NYC Halloween

This Halloween Meg and I met up with some friends in NYC. Meg was Juno and I was her boyfriend, Paulie Bleeker. Despite being the only ones in our group who dressed up and getting stuck in 6 hours of traffic trying to get home (no exaggeration...honestly), we had a great time just walking around the city seeing all the crazy costumes. Thanks to Baughman who has always been a gracious city host.



Meg during our pre-party walk through Riverside Park.


We stumbled upon a nice little block party on the Upper West Side.





The Halloween Parade in the Village.


J Maughan was there.






The crazy thing about this picture is that Baughman (left) is at least 6'4".


A bar in the Village that rates your costume. Meg and I got some decent ratings like, "Oh no you didn't!" and "LOL."



Juno and Bleeker.

Sandy Hook

Last Saturday, Meg and I went for a bike ride on Sandy Hook, NJ. Sandy Hook is part of the Gateway National Recreation Area. I first visited there a few weeks ago by myself and I knew I had to take Megan. It's only 30 minutes from my house and just across the water from NYC, but it feels so remote, at least this time of year. We took our beach cruisers up there on my car and rode the 8 or 9 mile loop. We even had a picnic on the beach. Here are some pictures both from my solo visit and from mine and Meg's outing.






The bay side of Sandy Hook.




I'm on the phone with Megan telling her how she needs to see this place.



Apparently, there can be some good surf here. This is the surfing beach.





Our picnic spot.




Meg's Uggs continue to be a life-saver.





Meg's one weakness.


These homes were used back in the day when the northern most part of the Hook was a functioning military base.



The proving grounds: Sandy Hook was a military testing center after the Civil War up until 1919.



You can see the NY skyline from the most northern lookout.







A view of Highlands, the city across the bay from the Hook.

The Becks on the Central Coast

A couple weeks ago Meg and I visited our dear friends, the Becks, in Pismo Beach, CA. Trevor Beck, my friend from dental school, found a great job with a cool dentist in Arroyo Grande, CA. They are planning on being there forever and who can blame them. They live in a sweet townhouse w/ an ocean view and are surrounded by all kinds of beauty. Trevor and I had a great time surfing and just catching up. I think the girls had fun too. Actually, we all had a blast eating good food and just enjoying the amazing weather. Here are some pictures of some of my favorite moments.




Day one: Trevor & I going out at the Pismo Pier just before Trevor busted his nose.


Trev's split nose.


Tyler, the Oral Surgeon, stitching him up in Trev's office.


3 stitches.


Jamison posing for Megan.


Classic Gavin.


I spent a lot time wrestling w/ the boys. I miss the beatings.


The view from the Beck's clubhouse.


The clubhouse pool.



Megan enjoying her Doc Burnstein's ice way too much.


Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream: An Arroyo Grande favorite.



Firestone: A San Luis Obispo favorite.


Cowboy Cookies: Another SLO favorite. We stopped in to grab a cookie and next thing we knew, Megan went nuts and ordered a baker's dozen.


Bubble gum alley in SLO.




Our nice Sunday walk on a beach near the Beck's home: Shell Beach.








The Pismo Pier.


I was able to catch up w/ an old friend from Boise...John Root. He and his family live in nearby Grover Beach.