Take a Hike!

We'll consider the hiking trip through Switzerland a warm-up trip for Mr. Pickle's hiking trip in New York. He joined Graham from September 3-14 to visit his family and to hike around the Adirondaks, and holy moly, the scenic views! They had a wonderful time.......

 Mr. Pickle's introduction to the Adk's - West Canada Creek and Fort Noble Mtn. (Nobleboro, NY - one of the many small settlements in the Adk's - just try to Google it!) in the southwestern part of the park. He was wondering what the log structures in the river were, so...

 They stopped at the Sacandaga River interpretive trail (Speculator, NY). Where they gathered lots of info on Adk flora & fauna, as well as descriptions of early logging operations, including log drives - check out those anchors!

The first hike, Blue Mtn. (elevation 3759', Blue Mtn. Lake, NY). Signing in at the trail register is a tradition, and a good idea... don't forget to sign out!

 Mr. Pickle at the summit benchmark! Quite a handsome hiker in that fancy hat!

Mr. P stayed safely in the pack on both fire towers. Safety first!

A nice woods walk into Palmer Pond (Chestertown, NY) with Sheila, Tom, and Bandit. Woof!

 The big one - Snowy Mtn. (3899', Indian Lake, NY). With Ralph and Graham's dad at the summit and fire tower. Winds were gusting 40-50mph at the top of the tower, enough to take your breath away.

 The reward - Mr. Pickle enjoys the wilderness view - mountains as far as the eye can see...

AMAZING!

Back at home (Warrensburg, NY) and helping with the chores. Mr. P helps put the horses in for the night - clockwise from upper left: Pepper, Treasure, Tammy, Roger. Can you find Mr. Pickle?

 Another nice woods walk, this time to Round Pond (Thurman, NY). Not really round, but a beautiful view! Mr. Pickle takes a siesta... he got to see and hear loons on this trip!

The final trip, one last ride with el Bandito! Such a nice furry friend to hang out with.

 Mr. Pickle checks out the cool rock formations at the Warren Co. nature & X-country ski trails along the Hudson River (Warrensburg, NY). 

He's just hanging out as he takes note of the detail in the rocks.

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Wow! What a beautiful trip. Graham was the perfect person to really get this pickle into the great outdoors.

Next up: Paris. Then more Michigan. Then....A trip with you! Where are you taking him? Let me know and I"ll put it on his itinerary. He's open!!

Little Old Lady Who? Swiss Miss!

Mr. Pickle spent July 20-29 in Switzerland with Susie! He's been to so many different countries this year! This time it was all pleasure, no business. He enjoyed lots of mountain climbing and frolicking through the Swiss hillside while yodeling a snappy tune.

Mr. P enjoyed the train-side view just outside Gais, where he did some low mountain hiking, and saw a lot of goats and cows. Goats are his new favorite animal.

Susie and Mr. P enjoyed a hike at Santis. It was a pretty high elevation, and there was a lot of rock climbing, but he was prepared and apparently knocked it out.

All in all it was a lovely summer trip with great people. 

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Thank you so much to those who take Mr. Pickle traveling with them. It's because of YOU that this project is still alive. The world is his oyster! 

His schedule is clear for the rest of summer! Would you like a travel buddy? Let me know!

Hola Señor Pickle

Mr. Pickle spent July 6-11 in Barcelona, Spain with my good friend Miss Olivia. She was off on a business trip, and he just couldn't pass up a trip abroad that included a beach-side hotel. Work shmerk! He dined, he lazed, he took in the architecture. [Side note: I am completely jealous. While I'm particularly obsessed with all things Iceland, a trip to Barcelona is on my bucket list in a big way.]

 You can't go to Barcelona without dying over some Gaudi architecture. Here is Mr. Pickle at Casa Batlló, built by Antoni Gaudi. (This is one of Mr. P's new hats. Pretty dapper looking!)

More whimsy at Casa Batlló, the dragon's hump. Le sigh. 

A mushroom shaped fireplace inside Casa Batlló. 

Mr. P and the beautiful Casa Milà.

 Enjoying a very pink pithaya and coconut fruit smoothie from the Mercat Boqueria, one of the best markets in the world. He had no idea what a pithaya was, but it was dang tasty. (Fruit of a cactus! What?!)

Hanging out at the Temple de la Sagrada, and snapping shots like mad of more Gaudi. 

Mr. Pickle and his hotel shenanigans! He enjoys a good towel. (New hat!)

Alas, in the Born District he meets some friends his own size. Hello wooden Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia! 

Mr. P and Miss O enjoyed a fancy lentil and cava dinner at Poble Espanyol.

 

They skipped on over for a lovely trip to the botanical gardens, where they found some growing beauties, including an inland paperbark tree...

As well as a kangaroo paw!

 

Mr. Pickle got a glimpse of the Olympic stadium and the torch. 

Of course Olivia and Mr. P had to visit some cakes, since she's the baking queen. And boy did they find the prettiest rainbow layer cake! 

Alas, a trip to the beach! Where's the cabana boy to bring him a drink?! (The umbrella that he picked up on a recent trip to California sure came in handy.)

Mr. Pickle and his new friends may or may not have done some tagging in an inline skate park. He may or may not look totally awesome in his bandana made of fabric from NYC's Mood. This may or may not be in my top five pickle pics ever.

 More baking, a bit of vintage flan, and a pickle getting hungry for MORE CAKE!

I guess this pickle did get some work in at the conference while he was abroad. Which I guess is the reason they went to begin with! His new glasses make him look more official, don't you agree?

What a lovely trip!!! Beautiful sights and stellar company.
He's been to so many different countries so far in 2012!

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Mr. Pickle is off to Switzerland next week, but after that he's free to travel with YOU! Where are you taking him? Let me know. He needs to get to Kentucky and Wyoming and Vermont and Maine, etc.

West Coast Librarian Adventures

After a tour of Chicago with Elizabeth, he stayed in her possession and they headed to California for a week for the American Library Association Conference. He does indeed love his library friends. This was his second ALA, as he went to the conference last summer with Jenny, when it was in New Orleans!

Anaheim, San Diego, and beyond was a good mix of ALA time and fun time. Thanks, E for being a good hostess to our little green friend, and for keeping him safe from killer penguins and killer jellyfish. Here we go:

 

Mr. Pickle met a penguin at ALA. Perhaps it's the Penguin Books penguin? 

 

Pickle @ Your Library

 

Conference swag featured a Wookie cookie. Say whuh? 

You must be at least this tall to ride this ride. Sad to say, Mr. P was not tall enough. He probably would have gotten sick on the roller coaster anyway. 

Which way to Disney Land?? 

 This pickle loves his BBQ. Here he met some pickle friends while chowing on Korean BBQ at Jeong Won, just North of San Diego.

Tiki time! Mr. P is dressed for the night. 

Awww, they're both making the same face!

Mr. P is still tiki-ing, and jumped into the art. Let's call this performance art. 

 Mr. Pickle and his new bendy friends. They told him to "get bent" and he told them he couldn't and they accepted him anyway.


Time to relax on the shore of Imperial Beach in San Diego.

Mr. P met a JELLYFISH! He was skeptical, and concerned, and alarmed, and very excited.

 Mr. Pickle was announced God of the Crabs at the beach!

Spirit of Imperial Beach! Pickle in hand, ready to make you swoon. (Or just teach you to surf.)

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Mr. P is headed to Spain next. But he's got the rest of summer open to travel with you. Would you like him to join you? Let me know!

Summer Fun in Chicago

Mr. Pickle is spending most of the month of June with one of his favorite traveling buds, Elizabeth. They've gone on a few other trips together, and it's kind of perfect. This time around, Miss E showed Mr. P her new hometown of Chicago! He's been there a couple times (once with me and once with Jenny), but as with every trip, there's always new stuff to do and see. Which is just what they did:

I sure hope Mr. Pickle followed this rule. Or kept his ketchup obsession hush hush.

Obligatory photo of reflection in The Bean. I'm sorry, but I just love The Bean. And check out E's lemon dress. Foodies all around.

 

 Hiding on the hat of a new friend. Say, where's Mr. Pickle's hat?!

 

Ah, there's his hat. (He has actually acquired NEW hats since this trip, which I can't wait for him to try out.)

A cool pickle chillin' in the cool city. More signs! Mr. Pickle is VERY safety cautious! For humans and pickles. Elizabeth likes to point this out.

Catching some rays at the beach. Aaaaah. It never gets old. Where's his Summer Shandy?

A cool down session was in order, so Buckingham Fountain is where they parked it.

And so ends his tour of the city. He's sticking with Elizabeth for a bit and they're heading to California next. Stay tuned!

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Mr. P is currently booking summer trips.
Check his itinerary and email nomadicpickle [at] gmail.com if he fits into your trip. He must visit more states!