#Greenwood Lake

[twixnmix]

Heavyweight champion Joe Louis photographed by Carl Van Vechten at Greenwood Lake in New York on September 15, 1941.

[aisling-saoirse]

Jennings Creek Fire, West Milford, NJ - November 14th 2024

[saddlebums]

Group Ride to Blairstown Airport –– the Long Way

With rain predicted for Saturday (the third Saturday washout in a row if you're keeping score) creative thinking was called for. So a Friday group ride it is (was). The first leg had our group of four riders leaving The 9W Market in Palisades, NY, and arriving in Greenwood Lake for a late breakfast ("three forks" on the Saddle Bums Ratings Chart). From there it was about 40 miles southwest to The Airport Café ("four forks!") in Blairstown, NJ. All backroads chockablock with small farms, barns, rolling hills and the changing colors of the season.

Music: Flight of the Surf Guitar by The Atlantics

[cursedauxiliary]

That is fucking horrifying

[beautyallaroundus25]

Northern Lights-Emerald Lake, BC Canada 🇨🇦

Photography by Daniel Greenwood

[strelles-universe]

The World of Strelles - Two Continent Map

Alright everyone - I spent yesterday slaving away on trying to figure this out so I can have my dream of Strelles being two continents. Each side is still able to access each other as the Wanderer's Pass is actually fully connected to each other - the bridge is only crossable at low-tide however when it exposes the bank. It's appropriately called the Sunken Bridge.

Updated Locations with this map:

obviously there are now two continents; East and West Courage and Dauntless have been shifted upward Fade's Crossing Permanent Market - a trading zone in the west used by diplomats and merchants of all kinds; many kits will be raised here as merchants. Primarily a settlement of coyotes and foxes outside of the Skulks. No Man's Market - a trading zone that is always shifting, morphing and changing. Everyone present is usually only there for a day or so - maybe a week as they wait for the tides to shift so they can leave or join-up with someone crossing to them. Because this is such a busy place, it's ideal to make quick; personal trades or to dump inventory. Dead God's Grave - A massive fertile field of land used for celebrations and trades. An unofficial extension of the Main Lands. The Lake Treaty - Unclaimed space left around the east-side of the lake. Made because droughts happen frequently in the east-continent and water is considered a right. The West Rift - Also called the Throat of the World is a rift-valley sitting on top of a hotspot. The edges of the rift have warm pools cool enough to prevent a creature from immediately over-heating The Sunken City - A series of tunnels and Caverns with signs of previous inhabitation in the form of faded images, old anchored tools and dens that have been victims of time and water-damage. These are a commonly visited area much like a museum - creatures who venture here should be careful however! These caverns are victims of frequent flooding and during heavy rainstorms, the only safe option is to escape. The Untethered - The Guardians from canon but given that's already a rank, I thought this would be a nice name for them. Freelance healers and the collectors of all the world's medical information. The Untethered have some of the most advanced healing methods known to strelles due to their dedication to exploring the world of healing and are known to share this information with others in need."

[lakelewisia]

At Greenwood Apothecary, they stocked the conventional vitamins and minerals, as well as herbal extracts and plant medicines, but they also boasted a wide selection of more esoteric supplements. Those suffering from a whimsy deficiency could pick up bottles of therapeutic bubble solution (pop three daily) or vitamin-rich miniature fruits (to be eaten with dollhouse cutlery). If one’s routine had turned into a rut, essence of corvid increased mischief levels and lowered inhibitions, though it did tend to have mildly inconvenient side effects, like kleptomania and vocal hoarseness.

[wildfairies]

julian and i are getting married, idk if you’ve seen

so happy to hear this, he deserves it <3 send pics

[illdowhatiwantthanks]

i am so desperate for rosa diaz x reader idm what the plot is i will read ANYTHING

/lh

Hey, lh! 🥰 Sorry it's taken me like a million years to get to your request, but I hope you enjoy! –illdowhatiwantthanks

Passenger Princess

Rosa Diaz x fem!reader Warnings: explicit language, motorcycle riding (let me know if I've missed anything) Word count: 1.5k

Summary: You've always been too scared to ride Rosa's motorcycle with her, but for her birthday? You just might make yourself be brave.

Rosa turned your head this way and that, making sure the helmet fit you correctly.

“How do I look?” you asked her.

“Like a bobblehead,” she responded, straddling her motorcycle. “Come on, we don’t have all day.”

“We quite literally have all day,” you grumbled.

You gingerly approached the bike. You’d never been on a motorcycle before, and you’d be lying if you said you weren’t scared. Rosa had been trying to get you on the back of her bike for a long time, and you’d always said no, but… it was her birthday this weekend and your gift to her was being brave for once. You’d suggested a day’s ride on the Fort Lee Loop, through the Hudson River Valley and Greenwood Lake and the Wanaque Reservoir.

“We could stop for lunch, too,” you’d said, blushing and losing confidence as Rosa gaped at you after you’d brought it up. “I mean, only if you want to. We don’t have to go. We could do something else.”

She’d kissed you, quickly and firmly, before you could say anything else. “You’re offering to ride the motorcycle?” she confirmed after pulling away. “On purpose?”

“Yeah,” you shrugged, avoiding her eyes. “I trust you to keep me safe.”

And, oh, she’d gone feral for that, hands all over you, lips crashing into yours, until you’d pushed her away, breathless and flushed and hissed, “Rosa, we’re in public.”

She’d dropped cash on the restaurant table and all but dragged you out of your seat. “Well, let’s get private then.”

But now that you looked at the motorcycle, now that the helmet was on your head and Rosa looked expectantly at you to hop on… you weren’t so sure about it.

“Hey,” she said, taking your fingers in her hand and rubbing them softly. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

“No, I–” You gulped. “I do. I really do.”

“I’ll keep you safe. I promise,” she assured you, her eyes kind and soft underneath the shield of her helmet.

You exhaled deeply, then clambered behind Rosa on the motorcycle, trying to convince yourself this was no different than riding a rollercoaster really.

“Alright,” Rosa said. “You have to keep your feet on the footrests. The metal pipes can burn you, so be careful.”

You nodded against her back, your hands snaking around her waist.

“And you can hold onto me as tight as you need to, okay?” She pressed one of her arms against yours, squeezing the back of your hand as you pressed your palm into her stomach. “Just follow my body language. If I lean, lean with me, even if it seems scary. I won’t let you fall.”

You nodded again, your heart pounding. You were sure Rosa could feel it through her jacket as you pressed into her back.

“And if you need to stop for any reason at all, tap my thigh twice with two fingers, okay? That’ll be our signal.”

You didn’t respond, simply held onto Rosa as tight as you could, waiting for the bike to roar to life.

“Hey,” she called, and you could feel the vibrations of her voice against your chest and hands.

You lifted your head slightly.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” she asked.

You nodded, letting out a shaky breath.

“I need words, mi amor.”

“Yes,” you managed to croak out.

“Alright,” she conceded. “Tap my thigh twice if you need to stop.”

And the roar of the motorcycle as Rosa started the engine–it was so loud, so aggressive it made you jump a bit. Rosa squeezed your hand, and the bike started to inch forward. You held onto Rosa for dear life, positive that before the day was over you might suffocate her.

Rosa took it slow at first, driving you down slow, back streets and easing you into turns, so you could get used to the way your body had to move with hers. Before you knew it, you were on the road. You kept your head down and your eyes squeezed shut for most of the ride in the city, the roar of the traffic and angry cab horns overwhelming you.

But once you and Rosa made it out of the city proper, you managed to open your eyes. The wind that rushed around your body, the vibrations of the bike that surged through you, your body pressed warm and firm against Rosa’s… well, it was kind of enjoyable. It did feel a bit like a rollercoaster. A rollercoaster where you were firmly on the ground and you got to hug your girlfriend the whole time, so maybe even an improvement on a rollercoaster.

You were well into the Fort Lee Loop before your body relaxed enough to sit up a bit and look around, though at any hint of a turn, you clung to Rosa like a baby monkey. But it was beautiful. And it was different than just going on a drive. The foliage was turning lovely golds and reds and oranges, and the sun flitted through the trees in a way that felt almost magical. Warm and wonderful and right despite the crisp fall air. You were thankful for Rosa’s body pressed against yours, thankful that she made you brave in ways you’d never be brave on your own.

You stopped for lunch at a small marina restaurant, overlooking Greenwood Lake. You stumbled as you stepped off the bike and Rosa laughed, catching you by the waist to hold you steady.

“You okay?” she asked, smiling, both amused and concerned.

“Mmhm.” You held onto her hand as you walked into the restaurant, even though you’d already found your footing. “I kind of like it, I think.”’

She kissed your cheek, and you took it as a thank you and am I’m proud of you.

For her part, Rosa’s face was flushed, her hair messy, and she looked so happy. So genuinely happy. It wasn’t a rare occurrence for her to look happy when you were together, but it was different knowing you were doing something Rosa truly loved. She was happy to be with you, she always was. But she was even happier to be with you doing something that already made her happy in the first place. 

“Thanks for doing this,” she said, both of you picking at the leftover fries on your plate. “Really.”

“I would do anything for you, Ro,” you said softly.

And the quiet you sat in afterward, looking out over the lake, the lovely leaves floating one by one into the water and spiraling it out in mesmerizing, concentric circles–it was such a warm quiet, close and comfortable and familiar, and you wondered briefly if this was what it would feel like with Rosa in five years, ten, twenty. When you were old women sitting on a bench in Prospect Park or motorcycling across the country because god knows old age wasn’t going to stop Rosa–you wondered if this was what it would feel like, the quiet familiarity of someone who knew you and loved you completely, so deeply that words were not needed. There was no need to fill a space already full of love.

When you left the restaurant, you stood by Rosa’s motorcycle and looked out at the lake, moving to put your helmet back on.

“Wait,” Rosa protested, gently taking the helmet from your hands and balancing it on one of the motorcycle handles.

You looked at her curiously, and she cupped your face in her hands, leaning in to kiss you. Rosa kissing you always took your breath away, but something was different about this one. Maybe it was adrenaline from being on the motorcycle all day, maybe the flush in your cheeks from the cool, fall air or the smell of the leaves mingling with the scent of Rosa’s perfume. You felt almost drunk on her, drunk on the warmth of her mouth against yours, the softness of her hands. She was always so soft with you, so gentle, such a contrast from how she was with everyone else.

“What was that for?” you asked, out of breath when she finally pulled away and tucked your hair behind your ear.

“I just really love you,” she said quietly, her eyes soft as they stared into yours.

You pecked her once more on the lips, then pulled her back toward the motorcycle. “Let’s go home, love,” you said.

And if riding off into the crisp, autumn horizon on the back of your girlfriend’s motorcycle wasn’t a storybook ending of Shakespearean proportions, you didn’t know what was. Because you and Rosa, well, it was the kind of love people told their grandkids about. Or at least that’s how it felt to you and her.

[porcelainapparition]

Greenwood Lake, New York

built in 1865

[joeinct]

Joe Louis, Greenwood Lake, New York, Photo by Carl Van Vechten, 1941

[aisling-saoirse]

Jennings Creek Fire, NY/NJ. 50% Contained - Nov 14th 2024

[saddlebums]

Pete's Great Two-State Motorcycle Adventure The Horn Dog Guides Us Through Points of Interest in Passaic and Orange Counties Small airports and waterfalls are some of our favorite motorcycle destinations, and Horny Pete took us to one of each on this fall-like Friday in mid-August. Pete knows I'm "Mista Vista," and this ride didn't disappoint with a beautiful view from Brady Farm in Warwick, New York.

[cursedauxiliary]

The route the new yorkers take must completely bypass the nj towns next door bc they don't even know of downtown warwick

[beautyallaroundus25]

Emerald Lake🇨🇦

Photography by Daniel Greenwood

[growingingreenwood]

Some (mostly unforeseen) Effects of Thranduil's Enchanted River In No Particular Order.

1 - The river seems to be nutritious, for lack of a better word.

Plants that grow from its enchanted water grow faster, bigger, bear more fruit, and are noticeably more individually aware of themselves and the world than plants that grow farther away from the riverbanks. The animals that live in its waters and the land animals that ritually drink the water are similarly affected, growing larger and smarter than their counterparts in unaffected waters. According to some, the animals even taste better and keep for longer before spoiling.

 Humans that ritually drink the water (like the people of Laketown) suffer from fewer diseases and are generally less affected by them when they do occur and on average have longer lifespans than other humans by about 5 - 10 years. There’s no real PROOF of this, but it’s also believed that Humans who regularly consume the enchanted waters are significantly less susceptible to the pull to darkness, this is thought because so very few of the humans who live around Mirkwood join the forces of darkness even though they’re literally right beside it for several generations. 

Any creature of light that consumes the water will have their thirst quenched faster than they would have with other liquids, and foods made using its water will fill your stomach faster than food made without. (Same principle as Lembas bread.) 

2 - Creatures of Darkness are harmed by the River Water, as it acts like an extremely acidic or corrosive substance to them. Even a few drops on their skin can give them huge welts or blisters, stepping into the water causes severe burns on anything that touches the water, and prolonged exposure can essentially disintegrate whatever it is touching. So if an Orc falls into the river, they will somewhat quickly get burned/boiled alive and then disintegrate and break apart into the water.

Creatures that have a neutral relationship with Greenwood and its elves are mostly unaffected by the water. If it gets splashed onto them the water can numb the area for several hours any substantial exposure to it (such as stepping into it, drinking it, or falling into it) will result in being put into a deep and magical sleep. The sleep is lifted either by being removed from the forest, or the elves coming to investigate and personally dispelling whatever charm put the creature to sleep.

3 - Depending on who you talk to, some say that the River itself can come to life and act of its own free will, a bit like the tree’s can. There’s reports of the river ‘luring’ people into its waters. There’s also reports of Jets of Water shooting out to injure or distract anything trying to harm the elves.

The most spectacular stories along this vein include a figure rising from the water in the form of a beautiful elvish woman, with only her feet remaining as ‘normal’ water. It's an extremely rare occurrence and usually means something, very, very bad for the creatures of darkness. Rumor has it that the river takes the shape of King Thranduil’s wife that passed away.

4 - The water remains the same temperature year round. It feels slightly cool in the summer, but in the winter it remains warm enough that the river never freezes completely over and neither does the lake which Lake Town resides on. No matter how cold the rest of the world around the water is, on particularly cold days a little bit of steam can be seen rising into the air.

5 - The average magical power among Greenwood Elves is a bit higher than most other elven populations, and it's thought that this is due to them ingesting so much of Thranduil’s Enchanted Water. The additional magical power also helps them to resist the negative effects of living so close to Dol Guldur for so long.  It’s also thought that this is why the bond between the Greenwood Elves and things of nature (especially Tree's) is so much stronger than it is for others.

6 - The water acts as a highly effective shield against the magic of others. Its the river that prevents the other elven realms from seeing and sensing much in Greenwood no matter how hard they try. It doesn’t affect Thranduil and his people's ability to see OUT of the forest though, if anything, it probably makes it easier.