Best Birthday

I don't usually make two posts in one week with the title "Best Birthday" but today's birthday is a very significant birthday. Today is the day that Steady Mobbin' (that's this blog, if you didn't know) turns three! As in three years old! My blog is a toddler.

Let me tell you about the birth of my blog.

Three years ago, during the first weeks of my first New York summer, I went on a hike with my friends. We took a train and hiked the Appalachian Trail (no, not all of it. duh.) When I got home I wanted to put my pictures on the internet for my friends to see, but I did not know how to go about it. And then I thought "Wait, I've heard of blogs. Maybe I can put my pictures on a blog?" And after a little research I decided to start up my little blogspot here at briggie dot. The only problem is that once I had my blog I couldn't figure out how to post pictures. So the very pictures that inspired the creation of this very blog never made their way onto the internet

UNTIL TODAY!

Dear Readers, I present to you, for the first time anywhere, the photographic story of my Appalacian Trail hike.

Early Memorial Day morning, 2004, a number of us gathered at Grand Central Station.


We found ourselves the proper train and headed into the wild.


This story stars so many faces that are no longer with us. (Meaning they don't live here anymore. I don't think any of these people have died. Better said, I know Bryant is alive. Jason? Who knows.)



We tried to play a variety of games during our train ride. Here we listen as rules are explained.


We had a layover here.


And eventually we arrived here: a little platform in the middle of the woods. The conductor warned us over and over that there were only two trains back into the city that afternoon, so we'd better be there for one of them if we wanted to make it back home.


Oh, Bryant. Honestly, who doesn't miss Bryant?


Here Tina models the most covetable of backpacks.


This photo will represent the main idea of the day: Hiking.


Also, lots of pausing in the forest and/or sitting



And cattle harrassment


Everyone got surprisingly good reception out there in the wilderness (in the second picture Karisa is on the phone with her mom. I remember she was talking about "Super Size Me" and telling her mom she HAD to see it)



And then (hours and hours later) the hiking was done and we made it back to the platform with time to spare.


The train home was full of bikes.


Hiking the Appalachian Trail on Memorial Day: It will wear you out.



Endnote: After the hike Karisa and I took the S over to the 1239 (we had a 9 back then!) and Sariah and her Mom (both barely known to us at the time) were in the same S car as us. Then Karisa and I ate at Benny's. Victor Garber was there. It was a full day.