2.9 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
QUITE THE DIFFERENCE A MONTH MAKES...
1.7 Mile Walk Around the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
April showers made a repeat appearance this evening, putting an end to my plans to get out on the bike for an easy ride. Given how tired my legs were last night, a run seemed like a poor choice as well... so I settled for a short walk around the neighborhood, something I did a lot this past winter.
Except today - no snow and ice on the sidewalks, the trees are budding, the birds are out an about... hard to believe that six weeks ago it seemed like winter would be here until June or July.
On the other hand - six weeks ago I would have though temperatures in the mid-40's was a heat wave, while today I bundled up to try and keep warm in the damp chill.
JMH
1.7 Mile Walk Around the Pine Hills Neighborhood
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
April showers made a repeat appearance this evening, putting an end to my plans to get out on the bike for an easy ride. Given how tired my legs were last night, a run seemed like a poor choice as well... so I settled for a short walk around the neighborhood, something I did a lot this past winter.
Except today - no snow and ice on the sidewalks, the trees are budding, the birds are out an about... hard to believe that six weeks ago it seemed like winter would be here until June or July.
On the other hand - six weeks ago I would have though temperatures in the mid-40's was a heat wave, while today I bundled up to try and keep warm in the damp chill.
JMH
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
WOODPECKERS, WOODCOCKS, & COYOTES
8.1 Mile Run at Thacher Park
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
John Boyd Thacher State Park is one of my favorite local places to run... partly because it's so beautiful and isolated, and partly because I've run there so many times and have a lot of good memories. It's been a while since I was there, so it was something of a no-brainer to head up there tonight for a run.
I started out from the Ryan Road trailhead and quickly discovered that all the water that was on the trails a little over a month ago (in the form of snow and ice) is probably still there, except now it's saturating the ground. Lots of wet, muddy sections during the first few miles, though that did improve substantially later on. Passed a small group near the old quarry and a woman walking her dog a little ways beyond the Long Path parking lot, but otherwise I had the trails to myself.
Legs were still feeling tired, so it was slow going. I suspect my reduced amount of cycling and snowshoeing this winter is the culprit, though weekends like the end of March (when I did a 10 mile race on Saturday morning and a 10k race on Saturday night) and two weeks ago down in RI and CT have also probably contributed. Of course, with the Medved Madness 15 miler coming up, I don't now that I can expect much improvement any time soon.
Eventually I made my way to the Haile's Cave picnic area, the site of many Indian Ladder and Hairy Gorilla trail races. While I was there I saw three pileated woodpeckers and heard a 4th off in the woods, which was a pleasant surprise. I had hoped to run the escarpment trail over to the northwestern end of the Indian Ladder trail, but time and the state of my legs convinced me otherwise, so instead I looped back through the woods behind the picnic area and headed back up the hill to Ryans Rd.
When I got back to the car I could hear a woodcock calling ("peent", "peent", "peent") off in the field near where I'd parked, so I bushwhacked into the field to see if I could spot him, and ended up getting pretty close - maybe 30-40 feet away. While I was watching it finally got dark enough that he started doing his courtship flights, and it was still light enough that I had a good view the whole time. Unfortunately, the batteries on my camera were dying, so the only video I got was of him on the ground. In any case, he either didn't realize I was there or didn't care, because he kept coming back to the same spot, one time passing by me only 6-10 feet away as he descended.
While I was watching the woodcock do his thing, I also heard a couple of very loud howls from a coyote off in the opposite direction... I've heard them calling and and yapping before, but never a howl like this, which sounded like something straight out of a movie. After a couple of howls he quieted down, and once again thanks to the weak batteries I had no chance of recording it.
Not long after that it started getting dark enough that I was having trouble following the woodcock (and I was getting cold) so I headed back to the car. Tonight was definitely a good night to be at Thacher!
JMH
8.1 Mile Run at Thacher Park
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
John Boyd Thacher State Park is one of my favorite local places to run... partly because it's so beautiful and isolated, and partly because I've run there so many times and have a lot of good memories. It's been a while since I was there, so it was something of a no-brainer to head up there tonight for a run.
I started out from the Ryan Road trailhead and quickly discovered that all the water that was on the trails a little over a month ago (in the form of snow and ice) is probably still there, except now it's saturating the ground. Lots of wet, muddy sections during the first few miles, though that did improve substantially later on. Passed a small group near the old quarry and a woman walking her dog a little ways beyond the Long Path parking lot, but otherwise I had the trails to myself.
Legs were still feeling tired, so it was slow going. I suspect my reduced amount of cycling and snowshoeing this winter is the culprit, though weekends like the end of March (when I did a 10 mile race on Saturday morning and a 10k race on Saturday night) and two weeks ago down in RI and CT have also probably contributed. Of course, with the Medved Madness 15 miler coming up, I don't now that I can expect much improvement any time soon.
Eventually I made my way to the Haile's Cave picnic area, the site of many Indian Ladder and Hairy Gorilla trail races. While I was there I saw three pileated woodpeckers and heard a 4th off in the woods, which was a pleasant surprise. I had hoped to run the escarpment trail over to the northwestern end of the Indian Ladder trail, but time and the state of my legs convinced me otherwise, so instead I looped back through the woods behind the picnic area and headed back up the hill to Ryans Rd.
When I got back to the car I could hear a woodcock calling ("peent", "peent", "peent") off in the field near where I'd parked, so I bushwhacked into the field to see if I could spot him, and ended up getting pretty close - maybe 30-40 feet away. While I was watching it finally got dark enough that he started doing his courtship flights, and it was still light enough that I had a good view the whole time. Unfortunately, the batteries on my camera were dying, so the only video I got was of him on the ground. In any case, he either didn't realize I was there or didn't care, because he kept coming back to the same spot, one time passing by me only 6-10 feet away as he descended.
While I was watching the woodcock do his thing, I also heard a couple of very loud howls from a coyote off in the opposite direction... I've heard them calling and and yapping before, but never a howl like this, which sounded like something straight out of a movie. After a couple of howls he quieted down, and once again thanks to the weak batteries I had no chance of recording it.
Not long after that it started getting dark enough that I was having trouble following the woodcock (and I was getting cold) so I headed back to the car. Tonight was definitely a good night to be at Thacher!
JMH
Monday, April 20, 2015
SAD
2.1 Mile Walk at the Albany Shaker Historic Site & Ann Lee Pond
Monday, April 20, 2015
It's hard to believe I've been visiting Ann Lee Pond for almost seven years. It's also painful to see how much things have deteriorated through neglect... if ever an area needed a "Friends of" group, it's Ann Lee Pond...
I started out walking around the Shaker Historic Site... another area in somewhat sad straits, I suspect due to lack of funds. Wandered over to the barn to check out the chickens and turkeys, and got "gobbled" at by the big male. The chickens seemed hopeful that I was the bearer of stuff to eat... no such luck.
After that I headed over to the pond... the beavers have done quite a job stuffing branches into the spillway, but it's still running steadily. I suspect the county clears it periodically so the pond won't flood. The area near the spillway is one of the spots that the county does a pretty good job keeping up - they removed the decrepit benches a while back and they mow it pretty regularly when the grass is growing.
I headed along the shore over to the trails on the east side of the pond... they're actually in pretty good shape. When I reached the marshy area at the back of the pond, I took the unmarked path back toward the old beaver dam. The beaver pond has very little water in it, confirmation that the beavers have abandoned it... but when I walked out on the old dam, I noticed a pair of heron nests off in the distance, and the photos I took show a heron in each nest - good to see they're using that area as a rookery again. There were also a couple of hawks that seemed fairly agitated - maybe they have a nest around there too?
From there I walked back to the eastern end of the crazy bridge - still closed - and climbed out onto it with only a slight dunking of one shoe. Part of it seems to be tilted more than I remember, probably one of the reasons it was closed. It's really too bad an effort isn't being made to repair/rebuild the bridge... despite the vandalism of local hooligans, I've spent lots of time just hanging out on that bridge enjoying the wildlife in the pond.
Other than the bridge, the western side of the pond shows the greatest consequences of neglect. When I first visited Ann Lee Pond, there was a very nice loop trail through the woods. Within a year or two, that trail was so overgrown that it became impossible to follow - I know because I tried. At this point really the only trail on the western side runs from the parking lot to the closed bridge, and with the bridge closed there isn't much reason for anyone to go there - which I imagine is leading to even more neglect of the area (though it does seem like the main path has kept being mowed.)
Maybe at some point someone with the ability to make a difference will realize what a treasure Ann Lee Pond is. In the mean time, I guess the best we can do is enjoy what it still has to offer.
JMH
2.1 Mile Walk at the Albany Shaker Historic Site & Ann Lee Pond
Monday, April 20, 2015
It's hard to believe I've been visiting Ann Lee Pond for almost seven years. It's also painful to see how much things have deteriorated through neglect... if ever an area needed a "Friends of" group, it's Ann Lee Pond...
I started out walking around the Shaker Historic Site... another area in somewhat sad straits, I suspect due to lack of funds. Wandered over to the barn to check out the chickens and turkeys, and got "gobbled" at by the big male. The chickens seemed hopeful that I was the bearer of stuff to eat... no such luck.
After that I headed over to the pond... the beavers have done quite a job stuffing branches into the spillway, but it's still running steadily. I suspect the county clears it periodically so the pond won't flood. The area near the spillway is one of the spots that the county does a pretty good job keeping up - they removed the decrepit benches a while back and they mow it pretty regularly when the grass is growing.
I headed along the shore over to the trails on the east side of the pond... they're actually in pretty good shape. When I reached the marshy area at the back of the pond, I took the unmarked path back toward the old beaver dam. The beaver pond has very little water in it, confirmation that the beavers have abandoned it... but when I walked out on the old dam, I noticed a pair of heron nests off in the distance, and the photos I took show a heron in each nest - good to see they're using that area as a rookery again. There were also a couple of hawks that seemed fairly agitated - maybe they have a nest around there too?
From there I walked back to the eastern end of the crazy bridge - still closed - and climbed out onto it with only a slight dunking of one shoe. Part of it seems to be tilted more than I remember, probably one of the reasons it was closed. It's really too bad an effort isn't being made to repair/rebuild the bridge... despite the vandalism of local hooligans, I've spent lots of time just hanging out on that bridge enjoying the wildlife in the pond.
Other than the bridge, the western side of the pond shows the greatest consequences of neglect. When I first visited Ann Lee Pond, there was a very nice loop trail through the woods. Within a year or two, that trail was so overgrown that it became impossible to follow - I know because I tried. At this point really the only trail on the western side runs from the parking lot to the closed bridge, and with the bridge closed there isn't much reason for anyone to go there - which I imagine is leading to even more neglect of the area (though it does seem like the main path has kept being mowed.)
Maybe at some point someone with the ability to make a difference will realize what a treasure Ann Lee Pond is. In the mean time, I guess the best we can do is enjoy what it still has to offer.
JMH
Sunday, April 19, 2015
GEESE & MUSKRATS
1.5 Mile Walk at Five Rivers EEC
Sunday, April 19, 2015
A short walk at Five Rivers this evening... the geese seem to be getting fairly well settled in their nesting locations. Lots of muskrats out and about this evening... one actually swam under the new observation platform at the Heron Pond while I was there, and there were several near the spillway at the far end of the Beaver Pond - including two that didn't seem too happy with each other.
All in all, a fairly quiet end to the day...
JMH
1.5 Mile Walk at Five Rivers EEC
Sunday, April 19, 2015
A short walk at Five Rivers this evening... the geese seem to be getting fairly well settled in their nesting locations. Lots of muskrats out and about this evening... one actually swam under the new observation platform at the Heron Pond while I was there, and there were several near the spillway at the far end of the Beaver Pond - including two that didn't seem too happy with each other.
All in all, a fairly quiet end to the day...
JMH
A BRIEF VISIT TO THE ALBANY COUNTY RAIL TRAIL
Sunday, April 19, 2015
The Friends of the Rail Trail Facebook page mentions a section of the trail west of Font Grove Rd that was paved last year, as an experiment - so this evening I headed over there to check it out.
As I suspected, it was the same section I walked back in late Sept 2013... though I was surprised to see that the "pavement" is actually a surface of compacted gravel. I walked a short way down the trail to see if anything changed, and quickly decided that (1) this had the potential to be a pretty dull walk, and (2) I'd much rather run that stretch sometime soon and see what's been done since I was last there.
I must say, though, that I'm now wondering exactly what it means that the entire path is going to be "paved."
JMH
Sunday, April 19, 2015
The Friends of the Rail Trail Facebook page mentions a section of the trail west of Font Grove Rd that was paved last year, as an experiment - so this evening I headed over there to check it out.
As I suspected, it was the same section I walked back in late Sept 2013... though I was surprised to see that the "pavement" is actually a surface of compacted gravel. I walked a short way down the trail to see if anything changed, and quickly decided that (1) this had the potential to be a pretty dull walk, and (2) I'd much rather run that stretch sometime soon and see what's been done since I was last there.
I must say, though, that I'm now wondering exactly what it means that the entire path is going to be "paved."
JMH
Saturday, April 18, 2015
CONSTRUCTION
6.6 Mile Run on the Albany County Rail Trail
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Having abandoned my plan to run the Hook Mountain Half Marathon tomorrow, I decided to get in a short, "easy" run this evening and headed over to the Albany County Rail Trail... and found a few changes compared to when I was there last year.
The first stretch from the parking lot has been churned up and repacked by construction - I had seen the heavy equipment during the winter, apparently something to do with sewer lines. The rest down to Delaware Ave in Delmar was pretty much as I remembered, but major construction has been going on past there. Apparently the county is in the process of completing the stretch all the way down to the Port of Albany - good news, but it does make for a less pleasant experience while the work is going on (though in all fairness, the trail is technically closed to the public while this is happening, so I can't complain.)
I stopped at a old iron bridge over the trail - looks like this once connected the two ends of Rockefeller Rd but has long since been closed to auto traffic. The run back was "fun"... I hadn't realized how much of a downgrade there was just after the Elsmere Ave bridge.
Got back to the car a little after sunset, came home, and did a little checking on the status of the trail. Looks like the plan is to have it finished this fall - goods news! Apparently the plan is also to pave the entire thing - I have to admit, I'm bummed about that. I was hoping for a cheaper, softer stone dust surface like the unpaved sections of the Canalway Trail use, since we have lots of paved rail trails around here but almost no unpaved ones - and my battered knees appreciate the softer surface.
All the same, a paved trail is infinitely preferable to to no trail at all.
JMH
6.6 Mile Run on the Albany County Rail Trail
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Having abandoned my plan to run the Hook Mountain Half Marathon tomorrow, I decided to get in a short, "easy" run this evening and headed over to the Albany County Rail Trail... and found a few changes compared to when I was there last year.
The first stretch from the parking lot has been churned up and repacked by construction - I had seen the heavy equipment during the winter, apparently something to do with sewer lines. The rest down to Delaware Ave in Delmar was pretty much as I remembered, but major construction has been going on past there. Apparently the county is in the process of completing the stretch all the way down to the Port of Albany - good news, but it does make for a less pleasant experience while the work is going on (though in all fairness, the trail is technically closed to the public while this is happening, so I can't complain.)
I stopped at a old iron bridge over the trail - looks like this once connected the two ends of Rockefeller Rd but has long since been closed to auto traffic. The run back was "fun"... I hadn't realized how much of a downgrade there was just after the Elsmere Ave bridge.
Got back to the car a little after sunset, came home, and did a little checking on the status of the trail. Looks like the plan is to have it finished this fall - goods news! Apparently the plan is also to pave the entire thing - I have to admit, I'm bummed about that. I was hoping for a cheaper, softer stone dust surface like the unpaved sections of the Canalway Trail use, since we have lots of paved rail trails around here but almost no unpaved ones - and my battered knees appreciate the softer surface.
All the same, a paved trail is infinitely preferable to to no trail at all.
JMH
TIRED LEGS
15.3 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Saturday, April 18, 2015
A warm but windy morning... but at least today the headwind was on the way out instead of the way back.
I rode out from Lock 8 in Rotterdam and headed west to Rotterdam Junction... hopped on the road for a short stretch to ride the path on the western end of town. Turtles, turtles, everywhere... guess they were enjoying the warm sunny morning too! Water levels were pretty low - looks like the town dug out the drain pipe that the beavers had buried. What a waste of time and money - it was first dug out right after the Hurricane Irene flooding, like that was somehow the beavers' fault (when it was the Mohawk River that overflowed its banks!) Still, if I know the beavers - it will be dammed up again in a year or two.
On the way back, I once again noted the two dozen or so big fish dead along the edge of the old canal - did the water freeze so far down that it killed them? I know most sections aren't too deep. I also spotted a goose making a nest - in the photos I shot, it seems pretty clear she's already laid a couple of eggs.
After not riding or running for the past two days, I'd been hoping my legs would bounce back enough for me to run the Hook Mountain Half Marathon tomorrow morning - but it was fairly clear during the ride that my legs are still pretty tired. It's tempting to try running it anyway... but I think I'm going to be smart, and not risk frying my legs even more or worse yet getting injured. But that doesn't make it any less frustrating.
JMH
15.3 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Saturday, April 18, 2015
A warm but windy morning... but at least today the headwind was on the way out instead of the way back.
I rode out from Lock 8 in Rotterdam and headed west to Rotterdam Junction... hopped on the road for a short stretch to ride the path on the western end of town. Turtles, turtles, everywhere... guess they were enjoying the warm sunny morning too! Water levels were pretty low - looks like the town dug out the drain pipe that the beavers had buried. What a waste of time and money - it was first dug out right after the Hurricane Irene flooding, like that was somehow the beavers' fault (when it was the Mohawk River that overflowed its banks!) Still, if I know the beavers - it will be dammed up again in a year or two.
On the way back, I once again noted the two dozen or so big fish dead along the edge of the old canal - did the water freeze so far down that it killed them? I know most sections aren't too deep. I also spotted a goose making a nest - in the photos I shot, it seems pretty clear she's already laid a couple of eggs.
After not riding or running for the past two days, I'd been hoping my legs would bounce back enough for me to run the Hook Mountain Half Marathon tomorrow morning - but it was fairly clear during the ride that my legs are still pretty tired. It's tempting to try running it anyway... but I think I'm going to be smart, and not risk frying my legs even more or worse yet getting injured. But that doesn't make it any less frustrating.
JMH
Friday, April 17, 2015
FOUNTAINS
2.2 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Friday, April 17, 2015
My original plan was to get out on the bike tonight for something short and easy, but I was too darn tired... so I decided to just got for a walk at the Pond instead. It was very crowded - not that surprising on a very pleasant, sunny April evening - and apparently the city turned the fountains on this week. I like how they look and what they do, but they sure are noisy.
Lots of birds out and about, including the kingfisher, and the geese look to be nesting in the usual spot. Fewer ducks than usual... which makes me wonder if the female mallards have started to nest too.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Monday, April 13, 2015
15.5 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Monday, April 13, 2015
OK, I say the first sunny weekday in April where the temperature hits 70 or above should be an automatic holiday.
Great evening for a ride after work... shorts and a short-sleeved jersey and very comfortable! I headed over to the SCCC trailhead for the bike path and rode west to Scrafford Lane. No trains parked at the crossing, but given that my legs were toast from the weekend I thought it best not to continue on for the extra 5ish miles through Rotterdam Junction, and that was a good choice... because most of the way back I was fighting a wicked headwind. We're talking low gears and 7-8 mph in spots.
Regardless, it was really great to be riding that section of the bike path again, on a warm evening!
JMH
Monday, April 13, 2015
OK, I say the first sunny weekday in April where the temperature hits 70 or above should be an automatic holiday.
Great evening for a ride after work... shorts and a short-sleeved jersey and very comfortable! I headed over to the SCCC trailhead for the bike path and rode west to Scrafford Lane. No trains parked at the crossing, but given that my legs were toast from the weekend I thought it best not to continue on for the extra 5ish miles through Rotterdam Junction, and that was a good choice... because most of the way back I was fighting a wicked headwind. We're talking low gears and 7-8 mph in spots.
Regardless, it was really great to be riding that section of the bike path again, on a warm evening!
JMH
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Wednesday, April 08, 2015
Monday, April 06, 2015
Sunday, April 05, 2015
Saturday, April 04, 2015
Friday, April 03, 2015
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