Up the Hudson

This past Weekend, also know as a holy-day weekend here in the Colonies, it being the weekend following the traditional late-November Thanksging Day, I and two friends embarked on a jaunt 'up-state', more specifically following the River Hudson north so as to visit a few local vineyards in the region. Early morn we met at a Mid-Town garage to fetch our rental carriage. Our route took us through Manhattan and The Bronx, then past Sleepy Hollow & Pleasantville. We crossed the River at Tappen Zee Bridge. Once on the West Sai'id (as the natives here say), we did not stop until the towne by the name of New Paltz. The town was small and charming in an All-Americana way. Soon outside we found our first and best Vineyard, the Adler Winery. The jolly proprietor kept us well entertained, informed & imbibed! The establisment holds place in a two-century olde barn. His wines are small-batch, hand-crafted and natural ingredients only. He derailed against the Modern Californian wine Industry for using sneaky shortcuts in producing mass-produced wine for the plebeians, who often know not better. Anyway, we bought a few bottles, and plan to return next Spring/Summer when they host Cajun and Pasta parties on the premises.


Inside the Barn


A kettle of Tea for the weary Journey-man

Our newt two destinations were not worth mentioning. The terrain, however, is somewhat foresty up there. Some light snow & ice covered the ground. The fall foliage was over, so the landscape was rather bare & brown.


A whimsical down-spout at Whiteridge

Our last place was the oldest vineyard in these United States. The compund was rather charming. They had an impressive variety of wines, as they also represent some neighbour vineyards. The definite find here was the 100% fermented honey, also known as Ethiopian Honey Wine. I promptly purchased a few bottles for future use & gifts.
After all this, it was the time for us to head back to the City. After such an oenophilial journey, all I could do was crack open a bottle of Adler's Blackcurrant Kir and enjoy a good book...
That's all for now; keep on sipping and experimenting fine beverages!
Paddlewick

Mysterious Isle #2

Last Week-end I once again took out my trusty pedal-cyckle, and headed north to the Townes of Astoria and Isle of Roosevelt, that not-so-distant-at-all neighbourhood of New Yorke. While it is so close, indeed very few have a reason to stop & ponder this small island. WHile the Underground has a stop there, and a cable-car (i.e. a Gondola) carries people high above the East River, this an Isle mostly known for her few inhabitants. It used to house the more unsavory folkes of the society: the insane and the lepers. This is literally still visible on the isle, as some romantic Gothique ruins still grace the southern tip. Otherwise the isle still is roughly half a hospital/elder-care neighbourhood. For about 30-40 years common folk has also lived around here, and currently the NY housing boom has resulted in more apartments to be built, and no wonder: the views are magnifique, and the area very quiet. There are few cars, as the only way in is over a small bridge from Queens-side (visible in one of the attached photographs). This was the bridge I also rode over. In the near future, I predict, this Isle will be as dence as her big sister, Manhattan.


The former Insane Asylum at the Souther tip. Moody,I'll say!!

It appears I have trouble sending the other Photograph through (damn pigeons acting all uppity again), so I shall try again later. For now, good night & Godspeed!

P-wick

A Moist Apple!

As I was soon to discover, the climate at the shores of the new World would prove to be somewhat moist. To my surprise even the sweet treats I brought here from the other side of the pond have spontaneously reacted to the vast humidity they have been exposed to.

The always knowledgeable Wensworth shared with us his insight, that the phenomena is trivially explained due to the high level of ammonium chloride concentrations found in these tasteful treats.

My humble accouterment proved to be embarrassingly inadequate for such an humid climate. After all, an experienced explorer should never underestimate the perils that Mother Nature may have waiting for the unprepared adventurous soul. Many a street I has forced to wade through with mere sandals for protection.

I would have expected such humid conditions in the backwaters of Her Majesty's colonies in the far East about the equator, but certainly not here. If one is familiar with geography, one knows that this colony formerly known as New Amsterdam lies on the same latitude as Rome!

Did not the good citizens of ancient Rome wear sandals comfortably all year long? Everyone - from peasants to the most distinguished members of the aristocracy! How was I to know the error of my ways!

Fortunately I would soon find resolution, as I was able to locate a local cobbler's shop that could offer suitable footwear for a gentleman's delicate feet, and could thus continue the exploration of the colonies in comfort.

The Isle contained such wonders! Paradoxally, it was the wonders from the Old World that erected the most profound sensations. Particularly I must eulogize the excellent collections found in the Metropolitan Museum. One can not help wonder thought, how such an vast and impressive collection of notable artwork and such expert pieces of craftsmanships from the Old Words has been cumulated into these fairly young settings.

I was also about to discover a new kind of musical colonial musical trend called Jazz! Compliments to the nice fellows from the Roboto Music consort. Such on outcry, that this emerging form of splendid artistic culture is so seriously undervalued in the colonies.

I observed the natives engaging in a particularly peculiar past time activity called "Whacky Sack". According to my findings, this activity involves highly dexterous movements with the object of keeping a small airborne ball from touching the ground with delicate touches with
different body parts, with the exception of ones hands.

I found the game not that dissimilar to the ritualistic game practiced by the ancient Inca priests, with the exception, that the winner of this colonial game is not required to deign to decapitation to please the gods.

If I may be so bold as to ask Paddlewick to provide such an intriguing artifact to add to my collections?

That is all for now! Hoping ol' P-wick a safe journey back home for the holidays!

Maj. Coastnail

To the 5th Borough!

I am here to-day to tell of the mysterious and distant borough, the Island of Staten! On a clear day, the Island can be glimpsed from the southernmost tip of Manhattan, just past Our Lady of Liberty. A ferry scurries across the waters, carrying workers and investors every half-hour. It was on a sunny Sunday afternoon that I took my trusty pedal-cyckle onboard and headed to the oft-neglected fifth Borough.
The ferry let me ashore at the northern tip of the Is. The town, and the docks, are very unassuming (the docks are big & busy, but nothing to write homebound about). I got in the saddle and started pedalling south along the shore, my goal being the famous Verrazzano bridge. As I was leisurely riding along, I observed the surroundings. One thought was topmost in my mind: this is not part of New York! For the feeling is quite pequliar and non-NYC-like: it is more open, buildings are low, it is hillier, etc etc. In fact, it felt like your average lower-middle-class, industrious, almost-ugly American port city. There were houses with picket fences, plenty of petroleum stations, &c, &c.
Soon I got to the Bridge. The gounds right beneath it are old military establishment, part of the bases set up to protect the Harbour of New York. Now it was open to the public. Some old un-used fortifications remain. I rode around and took a few seguerrographs.
After the Olde Fort, I ventured further south, for my map showed a 'South Shore Boardwalk' nearby. Indeed there was a raised boardwalk, starting quite suddenly, and going on about a mile-and-a-half. It was somewhat like the famous one on Coney Is, but without all the weird, queer & gay entertainment. In fact, one could see the well-known 'Parachute Drop' of Coney Island Boardwalk across the straight! Anyway, I enjoyed the surf & sun for a while, amongst the few families there. Then it was time to turn back and return to civilization.
Below are some of the seguerrographs:

A derelict play-house


The bridge


A torpedo shack that met an unfortunate end


Deeper and deeper into the ruins...

That's it for now. Next time... perhaps New Jersey?!
Ta ta!
P-wick

How rude!

Rumor has it that good old P. was sorely slighted by the stout guardians of a certain hob-nobby Manhattan establishment.
While we quite understand that even the modern gentleman must make some compromises when venturing into the colonies, let this teach us humility in the face of adversity. Naturally a chap must represent himself with all the character &al. he can muster, but never, never head into the urban verve & swerve without the valet and the garderobe! After all, merely a quick pop in the back of the limousine and the eagle eye of the trusty jeeves would have seen P. safely through the gauntlet of Kerberos... es. Kerberosi. Or is it Kerberi? These formidable but regrettably untoward gentlemen, as it were.

-- Ww, HMSFSE

The Society for Science & Exploration

From the members of the High Tundra Expedition of the Society, I wish to extend the warmest of grat. & greet. to P., our most excellent host on the recent excursion. Our lamentable lack of reportage must not be construed as a pronouncement of any kind; it has been our demanding task to entertain, dine & wine certain eminences of the Far Reaches, and while we stoutly face the duty and keep shirking to the abs. minimum, it does tend to drain the juices out of the old coconut. Thus, conspicuous lack of wordy goodness in the Log.

Our Education in the Arts & Sciences of the Metropolis was fruitful indeed. From the Appreciation of Semi-Abandoned Architecture to Exotick Foods of the Orient, from the rough-and-tumble, but ultimately quite bloodless Flying-Disk battles of the natives to the Tasting of Wines from the Land of the Rising Sun, we have been able to collect precious worldly influences that perfectly fit the image of the modern, cultured gentleman. Mjr. W seemed to be particularly impressed by the melodic emissions of the Jazz performance we stumbled upon, and by the comfortable little mansion & collection of mementos by the Park.

While our Eastern European headquarters are more suitable, in clime and atmosphere, for sombre recollections and morose Russian Arts, we expect to be able to toast a few W&S, G&T, &c, &c, in fond remembrance of the Occasion once P-wick's scheduled exchange expedition launches on the Holidays.

Wensworth, HMSOSE

1st Annual Society Get-together

I recently had the pleasure to host Esq's Wensworth & Coastnail at my humble adobe here in the Colonies. W has been my guest before, but this was C's first time in New York. Good times were had by all, plenty of exploration (the Met, Central Park, B'lyn &c, &c) was conducted. Also some social studies, i.e. social anthropology was carried out by obsewrving the locals and their habits. I am sure W & C will raport their findings later on.
During the visit an un-official Society Ball was also arranged, which nobody left with a dry throat or empty stomach!
More parties shall be arranged later, perhaps at a different continent? Time shall tell! Meanwhile, keep on exploring & experimenting!
P-wick

Kricket, Krumpets & High Tea

On a recent sunny weekend afternoon, I had the chance to try my hand at Cricket, that so-called great English gentleman's sport. Now, I must confess, I have never showed much interest in said hobby, for I think it hardly appropriate for proper gentlemen to run after a small in-animate object, sweaty and all. Unlike fox-hunting, now there's a Gentleman's Sport! But I digress...
I ventured down to Brooklyn's Prospect Park, famous in these parts as B's own Central Park. There I met with my friends, who were having a break between Kricket excercises. As for the picuenicue, I had packed with a bottle of Iced Tea and some crumpets. My hosts, however, due to most unfortunate of circumstances and absent-mindnesness, had forgotten to take along any such provisions, save for water.
Anyway, after pleasantly conversing & catching up for a while, the lot moved down to the small make-shift Kricky field. I shall not elaborate on the physical properties of such a field here, as I am certain most of you have a rudimentary grasp of the dimensions etc.
I wanted to try batting. The bat is quite flat and big, but light. The 'bowler' throws the ball from about 15-20 yards away, trying to bounce it off the ground. Now I must say that the hitting of the ball was much easier than I had expected! I managed to hit about 3 out of 4 of thrown balls. I seem to be what they call a 'lefty', which apparently 'makes it more interesting'.

Mr. Ari swinging, Mr. Babu catching

I then, naturally, wanted to try throwing the ball, i.e. 'bowling'. This was much harder than previously imagined! The bowler generally takes a few running steps, and tries to bounce the ball a few yards in front of the batter, and hit the wickets behind said batter, rather than his bat. Now, I know that sounds easy. But the bowler must throw the ball with 'locked' elbow over his head. This was the hard part. If you can not use your elbow in a throw, the accuracy and distance drop significantly. I had to concentrate in just locking my elbow, so I was not able to do the running start, and ended up doing a wobbly rocky side-to-side step while extending my arm over my head.


Mr. Kiran demonstrating the proper bowling technique

Besides the batters and bowlers, there are a number of catchers on field. Now, unlike in the Colonial Baseball, the ball may be hit in 360 degrees by the batter, leaving it up to the catchers to catch it.This will buy the two batters time to switch places & thus score.



The hosts, Mr. Kiran & Ms. Tiia ready for action

Over all, I had a good time. I now understand this great sport slightly better. I might even try it again. But I must make sure my hosts will have proper piquenique amenities next time!

Paddlewick, esq. LIC NYC

City of Independence

Paddlewick here, with an oven-fresh Report from Philadelphia.

To properly celebrate the Day of the Proletariat, i.e. Labour Day, a Gentleman must not get his hands dirty with manual labour, but rather take a refreshing little jaunt out-of-town. It was thus I boarded a carriage to P; the carriage was operated by Chinamen, and is therefore rather affordable. I was able to take with my trusty olde pedal-cyckle, that fit in the under-carriage.
Once in P, I hopped in the saddle and pedalled to SOuth Street. Charming area, Olde Philadelphia, so to speak. Somewhat trendy, but not overly 'yuppified', one can observe with certain relief, for yuppiness often plagues these artisty neighbourhoodes. It took me a wee while to realise why the quaint houses looked a little off-kilter: they did not have any visible foundation; rather the typical brick veneer continued all the way down to the street-level!






































I also rode my cyckle along the Delavare river, where many estinguished College Fraternities &c keep their boathouses for river-rowing. All about people were enjoying a beautiful sunny afternoon. I then went to the Grande Avenue, past handsome fountains, ending up at the steppes of the Art Museum. Standing there, one can see down a grand avenue all the way to the City Hall, with none other than Wm. Penn Esq at the top.
Before heading back, I quickly went back to the Society Hill section of towne. More very pretty brick architecture, some old, some younger. I think the moderne architects have quite well kept the spirit of Traditional Philly Townhouse, even if they have streamlined the features quite a bit.
For lunch I had the traditional P Cheesesteak sandwich. This one was not quite as delicious as my previous encounter with the dish: a restaurant run by the 4th generation of the family who originally came up with the peculiar local sandwich! For dinner I can recommend a Burmese restaurant and their 'Jungle Chicken' in the Chinamen's Quarters. And for drink, one cannot pass The Continental, where the drinks are ample and the tenders beautiful!
In conclusion, I must confess I enjoy Philadelphia a great deal, and would go there again for a quick day-trip to enjoy the sights, food and athmosphere.

Over and out
P-wick

Dear Ladies & Gentlemen;
This here is a new Web-Blogge dedicated to Distinguished World-Travelers and Scientific Experimenters to share their Anecdotes, Travelogues, Restaurant & Tavern recommendations, Scientific News, Maps &c. May these humble pages Educate and Amuse all who enter here!

Walther Phineas Paddlewick, Esq.
Society Member & Co-Founder