other NPs)
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In the dark, we enjoyed Indian food over Minute Rice heated up in a new camping pan with, Devil Dogs for dessert
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Devil Dogs delicacies in the dark
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Friday, we spent exploring Acadia NP. The Sier Du Monts Nature center was unimpressive but the Kane Trail hike around Tarn Lake was nice.
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Tarn Lake - Acadia NP
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| MDI east coastline - Acadia NP |
Otter Point Cliffs - Acadia NP |
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Our favorite hike was the trail from Otter Point Cliffs around Otter Point which we did early in the day and did it twice more in the afternoon (the third time was to find a comfort station need).
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"Smells like Christmas"
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We walked a bit of the carriage roads in the vicinity Jordan Pond with views of the "Bubbles" but day light ended too soon again.
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Carriage roads bridge in the vicinity Jordan Pond
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We set alarms to getting up at 530 am on Saturday before serious rain started (accurate weather forecasts are definite luxury). The tent rain flies were soaked but the rest of the tents and more importantly the contents were dry. Both of us got packed up and in the car in less than 20 minutes. We got coffee and doughnuts at the Ellsworth Dunks and worked on a plan for the day in the car as expected heavy rain all day throughout most of Maine put a damper on our enthusiasm for hiking or camping that evening. We decided on a leisurely drive along Highway 1 in the rain to Brunswick, ME. As we crossed the gorgeous suspension bridge across the Penobscot River at 8 am, the Third System Coastal Defense Fort Knox tempted Randy for a bit of a Busman's Holiday but it didn't open for another hour and the impatient Open Road beckoned to keep going. In response, Randy offered the idea if she wanted to act on Jane's original desire trip destination: The Adirondacks. Jane was an excited YES and off we went. It would have been a very different day had the fort been opened.
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Live free or die + Freedom isn't free = Ergo Taxes?
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In a few hours, we found ourselves at Gorham, NH in northern NH, just to the north of the famed/Infamous Mount Washington. After a navigational detour (Washington Mountains vs. Mount Washington) that allowed us to boast having driven US Highways 1, 2 and 3 in that order in the same day, we headed south to increasing storming clouds towards the Granite State's best known road trip destination: Mount Washington (at least since the Great Stone face fell off). The mountain top was fogged in but we paid the $65 for us both to drive the 8-mile ride to the top. The first 2 miles were bathed in Maples tress all singing: "Look at me!"
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A mile up Mt Washington with all the Maples in all their glory
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At the 3 mile we entered the clouds and visibility was reduced to 30 feet or so without lights on the oncoming cars. It was all white-knuckle driving to the top, though the mile of gravel replacing the asphalt paving was particularly terrifying.
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Drove 6 miles up in this visibility to experience the "Worst Weather in the World"<\i> on top of Mt Washington. $65 cheap.
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We got into Plattsburgh NY an hour after twilight where we found a $79 room that turned into $110 with fees but was a fourth of any other places along the way on four state journey (it was the least nice place I've stayed in, in over a decade). It was prime tree peeping weekend rates in New England and there were no deals to be had. It was frustrating to being hundreds of feet from the Border Station to Canada on I-87 in upstate New York and not pop in to the Great White North. A long day (11+ hours of driving)
Driving in the Adirondacks in the fall is a joy. We spent a couple hours walking around downtown Lake Placid but with the Olympics Museum and ice rinks closed for remodeling, once was enough.
| Lake Placid NY |
No Herb Brooks - Miracle on Ice visit for you |
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Our New York camping travel guide, allowed us to find Fish Creek Pond SP. Slot 13 with its own dock for $22 seemed perfect until we looked at the weather forecast calling for rain, mid 30s temps. Coupled with the 10 mph-steady breeze off the lake, we decided we weren't likely to spend the night in the tents we had set up but rather in the car. We made this decision while in the car with no rain and temps in the 50s as it was too chilly to just hang out at the picnic table just off the lake. KAYAK / Priceline / Booking came to the rescue again as we found the family owned The Gauthier Saranac Lake Inn: a real treat for a mere $20 more than the Super 8 from the previous night. The Saranac Lake community had a Stars Hollow vibe we liked too.
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Fish Creek Pond camp site 13 was perfect except for the coming rain, temperature drop and steady wind off the lake.
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A visit to Fort Ticonderoga wasn't in the cards as it was closed on Monday, so we HAD to skip it. It allowed up to go to the outlet stirp malls to get Jane a long winter coat at the LL Bean outlet for the coming New England winter. Giving up on finding any more camping options having scoured the state travel guides, we used points the Residence Inn in Worchester.
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Our side hustle in the Adirondacks?
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On our last day, we explored the Cape Ann coastline: Halibut Point in Rockbridge, Story Fort in Gloucester, a drive through Salem and not stopping amongst the Witch Mardi Gras atmosphere (packed streets on a Tuesday afternoon that WASN'T Halloween); a short drive to Nathan, Lynn, Boston and back to Worchester.
| Rockbridge Fire Control Station at Halibut Point, used to aim the defense guns of the Harbor Defenses of Boston |
Story Fort in Gloucester where the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1623 (Feeling small Plymouth Rock?) |
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Subparparks poster of a negative visitor comment of Acadia NP juxtaposed with a contradicting image for an appealing satirical statement
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Halloween
Cate dressed as the semi obscure Jack Frost from the animated film The Guardians with Randy dressing as Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho from Horsefeathers) which proved equally obscure to non-Baby Boomers or Silent Generation types. Pretty good and "normal" night for Trick or Treaters in Tuxedo Park with the fire pit out front to stay warm. Several middle schoolers claimed to not have any jokes to tell until I reminded them, no joke, no candy. They remembered.
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Randy and Cate for Halloween 2021
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| Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff (Groucho from Horsefeathers) |
Jack Frost from the animated film The Guardians |
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Last minute Adam West era Batman costume for a pre-party
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Fall colors peaked on Veteran's Day this year, a month behind Northern New England. Bethany got a great picture of the house and a neighbor got one of the commuter station at the end of the street.
| Tuxelia |
Tuxedo Park Station |
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On Saturday in mid-November, we had our niblings/cousins Henry and Lucy stay with us. Allowing for a nostalgic walk with the dogs, visiting a trifecta of nearby parks and playground equipment and dog piles at home.
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Cousin Dog Pile
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Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving proper, the Cur-tri wend to see House of Gucci at the Chase Park Plaza. Not a great movie but the organ recital beforehand was a forgotten treat before their big screen show. Better that going to Kirkwood to see the 0-11 Statesmen football team lose the annual Turkey Day game 0-65. It's become a turkey shoot for the Pioneers the last half a decade with no relief in sight.
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The Cur-tri enjoying the Chase's holiday decorations
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Jane went "home" with her roommate Erica in Massachusetts and they met up with their other roomie Ella in Rhode Island, as two days proved too long?
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Great crepes in RI
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Sagegiving normally occurs on Friday but was delayed initially to avoid a stomach flu that took down a family of 5 over the course of half a week and we all wanted to make sure that was gone having shared the stomach flu on a past family holiday. It also proved fortuitus as Justin Jr's Cathedral HS football team was in the championship game for Indiana that evening. Justin was the back-up quarterback and only got minor amounts of time but he was on the field at the end and it was a thrill when his name was announced. Saturday Sagegiving was a very pleasant evening with this being the first sit down dinner with most of the clan since COVID. It was lovely to have things back to near normal (the Chicago Sages took a pass as their youngest is still too young to be vaccinated).
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Sagegiving at the Shaws
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December
The first week of December 7, Randy returned to the National Archives in San Bruno, being one of their first researchers after reopening from COVID (his planned 2020 spring trip with Cate was one of their first cancelations). The trip allowed him to visit his college roommate Jake and his family in the evenings after work.
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In the Mission District with Jake outside Docs Clock
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It also allowed him to drive down to Monterey on Saturday, to get another four hours day pass with his dad Ron, where they repeated their September visit to the seaside at Carmel Beach and lunch at Mulligan's
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Ron considering lunch options
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Randy decided to take the leisurely scenic drive back up Highway 1 through Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties, stopping along the to visit a vegetable stand at Moss Landing, the gorgeous Davenport Bluffs, Pigeon Lighthouse and Sunset at Pescadaro. Crossing over the Santa Cruz Mountains at Half Moon Bay in the dark was a bit of a traffic jam as everyone else who did the sunset thing returned to the Bay area at roughly the same time.`
| Davenport Bluffs |
Sunset at Pescadaro |
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Jane returns home
Jane fell into a grove her 2nd Term at WPI and had a much easier time of it. She flew home on Friday, December 17th, as Bethany was clearly glad to see her eldest after so many months away. The homecoming evening included family favorites: Manhattan XL Cheese pizza from Ami's along with the house salad and a few episodes of the Gilmore Girls starting with a favorite :A Tisket, A Tasket and Jess's line after winning the auction for Rory's picnic basket "Basket; basket maker; guy who didn't bring enough money")
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Bethany welcomes Jane back to STL
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A day later, the Curti made our last visit to Serendipity in Webster Groves as Cate worked her final shift as a scooper. The owner lost her lease after 18 years in business. There's plans for a more venue in the Grove but it's unclear if Cate will make the move there when it opens in a few months.
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Last scoops at Serendipity in WG
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On the Sunday before the Holidays began, we had drinks and charcuterie at our house with Kent and Greg and the girls, followed by dinner and dessert at Cyrano's. So very glad, we're on their dance card when they come to town.
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At Cyranos with Kent and Greg
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