Pleasant Upstate New York

       I think we can all agree that after Felix's last blog post we could use some uplifting updates! Well good thing your girl Megan is writing this post (optimistic to a fault) AND upstate New York welcomed us with open arms and lovely, easy times! 

For those who don't know I had the pleasure to live in upstate NY (Saranac Lake specifically) for my first travel occupational therapy job 6 years ago. I absolutely LOVED it there and fell in love with the Adirondacks. It was my first job, first time living far away from home and first time living alone so needless to say I have very strong and fond memories of this place and I was so eager to show Felix around! 

BUT FIRST...we crossed back to the states through Niagara Falls! We were a little disappointed...

Kidding. 

Niagara Falls was nuts! Saying things are nuts is our new thing, if it's really nuts we call it walnuts?

When they turned on the lights at night which changed from green, to blue to red we decided that it was walnuts.

Pretty sweet way to say goodbye to Canada and hello to America! 

We have had lots of people reach out with concern for us and our stolen bikes, we appreciated the concern and care! We were sad and mad but decided the bikes significantly improve our lives in the van so we pulled the trigger and bought 2 new bikes! I got a downgrade from my previous bike unfortunately..but Felix got an upgrade! We didn't want to spend much money, but also didn't want to replace cheap bikes in the near future so we found great in-between bikes that we both love. 

Then we drove to the Adirondacks!

First stop in the morning was my favorite coffee shop in the world, ORIGIN! My good friend Stacey worked there when I lived there and it felt like a second home. My favorite table was even free that morning, so I sat there with Felix and reminisced on the 6 years that had passed between the last time I was there! 

There was a short hike I could access from my house when I lived there called Baker Mountain, so we went and checked that off the list that afternoon! 

Flexin' or nah?

The rain came down as we were hiking but cleared as soon as we were done. Felix made me pose for the picture since my hair "looked cool". 

We sat outside by Moody pond and made dinner. We started to hear live music and I knew it was Party on the Patio! Every Thursday the same bar in town has live outdoor music, Felix was not convinced we were able to hear the music from where we were...

But he was happily surprised! 

The Raisenheads JAMMED and had the whole place and town jamming along with them, it was a blast and just as fun as I remembered it. 

The next day, I turned 32. That's right. I can't believe it either and feel no older than 22. BUT being back at a place I lived 6 years ago it was very neat to reflect on the ways that I am older, the things I have learned, and the rich memories and amazing people that continue to enter my life. 

My morning view. 

Felix learned pretty early on that I plan my birthdays :) and we packed it ALL in. 

We started with a mountain bike ride on my favorite trail in Saranac Lake. 

Then onto the famous Donnellys Ice Cream (I forgot it was cash only but Felix saved the day by having a full bag of quarters for parking in the van haha). 

Felix and his beard were fans. 

I have made a commitment to myself that I have to jump in water wherever I can on my birthday every year! It was easy to keep this year. 

Last activity of the day was some local bouldering at Mckenzie Pond. 

And of course the day ended at the only Mexican Restaurant in the town with chips and salsa and a Margarita (another commitment I've made for my birthday) :). 

Next is a pleasant farmer's market in Saranac Lake that we walked to in the morning from where we slept. This small town just always seems to have something going on in the summer. 

And then we got back to some climbing! The climbing was really good, not the best, but really good. We were both just happy to be out doing what we love again. The first days kicked our butts a little bit as we had to get used to the type of rock, the sparse gear placements and wandering routes. 

I forgot how peaceful it is to spend so much time in the forest covered by trees. 

See how pleasant it was?

Felix and I are in a Wordle battle, every day we play Wordle with the same first word (we try and pick a word that describes our day so far) and whoever gets the word in the least amount of tries, wins. If we get it in the same amount of guesses it's a tie. 

Current Score: 

Megan: 15

Felix: 9

August 16th. Felix and I celebrated being married for ONE YEAR. And man, what a year. We simul climbed a fun easy climb (Regular Route) in the morning, jumped in the pond down the road and relaxed the rest of the day before making our traditional anniversary dinner. 

"Point to the van!"

We sat and talked over dinner about our year together, 6 months of it was spent preparing for this trip full of lots of working for Felix, lots of packing, preparing and planning and the other 6 months on the road! We talked about our strengths and weaknesses as a couple and are pretty dang happy with where we are in life, in our relationship and the life we want to continue to build together. 

I convinced Felix to go on an approach with me without a climb at the end (a hike)! Mckenzie Mountain.

Felix goes hiking...

We finished the hike as the sun went down and had the best small world experience! We met Cara and Jason at my friend Caitlin's wedding in California right as we started our trip. They live in PA and we had planned to see them and meet up to climb in West Virginia in October but on our hike I got a text from Cara with the picture below!

Her, Jason and her family were in the Adirondacks for a family vacation and some climbing, they saw our name on the register for the climbing area! 

So we met up that night! It was great to see familiar faces and to run into each other in such a fun way, we can't wait to finally climb with them in the New River Gorge! 

Speaking of familiar faces :) 

My friends Savannah and Obey still live in the area and are building a house! My good friend Molly that I travelled with in CA for an assignment lives a couple hours away now so she drove down for the night and we all spent the day/night on Obey and Savannah's land/house. We cooked dinner in the van, helped with some staining for the house, cooled off in the waterhole down the rode, and Obey told bad jokes while we all laid on our crash pads under the stars watching potential paranormal activity...

Molly! We met at work, she was a travel PT at the same job. We hit it off quickly and even took a job together again in CA a year later! Unfortunately living on seperate sides of America and a pandemic make it hard to stay in touch. 

Savannah! My very first friend when I moved to the Adirondacks. I simply saw her in an outdoor store that she was working at, asked if she wanted to be friends and she said yes haha. I am not sure if I am that bold anymore. BUT I am sure glad I was! 

Savannah and Obey are working incredibly hard on their house, it was impressive to witness! 

The Taco truck!

Our last night in town they had us over for dinner and games. It was so fun to catch up on our lives and all the changes happening! We wooed them into our enneagram cult but unfortunately cannot figure out which enneagram Obey is...yet.

I can't wait to have a dog when I'm 65. 

The morning after...Obey made some strong Manhattan's that Felix felt the next morning...

I unfortunately ended up with a migraine shortly after I made fun of Felix for being hungover... 

And some more bouldering and climbing photos for your enjoyment (like you haven't seen enough).

Everytime we see a tree that it starting to turn yellow or orange we yell Foliage! Very excited to be in the NE to witness the full foliage for the first time! 

Some of the routes required river crossing! 

The shot that I said was fine. 

The shot that he insisted I get. 

The combo shot.

A micro nut.. half the size of my fingernail as a protection piece....

A common uncommon view for me! 

The local water fill station.

Before we left the Adirondacks Felix and I set off on 2 seperate morning adventures! I did a sunrise hike/run up Roostercomb mountain and Felix went and soloed the easy route we had climbed the week before. 

These were our two summit selfies...

Lolz. 

Pleasant upstate New York. That is exactly what it was. It was easy to stay in a van, the weather was very comfortable for the most part, the bugs were much more mild, familiar faces, hikes, bike rides, climbing and swimming around every corner, live music and local shops full of memories. We could not have asked for a better time and talk often about spending an entire summer up here when we are older. 

Some pleasant views of the Adirondacks to say goodbye! We are heading into Vermont and New Hampshire for a few weeks and expect more or less of the same atmosphere and ease. I feel like after a not so fun couple of weeks we have hit a level of contentedness and appreciation for the good places and easy times!