2 Mile Walk to Washington Lake
Monday, April 30, 3018
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Friday, April 20, 2018
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Friday, April 13, 2018
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Sunday, April 08, 2018
Saturday, April 07, 2018
Wednesday, April 04, 2018
UPHILL INTO THE WIND... FUN.
13.2 Mile Ride on the Albany County Rail Trail
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
I had planned to go for a run tonight but a look at the weather forecast suggested that I wouldn't want to ride for the next couple of days (it's going to be cold.... 😞) Plus the strong winds hadn't reached Albany yet, so I packed up the bike and headed over to the rail trail.
Since this would be a shorter ride than I'd prefer I decided to make it a workout and pushed the pace the whole way... made it to the South Pearl St trailhead in right around 21 minutes (5.15 miles.) Of course, 3 miles of that is substantial downhill and 1.5 miles of the rest is gradual downhill... plus, once I turned around, I discovered that the wind had arrived. So not only did I get to push uphill most of the way back, I got to do so heading into the wind.
And apparently my brain froze while I was doing that because once I got back to Slingerlands I turned around and rode back to the crossing at North St -- because apparently fighting the wind for the 1.5 miles to Slingerlands wasn't enough the first time.
But on the plus side, when I came out of Shop-rite the woodcock was once again calling in the scrub field next door, and I even caught a glimpse of him heading up into the sky to do a flight. Given the wind, it's impressive that he landed near where he started instead of being blown into the next town.
13.2 Mile Ride on the Albany County Rail Trail
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
I had planned to go for a run tonight but a look at the weather forecast suggested that I wouldn't want to ride for the next couple of days (it's going to be cold.... 😞) Plus the strong winds hadn't reached Albany yet, so I packed up the bike and headed over to the rail trail.
Since this would be a shorter ride than I'd prefer I decided to make it a workout and pushed the pace the whole way... made it to the South Pearl St trailhead in right around 21 minutes (5.15 miles.) Of course, 3 miles of that is substantial downhill and 1.5 miles of the rest is gradual downhill... plus, once I turned around, I discovered that the wind had arrived. So not only did I get to push uphill most of the way back, I got to do so heading into the wind.
And apparently my brain froze while I was doing that because once I got back to Slingerlands I turned around and rode back to the crossing at North St -- because apparently fighting the wind for the 1.5 miles to Slingerlands wasn't enough the first time.
But on the plus side, when I came out of Shop-rite the woodcock was once again calling in the scrub field next door, and I even caught a glimpse of him heading up into the sky to do a flight. Given the wind, it's impressive that he landed near where he started instead of being blown into the next town.
JMH
Monday, April 02, 2018
THE WOODCOCKS ARE BACK!
Monday, April 2, 2018
After my ride on the rail trail I stopped at the Bethlehem Shop Rite to pick up some things, and when I walked back out to my car I was surprised and excited to hear a familiar sound coming from the scrubby field next to the parking lot.
Yes indeed, that's the "peent", "peent", "peent" of a male woodcock trying to attract a mate. I heard him do a single flight while I was there, but by the time I had dug out my camera he was back to calling from the ground.
Here's a good article describing woodcocks and their incredible courtship displays that take place at dusk in the spring. I've been listening to these little guys for a number of years now (ever since I finally found out what that strange sound was coming from the scrub fields in the spring) and have even been fortunate enough to see woodcocks somewhat up close in the wild ( as well as flushing them on both trails in the pine bush and up at Thacher Park while running.) My hope is to someday be close enough to see one of the guys "strutting his stuff" though given the poor light conditions they prefer for courtship, that doesn't seem too likely.
JMH
Monday, April 2, 2018
After my ride on the rail trail I stopped at the Bethlehem Shop Rite to pick up some things, and when I walked back out to my car I was surprised and excited to hear a familiar sound coming from the scrubby field next to the parking lot.
Yes indeed, that's the "peent", "peent", "peent" of a male woodcock trying to attract a mate. I heard him do a single flight while I was there, but by the time I had dug out my camera he was back to calling from the ground.
Here's a good article describing woodcocks and their incredible courtship displays that take place at dusk in the spring. I've been listening to these little guys for a number of years now (ever since I finally found out what that strange sound was coming from the scrub fields in the spring) and have even been fortunate enough to see woodcocks somewhat up close in the wild ( as well as flushing them on both trails in the pine bush and up at Thacher Park while running.) My hope is to someday be close enough to see one of the guys "strutting his stuff" though given the poor light conditions they prefer for courtship, that doesn't seem too likely.
JMH
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