Last Year of the 20s

In honor of celebrating my last year of my 20s...we celebrated with a hike to Lake Awosting, an illegal swim in the lake (illegal because no lifeguard was on duty), and some sorbet at Wallkill Valley Farm Stand (and a quick animal prowl in the corn field).

Happy 29th Birthday to me!

Haha

TheChristyBel

Lake Awosting - Super Blue Today

Birthday Summit Posing

Instagram Birthday Shout Outs

Wearing the Awesome Hat Marc Got Me

Biking to Awosting

Lake Awosting
Look at that clear, blue water!

Today, I decided to bike at Minnewaska State Park. I really love this park, for many reasons, but one because of the great views, and two because you can swim. I remember when I first visited this place back in 2012, the Toman's took me to Minnewaska State Park where we biked to Lake Awosting. From Minnewaska State Park, it's about a 3.1-mile trek to Awosting down the Upper Awosting Carriage Road. Most of my weekends, I am running solo as Marc guides climbing on those days. So, today, I decided to entertain and occupy myself with a bike ride and a swim. It was a gorgeous and hot day for both. A choice I am very glad I made today, not to mention, there were not that many people at the swimming area. That's one nice thing about Lake Awosting and swimming, since it's a trek for most people (well, not the hiking type people), the swimming hole is never really packed. Yea, it's 3.1-miles, but its a lot of uphill and uneven terrain. It's a great hike/bike and worth it once you get into that crystal clear, blue water! After the swim, I continued the bike loop around the Shawangunk Ridge towards Hamilton Point. Hamilton Point has great views of the valley pretty much during the entire bike ride back to the Minnewaska Lake parking lot. Enjoy!

TheChristyBel

Catching Some Rays After My Bike Ride

The View Back to Minnewaska Lake Parking Lot

My View From Hamilton Point

Biking to Castle Point

Selfie with Fishy at Castle Point

Today, decided to join Fishy with a family bike ride around Minnewaska State Park and celebrate Father's Day with the Toman's. I just LOVE Minnewaska State Park - great biking carriage roads, waterfalls, swimming areas, and some gorgeous views. This Minnewaska adventure, we biked from the Minnewaska Lake parking lot to Castle Point and back. A 4.3-mile carriage road that takes you to the highest part in the state park. You bike along a series of bluffs that define the western rim of the Ridge. It was great seeing a lot of wildflowers along the way - lots of Mountain Laurel and the view from Castle Point was pretty nice too!

TheChristyBel

We Made it!

More PINK Mountain Laurel

Beautiful White Mountain Laurel

Summit Posing at Castle Point with Fishy!
2,200 feet above sea level

New Wheels for theChristyBel

With all the carriage roads that the Mohonk Preserve has and not to mention the additional amount of carriage roads that Minnewaska State Park has (which connects to and from the Preserve carriage roads), my outdoor experiences and recreational drive was begging my insides to purchase a bike! Sure I have a bike at home in Delaware, but it is a beach cruiser; it is not equipped to withstand some uneven terrain and rocks. So, I did some digging around and research, and a few folks from the Preserve guided us to a place in town to get my questions answered and my need for a bike fixed. The Bike Depot in New Paltz took great care of me. Really found a bike that meets my needs and the type of biking I was looking into doing, allowed me to test drive a whole bunch around town, and gave me a great deal on a bike! And now, I am a proud owner of a Specialized Jynx Mountain Bike...and it's purple!

TheChristyBel

Jaclyn Visits the Tetons

So, it only took about a year, but I was able to convince Snuggles (Jaclyn) to make a visit to the Tetons. Showing her around the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and having her explore this place, I think definitely showed her how much I loved it here and why it may take some convincing otherwise to leave this place. Unfortunately I had to work the week that she visited, so she did a lot of exploring on her own. Here are some photos of the moments we shared together!

TheChristyBel

Jaclyn and My Main Man, Abe

Liberty Burger Food Shot

Moments with Marc at the Dinner Table

Our Whiskey Celebration of Jaclyn's Visit

Four-Person Spoon

Cloudy Tetons...Please Come Back Out

Babes in the Granite Hot Springs

Snuggin' 24-7

Tender Moments

I Think Marc Enjoyed His Time With Us.

Not Unusual.

Mountain Biking at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
(Of Course in Patterned Pants)!

She Was a Natural

Wings & Things at the Mangy Moose

Survived My First Mountain Biking Experience

Earlier this afternoon, Marc gave me a mountain bike lesson in the Village today. Let me tell you, mountain biking here is so much different than when I went mountain biking back home...there were a lot more pads and gear involved this time! It was super fun, and I think I caught onto it really quickly. Marc was a great instructor; he will do really well when he instructs others on the mountain - very patient, supportive, and great with feedback! It was great using the chair lifts to get to a higher point on the mountain and then bike, well cruise, your way back down. However, turning when picking up speed still freaks me out, but I guess similar to snowboarding, it gets better when I get used to it and do it more often. Also, standing on a bike for most of the ride is really interesting too - key is to keep your knees bent! But overall, great afternoon learning something new! Another activity, I am tempted in getting more into! Uh oh!!!!....

Met a New Friend on the Trail!
Cute Little Squirrel!

Surviving the Mountain...This Time on a Bike!

More adventures to come!

TheChristyBel