August 25, 2008

• *B&B WEEKEND (Part 2)*

  (My apologies for the atrociously long wait between parts!  I was sidetracked by a Tennessee excursion (Gatlinburg, not Nashville), the Olympics (watching, not competing), and the remainder of the lazy August week (at home sleeping till noon and lounging at the pool for 3 more days, not at work crying into my keyboard).

  
  

  SO, WHERE WAS I??  Oh yes, part 2 of the amazing Bed & Breakfast getaway to upstate NY. 

  
  

  

  
  

  All 8 of us proud marys went rolling....rolling....rolling on the river....doo doo doo doo....
  
  
  
  
  
  We were transported to the drop-in spot at this bridge, and the Delaware River handled the rest.
   
  
  
  We split into 2 rafts.  Bob & Michael in the back; me & Todd handled the front.  And by "handled", I mean we held the oars for the picture, then dropped them and let the white guys do all the work. 
  
  
  
  Things were a little more serious on the Aaron, Bennifer, Gary, P.diddy craft.  They got into proper rafting formation and stayed a gay mile ahead of us the whole time.  (Gay mile = the distance within which posing for a picture is still suitable). 
  
   
  
  The river was not so wild, and we brought food and drinks, so it was basically a picnic on the river.  The weather was perfect too:  low 80's and cloudy so we weren't burnt to a crisp.  No crispy gaysians here.

  
  

  

  
  

  There were 2 shirtless fatties in a canoe together.  They looked gay and ashamed as we passed them.  I think I chipped a nail trying to paddle. 

  
  

  

  
  

  We stopped paddling for a while and joined rafts. 

  
  

  
  
  
  
  I wanted to play in the river, but no one was backing me up, so I jumped in myself and scraped my toes on the rocky bottom, muddied my shirt, got swept off my feet by the deceptively strong current, and basically made a complete fool of myself.

  
  

  

  
  

   

  
  

  Towards the end of our journey we found a nice calm shady stretch of river, and we all jumped in for a swim.   
  
  

  
  

  With all the seafood I eat, you'd think I'd have fins, gills, eight legs, claws, and a scrumptious crustaceous coating.  You'd be wrong!  I can't swim and this life jacket is the only way I dare go into waters taller than me.  And in the open waters, the tables are turned and the seafood is free to eat me.  just EAT ME.  I'll be returning the favor soon enough.  

  
  

  

  
  

  That's me behind Bob in the distance, posing for pic/waving for help.  The current was taking me away slowly but surely.  bubbyMichael would have to swim out and drag my helpless ass back to shore (by the hair). 
  
  

  
  

  After rafting and after soothing showers, we gathered on the Ecce terrace for a late afternoon light cocktail party thrown by Alan & Kurt for their guests.
  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  No one enjoys the sun more than P.Tanny.  He hits the tanning grounds first, always.
  
  

  
  

  Only 3/4 of us made it out.  Princess Bennifer was having some diva alone time in his tub, and Aaron drifted into afternoon aloofness.  The rest of us lounged, gabbed, nibbled, sipped, and savored.
  
   

  
  

  Aaron surrenders to an afternoon nap.  I summoned the energy to stay awake to drink and eat.
  
  

  
  

  Kurt & Alan presiding over their Ecce queendom, and joining us for cocktail hour.  Michael with Bill Clinton.
  
  

  
  

  For the siesta fiesta, Kurt & Alan presented us with a gorgeous 7-layer dip of olives, sour cream, guacamole, 2 kinds of cheeses, salsa, and beans.
  
  

  
  

  This was the perfect afternoon amuse-bouche, esp with some chilled pinot grigio and the waning sun.  The dish in the middle with the tongs was a truly yummazing root vegetable I'd never heard of, sliced thin and fried.  It was soft-crunchy and lightly-decadent.  I couldn't believe there are foods out there I've never had.

  
  

   

  
  

  Gary & Aaron pose for their next xmas card.  Michael feeds Jason, I mean, Todd.
  
  

  
  

  Bob, Michael, Gary, Patrick
  
  

  
  

  More breathtaking views of the river valley.
  
  

  
  

  More breathtaking views of me.
  
  

  
  

  For dinner, we piled into cars and drove to a neighboring town's local fancy restaurant, 15 Main. 

  
  

  

  
  

  8 pretty gays commanding a long table in the middle of a quiet classy restaurant in a sleepy upstate NY town.  I noticed the stares and trepidation of nearby patrons, some of which were old couples or families with children.  It wasn't an issue at all, but these things are never lost of me.  I watch and I take notes, fuckers. 

  
  

  
  
  This seared scallops appetizer was one of those perfect dishes that makes me squeal silently with each savory succulent bite.  Immaculate.
  
  
  
  Beef short ribs, and a pan-roasted fish. 
  
  
  
  Molten chocolate cake with caramel ice cream; Cheesecake with ginger ice cream.
  
  

  
  

  SUNDAY MORNING in the mountains produced a certain kind of enveloping misty fog that is less Stephen King and more Ansel Adams.  Unfortch, I didn't wake till 8:30 and missed the early morning mystique, but our official phoToddgrapher captured it all in these next few breathtaking shots.  
  
  

  
  

  Kurt told us about some large weird winged insect pteradactyl beast thing that flies around up at this elevation.  Maybe it's a good thing I slept in and completely missed The Mist!
  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  Kurt's insanely good breakfast foreplay:  Monkey Bread.  For those unfamiliar with monkey bread, let me break it down for you:  soft cinnamon-bunny bread puffs, fused together by an toothachingly ooey-gooey hot mess of warm sugary caramelized honeyesque joy, topped with a thundershower of walnuts and raisins.  Bennifer and I devoured this portion ourselves.
  
  

  
  

  We go to Bed, we wake up to Breakfast.  What a life here at Ecce!  A few of the white guys (bubby & p.diddy) had the foresight to order iron chef Kurt's version of Eggs Benedict.  The egg whites are whipped and baked into this heavenly souffle cloud, with a drizzling of Hollandaise, and eggs, canadian bacon and english muffin nestled underneath.

  
  

  

  
  

  My dish:  an Italian french toast casserole bake of eggy bread, mozzarella, tomato, red onion, and basil.  This was YUMMAZING!!!  
  
  

  
  

  One of Kurt & Alan's impeccable floral arrangements of fiery sunbursting sunflowers.
  
  

  
  

  A picture-perfect ending to a pleasure-perfect weekend at Ecce, a treasure of a nearby retreat that we are sure to be returning to often.  Needless to say that I strongly recommend anyone treat themselves to an Ecce weekend.  And if you do, make sure to mention "jasonbasin's blog" to Alan & Kurt.  No, I don't get a cut of the bookings, but it may just get me an extra breakfast entree on my next visit!  jackpot!

  
  

  

  
  

  On the way out, we stopped at a local farmer's market.  Bennifer & Aaron went hogwild with the fresh produce.  For me, just a new backdrop for the usual vanity.
  
  
  
  And that's how you do a Bed & Breakfast weekend, gays & girls!
  

  • 2:29 pm
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