Biking past Bagpipes with Carrie

This is my gorgeous friend/teacher/model Ms. Carrie lighting a tiki torch on her 30th birthday. Miss flat stomach and perfect skin biked with me today, maintaining a strong stride all 20 miles on her lousy Trek mountain bike. My new super sleek Giant gave me little advantage over her finely-tuned triathlon body.

We came across some interesting finds peddling through environmental preserves and along railroad tracks. Rounding the corner of Old Quarry Road, we heard bagpipes. Once on top of the hill, we looked up to see a solo female bag piper playing Amazing Grace at a cemetery. She played beautifully and Carrie and I waved to show our appreciation. We guessed that she may have been playing for her deceased father. That was a treasure you don't often see or hear biking on the back roads of South Bethlehem.

El Ghriba Festival Video

I finally found the time to edit and post a video on the El Ghriba Festival on the island of Djerba in Tunisia today. This Jewish occasion attracts hundreds from all over the world.

Judie Fein is an award-winning travel writer/author/actor and good friend who has produced several documentaries in Tunisia. After sharing a few tips about working in front of a camera, she took to it like a pro.

It's one of the few places, perhaps the only place in the Islamic world where Jews and Muslims live together peacefully. An article with pictures and links will be posted on GoNomad.com very soon.

An Expo Debut in Dallas, Texas

I flew to Dallas and back in less than 48 hours, unfortunately, never spending more than a couple minutes outside. I was, however, in what has to be the largest convention center I've ever been in, maybe even rivaling Chicago's McCormick Center. A good chunk of downtown Albany from Lark Street south to the Capital could squeeze into this mega-building.

Between the two huge ballrooms, a expo kicked off today for the International Association of Fire Chiefs and Fire Rescue International. Every square inch of space is open for some 13,000 of the most prominent fire and emergency service leaders to talk about the industry. Dozens of high-end pumpers, EMF vehicles, hook and ladder trucks, rescue, tanker, HazMat and crash trucks are on display.

I dare to venture that the price-tag on the retail value of these safety vehicles would exceed the combined income of most of Albany. Security and surveillance keeps a close vigil on every face and ID tag coming and going.

What's ironic is that the Convention Center has the audacity to keep it cold as a freezer inside and still pin up posters everywhere that boast how 'Green' they are. How does that happen?

In addition, a new swanky hotel is under construction in time for the 2011 Super Bowl at the new Texas Stadium. Make your reservations now.

Jockeying for Position on the Catwalk

This morning the Saratoga Track hosted the 11th Annual Fashion Show fund to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region. It was a sell-out crowd of more than 400 people packed into the Rail Pavilion with a track-side view of the races.

PilotGirl was there covering the big rollers cheer on 48 stunning local women sashay down the catwalk wearing gorgeous gowns and outrageous hats by famous New York City designers. It was a scream seeing co-chair Kristina M. Krawchuk and host of our new "On the Lake" travel pilot, shake her number in a low-cut white gown sparkling from head to toe in bling bling.

Men hooted and howled while Natalie Sillery of Saratoga Trunk introduced the designers and models. Despite the super high heels that most women wore, nobody tripped up like Carrie Bradshaw, the SATC scene from years ago. Who can forget that - unless your a dude, in which case, this show was the place to be today. I've never been in the company of so many well coiffed fillies, they had the men beat by a furlong!

While breaking down my equipment, old pals from my network days, MaryBeth, Mary Ballou and Shirley motioned me over to say hello. They too wore beautiful bonnets and their Sunday best.

I had no time to enjoy the buffet and ripped back down the Northway to catch a flight to Dallas for another assignment. It's well past my bedtime so more on my quick trip south tomorrow evening.

Ahoy Landlubbers of Lake George

Shiver me timbers!! Look what just washed up on shore in Lake George - 4 wacky pirates who can only grunt and say 'aye' and growl. They come sporting full Scallywag attire and a skull and crossbones pirate flag or 'Jolly Roger' as they call it. But don't let their swashbucklin grimaces and big swords fool you - these guys are afraid of their own shadows!

This wench had to literally walk the plank at places like Pirates Cove Adventures Golf, the Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom - Six Flags, Martha's Icecream, The Sagamore Resort and a fabulous restaurant with what appears to be the world's largest stone fireplace called the Stone Manor restaurant in Bolton Landing.

Bubbling grogs were whipped up by the friendly owner on the patio overlooking the beautiful blue Lake George. Alongside me were my crew, Bob, Mike and these four Buccanneers. It was all in a days work shooting a travel show called "On the Lake" to debut (fingers crossed) on the Travel Channel next year.

Our day wrapped at Fort William Henry Museum where our landlubbers fell in love with the cannon firing demonstration and our red-coat costume-wearing guide.

Guthrie at Bethel Woods 40 Years Later

The rain dumped bucket loads but 15,000 refused to leave tonight, much like the 500,000-plus who camped out during the actually Woodstock Peace and Love Festival. Anxious arthritic hippies parked their Volvos and Beamers on muddy lawns and rushed for the pavilion.

The Boston Pops began the first set as flashes of lighting lit up the sky. Those with lawn seats, poor slugs, were wrapped in yellow raincoats huddled together like a giant road sign. Then Arlo made his appearance and everyone fell back into the Age of Aquarius, including me, and I was but a fetus then.

Arlo's storytelling is as magically as his music and he told us what he remembers of that famous first Friday evening 40 years ago. I'm paraphrasing here but this is the gist:

"I remember driving forever to get here but then all roads were closed so we had to park at the motel and State Troopers escorted me in on a helicopter. One was a big tall brute and the other, a shorter fellow. As the cops peered down at the sea of people they agreed that there was a whole bunch of illegal stuff going on down there.

The big trooper asked the smaller trooper in flight:

Look at all those hippies! I don't think I want to go down there, do you?
Nope, I don't think so, said the smaller."

It was then that Guthrie knew this was going to be a fabulous weekend! The crowd roared and applauded.

Guthrie continued to enlighten with hazy memories of the past through humor and song. The sentimental crowd chimed in during the chorus of a 1972 hit, written by another but made famous by Guthrie, called 'City of New Orleans.' That gave me goosebumps as did the famous all-American children's folk classic, 'This Land Is Your Land'.

How to Avoid Heatstroke

It's finally summer in the city! Even after a savage thunder storm pummeled Central Park Tuesday night, New York City still soared to 95 degrees the next day. I was in Battery Park working on a Catholic television show with Diana this week.

Sluggish and sweaty we took our time shooting the Liberty Ferry, the East Coast Memorial, the promenade and the James Watson House. I promptly melted all over my camera and equipment anyway. Even an offering of holy lemonade from a kind face at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church only helped for a few seconds.

Foolishly, I dressed in dark jeans and a black shirt making the searing heat far worse. People sought relief however they could. I walked into a public bathroom and found a woman stripped down to her undies washing her linens in the sink. She looked frazzled and worn. "I'm sorry but it's really hot!" she blurted.

She might have been homeless, I really couldn't tell without her duds, so I offered her half my tasty chicken wrap. "Oh no, I only eat kosher," she launched back. So much for kindness to strangers.

After the shoot, friends at Pier One Cafe on the Hudson River met me for a much-needed cocktail. Pier One sits directly underneath West Side highway between 68th and 79th Street, along Riverside Park South. It's a fabulous place to dine during a colorful evening sunset while waiters pop off scented candles and shaded umbrellas for your pleasure.



This is as close as you're going to get to drinking near the Hudson river without actually be in or on the river. There's no waiter service but the cafe does a quick job of prepping hot food and cold beer while you wait for your number to be called. The french fries were okay but obviously, it's the view that draws people to this site, even in 90-plus temps.

Fashion at High Tide

Unlike the Travel Section of the New York Times, I promptly toss the heavy Fashion Anniversary Magazine into the garbage heap this time of year. Who needs unaffordable fashion during a recession? I'd rather amuse myself with trips to the Mediterranean coastlines and medieval castles in a cheap T-shirt and used sandals than spend a years gross on a high-end luxury wardrobe. Mind you, I don't pay for any of my exotic travels - that's the secret life of an occasional travel writer, it's a gig hard to beat.

But this week I'm keeping my copy because the cover and cover alone is familiar. It's the design of local artist extraordinaire (and client) Jenny Holzer, chosen among 5 other artists to sketch the special 5th anniversary edition. Since being introduced to Jenny and working with her on a few projects, it's surprising how often I see her work, not just in the United States but all around the world. We should be so lucky to have her working so close to the Capital Region.

Other magazine cover concepts were submitted by Frank Gehry and Alber Elbaz; Doug & Mike Starn and Stefano Pilati; Jeff Koons and Marc Jacobs; Francesco Vezzoli and Miuccia Prada but it was this cover that I received in the mail. I interpret the water to symbolize the flowing of time or maybe some kind of resurrection and spiritual renewal for the Times.

Blue-Water Ops on Lake George

Shooting the pilot episode of "On the Lake," is keeping PilotGirl really busy this week - so much so I haven't any time to blog.

A better part of this morning was spent 3000 feet in the air with Flight Instructor Jim Barrett of Glens Falls Floyd D. Bennett-Warren County Airport. I tried flying with Jim a few days ago but the weather was lousy so the crew returned today under better, albeit hotter, conditions.

Loading my huge honking camera atop my shoulder in a wee-little aircraft isn't the most comfortable thing to do. I kept knocking poor Jim in the face as he tried to navigate the narrows of Lake George. The skin on my left arm went weak with wind burn and the right shoulder lost sensation after 2 hours of bracing the beast from falling out the window.

We circled several islands, the Sagamore Hotel, Rogers Rock, Fort Ticonderoga and Fort William Henry. Despite the planes' wing, wheels and support brace peeping into the shots I think we were able to capture all there is to love about Lake George.

PilotGirl has shot in helicopters and planes dozens of times but the thrill never wears away. Watching Jim's single engine cast a shadow down on the deep blue waters of Lake George, busy with boaters, divers, skiers and para-gliders, is a wonderful experience.

Camp Edgemere on Lake George

This jaw-dropping beauty is just one of many million $$$ camps on Lake George that several local production companies, mine included, have teamed up to shoot for a new travel show called "On the Lake." Fingers crossed that the viewing public will get to see the pilot when the first episode is written and edited.

There's a long wait till it airs next year but we're confident that our labor of love isn't in vain. And why not? This show appeals to everyone; history buffs, fans of Adirondack architecture, travel connoisseurs, ghost enthusiasts and anybody with a curiosity about Lake George.

Engaging, entertaining, and always enlightening, "On the Lake" aims to put Lake George and many, many other New York State lake vacation havens on the map for all to appreciate and visit. Grab your swim suit and towel and take a trip north before the season ends!

Ti-Ride from Lake George to Ticonderoga

Nola convinced me to bike the 2009 Ti-Ride with her and Tessa this morning. I woke before sunrise and scratched the sleep from my eyes. We loaded up the bikes and boogied up the Northway to team up with 100 other mavericks.

The Ti-Ride is a non-sponsored, non-sanctioned event so it's hard to find information about it online. There are no road signs, no water stops, no support fans and no police escorts around the hairpin turns coming down Tongue Mountain.

Basically, the Ti-Ride is a 45 mile climb from Lake George on 9N, through the tiny hamlet towns of Bolton Landing and Hague, up and over a very steep mountain called Tongue Mountain and finally ending in Fort Ticonderoga where a steamboat called the Mohican Ferry pulls in at 11:15am to transport us home.

Conquering this early-bird monster with my relic hybrid was never an option. Instead I traded up days ago at a shop in Great Barrington for a half-carbon sculpted Giant. My bright blue marvel paid off. I kept up with Nola and my energy wasn't tapped before my water was gone.

All along 9N, campers, cottages and motel rooms were filled to no vacancy. The smell of breakfast bacon and eggs wafted in the air. Traffic was continuous but courageous. Tessa drifted back several hundred feet while Nola and I took the lead. We caught up with each other at the General Store in Hague and atop Tongue mountain, though not in that order.

Anytime a biker passed me I swore like a sailor. "Why was an overweight graying guy in his late 50's passing me? Was not my bike everything it was suppose to be? It was indeed but these bikers were serious about their hobby. They donned sponsored shirts and cleated heals. Despite the new bike, I still have a helmet from 1995 and my grass cutting sneakers. I intend on changing that as well, particularly before the end of summer.

It looked like it might rain today but, oh the timing, Mother Nature held off until the Ferry docked in Lake George and even then it was just a sprinkle. That was fine for me considering I skipped SPF on my back today.

Sunflower Celebration

Standing tall and following a path of light every morning are millions of sunflowers near the Shaul veggie farm. These bright yellow petals and leaves of green are also sold in several local grocery chains and flower shops.

While Bob and I shot a commercial the storyboard didn't call for a patch of sunflowers but I stopped briefly for a closer look. It's no wonder Vincent van Gogh's most memorable paintings include these beautiful flowers. There's nothing as vibrant and expressive as this sun god.

From Kayaks to Cukes

A working vegetable farm like Shaul Markets takes decades to perfect. But, since 1934, Jim and his family have taken on the challenge. Today, Bob and I shot a commercial to showcase their plantation - a 3000 acre spread of tomatoes, corn, cukes, beans, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, radishes and so much more. Shaul Farms is in Schoharie County, a fertile crescent that often floods so Jim built dikes to prevent run-off. Mrs. Shaul arranged a huge basket of fresh freebies for our trip home. We'll be back with an empty trunk the next time.

Safety Shots

Skimming the surface of Harriman Reservoir in Vermont makes the prettiest pictures. You can't see it but my Audio tech has my ankles in a vice grip to prevent me from sliding off. Good thing I was nice to him the last 2 days.

Kayak safety is the goal of this week's video but some safety measures need bending during the production. Don't tell that to the U.S. Coast Guard though! Moving at the slowest clip given on a speed boat, our kayakers got a great work out paddling back and forth for the day.

Too Fish to Drunk

This photo sums up what happens to you if you stay too long in the North Country. You get drunk, lose your pants and say goodbye to whatever dignity you have left.

These crazy anglers from London flew to the states to be a part of the 2009 World Carp Championships on the St. Lawrence River in June. One of the guys in this picture was nominated "2009: Best Looking Guy in Britain" though you couldn't tell from this view.

A few years ago, Massena, NY became the first town in all of North America to host a professional carp tournament and it continues today. Hundreds of competitors from across the globe including Japan, South Africa and numerous European nations compete for 5 days to see who can hook the most carp.

The St. Lawrence river has always had an abundant supply of large carp. Carp is a predominately a bottom feeder and when I was a kid none of us wanted to snag this beast. I remember Wendy reeling in a huge specimen, must have been nearly 50 pound, but the line broke before we scoop it up into a net. That was just as well because carp isn't a fish worth frying.