NYC Journal

Yesterday I walked “Maggie.” We drove to the trailhead for Jone’s Point off of Route 202. Had to walk a bit on River Road about half a mile to a section of road that back in the day was 9W, but is now a paved trail free of cars.

The rolling hills become cliffs, a freight train track is below that snakes the Hudson River, and the views are breath taking. This is a bypass for cyclists to get to 9W and avoids any vehicular traffic, but is only about 2 1/2 miles in length. We did the out and back.

On our walk we heard two freight trains as they passed below. No fishing or access to the river… Too bad.

Lots of cyclists on road bikes. Met a guy who was heading south that was heading back to Jersey City.

The ugly is that Bear Mountain is kinda crowded because of its proximity to NYC. I also took note that 9W now has congestion because so many people moved up into Rockland County. We visited Nyach which use to have an artsy Brooklyn vibe, but now it feels commercialized and feels like I’m in South Hampton on the east end of Long Island. Nyack was where Edward Hooper the painter grew up. Now it is a tourist trap.

We drove around the west side of the Hudson and IMHO it is just a sprawl of suburbs. The New York Throughway is near by and pretty much the west side of the Tappan-Z Bridge is not so different that Tarrytown: a place I try to avoid because of traffic and congestion.

Pretty much I think we have a better/higher quality of life along with more privacy and space. I am dismayed by the traffic, congestion, and crowds. Call me anti-social, but that’s the fact.

The Jone’s Point trailhead is free parking, so I think it offers a way to save money, although I have to pay the Bear Mountain Bridge toll. I saw no gravel bikes, and all the cyclists were roadies,. Mucho packs of road bikes, and many-many solo riders…

For strength training the west side of the Hudson offers more hills and climbs.

Now that daycare is gone we have to make up for the sacrifice in our physical health. Maggie had a hip replacement more than a decade ago, also she is 70 years old. Nordic walking seems like her activity, and biking is mine.

I did some research using Barnes and Noble as my library for free. I dug into aging and metabolism, and I learned that some people who early in life ate vast quantities of food, but also burned all the calories they consumed without gaining weight, seem to have turned off the mechanisms that nature provided to conserve energy. Not only am I slim, but I also have the ability to loose weight easily to the dismay of Maggie and others who cannot eat like me.

Granted I have made adjustments as I have aged…

Then exercise becomes more important to maintain good health, in particular regular and consistent exercise. It is suggested a constant 5 days a week, but also with some moderation to avoid injuries. Pretty much to avoid the long slide that is aging.

So yesterday was not only a start, but also a beginning of something we need to sustain.

I also negotiated keeping the Concept 2 ERG/rowing machine stored in the porch. The Baby-Victorian has a large hallway, where I can set up the machine and do workouts for both strength and endurance in an enviornment where I can use my mini-splits for climate control, and the Dyson air purifier to filter out pollution.

EZ-PZ and no gym membership and no excuses. The Concept 2 is a machine that the U.S Olympic Team uses for training. I bought it used for $300.00 from the Tri-Institutional classifieds that included two major hospitals and a research and medical university. The guy I bought it from was a PhD who bought it new for around $1K. One of the best investments, bought on the cheap, and an exercise machine that uses more muscle groups than cycling.

In July we have a casting call. Modeling will begin. I wonder if I can evolve into a fitness model. Don’t forget that I am a skinny bitch, but I also have a muscular boyish build of a 15 year old. I likely weigh about 155 pounds, but if I get to or below 152 pounds I pretty much am ripped. I look like a deadly kinetic weapon built for speed and acceleration.

Today is day two, and I’m dedicated to walking Maggie again. She needs the support. We want to keep our quality of life.

Cal
 
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I am a clever guy. I invited “Maggie’s” best friend and her husband over for a 4th of July Bar-B-Q. The end result is that Maggie was forced to clean up the house. Pretty much with daycare and book writing she let lots of stuff go, and I picked up a lot of the slack.

“Revenge,” I say. LOL.

Starting strength training is always hard. Yesterday just doing 45 pushups was tough, but today I did three sets of 50 with mucho rest in between each set. I’m toughening up. Also yesterday I started rowing and only did it for 5 minutes. I figure I’ll do 5 or 10 minutes at a time as many times as I can to start.

It may take a while where I can row steady for a half hour or 40 minutes straight. I see a difference already though in my arms. Rowing is a very tough workout. It can be either aerobic or strength training, or both. Pretty much the harder you pul the more resistance. This is an Ergonomiter.

The Concept 2 is the same rowing machine that the U.S. Olympic Team uses for training. The newer model is more WiFi enabled.

While Maggie was cleaning I was caramelizing about 4 pounds of purple onions. I also was marinating a London Broil with fresh garlic from my garden, soy sauce, Worcestershire, and some olive oil. I also have some Salmon filets, fresh corn that will be grilled, and Maggie has a few side dishes.

Now I have a tidy house.

The weather seems sketchy for the holiday. Today a violent thunderstorm whipped up and created marble sized hail and gusty winds. I expect maybe more of the same possibly tomorrow. Oh-well. I was grilling some sausage when I realized I was running low on propane. Lucky me that I was able to walk 2 1/2 blocks to get a refill at the Westchester Tool Rental. The guy behind the counter only charged me $20.00. Pretty much he likes me and gave me a deal.

Now that the humidity is full on the mini-splits are like life support. They work great, are silent, and pretty much I have central AC on the first floor.

Maggie is keen on setting up the space between the 2 sheds with gravel. I figure 4-5 cubic yards, but I’ll measure again. She wants to order the gravel Wednesday so likely a Thursday delivery. More prison work for Calvin. Good thing I gave a dump cart. I already have the lumber on site to frame in the gravel, but I have to grade the area. I’ll be removing some soil that is rich in clay, so more clean fill for the slope.

The Dyson air purifier was a wise purchase. I think I will get another one that also is a humidifier. The thing with the mini-splits when used for heating is they dry the air which is not good for my skin or breathing. When it is not bitter cold I would love to exploit the mini-split efficiency.

Also know that my HVAC guy says not to burden the mini-split with air purification duties because it kills efficiency and capacity.

The rain is pelting at the moment, a heavy downpour. The fourth might be a potential washout.

On exploring the NOAA navigation chart I see that there are deep sides to the navigation channel below and above Peekskill Bay. In these areas the eastern side of the river near Peekskill Bay is the deeper water.

Since the freight railway blocks access to the west side of the Hudson, I’m exploring possibilities closer to home. It does look promising for kayak fishing very-very close to my house. Charles Point is in Peekskill and is about a mile north from my house.

I have GAS for another Accurate reel. This one is called a Tern 2 that is a star-drag that has a cast control. The idea would be to get a small reel for the UBER lightweight Fenwick World Class rod. The big sell is the cast control to avoid backlashes and tangles. I have no remorse with the bigger BV-500N-SPJ that can go offshore that could be used for Tuna.

There is a Tern 2 available that has a black frame, but a red spool and red accents. Somehow today I got a cash back rewards on a credit card I don’t use. Hmmm…

Cal
 
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Someone sniped the black with red accent reel, the last one, but I found a purple/black version that is perhaps louder and more bold.

The Tern 2-300 size is the smallest version but it will hold 325 yards of 30 pound braid. A spooling of line is free. Also ordered a reel cover and some jigging lures. The casting control feature is an asset. Should be great on the 7 foot 8 inch rod that has a very light 12 pound tip.

I just could not go with a generic silver reel. BTW the purple/black version is also the last one from a different vender.

I miss the grand kids.

Cal
 
The quiet hidden town of Verplanck just south of me seems to be the place to fish. The shipping channel is upon the eastern shore of the Hudson. Also there is a reason why the Indian Point Nuclear Reactor was located nearby: deep cold water accessibility, and no beach.

This is a place that does not have shoals or a beach. I’ll have to scope out this location on my bike. From Route 9A there are some long rolling hills. Pretty much almost my backyard it is so close.

This is really great because I won’t even need a surf rod and the World Class rod with the new Accurate reel with cast control is all I need. Now I wonder do I need a kayak? Well maybe not for fishing, but it would be more for boating, touring and exploring. Fishing would be incidental… Hmmm… Hobie makes narrower kayaks that are more speedy that are less than 100 pounds.

Cal
 
Did a 10 minute row, and then took out the Newsboy for a cruise through the long rolling hills to Verplanck. Did some standing to push gears Up the hills. The shore was disappointing. Nothing scenic or spectacular. Indian Point just north is a restricted area.

Pretty much fresh water at this point. Some guys fishing for catfish, he mentioned catching a big carp.

I think my next bike ride will be to Croton Point downriver. The NOAA chart shows deep water right off the point.

The point of fitness at my age is to do something every day to prevent the fade.

Cal
 
In the morning I walked the woman. Took her to Croton Point, a place I explored on my bike perhaps two years ago. My interest with fresh eyes was to see if it would be a good place to fish.

The take away was there is a sea wall where there is deep water right against the bank along with strong currents that might be interesting. Also after 11:00 AM there is a beach and swimming in the Hudson River with lifeguards.

Croton Park is about 500 acres.

After lunch we went to Peekskill Mason Supply to order 5 cubic yards of crushed bluestone that will be delivered Friday. We also stopped at Dain’s Lumber for some 4x4 caps for my fence posts.

In conversation we talked about a possible trunk gypsy lifestyle and spending an occasional night out camping. This would be offset and augment our travels where we on occasion might camp one night instead of going all hotels.

Then I decided to go to our nearest REI to go look at tents, and the nearest REI was in Paramus New Jersey which is a pleasant drive and better than heading east to Connecticut.

I ended finding a REI Half Dome 2 Plus that was a return for $39.83 that retails for $329.99. I had a salesman named Barry check to see if it was complete, but evidently there was some issue with the tent poles. Every thing was there and Barry the salesman said it looks like a tent that was not used and was complete.

At home I would later learn the elastic cord that allows the poles to snap together had lost their elasticity and strength. A simple fix by replacement: EZ-PZ.

I set up the tent in my lIrving room Even though the “shock cord” was NFG. This tent was expensive because it is a lightweight version made for 3-seasons for back packing. Had to sign up for some REI membership for $30.00, but then I get 10% off in future purchases and got a $30.00 gift card to wash away the lifetime membership.

I ended up buying also these bold Fall Raven work pants that were a lucky find. They sat alone on a rack as the last pair in the store, but they also happen to be my size, a loose and comfortable 29 inch waist with a 34 inch inseam. Know that my Patagonia knickers are a size small with a 28 inch waist. I was expecting to pay the full $175.00 price, but somehow it got marked down to $125.00.

So I’m happy-happy. I got a really high end 2 person tent for almost no-money, and I found a really great deal on some work pants that might last me a decade. “Brutal,” I say.

Cal
 
Today’s walk the woman was a hike at the West Point Foundry Park. Pretty much a ravine that has a small brook that descends steeply 110 feet into the Hudson River on the eastern side of the Hudson opposite West Point and a little south.

There are ruins and structures from the old iron mill. At one time 1K workers were employed there making huge cannons. The water wheel was fed by a man made pond and was able to sustain 75 horse power to run the machinery and furnaces. The guns for the Monitor were made there.

I was off by myself and two women started talking to me. They wanted to know if I lived in Cold Spring. Ha-ha. I was wearing my PS1 muscle shirt that shows off my boyish build, and one of the women mentioned she once lived there…

”I was just minding my own business,” I say.

Later Maggie asked me about the two women… “What were you talking about?”

The clothes I wear are mostly well worn in and wrinkled sportswear or Patagonia knickers with a muscle or T-shirt. I kinda look like a surfer that just got off the beach. I call my clothing “rags” because they are well worn in. I have a sloppy style that kinda comes off as cool.

On July 3rd I did a ride to survey the coastline of Verplanck for fishing. It was a disappointment for fishing, but I was reminded of the history when the Continental Army and the French Army spent 5 days crossing the Hudson to bypass NYC to win the decisive battle of Yorktown that ensured our independence. I stood on the eastern bank where the armies crossed the Hudson.

Pretty much we want to maintain our health and are going to be active every day. I dug out the TRX suspension trainer and this is both isometrics and strength training. I have some free weights also… Then there is biking, trail running, and jogging with 2 1/2 pound heavy hands. In the future is a Hobie kayak for peddling, paddling, and sailing.

Of course along with this is clean good eating.

Next week we have a “Go-See” which is basically a modeling audition in NYC. At the Go-See I don’t have to wear any fancy clothes. “Maggie” also has some event to attend with a big luxury brand that I can’t name. I likely will have to get dressed up for this event.

About a month ago my neighbor gave me a 5-6 pound cheesecake that I consumed within 24 hours because of a mandate by Maggie. It was mighty tasty, but it added a few pounds that I’m burning off presently. Pretty much this was like eating lead sinkers, but it tasted good.

The Go-See is a rough cut of sorts, and the next step if we make the cut there might be yet another cut, or we might get booked, meaning we have to keep open a date, but this does not mean the booking is a real gig until we get a “call-sheet” for a definate time and place to be.

Basically if you get a call-sheet typically it is just the day before the gig.

Anyways the anxiety all this last minute gets aggravating and can be stressful.

I’m waiting to see if I get a gig. I want to buy my kayak soon, and I don’t want to sell some assets to raise the cash if I don’t have to.

Cal
 
I feel I’m at a turning point in my photography. I kinda did a lot of B&W street photography that involved urban landscape, street shooting and street portraits of strangers I would meet that Snarky Joe and Devil Christian would call “The Crazies of New York.”

So now I live in a tiny “city” in the beautiful lower Hudson Valley that is poised right at the gateway to the Hudson Highlands.

I’m dedicating my life to daily exercise and fitness. At our 4th of July dinner party I woke up to the fact that if I live till 111 years of age I have 46 more years to live, and I want them to be active and have a quality of life that is stable. All the research and data points to slowing down the fade of natural aging by diet and exercise. The rest is genes, luck, and lifestyle.

One thing I believe in is that I have to continually grow, learn, stay active, and most importantly stay fit. I also believe that exercise on a daily basis will promote my longevity.

My dad was poor, an illegal immigrant, and was illiterate, but he lived till 94. Cancer does not run in my family. The Cold Aglutinin Disease I have is “idiopathic” meaning for no known reason, and is likely a result from some childhood disease that messed with my immune system. This is no death sentence.

The 111 year lifespan is based on my family history (genes), income, education level, and lifestyle, as well as where I live. By not living in a congested, polluted, urban area alone I increase my projected lifespan from 106 years to 111 years. Recently there was a headline that having a green space nearby can increase your lifespan 2 1/2 years. Hmmm.

My dad suffered from diabetes (due to poverty, poor diet…); arthritis; and became handicapped from spinal surgery. Eventually his heart gave out, and he died of heart failure, but really I feel he lost his will to live. For decades hills life had no quality of life, and in fact he lived with pain.

So now I have the opportunity to really take care of myself. I cook clean and don’t eat processed foods. I will be doing aerobic and strength exercises, and I will tone it down enough to avoid injuries. I think the key will be to do some form of exercise every day to keep the blood flowing.

So with all this hiking I’m seeing lots of nature and wonderful geography. I can see me lugging a tripod and shooting for maximizing IQ.

I also have an idea for a book that I will title “Work From Home.” In Peekskill there are these residential houses that are modded with storefront additions. Kinda ghetto in their own way. Kinda interesting also. In Buchanan there is an unoccupied old house that looks like from an Edward Hooper painting that evidently was a gas station.

Today this house has the structure that was an awning over the pumps demoed. Know that the gas pumps are long gone, but it remained clear that this house was a gas station way back in the day. I am lucky that I have the shot I need, because now that shot is gone.

Interesting to me is that I would argue that the term “work from home” is not new. I will try to document the history so it becomes evident that work from home is nothing new. Pretty much some of these artifacts still survive and are active businesses today.

About 2 blocks away is ForGetAboutIt, a deli/sandwich shop that is both a business and a residence. The owners might not live there, maybe they do, but the building is a house that had a storefront added. Kinda unusual/strange/different and kinda weird.

About one-block is a house with a two car garage, and oddly this is not on a busy street, but in my neighborhood of a maze of dead-ends: there is a two car garage with antique Texaco gas pumps and a vintage air fill station from back in the day. Someone decided to decorate their garage with gas station memorabilia as if lawn ornaments. How odd?

Then there is this run down shop that has a buzzer for service. I went there for a bike part, but they also sell guns. I rang the buzzer a few times and eventually this old guy opened the door and asked, “What do you want?”

I came for a one inch star-fangeled nut to attach my stem to my bike fork. The old guy moved piles of junk. What a total mess, like a bike junkyard, but also I saw some rifles and shotguns. How interesting is that?

Then in downtown Peekskill is the Bait and Tackle: a storefront built off a residential house. Muy ghetto.

My friend Marty’s house a block away from my Baby-Victorian was a working dairy farm from back in the day. His grandmother owned the house and his mother was born in the house. What I like about Marty’s house is the out building that would be a great art studio. Kinda big.

Marty is somehow involved with the Peekskill Historical Society. You can see where this is going. You guys know I’m a smut queen.

So pretty much I can see and feel a whole new body of work evolving.

Cal
 
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Phil,

I own a SL and SL2 which are weather proofed. Not submersible, but my cameras have been in thunderstorms and blizzards suffering no ill effects. As long as I don’t dunk them I’m OK.

BTW my brother was the Nuclear Operator on the attack submarine the Tautog or Blackfish.

Cal
 
My new Accurate Tern 2 reel is expected to be delivered tomorrow. Pretty much will have casting control on my light casting rod. This will be a very light in weight rig. Very balanced also.

Awesome.

I can see me trolling using my kayak: a diving plug on my heavy rod; and using something like a Kastmater or jig on my lighter rod using the pedal drive to get 2 1/2 mph along the side/edge of the shipping channel. There is a diving plug that dives 25-30 feet which is ideal for the Hudson.

Mostly for exercise, but also the figure out where the fish congregate without a fish finder. Most of my fishing will be catch and release. The idea is excitement, adventure, and exploration…

Top speed in a Hobie with pedal drive is 5-6 mph, but that is not sustainable, but 2 1/2-3 mph is sustainable. ”Q” factors would be currents, wind, and tide…

Cal
 
“Maggie” likes the relaxed feeling after our hikes. It dulls her anxiety and makes her feel peaceful. In her past she owned an Old Town canoe, and has many fond memories.

I brought up my kayak again and mentioned that they are a pedal drive and that Hobie makes two person versions. Now the Hobie of interest is a Mirage Oasis for two people. It is less of a fishing Yak than the Hobie Outlander, but that is alright. Pretty much the Oasis would be primarily for fitness anyways. I could bring a rod and use it for trolling while exercising and any fish that bites would be incidental.

There is a bump up in price, but not so bad to be prohibitive. The Oasis is the two person Hobie yak that best supports camping. Still it has two rod holders… but it is not the best kayak for fishing.

I would have to get a Bimini top to protect Maggie from the sun. Kinda like a bicycle built for two, but steering and rudder controls are possible in either the front or back.

Today’s hike was at Blue Mountain. I discovered a moderate trail that was not very rocky that would be great for riding my steel IBIS. Not too technical.

Did some maintenance pulling out Knotweed. The Knotweed is getting weaker and weaker…

It kinda makes sense to have a two person kayak with dual pedal drives.

Cal
 
Today “Maggie” needed a rest day, so I took the opportunity to do a bike ride. I decided to go to Blue Mountain on the steel IBIS. About 40 minutes into the ride somehow I lost a rear brake pad. I had to take care on my way out because of my compromised brakes. Mucho rocks at Blue Mountain.

I got home and then went on a spin on the Newsboy to pump more blood.

I have enough experience not to overtrain. Pretty much the objective is not to go gonzo, build a strong base, and be consistent with doing something every day. Also what is important is to get plenty of rest and sleep. Last night I slept 8 1/2 hours.

My routine is to get up about daybreak, so I can avoid the heat of the day. Yesterday I pulled Knotweed in the hottest part of the day. Lots of heat stress and I sweated profusely. I kinda cleansed my pores, my skin looks mighty healthy, and it seems like I got rid of some salt and water weight. I would not be surprised if I lost 2 pounds, and I am not dehydrated.

I’m not overdoing anything. Todays rides were kinda gentile, but at the same time I am a bit tired yet relaxed.

I might try to see If I can do three sets of kettlebell presses. The pushups do my chest well, but the kettlebell presses are great for my shoulders. My triceps are growing. I notice a change in my mid section as the cheesecake is melting away.

Looks like I need to spend more money than I like on a roof rack for the Audi. The idea of the kayak is that it needs to be a car topper. Phil’s idea of an inflatable does not serve me because I need the ease and convenience of being able to use the boat as much as possible. I need to minimize setup time to be practical. The Audi has no rain gutters presenting limitations.

I can also see using a tandem Hobie Oasis to do photography. For fishing I can buddy up. The way the pedal drives work they are independent so I don’t have to rely on Maggie’s effort or teamwork to tow her along. Since it is a tandem it is kinda big and stable.

The Hobie Oasis can carry 550 pounds. This payload capacity makes it great for camping.

Cal
 
I should be in good shape for the “Go-See” next week in NYC. Would be great to get a nice gig to fund some of my crazy dreams. At this point I could see me being a fitness model more than a fashion model.

I found an extra U-brake that I can canabilize to get the Steel IBIS trail ready again.

Cal
 
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