Ghost Hunting in Montana, a Spell in Prison

Awhile back I did a ghost hunting trip through Montana in the midst of October. I got a chance to relive the experience yesterday on my Around the World Travel Radio Show segment. In fact all the segments were on the ghost theme, pretty scary stuff. On my trip we got to spend a night in the old Territorial Prison of Montana, near Deer Lodge. Riots, murder and mayhem played a big part of life behind the stone walls of the prison. Names like Turkey Pete and George Rock will long be remembered on Halloween nights. The GoNomad story and radio segment might make a nice touch to your celebration tonight, sleep tight!

Early Winter Start ?

The frost is on the pumpkins and Canadian Geese are feeding on the local ponds like cars do at rest stops on the Thruway. It is clear that with the snow falling recently winter is coming. According to the Farmer's Almanac it is going to be a cold and snowy winter in the Northeast.

McCain and Palin Lose the Pumpkin Polls in Ulster County

I have passed these amazing carved pumpkins the last few nights on the way home from Emmanuel's Market on Rt 209 in Stone Ridge and just love the work that went into them. I'm not sure if the people honking their horns are aware that I have been doing my own pumpkin poll here in Ulster County, I have yet to see a Obama/Biden pumpkin sculpture. I have to assume thats a good thing for them.

Dancing on Frank Gehry's Buildings

I’ve done the Frank Gehry shuffle underneath his buildings in Düsseldorf after a great meal but that has just recently been over shadowed by dancers performing on the outside of the massive theater designed by Gehry at Bard College. The mix of spider climbing and ballet was recently done this fall and choreographed by Neomie Lafrance, a 34 year old Canadian. The fact that Bard can afford a Gehry building says a lot about alumni bucks, however the place has done wonders for great events right down the road from me. The dance is done with the help of cables and pulleys. After jumping off the Macau Tower and rappelling cliffs in Puerto Rico perhaps I could join the troop, extra strength cables for me though.

Max Hartshorne is a Very Wealthy Man, What a Party

It was a fantastic night at Max’s 50th- birthday bash last night in Deerfield Mass., the food perfect and the crowd delightful. I also was reminded just what real riches are, family and friends. Max is a very wealthy man. Starting off with toasts was long time friend of Max’s Joe O’Rourke that was a heartfelt trip down memory lane. Joe also put Lil and me up in his guest cottage on his beautiful property. Max’s family then each had a chance to say some powerful words; his daughter’s was especially poignant. Cousin Steve Hartshorne, Cindy Bigras, Sony Stark and Paul Shoul were all there and all a pleasure to see once again. The wet and windy weather actually added to the event due to the warm feelings permeating the party. An added bonus for me was meeting Max’s sisters who he always speaks so highly of. I think everyone who attended felt like very wealthy individuals, it was just that kind of night!

The Hand on the Tiller, Five-O Party for Max

I am heading into GoNOMAD land tonight for a special event, Max Hartshorne has hit the big Five-O and it is time to celebrate. It will be a time to toast the event around a roaring bonfire with a bunch of great people. Every time I get up that way I get to see some people I have met over the last few years, I always get to meet some new ones also. When ever I go to Max’s house I am reminded of my first visit many years ago. I wanted to meet the new owner of a small site I wrote for. I had some communication with Max before when he was managing editor at Transitions Abroad and I was a contributing editor. After sharing a meal and a few bottles wine that summer night, I knew that GoNOMAD was in great hands and would grow. It has from a basement operation to fully running entity complete with staff and fantastic offices. It is great to be going to a party to celebrate Max’s fiftieth birthday, a toast to his hand at the tiller is also in order.

Around the World Travel Radio, Nominated for International Restaurant and Hotel Award

It is time to campaign and not for Obama or McCain but for Around the World Travel Radio. ATWR has been nominated in the Best of Travel & Dining in Radio category for the 2008 Traveler’s Vote Awards done by Irhas International Restaurant & Hotel Awards. The other co-nominees are The Food Programme (BBC); The Travel Show with Arthur Frommer (WOR 710 NY) and Chefs Challenge (702 ABC Sydney).

The awards are prestigious and other nominees are Anthony Bourdain in the Best of Travel & Dining in TV, Phil Keoghan of the Amazing Race is also nominated in the same category. In films are Into the Wild and The Darjeeling Express. Nancy Norvogrod of Travel & Leisure and Sara Henrichs of Wallpaper are two of the nominees for Travel Editor. New York Magazine editors Rob Patronite and Robin Raisfeld are also nominees for Food and Dining Editor. For a complete list of the other nominees including restaurants and hotels click this.

Max and I have been on the ATWR Team for years and we both have had great times with the hosts Arthur von Wiesenberger and Richard Mineards. The show is archived on their website and our segments can also be heard on GoNOMAD. Click here to vote. The Awards will be given Nov. 16th 2008 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, home of the Golden Globe Awards.

The Jet Lag Study, A Perfect Fit

I awoke in a fog, perhaps delayed jet lag; I have been living with the lag for years. It is an occupational hazard that is well worth dealing with. That’s why I was sort of surprised when I came across a medical research ad in the NY Post today. The Jet Lag Study is looking for sleepy, cranky, disoriented travelers for flight to France. I rubbed my eyes and reread the piece, yes to France, one of my favorite places. I also can be cranky, sleepy and disoriented. I just might fit the bill. I have nothing against FDA approved chemicals, especially when they are used for other sleep disorders. Okay so if accepted for the study I would get a quick trip to France at no cost and maybe even get compensated $2,500. After reminding myself that I have an upcoming trip to Belgium, I tossed the paper down and closed my eyes. Is there any better cure for delayed jet lag?

Surfs Up in Budget Travel

As a kid I spent summers in Amagansett at the end of Long Island, long before movie folks and millionaires took it over. Two steps and I was on the beach. Years later I got to visit Max’s family compound on Martha’s Vineyard several times and it was a fantastic place. Recently I have been hitting the Maine Coast with ferocity, let’s face it I’m a mountain guy with a hankering for the sea. With that in mind I went over Budget Travel’s Surf Cities carefully with thoughts of a snowy winter coming. I loved their picks like Troncones in Mexico and Haleiwa, Hawaii. One of my favorite surf cities is Byron Bay Australia; I was there a couple of years back. I took this picture of a Mom and her kid heading into the breaks. After a few months of salting the driveway I will be ready to scream, surfs up!

Travel Blogging, Walking Down Memory Lane

I was asked recently why I blog so much and frequently, the answer is easy. It is my way of taking notes and marking special events. I can go back over the last four years and pretty much find out where I was and what I was doing. Every once and awhile I cruise down memory lane and relive the places I have been. Even the mood I was in is clear to me. When Max first suggested blogging I had tepid interest but kept it up. I figure that in those years I haven’t blogged perhaps 35 times, it has become routine and one I enjoy. I consider it a writing exercise. Today I came across an old blog about an elephant safari I did in South Africa a few years ago. I happened to be on a bull named Joey that had flatulence and an over used trunk. The trunk kept swinging back at me in search for handfuls of food. It was like having a Hoover vacuum attacking. It is memories that do not always make it into the article that I find memorable. A farting elephant only means something when it has personally happened, I wish Joey well with his stomach problems. I can only hope that the economy hasn’t caused him more stress.

Catskill Mt. Drive

Peak Fall Weekend, Ulster County

My Ulster County Picks of Pols, Postupack and Cahill, Independent Picks

I finally got to enjoy the campaign last night with the Al Smith dinner on TV; both McCain and Obama were a hoot. I grew up basically believing in one party and skipped merrily on my way. Things have changed for me drastically, and I am firmly an Independent. Tip O’Neil once said that, “all politics are local.” I also believe that to be true. With the presidential run taking up so much thought, today I remembered some local politicians who, in my opinion, are winners here in Ulster County, both from different parties. I have known each of them since a young age and am proud of what they have achieved; there are others but these two just work well for me. While I am not in lock step to any drum I thought a shout out would be in order.

The first is our Ulster County Clerk, Nina Postupack; countless people I have talked with agree that Nina is a gem. She is the 45th Clerk and her intimate knowledge of her constituents should be praised. She makes record keeping and county duties a priority. Need info? She is a go to person. Not only in a political position does Nina shine but in a personal way also. I am proud to know her.

The other local politician I admire is our Assemblyman Kevin Cahill from the 101st district. This pick will probably get me flak from some friends but so be it. I may not agree with Kevin sometimes but I do believe that he has his district’s concerns in mind. I occasionally run into Kevin and find his conversation to be most interesting. In many ways I believe that even from his own party he gets criticism, yet keeps on kicking. His dedication has brought him some good positions in the Assembly such as the energy committee, and energy he does have. I truly think that over a Guinness at Ugly Gus’s Kevin will give me the straight dope as he sees it, and that I admire.

Hermes on Air France, Love the Airline

I read an article today about Guerrand-Hermes and his flight to NYC on an Air France flight, he should have missed. It seems that two hours into the Paris to NYC flight GH got a bit out of control, perhaps his Hermes scarf was wrapped to tight, he is a millionaire from the Hermes Family. Hermes was apparently on the pain medication Propofan and mixed it with too much booze. While ignoring repeated requests from the crew to seat himself he didn’t. Ultimately he grabbed at the pilot’s crotch and had to be tackled and hand cuffed.

I have flown Air France quite a few times recently and can only wonder how I would have reacted had I been on flight 008. I have had some great trips high above the Atlantic on Air France, especially in Bizz Class. The food and service have been just great, I wonder if the great wine selection played a part in GH’s fall. It seems amazing to me that the composed flight attendants had to tackle him, dinner must have been delayed. As in France itself that is unforgivable.

Gratitude Is Riches, Even For Travel Writers

With the markets falling faster than me on a zip line I needed some good vibes and I got some from some travel writers that I traveled with this year. While I have often written how close a group can get on a press trip, I have failed to mention how often after people fade back into their own lives. It is okay and it is natural, we all do it. That is why I was so pleased to see that I was the topic of two blogs written by writers met on the road. There are countless people such as Katherine Johnstone, Victoria Larson and my buddy Max Hartshorne to thank for making my dreams of roaming the world a reality. Gratitude is riches and Max’s blog today reminded me of that.

While we, as travel writers look for good things to see and report on, we often overlook the friendships we form. Oh the stories we could tell! I am truly humbled by the kind words in Joel Berliner’s Devil Dog Travel blog and Karen Schaler’s Travel Therapy blog. See you and all the others that mean a lot to me down the road.

The Shooter is Back on GoNOMAD

It is great to see Paul Shoul’s blog back on the GoNOMAD Blogger Page after an absence due to some medical work he went through. I love Paul’s work; it shows such originality and thought. While I love clicking away I really love looking at photos especially ones done by an artist. Welcome back Shooter!

Puerto Rico Adventure with Karen Schaler and ABC News

I got an email today from my mojito drinking buddy Karen Schaler with a link to one of her latest articles on ABC News.com. Mine is posted on GoNOMAD and has a link to a radio show I did about the trip. She used a picture of me strapping into my zip line on a recent adventure trip to Puerto Rico. While certainly not model material the excitement on my face is very evident. Karen has quite a career in the traveling world including a stint as an embedded war correspondent in Afghanistan and articles in the New Yorker, Boston Globe and Town & Country. Karen is a long legged, vivacious blond and I have to smile when I think of her in battle gear crawling through the sand and her camera crew trying to keep up with her. She is equally remarkable in cocktail dress and heels.

I think one of the reasons I love what I do is meeting some of the most interesting people on the planet. To do that in some of the most incredible places on the planet is sheer delight. The bonding done while traveling is so intensive that the good and bad aspects are blatantly laid out in short fashion. In fact the diversity of personalities in itself would be reason enough to take up a pen (computer) and hit the road. If you are in need of therapy check out Karen’s website Travel Therapy, it just might set you straight.

Great Company and Good Dining in Southport Island Maine

Like these Canadian Geese it was time to spread the wings and head south towards home today. It was a great week up at Cozy Cove Cottage and ended up on a high note with Cindy and Max’s visit. The weekend started with their late night arrival and a chance to shoot the breeze with Max in the cool night air until the early morning. The next day was spent with drives around the Boothbay area and shopping for dinner. Anchoring our feast with lobster and steamers we sated ourselves into an early coma. For years I have been driving Max crazy with my spelling of dining, I seem stuck for some reason into always spelling it dinning. When the lobsters turned red and the new potatoes matched it was time to call all to the table. It was time for some fine dinning, oops I mean dining.

Mzima Springs and National Geographic

You can tell a lot about people when you rent their place, John Blois has stacks of National Geographic magazines piled up. I brought several books with me up to Cozy Cove Cottage but really didn’t pick them up much. Instead I traversed the world on the pages of NG. From Russia to Egypt I read wonderful stories and saw amazing photos. I was particularly fascinated by an article in the November 2001 NG; it was about the Hippos that habituate Mzima Springs in Kenya. I had the chance to visit there this past March. The info in the article about life amongst the Hippos and Crocs was intensive and for a bit I was back in Kenya. That’s along way from my peaceful perch up here in Southport Island, Maine.

Nature Runs Mid-Coast Maine

It is a rainy blustery day here in Mid-Coast Maine and that’s alright by me. Most of my traveling is fast moving and no long stays. Here I am anchored much like the boats that bob in the ocean… movement but limited. It feels great to be at a peaceful place and close to the rhythms of a lifestyle that is geared to the sea. Nature is the ruler here and all follow her moods. It will be nice to walk to Hendricks’s Head Lighthouse and work up an appetite. NE clam chowder is called for when the wind blows and the rain falls.

Lobster Facts

Here are some facts about lobsters otherwise know as Maine's red gold.
Lobsters usually hunt for food at night. They eat fish, crabs, clams, snails, sea stars, mussels and sea urchins. By nature, lobsters are not cannibalistic, except when held in crowded conditions.
Like dolphins, lobsters use complicated signals to establish social relationships. They sometimes walk hand-in-hand, the old leading the young.
True lobsters have two very powerful claws. One claw is sharp and used for cutting, the other is bony and used for crushing. Lobsters that have their heavy ("crusher") claw on the right are considered "right-handed" and the others are "left-handed". Some lobsters are ambidextrous, they usually favor the claw that is the largest.

Maine's Lighthouses

Lil, Max and Cindy, Cosy Cove Awaits

I traveled many fingers that jut out into the Atlantic from the craggy Maine Coast today, yet I found no view better than from my bed at Cosy Cove here on Southport Island. The crisp air and coffee in bed was such a pleasure. Still I traversed down from Boothbay to Port Clyde and lunched in the pretty town of Damariscotta. I then went to New Harbor and all over back roads of Pemaquid Peninsula. Still when I got back to Cosy Cove, I felt at home. I will wrestle with a two pound lobster tonight to stay in shape; I bet we both end up covered in Katy’s Butter. I will always choose lobster tossing to taking down a steer! Max will need the down time here. http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0609/maine-rental.html

Cosy Again in Maine

Life is sweet here at Cosy Cove, Maine, indeed even the news of stock tumbles hurts less as I stare out on the water. I wrote an article two years ago on this place for GoNOMAD. The owner John Blois invited me for a weeks stay, many thanks John!

Falling in Love with Fall

I noticed that the temps in Phoenix today were in the high nineties; do not miss that at all. For the years I lived in Scottsdale I had a bad case of fall envy. I would remember my years of living in the NE when the magic of fall would fall. I could only think about turning leaves and the cool evenings when a sweater would be necessary. I could only wonder when I would once again enjoy my favorite season. I would think back to lighting a fire in the fireplace and zoning out, comfy as a cat. When I moved back here to Ulster County some friends though I was crazy, I am but mostly about fall.

Jack-O'- Lantern Jackpot, Keene N.H.

Many years ago I lived in Peterborough NH while going to college; I stayed in the state for eight years and loved it. The nearest city was Keene, home of one of the largest pumpkin festivals and where each year huge number of jack-o’-lanterns are lit. In fact the Guinness World Record was set in 2003 when 28,952 pumpkins brightened up the city center. Unfortunately in 2006 the people of Boston beat the record with 30,128. Every year the push to regain the record is undertaken. The next day after the festival the pumpkins are picked up and given to pig farmers for feed. There will be some happy swine Oct. 29 2008, ribs anyone?

Dinner With the Young Folks

We had a pleasant surprise dinner at home last night with my son Chance and some of his friends from Albany, a welcome diversion after a day with my dermatologist. It is invigorating to spend some time with young folks and listen to their thoughts and ideas. I also got to meet his new friend the lovely Laura. She is from Italy and it was fabulous to talk with her about the country. We had the fireplace lit and the candles burning, I was asked if I always do the dinner thing big. My son answered for me… always. I love sitting with family and friends over a table, in fact on the rare times I am home alone I still light a candle and sit at the table, it is truly when I relax and kick back. With the economy in the can the dishes may be different but the candle will still burn.