Northeast Part 2: It's a mixed bag at this point.

Rose with the morning sun and headed to the tip of New Jersey, found a park in South Amboy. Got a pork roll with egg and cheese, walked around the park a few times, and watched yet another storm roll in from the west. Sat in the car for about 5 hours. Didn’t want to blast into Brooklyn with no place to be and no place to park.

 2 o’clock hit and we started over the bridges. I love driving in New York City. People are moving. You need over? Get the hell over! Just don’t dick around with it. I found the hotel amidst the rain, room’s not ready and the elevator’s out. Got a parking pass and strolled around the damp streets for a while, seeing what’s to be seen. Eins has a bit of difficulty since her paws got torn up by the ever present sand and pine needles of the Barrens. Got up to the room around 4pm, I showered and kissed the pup and took to the streets. I’d had pierogies on the mind. Absolutely delicious and worth the wait.

I stumbled across a bar right around the corner from my hotel and invited myself in. Started up a conversation with the kid sitting next to me. Turns out he’s a baker from San Antonio who’d just moved to NYC. We bullshit and drink for a good three hours and then in she walked like it wasn’t no big deal. I popped up and accosted Anna with the best hug I could muster. I make introductions to the baker, we talk about poop for a while and catch up on reality. 

Then trivia starts and evidently we’re just going to nerd it up as best we can. K’urimja rides again, at least for a 9pm bar trivia night. We played strong and drank stronger. That sweet McCallan rode in waves past my lips as I refused to believe the discrepancies between the possible answers for “what two animals is Odin associated with.” I could’ve fight that either way, but we got it regardless. I probably made an ass out of myself enough with bringing up stupid semantics like that. I thank Anna for coming out and having a round or two with me and we make plans for the next day. I got back to the hotel, climbed the eight flights of stairs, and buried my face in the first mattress I’d felt in almost a week.

Morning came, dog walked and fed and I packed my shoes and stepped into Brooklyn Boulders for about two hours. Amazing variety and setup. Bouldering is the right way to go, any top or lead only has about 30 feet, if that. Took my first Subway ride up to Whitehall St. The doors opened at the next to last stop and on walked Anna, doing her best “ignore all the crazy people” routine. So of course I sat down right next to her and stared until she noticed. It took some coaxing, she was committed.

We climbed out of the subway and took to the streets underneath the towering skyscrapers. Our feet took us to Stone Street for a round or two and some food. Had bone marrow for the first time. Anna oversold it. But I tried it. I get filled in on all the details of drama and Miami. Stomachs stuffed and livers primed we strolled down to the pier, then back on the subway for a proper view of the skyline. She took me up to the roof of her building and I could not believe the ever present view from the top. If it were a choice, I would be up there every possible moment. Ariel photography is good or even stuff taken from out in the bays, but being able to see the enormity of Manhattan at eye level? Uncomparable.

Wandered up the street and had a few more beers and some wings. I eat up every word we discuss. It’d been a while since I’d had the chance to just pour out my head and have that returned. Decisions and outcomes discussed, possibilities and encouragement lain out bare. I’m not sure why, but I am continually surprised and impressed by the people who’ve managed to worm their ways into my life. Definitely going to try and keep a few of them around.

The beer is finished, the route home planned, hugs exchanged, and another promise to not make it so long between visits. I watched her walk off and smiled. It’s going to be a fun life for that one.

I slept. I drove up West Ave along the bay, seeing and smelling and feeling everything. I landed in the Gunks. Carried Eins up some stairs, did a lil soloing and scared myself a bit more than I possibly should have. I’m just glad the dog was around. She keeps me leveled. I got drunk in my hammock and read Kerouac until the light was too low. That was the right place to be.

We barreled up towards Maine the next day. I tried to see Sleepy Hollow cemetery to get some grave rubbings, but Thoreau fucked me over again, that cheap bastard. They’ve turned the entire area into a wildlife preservation site so no dogs allowed in the area. I will go back again, sans pooch, and piss on his grave. False representations are fine, until you’re lauded for them. Ugh.

Slipped back onto the road, and took the scenic route up through Maine. It was cold and rainy, as it has been most of the trip. Still didn’t stop me from appreciating the view and smell of the ocean. Doris trundles through fishing town after fishing town, yards absolutely littered with lobster cages stacked ten high and probably fifty deep. We got into camp late, but it was a quick setup and Eins was entertained by the local fauna.

Regained consciousness in the misty morning and went down to the seawall. Drove around the quietside of Acadia to scope out places for us to explore then had breakfast up in Bar Harbor. Wonderful pancakes with even better syrup. We started up Acadia Mountain shortly after 8:30. Five minutes up the hillside and it began to pour and did not stop for over an hour. With soaked dog and pack, we scrambled up the rocks and roots to see the beautiful non-overlooks the hillside had to offer. It was still a wonderful hike, and definitely reaffirmed my notions that maybe, just maybe, Eins is tougher than she looks. Maybe.

Got back to camp as the sun peaked out and the clouds began to clear. My timing has never been more perfect. Dried clothes out the roof of the car. Had some haddock from a gas station. Freshest fish I’ve ever had. Took a short 2 mile loop hike out on the southern point, saw the world’s shortest light house, then skirted back around the island on dirt roads. Acadia is picturesque, and I will definitely come back, hopefully to sail on some schooners and eat some lobster. We shall see.