Ebooks are the vehicle for more creative content than what you find in a bookstore these days, simply because book publishers’ costs have risen dramatically. They are tending to select manuscripts to publish that have a very large potential market, generally leaving the most creative and innovative ideas to find their own way to the market.

Fortunately for consumers, ebooks are the way that many authors have chosen to get their works published.  You just have to search the web for what interests you.  There are many ebook publishing sites like Smashwords.com, which offer books in various formats, and there are thousands of titles at online book retailers like Amazon.com.

So perhaps it is not a surprise that the site FabulousTales.com, has just published Savanna Stories, a collection of children’s bedtime stories in pdf format, which can be printed out or read from a notebook computer.   These stories, by author Brooke Rousseau, are about the adventures of baby animals of the African savanna, like elephants, zebras and giraffes.

A free story is available for download, so you can try it on your own toddler at bedtime.  If you get a good response, you can acquire the collection of 15 stories for $10.95.  (Full disclosure: My online marketing company Prince Global, LLC developed the Fabulous Tales website and provides the download service for Savanna Stories.)

There are many small businesses that object to this law on the grounds that it places a burden on them to keep track of their purchases.  If aggregate purchases from a given supplier reach $600, they must report the payments to the vendor and IRS on a Form 1099.  In addition, they will have to request a Tax ID number from every vendor.

Coin dealers who buy back gold coins from customers will apparently have to report the purchases to the IRS.  A consequence of this law will be to drive some gold buying and selling business to non-US dealers, just as the threat of gold confiscation drives physical gold storage to non-US depositories and generally depresses legitimate gold-buying activity.

Fall is one of my three favorite hiking seasons

On a recent hike in Harriman Park on a sunny but cool day, I headed south on the Beech Trail from Route 106 to the trail’s end at the Long Path.  Last spring this section was alive with peepers looking for mates in newly formed small pools, but now it was dry and quiet.

I turned northwest on the Long Path, a long distance trail that starts at the George Washington Bridge, hugs the top of the Hudson Palisades and crosses the Ramapos, Schunemunk, Shawangunks and Catskills on its way to Indian Ladder in the Helderbergs near Albany, having traversed some 350 miles.  I followed it back across Route 106 until it turned west toward Lake Skannatati, popular with ice fisherman and some brave skaters in winter.

I continued north, skirting Lake Askoti, then followed an old woods road that will welcome cross country skiers in a month or so.  The rocky heights to the east block access to Rockhouse Mountain, the highest point in Rockland County.  Trailless Rockhouse is uninviting to hikers, but it can easily be climbed from the east.

I briefly picked up the Red Cross Trail and passed the Hasenclever Mine, whose muddy pond is home to some big frogs.  Just beyond, I left the trail and headed northeast, looking for the remnants of an ancient road that once carried iron ore on wagons down to Tiorati Brook, where the hikers’ parking lot now sits, and where the Beech Trail meets Tiorati Brook Road.  It was years ago that I first followed this road, struggling to get through the mountain laurel that had grown along and in the bed of the old road.  I was surprised at where I ended up, suddenly coming out on the Beech Trail at a point where there was no hint that the laurels hid an old road.

Loki in Harriman Park, fall 1995

I have taken this route from the mine many times with my dog Loki over the ensuing years, following landmarks into an isolated glen, one of the most beautiful spots in the Park.  Loki would splash through the babbling brook that coursed through the valley.  Far  from the nearest road, there was nothing to disturb the peace and quiet — the sounds of the outside world never penetrated.

This day I found that the old mining road was virtually obliterated by the thick laurel.   Without Loki to guide me, I mistakenly strayed west of the road and had to abandon my first attempt to get through the laurel.  My second attempt was more successful, and a moderate walk brought me to our favorite valley, this visit my first since her passing.  I remembered the little dog on her first hike to this spot — 15 years before.

Rather than continuing on along the stream, I retraced my steps to the mine, took the fire road east toward Lake Welch, then the Beech Trail south past the old cemetery.  Deep in thought I recalled the adventures we had hiking in the Park in autumn, Loki always in front of me, leading the way.

Today, the carriage roads are used for biking as well as hiking. In addition there are miles of hiking trails throughout the rugged terrain of the Preserve and the State Park. The Mountain House has a Scottish golf course. Lake Minnewaska has a beach for family swimming. The limestone cliffs are popular with rock climbers — in fact, they provide the best technical climbing in the New York metro area — some say in the Northeast.

Mohonk Mountain House is a castle built on the shore of its lake, enabling guests to relax in rockers on the classic verandah while watching families in rowboats and couples in canoes and the somewhat more adventurous walking to the Skytop tower on the hill directly across the lake. The Mountain House is popular for weddings and boasts a dining room serving three gourmet meals a day for overnight guests. Tea is served at 4.

I spent a day recently hiking with a group of friends from the North Jersey-Ramapo Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club (as day guests of the Mohonk Mountain House). After the obligatory climb to Skytop to limber up, we hiked carriage roads and hiking trails in an 8-mile loop. We had lunch on rocks facing the nearby Catskills to the northwest. On our return to the Mountain House, we had tea and cookies, showered at the Fitness Center/Spa/Pool, and then enjoyed an excellent dinner attentively served.

For information on activities:
Mohonk Mountain House (mohonk.com) 845-255-1000
Mohonk Preserve (mohonkpreserve.org) 845-255-0919
Minnewaska State Park Preserve (nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/127/details.aspx) 845-255-0752