Luiz

Luiz climbing in New Zealand

Remember to click photos to enlarge. 

Luiz (Brazil) took an exchange year in Rumford in 2009-10 with his brother, Yago (Spain). These two took advantage of every sport Mountain Valley HS had to offer and made friends with everyone, from the lunch ladies to coaches, especially Ray Broomhall, the 70-something-year-old, cross-country ski coach. Aunt Connie and Uncle Ben loved these two boys--and I'm sure it was Luiz and Yago who coined the name, "Benjamin Button" for U. Ben. They loved their Venskus Family. 

My funniest memories of these two had to be their wars in the basement as they battled in ping pong. They screamed at each other and cried, "You're cheating, Yago! / Luiz!" during matches. In soccer,  Luiz was a brilliant player with skills and energy. He could have lost his cool during American high school matches since our players were not up to his standards, but he just played. When I studied soccer for a few months in Brazil, the term people screamed from the stands on the pitch was, "Jogar a bola!" Play the ball. Luiz did just that. A rugby player, Yago had played some soccer but his skill on the pitch was his athleticism, energy, and never-quit personality. The two made a profound difference on the Mountain Valley's team. 

I was also there the first day the two got on skis. I don't recall if Yago had seen snow before, but Luiz had not. That first morning of snow in Maine--more frost on the windshields than a real snow--they were amazed. But when the snow really hit, they picked up their XC skis and were off for their first ski at Black Mountain. The rest of the story...

They did not stand. All of us, their teammates and coach, plus the boys themselves, cracked up at their inability to stand or move forward. The fun part? Six weeks later, they were racing the course with remarkable style and athleticism. I can't recall seeing two foreign flatlanders transition to ski racing so quickly. What if they'd spent their whole lives on skis?   

Now, Luiz is living, working, and exploring New Zealand. Every time I see a picture of him rock climbing, I write, "Be careful." One thing's for sure, I'm glad he's not climbing with Yago. I could picture the two of them having one of their fights 1000 feet up in the air. 

Aunt Connie & Uncle Ben with the boys

The boys with Connie heading to Sox game

Luiz in New Zealand

Be careful, Luiz!

This picture makes me nervous

Luiz, first few minutes on skis. Note the smile. 

Luiz, Rich, and baby Bailey when Luiz played at UMF

A quick welcome hike on Weld's Center Hill in 2009...

My recommendation for Luiz at UMF. 

Little Fred's Birthday

 

The Little Prince at Burger King, c. 1978

Each year, I search out fun photos for my nieces' and nephews' birthdays. Some times I succeed; sometimes I don't. Little Fred and his wife Shannon have 3 boys from a 9th grader to early elementary.  They love coming to Weld from their home in Virginia--the Kent boys have a wild time on the lake as Big Fred drags them behind his boat on one tube thing or another. They climb a local mountain and dine at the Kawanhee Inn. Hopefully, they have a growing connection to camp just like their dad did. 

At the Kawanhee Inn

  

Red Hill Four-Miler

After the hefty storm, I needed a place to hike that was manageable without snow shoes or a thigh-burning trudge through deep snow. By the second day after the storm, Red Hill had been plowed and the snow mobile trail was well used. A perfect choice for the day. When we got to the steep hill at 1.4 miles, I decided not to climb the powdery snow of the trail (way too much work) and kept on going straight beyond the mountaintop cabin that's visible from Black Mountain. We continued on to another cabin at about 2.1 miles. The view included Black Mountain, Mt. Blue, the mountains around Tumbledown, and Mt. Blue. A good hike on a post-storm day. Don't forget to click photos to enlarge. 

Black Mountain upper slopes

Whitecap

The unnamed mountain to the right of Black Mountain

Mountains around Webb Lake in Weld. 

Mt Blue in Weld, Maine. 

Meeting Backcountry Skiers on Whitecap.... Hike #16

Click on photos to enlarge.

                                                             

It'll be cold the next couple of days, but today, at 28 degrees, the hike reminded me of summer. On the Yellow Trail, we ran into two backcountry skiers who were traversing the mountain. We met them on the way down 4-5 times as they picked their ways down a stream bed with a few extra rocks. I could see what I figured was the cold front coming in from the west. It's not going to be fun the next two days. Back to "Yoga For Beginners" on Prime Video. :-) Ha! 

The New Hotel

Best Western in Rumford
Click on photo to enlarge

I'm guessing most of my friends from away wouldn't think twice about a hotel being built. But for many of us in town, the Best Western on the bottom of Falls Hill represents progress and small-town commitment. A crew of local investors ponied up money to build the 5+ million dollar structure that's set to open in the summer of 2021. I admire the investors' faith in the project, one that's placed at the entrance to town. 

I've enjoyed watching the building take shape and have marveled at the amount of negativity surrounding the project. Judging by the comments on Facebook, the Rumford/Mexico River Valley has a lot of angry, unfulfilled people wandering its streets.  

My 1972 high school class officers have been interested in the hotel's progress since our 50th class reunion is planned in town for 2022. We'll be celebrating at 49 Franklin, a well-appointed event center, created with tireless years of work  by Scott and Cindy Grassette from our family's Methodist church. We also have plans on celebrating at Black Mountain's new lodge. They just added air conditioning, so a summer event will be doable for those of us who melt in the summer heat. 

Here's to the Best Western investors and our little town that can and will reinvent itself. 

Black Mountain of Maine's New Lodge replete with AC! 

   

Bailey

Bailey on Whitecap

                                                      

Bailey makes me laugh. I get a kick out of his waddling butt and his early-morning howls in anticipation of breakfast. Some nights, he leaps up onto my bed and hogs 3/4 of the space. Later on, I'll wake up to see that he's lying on his back, feet and legs sticking into the air... I can't help but laugh even at three in the morning. In the evening after a tough hike, he'll retreat to "his" bedroom and go to sleep around 8:30pm. He's like an old man... But then, most mornings when I'm trying to read and many evenings when I'm comatose on the couch in front of the evening news, he'll yank out one of his toys (like below with Andy the Anteater) and sit in front of me play-growling with a muted bark. Drives me nuts. Some times I chase him; some times I just stand up and eye him. When I have exchange students, I turn toward them and point at Bailey, saying, "This is why you're here." They laugh, get up, and chase him throughout the rooms of the first floor. That's Bailey. 

Bailey & Andy the Anteater

After the Whitecap hike

Late evening when he's had quite enough.

Treat? 

Watching me take down the garbage. 

Still watching... 

Even more...

"What? You didn't want me to help, right?" 

Co-pilot in The Rig.  

Bailey: I'll do anything for a treat. 

On the summit of Whitecap--
well below zero with the wind. 

Toenails & Whitecap

 The foot of a long-distance hiker who's logging 25 miles a day.

This is NOT my foot. 

Click on photos to enlarge.... :-) 

One issue non hikers might not think about is foot health. In the Army, we were always lectured about keeping our feet dry and clean. As a day hiker, I have to keep my eye on my feet, knees, hips, and toes along with hydration. I've battled a toenail issue for several years.  On the way down a mountain, the front of your shoe tends to slam into your big toe. That, in turn, can crack a toe nail. And there you have it... a problem. 

Yesterday, on Whitecap, the pain in my left big toe disappeared on the way up, but on the way down, I had to adjust my foot plant so I didn't irritate that toe. I do minor "surgery" before each hike to wrap my toe and sometimes add gauze beneath the toenail. It's what happens when you hike. Above is the foot of a long-distance hiker I follow named Crunchmaster who has hiked 13,500+ miles over the past few years. That's what happens to your feet when you hike 25 miles a day. As for me, I might hike 25 miles in a week! 

Here are photos of Whitecap on a beautiful, January day at 15 degrees. 

Off the summit. 

Mt Abrams ski resort

Washington and Sunday River

That's Bailey's Carin where part of him will lay 

after he heads off to the great hiking trail in the sky. 

Right after the first stream. 

Where's my treat? 

Collapsed post-hike. 

Ready for action.