Acadia National Park: Day 3

Panorama of Nathan Conroy on top of Cadillac Mountain, A.N.P., ME.

Day 3 in A.N.P. is Wednesday, July 30th. Time for high-balls at Gorham Mtn. Trail and oceanside climbing at Otter Cliffs. Daily rituals include showering, teeth-brushing, dish-cleaning, oatmeal, morning- and nighttime-tea, pictures, climbing, and cuts.

Matt, the King, Dennis got his day's worth of cuts on a high-ball boulder problem early in the day. Luckily, we had tape for that. A few strips later, the king is ready for his castle of rock: Otter Cliffs. One stomach ache passed us by as I lowered Matt down the cliff before rappelling myself to meet him at the bottom. Both of us at the bottom, I entrusted Matt with the duty of belaying me to the top, where I would then belay him. This is small change for Matt who has already in his one-and-a-half days of climbing lead-belayed me twice!





Just look at me: I'm happy to lower Matt and to be on the Maine coast again, especially climbing! What a treat! And of course, unlike the cloud sneezes from late the day before, we enjoyed sunshine.

Matt takes a no-look picture of me as I enter the brief roof-section on a fun route on the cliffs.I belay Matt from above on the same route, meanwhile snapping off a vertical panorama.




At the top, Matt is exhausted and thirsty, as he should be! Lying down, I grab the water and realize the potential formed by Matt on the ground and me with a camera and jug of water standing up. Here we go!





After climbing, we take off and enjoy Jordan Pond with its quieter tendencies, in part thanks to its no-swimming policy, in part due to its out-of-the-wayness.



Matt and I continue in on to summit Cadillac Mountain, where we take panoramas of one another (Top; Below).

These seem to capture the day for us. In fact, if you look closely in these panoramas you might find in the distant coastline a square shape of rock jutting out that is part of Otter Cliffs. It is also true that if you look closely, you will see happy individuals in a landescape they love.

Or maybe that's obvious from a distance.

In Maine, Your Vacationlandescaper, N8

Kenneth Elder, born on March 22nd, writes an article about The Big Trip and about myself, Nathan Conroy. Click here to read it.

To begin to return the favor and complement, I have a the following to say about Ken:

This strong Aries being may be found dining and charming people all over the world with insight and ideas. As for me, I know Ken from Oberlin College, where we bonded by laughing about noises and applesauce until our tear ducts filled up.


Thanks for the article Ken; Keep Philly alive!

Acadia National Park: Day 2

Panorama of Matt, working a boulder problem a mile past Sand Beach, ME. Matt worked that route and got it, showing his star-power once on top. More in article.
Panorama of myself on a lone tower on a rounded-boulder beach, .3 miles past Thunder Hole, ME. More in article.
Panorama of myself on top of Otter Cliffs, Acadia National Park, ME. More in article.

Acadia National Park: DAY 2: The day began with a bang! Matt and I shower. It's the 29th, which means that it's Day 30 for me or for The Big Trip. This is my 10th shower. 10 showers/30 days. Not a great ratio. Over the next few days I will definitely take advantage of free hot water and shower myself albino. Or clean.

Matt and I boulder. A lot. We hike maybe 10 miles for the day, to and fro amongst piles of boulders and choss (bad rock to climb) and just plain old rock along the ocean. It's really nice weather. Some cirrus clouds wisp around the edges of the sky like fairies sprinkling dust on our vista. Sightseers, beware: Here lies a sight! As we come to areas to boulder, we hike down to them off the main trail, after parking at Sand Beach where the throngs of cars and people are.

Matt stands victorious on top of the climb shown in the panorama (Top).

We find a spot and boulder. Above us are tourists. I hear them speaking mandarin Chinese, so when I climb to the top of the boulder and the father gives me a nod, I ask in Chinese, "Do you speak Chinese?" This is followed by a conversation about climbing and what great fun it is. His son, who has watched us climb chimes in as well! I'm having a blast climbing and speaking Chinese off the coast of Maine. Matt laughs as he spots a young Japanese kid who solos up a gully just as tall as our problems! His mom watches him, video camera in hand. I look at Matt and think: we've just been outdone!
Oh well! Chin up! We move to this other area and I spot a tower that would be awesome to get on top of. I set up the crash pad. I'm not sure why: If I were to fall from up there, it wouldn't do me much good! But it's a laugh of a picture:
After much bouldering in the sun, we catch wind of an "awesome bouldering cave" on the other side of Sand Beach. It's obvious where this is. You must hike on rocks and seaweed and barnacles, dodging salt water pools all the while to arrive at this cave. It's awesome, it's true. However, it's also wet. Too wet to climb the parts that look very fun. Apparently this cave is overrun and splashed when high-tide hits. Matt stands on the outside of the cave and searches for cool routes, of which there are a few.

I head into the cave only to be both excited and turned down. I do find some moves that can be protected and aren't too wet and drippy. And so I try them out.
There's a great view from the Cave, too. Below is a panorama of it.Thunder Hole is a place where tourists gather to hear the roar of thunder as waves clap against the rock in a tunnel, or hole. Right beside this critically acclaimed Thunder Hole are a handful of fun and mentally testing high-ball problems. Matt and I get up our nerves and try them. We look up and the cirrus clouds that once feather-tickled the sky are now heavy cumulus thunderdomes, rolling in as if a hungry cook impatiently wields his/her rolling pin on the sky above. Yikes! We quickly pack up but we're too late. We're soaked and running! Crash pads make for an arduous run in downpours. It's more than .7 miles back to the car. That's too much in a thunderstorm! We arrive soppy.

We decide that it's likely the storm will pass quickly, as summer thunderstorms in Maine tend to. This decision wavers after an hour in the car in the parking lot of Sand Beach. We have played a lot of "Guess this song artist and title" with our ipods. Finally, the weather changes. Matt "swims" in the ocean. Or should I say 'jumps'? It's time for some dinner and bed. But first, we can't help but examine the locations for tomorrow's climbing while we're still in the area. Remember, our campground is a 20-or-so-minute drive away.
So we get to some high-ball bouldering area 1/4-mile offpath of the Gorham Mtn. Trail. There is a huge rainbow after the rainstorm. Surely we'll climb here tomorrow. Then we check out Otter Cliffs (above). Have you heard about the huge rockslide at Otter Cliffs? Maybe not. Matt and I examine the oceanside climbing cliffs to see what causes this:
"Ooops" says your Landescaper, N8

Acadia National Park: Day 1

I meet up with Matt. Matt looks different, almost dog-like. And what's with all of the hair? I thought he had shaved his head? Hmm... Well, he still likes to play frisbee! But I came to climb, so as much as I enjoy a good toss, I don't toss it at all.



Oh! It's not Matt! That's Matt's dog, Ginger! Here's Matt, sunglasses and sunhat on, ready to go! We pack up the car, say goodbye to Wendy, Matt's mom, and hit the road. We drive to Acadia National Park in Maine. This is on Mount (Mt.) Desert Island, which encompasses four towns: Bar Harbor, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, and Tremont.
Matt and I head into Bar Harbor to find a shoppe that will likely have a rock climbing guidebook for Acadia National Park. We do. We get it, and we look up a place to go climbing as we drive into the park. At the trailhead to South Walls, we sit on small rocks and make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Then, with all of our trad gear, head up to a 5.9 and then a 5.8R.



Keep in mind that this is Matt's first time climbing! We stop at the top to snap a few photos and admire Matt's scrapes and cuts! Trad. routes aren't always pretty! Left is Matt at the top of the first climb, happy to be there. Below is Matt on a thin fingernail crack, getting used to high feet!

After a day of climbing, Matt and I head to Bar Harbor again for some ingredients for dinner and for some rest and relaxation! For dinner we're running out of options and contrive our own awesome sandwich: The Inglacias, a.k.a. Nacho Sandwich: Muenster cheese, cheese salsa, and tortilla chips with bread. We find out that Bar Harbor is awesome: the Village Green has outlets on nearly all lightposts and the town provides free wireless internet there. I know this is good. I whip out my laptop as it gets dark and Matt whips out his patience. We do battle: me updating blog that's three days late, and Matt stretching out his limbs and trying to ease his war wounds from the day!

After dinner and internet we go to our reserved campsite on the other side of the island that Matt graciously reserved weeks earlier. Thanks, Matt! Next one's on me! Quietside Campground makes a wooden platform upon which you shall post thy tent! Why? You got me! I guess tourist-tenters can't take the rocks?! Anyhow, we posed. Por supuesto!



And after talking and laughing and a tent party and tea and books and headlamps and noticing neighbors, we get some much-needed shuteye. After all, this is but Day 1 for Acadia National Park. And Day 2 will dawn soon enough!



"Yay, Acadia" says your Landescaper, N8

EngageMEnt

My sister, Nicole Michelle Conroy, and Jonathan Larner-Lewis formally introduce their engagement, which began on February 2nd, 2008. Personally, merely knowing that two great people are engaged, one of whom is my close friend and older sister, is enough. However, I would not be the fool to miss a shindig such as this engagement party! Look at all the fun going on, even with only the two nuclear families of the engaged! (By nuclear, I am referring to non-extended, not type of energy.)
And of course, there is a cake. And cakes get cut. Cut until they're practically cup-sized. Might as well always be called cupcakes. Two pretty people cutting cake. Dartmouth alums - they cut their cake, too!
Studies have shown that 8 out of 10 people love to play with balloons. Not to disappoint science, Nicky pokes her head into the mess of balloons. Nicky is short for a girl. Really, though, Nicky is short for Nicole.
After the festivities and seeing lots of relatives and friends, the crew that is Nicky, Jon, Sean, and myself headed over to Katie Sullivan's house. Her house has a toilet in the backyard right now. I pretended to use it. Meanwhile, Katie and her Nate make a very fine meal. We ate them. Just kidding. We ate food that they made. Prior to dinner, pool games occurred. One match was the "Ns" versus the "ons" (i.e. Nicky and Nathan vs. Sean and Jon). Jack, Katie's dog, loved balls and sticks so much that it would stand up on its hind legs and yelp to see the shots. Jon sunk the winning 8-ball stroke with Jack in his face. Nice shot, Jon! Nicky, you picked a winner!

We hugged and Sean and I headed over to Ninny's for the night before tomorrow when I head to see Matthew King Dennis and go to Acadia National Park for some world-class views whilst climbing! Nicky looks happy before heading to Denver! Sean also looks happy before heading back to Boston for school!

Between you and me, blog, I hope they both get a chance to visit in Patagonia, along with some relatives and friends who expressed interest!

Onwards and upwards and sideways, too!

-Your allwards Landescaper, N8

Trithisathon!

The race went quite well. Competition is fun. To be in. With your siblings. Whether it's playing a board game such as Sniglets (right), or racing the bike-leg of the triathalon, The Urban Epic (above), it's always nice to push yourself.

I was very nervous before the race, having never road-biked before or been in a triathalon. However, once I finally sorted out the mess of not having the right cleats to fit on Sean's bike pedals, by having two volunteers drive to a shop to retrieve $18 fitting cleats for me, I hopped on Sean's bike. It's fast. I was happy and translated all nervousness into excitement for the race.

Nicky and Jon did spectacularly. I'm still trying to get over how well they did. To check out the results, click here, and check out Nicky's 2nd-place finish in her age division, Jon's flaming speed times, and The Vikings' sometimes successful attempts at keeping up with them.

Another good incentive to do a triathalon is the company and cheering that go with it. Mariah Contreras was there with her dog! As was Ninny and Jon's parents who all joined us for dinner (or was it three dinners apiece, right Sean?!) at the good ole' Maine Lobster Shack at Two Lights (not in the State Park, though).Photo courtesy of Stairsby Sidemar Iahcontreras.

While at Lobster Shack, Jon's dad, Jack, gets reacquainted with the Maine coast. Ah, smell that beautiful salt rolling up!


And don't think that only Sean and I ate three meals! We just made our orders blatantly obvious! Check out all of the hungry animals with human suits on at this table, heagh (here in Maine accent)!


What further proof for eating a lot can you ask for, save a photograph of the culprits staggering down the stairs with the sign dedicated to the place of eatage behind them? That's what I thought!But remember, this is still the day of the triathlon, started at 5:30am wake-up, just as my girlfriend, Alisa, in NYC texted my telephone saying that she was just getting to bed after what i can only guess was a spectacular night of dancing, music, and lights in the city of lights. in basements. So, below are a few more pictures from the scene of the post-triathalon.
Here's Team Viking, there's Sean with a perfectly timed water-attack, and here's the soonlyweds!




How can you end a triathalon right, after eating well? How about go to Ninny's, go to our camp in Litchfield, ME, and play sniglets (with weird player pieces) and go on some inner tubes on the lake, which is in actuality only a pond of giganticenormoustature?

Yeah, agreed. It was nice. I couldn't sit down or crouch for a day thanks to not training for the triathalon. So how does the rest of Team Vikings do it?! I'll have to ask them for their recipe for Strengthandendurance!

Now, it's time for looking ahead. It's time to prepare for an engagement party for two fun people. Who should we engage?!

Stay tuned for more exciting and spontaneous combustion of thoughts and noises!

-Your readyreadygo Landescaper, N8

BOSTON TO MAINE

Boston Massachusetts has a lot going on. Especially at 28 Dearborn Rd, in nearby Somerville (my bro's abode). That's all we need! I love this picture and laughed - no joke - for at least 20 minutes immediately after taking it, because it looks like Sean Manaka has pointy ears. I found pointy ears hilarious for some reason. After having a long night, running around Boston, talking the talk, and playing the music, we hit the bed and wake up early to wate for a package that never comes and to head to Maine to meet the whole family!

After a very short (2 hour) drive, we arrive in Portland, Maine and meet everyone in the parking lot, and take pictures from the floor of the elevator.

Mom gave me and Sean hats for our triathalon team, "Vikings", so we posed as if we were the gangster type of Vikings.

We found Nicky and Jon in their hotel room. They were both jovial and nonchalant, even with the weight of a looming early morning triathalon on their mind's shoulders.

Upon bringing our clean clothes and triathalon tidbits into the hotel, showering, chatting it up up up, then down some, we headed to the cars to go to the location of the triathalon.

Before we even got there, Sean rolled down the passenger window in the Volvo. I wasn't paying attention to his actions, so I couldn't prevent them. Instead I realized all too late that the damage was done: the window was off its track once opened at all, and fell down into its slit in the door. When trying to fix it by raising the "automatic" window and simultaneously "manually" pulling it up, it became a shark fin. We left it until we had more time and a plan to fix it for good.



We got to the location of the triathalon, where we met up with Jon's family, the Larner-Lewis-es. They joined us for a walk along the part of the triathalon's running path. I snapped a few photos; some with people; some with pugs; some with people with fog.



Mom and Sean chat about who will run the first 1/2 mile mini-transition from the 1-mile ocean swim to the transition building where I await my relay team's "Chip" (small baton bracelet) with a bike.





Next, we gather with other triathletes for an informational meeting about the triathalon rules and procedures. This is where I learn that there is a killer pair of hills that I have to get up at the 23-mile marker (out of a 26.2-mile bike). I was nervous. What's more, I had never ridden a road bike before: the handle bar positions, your body position, the brake setup and the shifting setup is entirely alien to me at this point, the day before the race. YIKES!


At least Nicky and Jon have been training, including some other triathalons to work up to this one. These to diligentes went so far as to arrive in Maine early enough to check out the course! Can you imagine?! Well, this will be loads of fun, success or not! Everyone's smiling and thinking and that's a good thing!

We call it a night and head out to Amato's for dinner. Sean and I both have a calzone and a sandwich, just not in that order. Everyone else enjoys one good dinner (not two)!

Good night! Wish us luck in the race! I'll let you know how it went once it wents!

-Your nervous and excited Landescaper, N8 (VIKING, BIKER)