Explain your nickname

High Tor is an 832' peak overlooking the Hudson River, the northernmost outcropping of the basaltic ridge which forms the Palisades.

I grew up very close to this summit and spent much of my childhood hiking in nearby woodlands. My first job was working at nearby High Tor Vineyards, one of the first vineyards on the East Coast to use French-American hybrid grapes as opposed to the native Concord or the classic European varietals, which were difficult to grow given the climate and the limited viticultural options in the mid-'60s. High Tor was a lookout point for the Lenape Indians, where they could spot approaching Adirondack war canoes, and when I was a kid, there was a beacon on the peak to warn aircraft. Its revolving red beam was a feature of the night sky. The view up and down the River is quite spectacular.

I was edgarblythe here, but lost my account. Said what the hell and restarted with my real name.

Tor is an old Anglo Saxon term.

In the UK it's rarely used in placenames anymore, hill being the most common by far.

The main exception is Glastonbury Tor, it has an old ruined church on top which makes it a very recognisable landmark.

(Sorry I can't post pictures on this device, well I probably can, but I'm damned if I can work out how to do it. I'm OK on the computer, just this bloody thing.)

Jespah was the name of Elsa's first-born cub (although he was male) in Living Free, the sequel to Born Free. Jes can also be a nickname for my real first name.