12.8 Mile Ride Along the Erie Canalway, Greece to Spencerport
Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Yet Another DNS... SIGH!
(And Another Decision Made...)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
So no Green Lakes 50k for me today... oh, well. I think that makes either six or seven DNS's for me this year. One because I just didn't feel like making the drive, way back in May, and the rest due to my crummy knee and not being able to train sufficiently/being lazy for the last two months.
Hopefully today will be the last DNS this year... I thought last year was a bumper year for those, but I may have surpassed myself...
My recent runs have also made it very clear that I'm not in good enough shape to run the Rochester Marathon in two weeks... I had considered a couple of half marathons out that way for that weekend, but I think I'll go with my original thought instead and do the Pisgah 23k trail race.
JMH
(And Another Decision Made...)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
So no Green Lakes 50k for me today... oh, well. I think that makes either six or seven DNS's for me this year. One because I just didn't feel like making the drive, way back in May, and the rest due to my crummy knee and not being able to train sufficiently/being lazy for the last two months.
Hopefully today will be the last DNS this year... I thought last year was a bumper year for those, but I may have surpassed myself...
My recent runs have also made it very clear that I'm not in good enough shape to run the Rochester Marathon in two weeks... I had considered a couple of half marathons out that way for that weekend, but I think I'll go with my original thought instead and do the Pisgah 23k trail race.
JMH
Saturday, August 29, 2009
DUCK, DUCK, GULL
1 Mile Walk at Ontario Beach Park
Saturday, August 29, 2009
It was sunny and cool when I got to Rochester so I wanted to get outside... unfortunately Ann's knee is giving her problems (something from her most recent softball game) so we just headed over to Ontario Beach Park to go for an easy walk and throw some food to the ducks and gulls.
We attracted a good-sized mob of ducks pretty quickly and then the gulls got in on the action, screeching and hollering as they swooped in and tried to snatch up food before the ducks could get it. It got pretty noisy there for a little while...
After that we walked out on the pier and watched the waves come crashing in off the lake.
JMH
1 Mile Walk at Ontario Beach Park
Saturday, August 29, 2009
It was sunny and cool when I got to Rochester so I wanted to get outside... unfortunately Ann's knee is giving her problems (something from her most recent softball game) so we just headed over to Ontario Beach Park to go for an easy walk and throw some food to the ducks and gulls.
We attracted a good-sized mob of ducks pretty quickly and then the gulls got in on the action, screeching and hollering as they swooped in and tried to snatch up food before the ducks could get it. It got pretty noisy there for a little while...
After that we walked out on the pier and watched the waves come crashing in off the lake.
JMH
Friday, August 28, 2009
Endings, Part 1
Friday, August 28, 2009
Definitely a rough day today. I was hoping to get out for a run or a ride but just didn't have the time, because I was trying to finish assembling a scrapbook for my karate instructor, Master Allen Hillicoss. We wanted to present it to him after class tonight.
Which was the other reason today was rough. Tonight was the last class at the Albany location of the American Martial Arts Institute, where I've been teaching for the last 10 years (prior to that, I was teaching at our old location down in Catskill.) Roughly two months ago Master H. made the decision to close the location and retire from AMAI. So tonight was also the last time he'll be teaching... an mind-boggling thought, after being his student for 27 years. I've had two months to think about it and it's really only just starting to sink in, now that it's actually happening.
And the rest of the story is... I'm leaving AMAI as well. I've been increasingly unhappy with the leadership of the school for a number of years now, and had anticipated that at some point in the next few years I'd reach my breaking point and would resign. Only three things kept me around - Ann (who is also leaving), not wanting to bail on Master H, and the students. So I decided to take Master H's departure as my opportunity to leave as well.
Which means that tonight was probably the last time I'll see the majority of the students and instructors, some of whom I've known for years or even decades. That's proving a tough thought to deal with. There are some fantastic people in that group and I will miss them dearly. Add in all the memories that were stirred up as I dug through reams of photographs from the last 25-30 years, and you have... a rough day. Even knowing as I do that a world of opportunities has opened up before me (because I most emphatically am not done teaching and training, only with AMAI) and knowing how unhappy I've been with a major part of AMAI - it's still difficult and painful to say goodbye.
But then, I guess if it were easy - then it wouldn't have been worth it in the first place and I wouldn't have stayed as long as I did.
JMH
Friday, August 28, 2009
Definitely a rough day today. I was hoping to get out for a run or a ride but just didn't have the time, because I was trying to finish assembling a scrapbook for my karate instructor, Master Allen Hillicoss. We wanted to present it to him after class tonight.
Which was the other reason today was rough. Tonight was the last class at the Albany location of the American Martial Arts Institute, where I've been teaching for the last 10 years (prior to that, I was teaching at our old location down in Catskill.) Roughly two months ago Master H. made the decision to close the location and retire from AMAI. So tonight was also the last time he'll be teaching... an mind-boggling thought, after being his student for 27 years. I've had two months to think about it and it's really only just starting to sink in, now that it's actually happening.
And the rest of the story is... I'm leaving AMAI as well. I've been increasingly unhappy with the leadership of the school for a number of years now, and had anticipated that at some point in the next few years I'd reach my breaking point and would resign. Only three things kept me around - Ann (who is also leaving), not wanting to bail on Master H, and the students. So I decided to take Master H's departure as my opportunity to leave as well.
Which means that tonight was probably the last time I'll see the majority of the students and instructors, some of whom I've known for years or even decades. That's proving a tough thought to deal with. There are some fantastic people in that group and I will miss them dearly. Add in all the memories that were stirred up as I dug through reams of photographs from the last 25-30 years, and you have... a rough day. Even knowing as I do that a world of opportunities has opened up before me (because I most emphatically am not done teaching and training, only with AMAI) and knowing how unhappy I've been with a major part of AMAI - it's still difficult and painful to say goodbye.
But then, I guess if it were easy - then it wouldn't have been worth it in the first place and I wouldn't have stayed as long as I did.
JMH
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
RAIN!
4.8 Mile Paddle on Black Creek
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Ann suggested we take the kayaks out today and since there's no telling how many more times we'll be able to do that this year, I agreed pretty quickly. The rain this week has most of the creeks running high, so we wanted to stick to waters that we knew would be safe... ie. a pond, lake, or river. Toyed briefly with the idea of heading down to Honeoye or Canadice Lake, even more briefly with hauling the boats 1/4 mile from the Turning Point Park lot down to the Genesee River and heading upstream to Lower Falls... but in the end decided on Black Creek out in Churchville, where a dam creates a wide, easy-to-paddle backwater a couple of miles upstream.
I wondered briefly when we got there if we'd made a good choice, since it seemed like everyone and his brother (and all their kids, to boot) was there with a canoe or kayak. But in the end, other than one noisy group that we passed twice, we mostly had the water to ourselves. Of course, the weather may have helped with that... a little over a mile upstream from where we put in, it started sprinkling lightly... no big deal, if it let up quickly. Then we looked up ahead and saw what seemed like a wall of rain advancing down the river. Ann asked if I saw it, I said yes, and we both paddled like mad to get under the cover of some overhanging trees on opposite sides of the creek. Paddlers with sprayskirts probably don't need to be all that concerned about rain, as long as the water isn't too rough... but our boats have fairly wide cockpits and are totally open, so we were looking at taking on a lot of water if the rain was heavy and lasted for any length of time. And kayaks full of water don't float all that well...
I'd guess we had to wait about 10 minutes before it eased up... ten cold, wet minutes as it rained harder and harder and the branches offered decreasing protection. Finally, we moved out from under cover, agreed that we should probably head back... and it kicked in again. This time we both ducked under the same trees, and fortunately the worst rain only lasted a few minutes.
By the time we got back it had stopped raining altogether, so we decided to keep heading downstream and paddled almost another mile and a half before turning around. For the most part it was pretty easy going, other than one or two very shallow spots.
Last year when we paddled here we saw lots of wildlife and today was the same. There was an egret hunting near where we put in, and two more at other points during our time on the water. For the most part they didn't seem too bothered by our presence, so we got to watch them hunt, which was very cool. A couple of kingfishers swooped around as well, chattering away. We also saw three herons and a number of small turtles, and I one point I passed what I thought was a large stick poking up out of the water which turned out to be the snout of a medium-sized snapping turtle (I think he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.)
All in all, other than the rain it was a good day to be out on the water. Hopefully we can get in a few more paddling sessions before it gets too chilly to be fun and safe.
JMH
4.8 Mile Paddle on Black Creek
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Ann suggested we take the kayaks out today and since there's no telling how many more times we'll be able to do that this year, I agreed pretty quickly. The rain this week has most of the creeks running high, so we wanted to stick to waters that we knew would be safe... ie. a pond, lake, or river. Toyed briefly with the idea of heading down to Honeoye or Canadice Lake, even more briefly with hauling the boats 1/4 mile from the Turning Point Park lot down to the Genesee River and heading upstream to Lower Falls... but in the end decided on Black Creek out in Churchville, where a dam creates a wide, easy-to-paddle backwater a couple of miles upstream.
I wondered briefly when we got there if we'd made a good choice, since it seemed like everyone and his brother (and all their kids, to boot) was there with a canoe or kayak. But in the end, other than one noisy group that we passed twice, we mostly had the water to ourselves. Of course, the weather may have helped with that... a little over a mile upstream from where we put in, it started sprinkling lightly... no big deal, if it let up quickly. Then we looked up ahead and saw what seemed like a wall of rain advancing down the river. Ann asked if I saw it, I said yes, and we both paddled like mad to get under the cover of some overhanging trees on opposite sides of the creek. Paddlers with sprayskirts probably don't need to be all that concerned about rain, as long as the water isn't too rough... but our boats have fairly wide cockpits and are totally open, so we were looking at taking on a lot of water if the rain was heavy and lasted for any length of time. And kayaks full of water don't float all that well...
I'd guess we had to wait about 10 minutes before it eased up... ten cold, wet minutes as it rained harder and harder and the branches offered decreasing protection. Finally, we moved out from under cover, agreed that we should probably head back... and it kicked in again. This time we both ducked under the same trees, and fortunately the worst rain only lasted a few minutes.
By the time we got back it had stopped raining altogether, so we decided to keep heading downstream and paddled almost another mile and a half before turning around. For the most part it was pretty easy going, other than one or two very shallow spots.
Last year when we paddled here we saw lots of wildlife and today was the same. There was an egret hunting near where we put in, and two more at other points during our time on the water. For the most part they didn't seem too bothered by our presence, so we got to watch them hunt, which was very cool. A couple of kingfishers swooped around as well, chattering away. We also saw three herons and a number of small turtles, and I one point I passed what I thought was a large stick poking up out of the water which turned out to be the snout of a medium-sized snapping turtle (I think he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him.)
All in all, other than the rain it was a good day to be out on the water. Hopefully we can get in a few more paddling sessions before it gets too chilly to be fun and safe.
JMH
Saturday, August 22, 2009
National Trail Running Day
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Apparently today is the 1st Annual National Trail Running Day... from what I've managed to find on-line, it was started by trailrunner Chris Barber of SeriousRunning.com, in an effort to help more folks become aware of the benefits and fun of running on trails. I have to admit I have mixed feelings about that... on the one hand I'd like people to find the same sorts of enjoyment as I do out in the woods, but I'm also a cranky old trailrunner who sometimes finds the trails too crowded for his liking...
Regardless, I guess I'd should try to get out running on a trail somewhere today... right now the prospects for that aren't looking too good, since I should be driving out to Rochester and I'm already getting off to a very late start.
JMH
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Apparently today is the 1st Annual National Trail Running Day... from what I've managed to find on-line, it was started by trailrunner Chris Barber of SeriousRunning.com, in an effort to help more folks become aware of the benefits and fun of running on trails. I have to admit I have mixed feelings about that... on the one hand I'd like people to find the same sorts of enjoyment as I do out in the woods, but I'm also a cranky old trailrunner who sometimes finds the trails too crowded for his liking...
Regardless, I guess I'd should try to get out running on a trail somewhere today... right now the prospects for that aren't looking too good, since I should be driving out to Rochester and I'm already getting off to a very late start.
JMH
Friday, August 21, 2009
A Decision Made...
Friday, August 21, 2009
Cancelled my motel room for the night before next weekend's Green Lakes Endurance Runs... which means I've decided not to go, since it's very unlikely I would leave Rochester at 4 AM or so to get there in time to check in and start the 50k at 6:45 AM. Based on the last few runs I've done, I doubt I'd finish more than 2 of the 4 loops, and at this point I don't think it makes sense to spend over $100 on a room to go to a race I won't finish, not when I can spend the entire weekend out in Rochester with Ann instead.
It's very frustrating - as I think I said a few days ago, before I screwed up my knee I was probably in the best distance-running shape I've ever been in since getting back to doing a lot of running and riding in 2005... but so it goes. I'll just have to work hard this fall and next year to get back to there and make next year the one where I run an ultra.
Still haven't decided Pisgah vs. Rochester for mid-September... I'm waiting to see how my running goes over the next two weeks to see if I even have a prayer of finishing Rochester in a reasonable time... or if I want to choose one or more of the many other options available that weekend...
JMH
Friday, August 21, 2009
Cancelled my motel room for the night before next weekend's Green Lakes Endurance Runs... which means I've decided not to go, since it's very unlikely I would leave Rochester at 4 AM or so to get there in time to check in and start the 50k at 6:45 AM. Based on the last few runs I've done, I doubt I'd finish more than 2 of the 4 loops, and at this point I don't think it makes sense to spend over $100 on a room to go to a race I won't finish, not when I can spend the entire weekend out in Rochester with Ann instead.
It's very frustrating - as I think I said a few days ago, before I screwed up my knee I was probably in the best distance-running shape I've ever been in since getting back to doing a lot of running and riding in 2005... but so it goes. I'll just have to work hard this fall and next year to get back to there and make next year the one where I run an ultra.
Still haven't decided Pisgah vs. Rochester for mid-September... I'm waiting to see how my running goes over the next two weeks to see if I even have a prayer of finishing Rochester in a reasonable time... or if I want to choose one or more of the many other options available that weekend...
JMH
Thursday, August 20, 2009
14.6 Mile Ride Along the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A short ride, mainly because I was slow getting my backside in gear and had limited time before I had to be at the karate school to help with classes. But it may have been just as well... my legs were feeling the effects of last night's run much more than I'd expected. That may make some of those decisions I mentioned a few days ago a bit easier to make...
Spotted two wood ducks in the water off the boat launch at the start of the ride... managed to sneak up on them and get some nice shots, but once I was fully in view they took off down the river. A bit further along I saw an egret, and there was a heron near Lock 7 who was surprisingly placid about my being there. The swallows were swooping around like crazy at the base of the old landfill, and there was a decent-sized flock of cedar waxwings zipping around in some of the bushes on the way back to the Lions Park.
(I just realized I should have ridden up the path over the old landfill and back down, to mark 3 years since I crashed coming down that hill, in mid-August 2006... there's an unpleasant memory. Wear a helmet if you're riding, folks... I know mine saved my melon that day.)
I was a bit surprised to see a lot of rabbits out, given that it was still pretty early in the evening and they've always seemed to be more active near dusk. Then again, maybe I have no clue how many more bunnies were out and about an hour or two later...
JMH
Thursday, August 20, 2009
A short ride, mainly because I was slow getting my backside in gear and had limited time before I had to be at the karate school to help with classes. But it may have been just as well... my legs were feeling the effects of last night's run much more than I'd expected. That may make some of those decisions I mentioned a few days ago a bit easier to make...
Spotted two wood ducks in the water off the boat launch at the start of the ride... managed to sneak up on them and get some nice shots, but once I was fully in view they took off down the river. A bit further along I saw an egret, and there was a heron near Lock 7 who was surprisingly placid about my being there. The swallows were swooping around like crazy at the base of the old landfill, and there was a decent-sized flock of cedar waxwings zipping around in some of the bushes on the way back to the Lions Park.
(I just realized I should have ridden up the path over the old landfill and back down, to mark 3 years since I crashed coming down that hill, in mid-August 2006... there's an unpleasant memory. Wear a helmet if you're riding, folks... I know mine saved my melon that day.)
I was a bit surprised to see a lot of rabbits out, given that it was still pretty early in the evening and they've always seemed to be more active near dusk. Then again, maybe I have no clue how many more bunnies were out and about an hour or two later...
JMH
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
9.4 Mile Run Along the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
I absolutely hate the hot, humid weather we've been having lately... when it gets like this all I want to do is sit in front of a fan or maybe sleep... I find it awfully tough to not be even lazier than usual. Which is why I waited until late in the evening before heading over to the bike path for a run... I was really hoping it would be a bit cooler than it was when I peeked my head out the door this afternoon. (I guess I should be grateful that evening is my preferred time to work out!)
Well, it was cooler (there was even a bit of a breeze at times, which felt great) but it was still very humid, so I spent much of the run drenched in sweat that just wouldn't evaporate. The first 6 miles were tough... my legs just wouldn't seem to warm up and had me seriously wondering just how much endurance and fitness I've lost because of my injured knee. Ironically, other than my knees starting to grumble, the last 3 miles weren't as bad... except that the crotch of my compression shorts shredded (I guess they were an older pair) and I began having visions of spending the next few days with major chafing along my thighs and more sensitive areas. So I did my best to rearrange them and headed back to the car a bit sooner than I might have otherwise.
One of the herons was hunting down at the boat launch when I headed out on the path... I would imagine it's a lot easier to see prey in the clear water near the shore than it is out on th majority of the shallows, which have been taken over by the summer crop of water chestnut. Since it was dark most of the time, I didn't see much else tonight... glimpses of a few bats and birds, but that's all. Lots of frogs and insects calling, of course, and toward the end of my run I did hear a bird call several times that I thought might be a screech owl... having listened to some calls online I'm not sure, but it's a possibility. It was a fairly clear night, so I had a great view of the stars and a very bright planet Jupiter off in the southern sky - Jupiter is just out of opposition (on the opposite side of the Earth from th Sun) which is when it's closest to the Earth and brightest in the sky. Later the cooling air and high humidity made it a bit foggy, which was kind of neat...
JMH
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
I absolutely hate the hot, humid weather we've been having lately... when it gets like this all I want to do is sit in front of a fan or maybe sleep... I find it awfully tough to not be even lazier than usual. Which is why I waited until late in the evening before heading over to the bike path for a run... I was really hoping it would be a bit cooler than it was when I peeked my head out the door this afternoon. (I guess I should be grateful that evening is my preferred time to work out!)
Well, it was cooler (there was even a bit of a breeze at times, which felt great) but it was still very humid, so I spent much of the run drenched in sweat that just wouldn't evaporate. The first 6 miles were tough... my legs just wouldn't seem to warm up and had me seriously wondering just how much endurance and fitness I've lost because of my injured knee. Ironically, other than my knees starting to grumble, the last 3 miles weren't as bad... except that the crotch of my compression shorts shredded (I guess they were an older pair) and I began having visions of spending the next few days with major chafing along my thighs and more sensitive areas. So I did my best to rearrange them and headed back to the car a bit sooner than I might have otherwise.
One of the herons was hunting down at the boat launch when I headed out on the path... I would imagine it's a lot easier to see prey in the clear water near the shore than it is out on th majority of the shallows, which have been taken over by the summer crop of water chestnut. Since it was dark most of the time, I didn't see much else tonight... glimpses of a few bats and birds, but that's all. Lots of frogs and insects calling, of course, and toward the end of my run I did hear a bird call several times that I thought might be a screech owl... having listened to some calls online I'm not sure, but it's a possibility. It was a fairly clear night, so I had a great view of the stars and a very bright planet Jupiter off in the southern sky - Jupiter is just out of opposition (on the opposite side of the Earth from th Sun) which is when it's closest to the Earth and brightest in the sky. Later the cooling air and high humidity made it a bit foggy, which was kind of neat...
JMH
Monday, August 17, 2009
Decisions, Decisions...
Monday, August 17, 2009
I've got some decisions to make this week...
(1) do I go to the Green Lakes 50k at the end of this month and run as many loops as I can, or do I request to withdraw and free up a spot for someone else... I have to admit I'm a bit surprised that there are still spots left, I expected the race fields to be full by now.
(2) Do I run the Pisgah Mountain 23k the 2nd weekend of September... or do I attempt the Rochester Marathon? The latter has two big pluses - I've never been there, and I know I can finish the distance (between 14-15 miles.) Rochester is a slightly crazy thought but... it might be doable, and I can always have Ann meet me at one of the parks late in the race and get a ride home if I decide I can't finish. I also need to get in some long runs before November's Bobcat Trail Marathon... and while Rochester is a road race, it definitely qualifies as a long run...
Fortunately, after mid-September my race schedule is set for a while... no more tough choices until October...
And as I always try to remind myself... if these are the most important decisions I have to make in the immediate future... I've got it pretty darn good.
JMH
Monday, August 17, 2009
I've got some decisions to make this week...
(1) do I go to the Green Lakes 50k at the end of this month and run as many loops as I can, or do I request to withdraw and free up a spot for someone else... I have to admit I'm a bit surprised that there are still spots left, I expected the race fields to be full by now.
(2) Do I run the Pisgah Mountain 23k the 2nd weekend of September... or do I attempt the Rochester Marathon? The latter has two big pluses - I've never been there, and I know I can finish the distance (between 14-15 miles.) Rochester is a slightly crazy thought but... it might be doable, and I can always have Ann meet me at one of the parks late in the race and get a ride home if I decide I can't finish. I also need to get in some long runs before November's Bobcat Trail Marathon... and while Rochester is a road race, it definitely qualifies as a long run...
Fortunately, after mid-September my race schedule is set for a while... no more tough choices until October...
And as I always try to remind myself... if these are the most important decisions I have to make in the immediate future... I've got it pretty darn good.
JMH
Sunday, August 16, 2009
19.6 Mile Ride Along the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Ordinarily I would stay in MA after finishing the Savoy trail race and either hike or ride... but today I didn't plan ahead and left my guide books and bike at home. So after finishing the race and chatting with a few folks, I headed back to Albany to clean up and then get out for a ride.
I started out heading west from Lock 8 along the bike path. For once the CSX track was clear at Scrafford Lane, so I was able to cross and head through Rotterdam Junction to ride the short extension of the bike path on the west side of town, then I headed back to Lock 8. No beavers in sight tonight, though I did see two herons and a number of wood ducks and ducklings, as well as a group of turtles in the old canal. I didn't dare stop for very long anywhere, since I'd left my bug spray at home and whenever I stopped moving they rapidly descended on me for a free meal.
One nice thing about riding on a hot, humid day - you generate your own breeze. As I was heading back to Lock 8 clouds moved in and it started looking dark north of the river. That continued as I rode the path down to the SCCC parking lots and out to route 5. My trip up the hill past Gateway Landing rewarded me with the sight of five egrets roosting in a tree across the way. As I stood there trying to get clear pictures of them, a storm moved through north of the river. The wind picked up and I could see occasional flashes from lightning far off in the distance. The wind was particular troublesome to the egrets, who had to work to keep their balance as the branches they were perched on blew back anf forth.
I pushed fairly hard to get back to Lock 8, partly because it was getting dark and partly because the edges of the storm were dropping occasional spatters of rain and I didn't want to get caught out in it if it started to come down any harder. My legs were definitely feeling the effects of this morning's 11 mile trek up and down the hills of Savoy Mountain State Forest and almost 20 miles of riding... but I'm still glad I got out for a ride this evening. It definitely beat sitting around sweating in the heat and humidity now that our typical summer weather has finally reared its ugly head.
JMH
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Ordinarily I would stay in MA after finishing the Savoy trail race and either hike or ride... but today I didn't plan ahead and left my guide books and bike at home. So after finishing the race and chatting with a few folks, I headed back to Albany to clean up and then get out for a ride.
I started out heading west from Lock 8 along the bike path. For once the CSX track was clear at Scrafford Lane, so I was able to cross and head through Rotterdam Junction to ride the short extension of the bike path on the west side of town, then I headed back to Lock 8. No beavers in sight tonight, though I did see two herons and a number of wood ducks and ducklings, as well as a group of turtles in the old canal. I didn't dare stop for very long anywhere, since I'd left my bug spray at home and whenever I stopped moving they rapidly descended on me for a free meal.
One nice thing about riding on a hot, humid day - you generate your own breeze. As I was heading back to Lock 8 clouds moved in and it started looking dark north of the river. That continued as I rode the path down to the SCCC parking lots and out to route 5. My trip up the hill past Gateway Landing rewarded me with the sight of five egrets roosting in a tree across the way. As I stood there trying to get clear pictures of them, a storm moved through north of the river. The wind picked up and I could see occasional flashes from lightning far off in the distance. The wind was particular troublesome to the egrets, who had to work to keep their balance as the branches they were perched on blew back anf forth.
I pushed fairly hard to get back to Lock 8, partly because it was getting dark and partly because the edges of the storm were dropping occasional spatters of rain and I didn't want to get caught out in it if it started to come down any harder. My legs were definitely feeling the effects of this morning's 11 mile trek up and down the hills of Savoy Mountain State Forest and almost 20 miles of riding... but I'm still glad I got out for a ride this evening. It definitely beat sitting around sweating in the heat and humidity now that our typical summer weather has finally reared its ugly head.
JMH
LONG DISTANCE 2009 - Race #20
Savoy Mountain 11 Mile Trail Race
Sunday, August 16, 2009
2009 Savoy Trail Races results
I always have mixed feelings about the Savoy trail races... on the one hand, I love going to Savoy Mountain State Forest, in the hills east of North Adams - it's a wonderfully wild place. On the other hand, this race is a definite sign that the summer is winding down... and soon I'll leave my summertime life of leisure to go back to work. I was also feeling a bit of pressure this year because this weekend would be a test of sorts... if I couldn't finish the 22 mile course, it seemed unlikely I'd be able to finish the Green Lakes 50k in two weeks...
Last year Savoy was almost cancelled due to difficulty in getting volunteers, but Marty Glendon stepped in partway through the summer and set up two new courses which were a bit less volunteer-intensive, in part because the 20 mile out-and-back was replaced by a two loop 22 mile course staying a bit closer to the North Pond starting area. There was some question regarding how much work would be needed to get the courses ready this year, since the ice storms last December did enough damage that the Savoy snowshoe races were cancelled for the season - the trails simply weren't passable. Fortunately, a ton of work by the Savoy State Forest workers, Americorps volunteers, and work crews from the WMAC cleared the trails in plenty of time for the races. Marty was back as RD this year, as were the courses from last year, with the addition of an option to run one 11 mile loop and be counted as an official finisher. Though after al the rain we've had this summer it wasn't clear if running shoes or hip waders would be more appropriate, since Savoy tends to be a mud-bath even in a dry summer!
After an uneventful drive I arrived in plenty of time to check in, gear up, and chat with my friends for a few minutes before it was time for the long races to start. In light of the heat and humidity, I decided to play it safe and wore my hydration pack with 2 L of water as well as two bottle of Nuun... more weight than I'd usually want to carry, but it beat being the possibility of running out of fluids out on the course. There was a big crowd - looked like a record number of runners, at least compared to the other years that I've been here. Marty made a few announcements - the one which was a pleasant surprise was the fact that, in light of the anticipated heat and humidity, the 11 mile race would earn Grand Tree points. Then, with a blast from a black powder cannon - off we went!
The first part of the course took us around South Pond and Tyler Swamp... no great surprise, it was pretty darn muddy in spots, though at least this year I was expecting that. The front runners of the short race passed me just before the point where the two courses diverged - unfortunately, one of them missed that and ended up following the long course for a short distance before realizin he needed to turn back. From there we had a very familiar climb - I've followed the North Pond Loop at multiple Savoy trail races and Savoy snowshoe races over the last four years. After climbing and descending, we took a connecting trail over to Old Florida Road and the unmanned water stop. As a sign of the heat, much of the water was already gone. I topped off one of my bottles and then headed off into the really tough part of the course.
The next three miles took us over a series of fairly rugged hiking trails... between the footing and the almost constant climbing/descending, I found it tough to run more than a few feet at a time and ended up hiking the vast majority of this part of the course. Saw lots of evidence of work done to clear downed trees and branches off the trail, and passed a sizeable beaver pond that I don't remember from last year. The hardest part is a lollipop loop that goes up and over the top of Spruce Hill - the trip up involves some actually climbing up through the rocks, and the trip back down isn't much better. It was along these three miles that I decided to stop after 11 miles... it wuld take me a long time to complete a 2nd loop, and the downhills were bothering my injured knee enough that I was worried about undoing some of the healing it did over the last 7 weeks.
If my knee had been OK, the next stretch would have been good running... a long downhill on an old ATV trail, ending at the 3rd aid station at the intersection of Old Florida Rd and Central Shaft Rd, the main road into the state forest. Refilled on of my bottles and mixed some new Nuun for the last 2 miles of the course, then headed off on Old Florida Rd, which is an eroded mess - huge mud pits in some spots, and tons of rocks in others. There were a number of side trails bypassing the worst of the mudholes, though there were also a number of spots where I wondered if I would end up slipping into the huge puddles. My favorite spot was a stream crossing where I hd no choice other than wading. Not only did it wash the mud off my shoes, but the cold water felt wonderful - I would have sat down and soaked my legs if it hadn't meant finishing the last mile and a half or so in soaking wet shorts. We diverted off the old road for a short, tough stretch up and down a hiking trail (including a shimmy over a pile of downed trees) and then headed down a connecting trail back to the North Pond Loop.
I ran as much of the last mile or so as I could... the trail was in pretty good shape and fairly flat, but the previous few miles had taken a lot out of me. I have to admit I was glad to see the access road to the North Pond boat launch, after which I had a short run to the finish, which I crossed in 3 hr 35 minutes and announced that I was done. (Bob Dion, who was handling timing, expressed some disbelief at that, which was gratifying, considering what an incredible trail runner he is. When I indicated that my knee wasn't cooperating, Walter Kolodzinski offered me either his braces or his knees, I'm not sure which! Of course, then Bob wanted to know if I was going to go out and take down the course... I guess my post-race trek at Greylock was memorable for a few folks.)
Nothing at the food/drink table really called out to me, so I headed over to th car to finally change into some dry clothes. Spent a while talking with Konrad and Ed, who also ended up doing one loop this year, and then tossed my gear into the back seat, changed, and made the long hot drive back to Albany.
I'm a bit disappointed, both because I only ran one loop and because that would seem to indicate I have decisions to make about the Green Lakes Ultra in two weeks... it's a particularly annoying pill to swallow, since before I tore up my knee I was probably in the best distance running shape of the past 4 years. But so it goes... with luck next year I'll be healthy enough and in good enough shape to actually run a lot more of the course and tackle that 2nd loop. And regardless, it was good being out in the wilds of northwestern MA and seeing my running friends again.
JMH
2009 Event Totals
Run 215.9 mi, 54 hr 35 min
Bike 28.6 mi, 2 hr 17 min
Snowshoe 54.6 mi, 13 hr 05 min
XC Ski 3.3 mi, 1 hr 2 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, PA, RI, VT
Savoy Mountain 11 Mile Trail Race
Sunday, August 16, 2009
2009 Savoy Trail Races results
I always have mixed feelings about the Savoy trail races... on the one hand, I love going to Savoy Mountain State Forest, in the hills east of North Adams - it's a wonderfully wild place. On the other hand, this race is a definite sign that the summer is winding down... and soon I'll leave my summertime life of leisure to go back to work. I was also feeling a bit of pressure this year because this weekend would be a test of sorts... if I couldn't finish the 22 mile course, it seemed unlikely I'd be able to finish the Green Lakes 50k in two weeks...
Last year Savoy was almost cancelled due to difficulty in getting volunteers, but Marty Glendon stepped in partway through the summer and set up two new courses which were a bit less volunteer-intensive, in part because the 20 mile out-and-back was replaced by a two loop 22 mile course staying a bit closer to the North Pond starting area. There was some question regarding how much work would be needed to get the courses ready this year, since the ice storms last December did enough damage that the Savoy snowshoe races were cancelled for the season - the trails simply weren't passable. Fortunately, a ton of work by the Savoy State Forest workers, Americorps volunteers, and work crews from the WMAC cleared the trails in plenty of time for the races. Marty was back as RD this year, as were the courses from last year, with the addition of an option to run one 11 mile loop and be counted as an official finisher. Though after al the rain we've had this summer it wasn't clear if running shoes or hip waders would be more appropriate, since Savoy tends to be a mud-bath even in a dry summer!
After an uneventful drive I arrived in plenty of time to check in, gear up, and chat with my friends for a few minutes before it was time for the long races to start. In light of the heat and humidity, I decided to play it safe and wore my hydration pack with 2 L of water as well as two bottle of Nuun... more weight than I'd usually want to carry, but it beat being the possibility of running out of fluids out on the course. There was a big crowd - looked like a record number of runners, at least compared to the other years that I've been here. Marty made a few announcements - the one which was a pleasant surprise was the fact that, in light of the anticipated heat and humidity, the 11 mile race would earn Grand Tree points. Then, with a blast from a black powder cannon - off we went!
The first part of the course took us around South Pond and Tyler Swamp... no great surprise, it was pretty darn muddy in spots, though at least this year I was expecting that. The front runners of the short race passed me just before the point where the two courses diverged - unfortunately, one of them missed that and ended up following the long course for a short distance before realizin he needed to turn back. From there we had a very familiar climb - I've followed the North Pond Loop at multiple Savoy trail races and Savoy snowshoe races over the last four years. After climbing and descending, we took a connecting trail over to Old Florida Road and the unmanned water stop. As a sign of the heat, much of the water was already gone. I topped off one of my bottles and then headed off into the really tough part of the course.
The next three miles took us over a series of fairly rugged hiking trails... between the footing and the almost constant climbing/descending, I found it tough to run more than a few feet at a time and ended up hiking the vast majority of this part of the course. Saw lots of evidence of work done to clear downed trees and branches off the trail, and passed a sizeable beaver pond that I don't remember from last year. The hardest part is a lollipop loop that goes up and over the top of Spruce Hill - the trip up involves some actually climbing up through the rocks, and the trip back down isn't much better. It was along these three miles that I decided to stop after 11 miles... it wuld take me a long time to complete a 2nd loop, and the downhills were bothering my injured knee enough that I was worried about undoing some of the healing it did over the last 7 weeks.
If my knee had been OK, the next stretch would have been good running... a long downhill on an old ATV trail, ending at the 3rd aid station at the intersection of Old Florida Rd and Central Shaft Rd, the main road into the state forest. Refilled on of my bottles and mixed some new Nuun for the last 2 miles of the course, then headed off on Old Florida Rd, which is an eroded mess - huge mud pits in some spots, and tons of rocks in others. There were a number of side trails bypassing the worst of the mudholes, though there were also a number of spots where I wondered if I would end up slipping into the huge puddles. My favorite spot was a stream crossing where I hd no choice other than wading. Not only did it wash the mud off my shoes, but the cold water felt wonderful - I would have sat down and soaked my legs if it hadn't meant finishing the last mile and a half or so in soaking wet shorts. We diverted off the old road for a short, tough stretch up and down a hiking trail (including a shimmy over a pile of downed trees) and then headed down a connecting trail back to the North Pond Loop.
I ran as much of the last mile or so as I could... the trail was in pretty good shape and fairly flat, but the previous few miles had taken a lot out of me. I have to admit I was glad to see the access road to the North Pond boat launch, after which I had a short run to the finish, which I crossed in 3 hr 35 minutes and announced that I was done. (Bob Dion, who was handling timing, expressed some disbelief at that, which was gratifying, considering what an incredible trail runner he is. When I indicated that my knee wasn't cooperating, Walter Kolodzinski offered me either his braces or his knees, I'm not sure which! Of course, then Bob wanted to know if I was going to go out and take down the course... I guess my post-race trek at Greylock was memorable for a few folks.)
Nothing at the food/drink table really called out to me, so I headed over to th car to finally change into some dry clothes. Spent a while talking with Konrad and Ed, who also ended up doing one loop this year, and then tossed my gear into the back seat, changed, and made the long hot drive back to Albany.
I'm a bit disappointed, both because I only ran one loop and because that would seem to indicate I have decisions to make about the Green Lakes Ultra in two weeks... it's a particularly annoying pill to swallow, since before I tore up my knee I was probably in the best distance running shape of the past 4 years. But so it goes... with luck next year I'll be healthy enough and in good enough shape to actually run a lot more of the course and tackle that 2nd loop. And regardless, it was good being out in the wilds of northwestern MA and seeing my running friends again.
JMH
2009 Event Totals
Run 215.9 mi, 54 hr 35 min
Bike 28.6 mi, 2 hr 17 min
Snowshoe 54.6 mi, 13 hr 05 min
XC Ski 3.3 mi, 1 hr 2 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, PA, RI, VT
Saturday, August 15, 2009
18.3 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Legs were feeling a bit better today, so I risked a ride this evening on the bike path... I figured I'd be OK with since the section between the old Niskayuna landfill and Island View Rd in Colonie is fairly flat. Spotted the usual bunnies and a woodchuck along the way... I may have glimpsed an eagle flying across the river, there was a large dark bird which didn't move like a heron that I saw briefly before it disappeared behind the trees. I did see an eagle perched in a tree further down the river later in the ride, most likely one of the juveniles that I've seen several times this year (the white feathers haven't come in on his head and tail yet.)
JMH
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Legs were feeling a bit better today, so I risked a ride this evening on the bike path... I figured I'd be OK with since the section between the old Niskayuna landfill and Island View Rd in Colonie is fairly flat. Spotted the usual bunnies and a woodchuck along the way... I may have glimpsed an eagle flying across the river, there was a large dark bird which didn't move like a heron that I saw briefly before it disappeared behind the trees. I did see an eagle perched in a tree further down the river later in the ride, most likely one of the juveniles that I've seen several times this year (the white feathers haven't come in on his head and tail yet.)
JMH
Friday, August 14, 2009
2 Mile Walk on the Mohawk-Hudson Bike Path
Friday, August 14, 2009
Yesterday's fiasco of an attempted run told me pretty definitely that I should take it easy today, but I still wanted to get outside, so after teaching karate class I headed over to the bike path for a short walk. I was hoping to spot the eagles, but no luck... though I did catch a glimpse of a beaver and had several bats buzzing around me eating bugs (go, bats, go!)
Legs are feeling pretty tired... hope they bounce back by Sunday's race at Savoy...
JMH
Friday, August 14, 2009
Yesterday's fiasco of an attempted run told me pretty definitely that I should take it easy today, but I still wanted to get outside, so after teaching karate class I headed over to the bike path for a short walk. I was hoping to spot the eagles, but no luck... though I did catch a glimpse of a beaver and had several bats buzzing around me eating bugs (go, bats, go!)
Legs are feeling pretty tired... hope they bounce back by Sunday's race at Savoy...
JMH
Thursday, August 13, 2009
14.5 Mile Hike/Run on the Taconic Crest & Taconic Skyline Trails
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Pittsfield State Forest trail map (3.75 MB PDF)
Today's trek was supposed to be a run... and I did run most of the relatively level sections for the first few miles (in between hiking up and down hills.) But as I went further the trail became more overgrown and I found myself walking even the level parts, until by the time I reached Berry Pond Rd in Pittsfield State Forest my ability to run was almost nonexistent... so I'm going to count this primarily as a hike. A very pleasant hike out along the beautiful Taconic Crest Trail, and a not nearly as pleasant hike back along the badly damaged Taconic Skyline Trail.
I've wanted to run the TCT for several years now, since I picked up a trail guide and maps put out by the Taconic Hiking Club. The stretches we ran during the 2008 Curly's Trail Races only whet my appetite to visit more of the trail. I've also been curious about the TST, which is listed as a mountain bike ride in Anna Milkowski's Mountain Biking the Berkshires, though I have to admit I didn't expect it to be nearly as nice a trail, knowing the damage that the idiotic ATV riders have done to many of the trails they have access to in western MA. So today I headed just across the border to Pittsfield, left the car at the parking area along route 20, and headed north with my Go Lite Rush hydration pack filled with more supplies than I expected to need. I'd been hoping for a sunny day (better pictures!) but cool and cloudy definitely has its advantages to.
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect beyond a singletrack hiking trail... the elevation profile that came with my maps shows a lot of climbing and descending, which would be tough to run (uphill for obvious reasons, downhill because that's what bothers my injured left knee the most.) As it turned out, the trail was beautiful. With one exception, none of the climbs were too long or steep, and there were reasonably level stretches in between most of them. A few miles in the hiking trail briefly intersected the eroded multi-abuse Skyline Trail, at the shore of a nice man-made pond, then headed back into the woods again. I heard lots of birds (including an owl as I was drawing near to Berry Pond Rd) and saw dozens of red efts (the land-dwelling, juvenile stage of the aquatic red-spotted newt.) I also passed a large beaver pond, though I didn't see any beavers out and about. Huge beds of ferns bordered the trail in many places, and there was lots of evidence of recent trail work to either remove branches brought down by the ice storms last winter or re-route around fallen trees.
Portions of the trail between the pond and Tower mountain were somewhat overgrown, mainly by brambles, which slowed me down quite a bit - I didn't feel like getting too torn up (though I did collect more than a few scratches) plus I needed to be able to see where I was placing my feet. I found myself walking more and more along those parts, which slowed things down a lot. The trail was fairly clear from Tower Mountain to Berry Pond Rd (in part due to work done last fall for the trail races) but that section is almsot entirely downhill, so I had to take it easy for the sake of my knee. Very slow going all around, which is why I decided to try taking the Skyline Trail back to the car, in hopes that I'd be able to run more on the way back.
Before heading back, I paid a brief visit to Berry Pond (the highest body of water in MA at an elevation of 2150 ft) and walked up the hill to take in the view to the west. Then it was time for the run back...
Except running turned out to be not really part of the picture. The trail was as bad asI expected - eroded and covered in fist-sized rocks in some spots, muddy with huge mudpuddles in others, and tough to run under the best of conditions. My legs were tired and sore and for whatever reason I found it pretty easy to convince myself after a couple of short running stretches to just hike the rest of the way out. I can't really say it was much fun... the surroundings were nice, but the trail was a huge eyesore and the damage done by the ATV riders always both breaks my heart and makes my blood boil. The worst sections were closer to route 20 - places where the trail had been widened to 15 or 20 feet by riders trying to avoid mud, numerous side trails cut to avoid sections they'd already ruined... any time I hear arguments for how we should open up more trails for the responsible ATV riders I think of the mess they've made of so many multiuse trails in western MA and all I can think is "Hell, no!"
Passed a beaver pond at one point and caught a glimpse of a beaver scrambling away, with a loud "smack" of his tail against the water as he submerged. Heard lots of birds, just as on the trip out, but didn't see many. I have to admit I was pleased when I finally started hearing traffic from route 20, though the long downhill of switchbacks to the trailhead seemed to take forever... it didn't help that it was getting dark (and my headlamp was back in Albany) or that I ran into the one ATV rider of the day along that stretch (and unlike many who slow when they're passing a hiker, this jerk seemed only interested in blasting up the hill on his noisy, smelly 4 wheeler as fast as he could... but to be fair, maybe he didn't even see me off to the side of the trail.) And I can say without a doubt that I was might pleased to finally walk out into the parking area and down the hill to my car to call it a day...
I definitely want to explore the TCT some more... maybe even someday do the 1 day end-to-end competition that the Taconic Hiking Club holds every year. But I think I'll steer clear of the Skyline Trail... it wasn't much fun to hike along today, and I doubt it would be much more fun to ride a bike along it. Too bad, really, but unfortunately I don't see the ATVs going anywhere anytime soon.
JMH
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Pittsfield State Forest trail map (3.75 MB PDF)
Today's trek was supposed to be a run... and I did run most of the relatively level sections for the first few miles (in between hiking up and down hills.) But as I went further the trail became more overgrown and I found myself walking even the level parts, until by the time I reached Berry Pond Rd in Pittsfield State Forest my ability to run was almost nonexistent... so I'm going to count this primarily as a hike. A very pleasant hike out along the beautiful Taconic Crest Trail, and a not nearly as pleasant hike back along the badly damaged Taconic Skyline Trail.
I've wanted to run the TCT for several years now, since I picked up a trail guide and maps put out by the Taconic Hiking Club. The stretches we ran during the 2008 Curly's Trail Races only whet my appetite to visit more of the trail. I've also been curious about the TST, which is listed as a mountain bike ride in Anna Milkowski's Mountain Biking the Berkshires, though I have to admit I didn't expect it to be nearly as nice a trail, knowing the damage that the idiotic ATV riders have done to many of the trails they have access to in western MA. So today I headed just across the border to Pittsfield, left the car at the parking area along route 20, and headed north with my Go Lite Rush hydration pack filled with more supplies than I expected to need. I'd been hoping for a sunny day (better pictures!) but cool and cloudy definitely has its advantages to.
I wasn't sure exactly what to expect beyond a singletrack hiking trail... the elevation profile that came with my maps shows a lot of climbing and descending, which would be tough to run (uphill for obvious reasons, downhill because that's what bothers my injured left knee the most.) As it turned out, the trail was beautiful. With one exception, none of the climbs were too long or steep, and there were reasonably level stretches in between most of them. A few miles in the hiking trail briefly intersected the eroded multi-abuse Skyline Trail, at the shore of a nice man-made pond, then headed back into the woods again. I heard lots of birds (including an owl as I was drawing near to Berry Pond Rd) and saw dozens of red efts (the land-dwelling, juvenile stage of the aquatic red-spotted newt.) I also passed a large beaver pond, though I didn't see any beavers out and about. Huge beds of ferns bordered the trail in many places, and there was lots of evidence of recent trail work to either remove branches brought down by the ice storms last winter or re-route around fallen trees.
Portions of the trail between the pond and Tower mountain were somewhat overgrown, mainly by brambles, which slowed me down quite a bit - I didn't feel like getting too torn up (though I did collect more than a few scratches) plus I needed to be able to see where I was placing my feet. I found myself walking more and more along those parts, which slowed things down a lot. The trail was fairly clear from Tower Mountain to Berry Pond Rd (in part due to work done last fall for the trail races) but that section is almsot entirely downhill, so I had to take it easy for the sake of my knee. Very slow going all around, which is why I decided to try taking the Skyline Trail back to the car, in hopes that I'd be able to run more on the way back.
Before heading back, I paid a brief visit to Berry Pond (the highest body of water in MA at an elevation of 2150 ft) and walked up the hill to take in the view to the west. Then it was time for the run back...
Except running turned out to be not really part of the picture. The trail was as bad asI expected - eroded and covered in fist-sized rocks in some spots, muddy with huge mudpuddles in others, and tough to run under the best of conditions. My legs were tired and sore and for whatever reason I found it pretty easy to convince myself after a couple of short running stretches to just hike the rest of the way out. I can't really say it was much fun... the surroundings were nice, but the trail was a huge eyesore and the damage done by the ATV riders always both breaks my heart and makes my blood boil. The worst sections were closer to route 20 - places where the trail had been widened to 15 or 20 feet by riders trying to avoid mud, numerous side trails cut to avoid sections they'd already ruined... any time I hear arguments for how we should open up more trails for the responsible ATV riders I think of the mess they've made of so many multiuse trails in western MA and all I can think is "Hell, no!"
Passed a beaver pond at one point and caught a glimpse of a beaver scrambling away, with a loud "smack" of his tail against the water as he submerged. Heard lots of birds, just as on the trip out, but didn't see many. I have to admit I was pleased when I finally started hearing traffic from route 20, though the long downhill of switchbacks to the trailhead seemed to take forever... it didn't help that it was getting dark (and my headlamp was back in Albany) or that I ran into the one ATV rider of the day along that stretch (and unlike many who slow when they're passing a hiker, this jerk seemed only interested in blasting up the hill on his noisy, smelly 4 wheeler as fast as he could... but to be fair, maybe he didn't even see me off to the side of the trail.) And I can say without a doubt that I was might pleased to finally walk out into the parking area and down the hill to my car to call it a day...
I definitely want to explore the TCT some more... maybe even someday do the 1 day end-to-end competition that the Taconic Hiking Club holds every year. But I think I'll steer clear of the Skyline Trail... it wasn't much fun to hike along today, and I doubt it would be much more fun to ride a bike along it. Too bad, really, but unfortunately I don't see the ATVs going anywhere anytime soon.
JMH
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
14.7 Mile Ride On the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A pleasant evening ride along the bike path west of Schenectady. My legs were definitely feeling the aftereffects of yesterday's 27 miler on the mountain bike... not a lot of get-up-and-go tonight. Spotted a wood duck and ducklings in the old canal, and a pair of beavers on the edge of the river down closer to SCCC... unfortunately by that point it was getting dark enough that it was tough to get a good look at them (or decent pictures.) On the way back to Lock 8 I also saw several bats flitting around - always good to see!
Tonight was a strong reminder that we've been losing 2-3 minutes of daylight every day... it was getting tough to see by 8:30. I should mount one of my lights on the bike if I'm going to keep riding later in the evening...
JMH
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A pleasant evening ride along the bike path west of Schenectady. My legs were definitely feeling the aftereffects of yesterday's 27 miler on the mountain bike... not a lot of get-up-and-go tonight. Spotted a wood duck and ducklings in the old canal, and a pair of beavers on the edge of the river down closer to SCCC... unfortunately by that point it was getting dark enough that it was tough to get a good look at them (or decent pictures.) On the way back to Lock 8 I also saw several bats flitting around - always good to see!
Tonight was a strong reminder that we've been losing 2-3 minutes of daylight every day... it was getting tough to see by 8:30. I should mount one of my lights on the bike if I'm going to keep riding later in the evening...
JMH
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
27 Mile Ride Along the Erie Canalway Trail, Camillus to Jordan
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The original Erie Canal was built between 1817 and 1825 and became an overnight success, allowing the easy and inexpensive transport of freight from the Hudson River to the Great Lakes in 10 days (as opposed to 6 weeks using overland routes.) Towns grew all across New York State to provide services for the canal and the canal boats. At 40 ft wide and 4 feet deep, however, it quickly became jammed with traffic, and in 1835 the Enlarged Erie Canal was built. In some places this simply meant widening and deepening the original channel, but in other spots the canal was relocated altogether. Another enlargement was done in the late 1800's and then in 1922 a number of sections of the Enlarged Canal were abandoned in favor of the canal following local rivers. In many places the original canal prism was filled, but in several locations we are fortunate to have these historic waterways as parks alongsde the current Canalway Trail.
One such section is the Erie Canalway Trail west of Syracuse from Jordan to Camillus. I first rode the path back in 2001 or 2002 on my road bike, and then a year or so later on my (at the time) new mountain bike. The section in Camillus was clear just as it is now, but what a difference has been made to the portions between the Camillus Canal Park and Jordan... what is now a level stone dust path was rough, uneven, and overgrown, so much so that in several spots I remembering having to push my bike because the weeds were too thick for me to see what little path there was. I marvelled at the changes last year when I rode this section, and they were still pretty amazing to me a year later.
The Erie Canal Park in Camillus is one of the more notable places along this stretch of canal, at least for anyone interested in canal and NYS history. The park includes a replica canal store which has been converted into a museum, the Sims Store Canal Museum. I've never made it inside, but on the grounds there are replicas of canal boats, remains of lock timbers, and a variety of informative signs. Further down the path is one of the more impressive remnants of the canal - the stonework of the aqueduct crossing Nine Mile Creek. The previous times I was here, the canal was dammed up on either side of the aqueduct, but in the last year the aqueduct has been restored and now the waters of the old canal once again are carried over the creek. I believe this is the only navigable aqueduct along any of the remaining segments of the old canal - needless to say, I had to see that!
I started out at Warners Park and rode east to Camillus. The water in the canal was the highest I've ever seen it - no big surprise, given how much rain we've had this summer. It was good to be out on a bright sunny day riding. I didn't stop at the museum - I checked out the outdoor displays pretty extensively last year. About a mile beyond that, I reached the aqueduct. There's still work being done in the area, so it's not as nice-looking as it will probably be by the end of the season, but wow. The work that was done to restore the water-trough is impressive. I knew that from the pictures posted on both the Camillus Canal Park site and at Frank Sadowski Jr's wonderful Erie Canal site, but seeing it in person really drove the point home. But what I think is even more impressive is the work that was done building the original aqueduct. The stone work is still intact after over 150 years, and what was done this summer using heavy equipment and modern materials was originally done entirely by hand. Incredible. And this is one of the smaller aqueducts! The work that must have gone into building and maintaining the larger ones, like the ones at Schoharie Creek and Rexford (both now mostly either dismantled or partially in ruins) is just unbelievable.
The only real disadvantage to the restoration of the aqueduct is the need to cross the canal at one of the road crossings - it used to be possible to cross to the path on the far side using the dam. Before heading back to check out the other side of the restoration project, I rode the rest of the path down to Warners Road. Along the way I managed to get some good pictures of a swallowtail butterfly and a green heron that was far more interested in hunting than in my close proximity. Then I headed back up the path, crossed the canal, and road down the grass and dirt path on the far side. After taking more pictures of the aqueduct, I headed back west. For a change, I decided to ride the somewhat rougher path on the south side of the canal. While it didn't provide nearly as many views of the water (there were a lot of trees and bushes along the path) I did pass a sign marking the halfway point for the Enlarged Canal between Albany and Buffalo.
Back at Warners Park, I refilled my water bottles and decided to ride west to Jordan, about 7 1/2 miles away. The first stretch is probably one of the least pleasant portions of the ride, about a mile of broken up dirt road. What looked like a new road was running parallel to it, so perhaps the next time I'm here the path next to the canal will be in better shape and will be limited to foot and bike travel. Much of the path to Jordan runs through woods (shade, a wonderful thing!) and the old canal is much more overgrown. Unfortunately, it was also along here that the deerflies discovered me, and any time I stopped I found myself fighting a swarm of them buzzing around my head. The last mile of path into Jordan holds fond memories of my running the 2005 Jordan Alpine Classic (it's the first part of the race) - with luck I'll be there again in September!
There was a group of local kids hanging out at the Jordan Aqueduct across Skaneateles Creek, where there's a park in the prism of the old canal. I stopped just past there to munch a Powerbar and give myself a fresh dose of bug spray in hopes of discouraging the flies on the way back. Snapped a few photos of the park and then headed back... it was getting a bit late, so I pushed fairly hard to try and get back to the car before dark. A good ride, overall... one of these days I'll have to ride the path from Jordan to Port Byron.
JMH
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The original Erie Canal was built between 1817 and 1825 and became an overnight success, allowing the easy and inexpensive transport of freight from the Hudson River to the Great Lakes in 10 days (as opposed to 6 weeks using overland routes.) Towns grew all across New York State to provide services for the canal and the canal boats. At 40 ft wide and 4 feet deep, however, it quickly became jammed with traffic, and in 1835 the Enlarged Erie Canal was built. In some places this simply meant widening and deepening the original channel, but in other spots the canal was relocated altogether. Another enlargement was done in the late 1800's and then in 1922 a number of sections of the Enlarged Canal were abandoned in favor of the canal following local rivers. In many places the original canal prism was filled, but in several locations we are fortunate to have these historic waterways as parks alongsde the current Canalway Trail.
One such section is the Erie Canalway Trail west of Syracuse from Jordan to Camillus. I first rode the path back in 2001 or 2002 on my road bike, and then a year or so later on my (at the time) new mountain bike. The section in Camillus was clear just as it is now, but what a difference has been made to the portions between the Camillus Canal Park and Jordan... what is now a level stone dust path was rough, uneven, and overgrown, so much so that in several spots I remembering having to push my bike because the weeds were too thick for me to see what little path there was. I marvelled at the changes last year when I rode this section, and they were still pretty amazing to me a year later.
The Erie Canal Park in Camillus is one of the more notable places along this stretch of canal, at least for anyone interested in canal and NYS history. The park includes a replica canal store which has been converted into a museum, the Sims Store Canal Museum. I've never made it inside, but on the grounds there are replicas of canal boats, remains of lock timbers, and a variety of informative signs. Further down the path is one of the more impressive remnants of the canal - the stonework of the aqueduct crossing Nine Mile Creek. The previous times I was here, the canal was dammed up on either side of the aqueduct, but in the last year the aqueduct has been restored and now the waters of the old canal once again are carried over the creek. I believe this is the only navigable aqueduct along any of the remaining segments of the old canal - needless to say, I had to see that!
I started out at Warners Park and rode east to Camillus. The water in the canal was the highest I've ever seen it - no big surprise, given how much rain we've had this summer. It was good to be out on a bright sunny day riding. I didn't stop at the museum - I checked out the outdoor displays pretty extensively last year. About a mile beyond that, I reached the aqueduct. There's still work being done in the area, so it's not as nice-looking as it will probably be by the end of the season, but wow. The work that was done to restore the water-trough is impressive. I knew that from the pictures posted on both the Camillus Canal Park site and at Frank Sadowski Jr's wonderful Erie Canal site, but seeing it in person really drove the point home. But what I think is even more impressive is the work that was done building the original aqueduct. The stone work is still intact after over 150 years, and what was done this summer using heavy equipment and modern materials was originally done entirely by hand. Incredible. And this is one of the smaller aqueducts! The work that must have gone into building and maintaining the larger ones, like the ones at Schoharie Creek and Rexford (both now mostly either dismantled or partially in ruins) is just unbelievable.
The only real disadvantage to the restoration of the aqueduct is the need to cross the canal at one of the road crossings - it used to be possible to cross to the path on the far side using the dam. Before heading back to check out the other side of the restoration project, I rode the rest of the path down to Warners Road. Along the way I managed to get some good pictures of a swallowtail butterfly and a green heron that was far more interested in hunting than in my close proximity. Then I headed back up the path, crossed the canal, and road down the grass and dirt path on the far side. After taking more pictures of the aqueduct, I headed back west. For a change, I decided to ride the somewhat rougher path on the south side of the canal. While it didn't provide nearly as many views of the water (there were a lot of trees and bushes along the path) I did pass a sign marking the halfway point for the Enlarged Canal between Albany and Buffalo.
Back at Warners Park, I refilled my water bottles and decided to ride west to Jordan, about 7 1/2 miles away. The first stretch is probably one of the least pleasant portions of the ride, about a mile of broken up dirt road. What looked like a new road was running parallel to it, so perhaps the next time I'm here the path next to the canal will be in better shape and will be limited to foot and bike travel. Much of the path to Jordan runs through woods (shade, a wonderful thing!) and the old canal is much more overgrown. Unfortunately, it was also along here that the deerflies discovered me, and any time I stopped I found myself fighting a swarm of them buzzing around my head. The last mile of path into Jordan holds fond memories of my running the 2005 Jordan Alpine Classic (it's the first part of the race) - with luck I'll be there again in September!
There was a group of local kids hanging out at the Jordan Aqueduct across Skaneateles Creek, where there's a park in the prism of the old canal. I stopped just past there to munch a Powerbar and give myself a fresh dose of bug spray in hopes of discouraging the flies on the way back. Snapped a few photos of the park and then headed back... it was getting a bit late, so I pushed fairly hard to try and get back to the car before dark. A good ride, overall... one of these days I'll have to ride the path from Jordan to Port Byron.
JMH
Monday, August 10, 2009
Feathered Friends
Monday, August 10, 2009
A hot humid lazy day today... which meant I had plenty of opportunity to watch the birds in the backyard...
These two sparrows seem to be wondering if I'm going to come out and fill the feeder soon...
I put up a thistle seed feeder last summer to attract goldfinches...
... but this summer everyone seems to be enjoying it, especially the doves and chipmunks.
This house finch was so startlingly red that at first glimpse I thought he might be a cardinal.
JMH
Monday, August 10, 2009
A hot humid lazy day today... which meant I had plenty of opportunity to watch the birds in the backyard...
These two sparrows seem to be wondering if I'm going to come out and fill the feeder soon...
I put up a thistle seed feeder last summer to attract goldfinches...
... but this summer everyone seems to be enjoying it, especially the doves and chipmunks.
This house finch was so startlingly red that at first glimpse I thought he might be a cardinal.
JMH
Sunday, August 09, 2009
WALKING AFTER THE STORMS
1.4 Mile Walk Along the Genesee Riverway Trail
1 Mile Walk at Ontario Beach Park
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Ann and I wanted to get outdoors for a bit, so we headed up toward the lake to do a bit of walking. We started out at Turning Point Park along the Genesee Riverway Trail. We were a bit surprised to see how many other people were there, given the storms that had swept through during the early afternoon, but I guess there's no dissuading someone who really wants to fish... they're kind of like runners that way...
After a fairly boring walk along the path at the top of the bluff and then a slow crawl down the very steep hill to the river's edge (my knee and right calf were both pretty sore from this morning's race) we made our way out onto the boardwalk bridge across Turning Point Basin. The water was the highest I've ever seen it this time of year. As we walked across the bridge, we spotted several blue herons and, it turns out, a green heron as well (I didn't realize that until I looked at my photos later.) Someone has apparently been feeding the ducks... as soon as we stopped on the bridge, a large group of them made a beeline toward us, then when we didn't have any food crossed under the bridge and seemed to have a good time feeding in the shallows.
Lots of fish in evidence, including a couple of good-sized orange carp... we also saw a number of turtles, including two little guys who were about the size of a silver dollar. The only swans in evidence were two adults... no little ones this year. But given how the swan population around Rochester seems to be increasing, maybe that's a good thing (though the fuzzy little guys are awfully cute.) The biggest surprise was a kingfisher that not only landed on the boardwalk railing ahead of us, but actually stuck around long enough for me to get some decent pictures of him.
After that we drove out to Ontario Beach Park and walked out on the concrete pier. Lots of gulls and ducks around. There was a large group of what looked like gulls over on the opposite pier, but it turned out that many of them were actually terns. We were both getting pretty tired by that point, so we only walked part of the way out to the light, then headed back to the car to pick up something for dinner and head home... a pleasant end to a mildly strenuous day.
JMH
1.4 Mile Walk Along the Genesee Riverway Trail
1 Mile Walk at Ontario Beach Park
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Ann and I wanted to get outdoors for a bit, so we headed up toward the lake to do a bit of walking. We started out at Turning Point Park along the Genesee Riverway Trail. We were a bit surprised to see how many other people were there, given the storms that had swept through during the early afternoon, but I guess there's no dissuading someone who really wants to fish... they're kind of like runners that way...
After a fairly boring walk along the path at the top of the bluff and then a slow crawl down the very steep hill to the river's edge (my knee and right calf were both pretty sore from this morning's race) we made our way out onto the boardwalk bridge across Turning Point Basin. The water was the highest I've ever seen it this time of year. As we walked across the bridge, we spotted several blue herons and, it turns out, a green heron as well (I didn't realize that until I looked at my photos later.) Someone has apparently been feeding the ducks... as soon as we stopped on the bridge, a large group of them made a beeline toward us, then when we didn't have any food crossed under the bridge and seemed to have a good time feeding in the shallows.
Lots of fish in evidence, including a couple of good-sized orange carp... we also saw a number of turtles, including two little guys who were about the size of a silver dollar. The only swans in evidence were two adults... no little ones this year. But given how the swan population around Rochester seems to be increasing, maybe that's a good thing (though the fuzzy little guys are awfully cute.) The biggest surprise was a kingfisher that not only landed on the boardwalk railing ahead of us, but actually stuck around long enough for me to get some decent pictures of him.
After that we drove out to Ontario Beach Park and walked out on the concrete pier. Lots of gulls and ducks around. There was a large group of what looked like gulls over on the opposite pier, but it turned out that many of them were actually terns. We were both getting pretty tired by that point, so we only walked part of the way out to the light, then headed back to the car to pick up something for dinner and head home... a pleasant end to a mildly strenuous day.
JMH
The Mount Morris Dam & the Genesee River Gorge
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Despite the fact that I was tired, fried, and a bit aggravated about the lack of support at the very end of the race, I took a few minutes to wander around the overlook above the Mt Morris Dam and went into the Visitor's Center to check out the displays. Definitely time well-spent... in fact, I wish now I'd taken more photos of the displays and signage, since some of it was very interesting.
The Mt Morris Dam is what's known as a dry dam - in other words, much of the time water from the river simply flows under the dam. That's because instead of being in place to create a reservoir, this dam was built for flood control. Prior to its construction (1948-1952) the sections of the Genesee River Valley closer to Lake Ontario were periodically subject to major flooding, causing a good deal of damage. The displays in the Visitor's Center had some incredible photographs of downtown Rochester underwater, with people using rowboats to get around. Construction of the dam allows for the control of water flow into the lower river valley - essentially, in times of very high water the gorge at Letchworth becomes a 15 mile long lake as water is more slowly released through the dam. The most dramatic example of this was the Flood of 1972, when Hurricane Agnes hit the northeast in June, stallled over north-central Pennsylvania, and dropped 6 to 12 inches of rain. Over the course of several days water in the gorge rose to the top of the 230 foot dam, at which point water was released through the gates to prevent it overflowing the dam. While this caused minor flooding downstream, it prevented the catastrophic damage from all of that water and debris flowing down the river unchecked. For more info and some incredible photos, I recommend a visit to the flood pages at Tom Cook and Tom Breslin's wonderful Exploring Letchworth Park History website. There are three pages detailing the flood - the effects on the upper gorge at Upper & Middle Falls and then at Lower Falls, and then the effects at the dam. The US Army Corps of Engineers site has more info about the dam and its history, as well as useful information for folks planning a visit.
One of the fun things about the dam is the number of turkey vultures that hang out there... during one visit to Letchworth Ann and I watched a dozen or more soaring on the air currents above the gorge. Apparently they consider the dam a great spot to take a break - while I was there today there were a dozen or more of them perched on the top. Every few minutes one or two would take off to fly for a while, and others would come in to take a break.
I didn't take my camera with me on the run, both because there was a possibility of rain and because I wanted to focus on running and having the camera with me definitely slows me down. The downside to that was I couldn't get any pictures from the overlooks we passed along the way. Fortunately, just down the road from the Visitor's Center there was a small parking area with a view down the gorge. Not quite as nice as the view a few miles further down the trail, but much easier to get to, especially in my fried state.
JMH
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Despite the fact that I was tired, fried, and a bit aggravated about the lack of support at the very end of the race, I took a few minutes to wander around the overlook above the Mt Morris Dam and went into the Visitor's Center to check out the displays. Definitely time well-spent... in fact, I wish now I'd taken more photos of the displays and signage, since some of it was very interesting.
The Mt Morris Dam is what's known as a dry dam - in other words, much of the time water from the river simply flows under the dam. That's because instead of being in place to create a reservoir, this dam was built for flood control. Prior to its construction (1948-1952) the sections of the Genesee River Valley closer to Lake Ontario were periodically subject to major flooding, causing a good deal of damage. The displays in the Visitor's Center had some incredible photographs of downtown Rochester underwater, with people using rowboats to get around. Construction of the dam allows for the control of water flow into the lower river valley - essentially, in times of very high water the gorge at Letchworth becomes a 15 mile long lake as water is more slowly released through the dam. The most dramatic example of this was the Flood of 1972, when Hurricane Agnes hit the northeast in June, stallled over north-central Pennsylvania, and dropped 6 to 12 inches of rain. Over the course of several days water in the gorge rose to the top of the 230 foot dam, at which point water was released through the gates to prevent it overflowing the dam. While this caused minor flooding downstream, it prevented the catastrophic damage from all of that water and debris flowing down the river unchecked. For more info and some incredible photos, I recommend a visit to the flood pages at Tom Cook and Tom Breslin's wonderful Exploring Letchworth Park History website. There are three pages detailing the flood - the effects on the upper gorge at Upper & Middle Falls and then at Lower Falls, and then the effects at the dam. The US Army Corps of Engineers site has more info about the dam and its history, as well as useful information for folks planning a visit.
One of the fun things about the dam is the number of turkey vultures that hang out there... during one visit to Letchworth Ann and I watched a dozen or more soaring on the air currents above the gorge. Apparently they consider the dam a great spot to take a break - while I was there today there were a dozen or more of them perched on the top. Every few minutes one or two would take off to fly for a while, and others would come in to take a break.
I didn't take my camera with me on the run, both because there was a possibility of rain and because I wanted to focus on running and having the camera with me definitely slows me down. The downside to that was I couldn't get any pictures from the overlooks we passed along the way. Fortunately, just down the road from the Visitor's Center there was a small parking area with a view down the gorge. Not quite as nice as the view a few miles further down the trail, but much easier to get to, especially in my fried state.
JMH
Saturday, August 08, 2009
A Quick Wander Around Lollipop Farm
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Lollipop Farm site
Lollipop Farm is home to the Humane Society of Greater Rochester. In addition to the usual dogs, cats, and small animals they also give homes a a variety of larger animals - horses, deer, lamas, goats, pigs, and sheep - as well as ducks, geese, and swans. Since we were right next door for our ride today, we decided to stop by and walk through the animal pens before heading home.
We saw several pens with horses - earlier in the day there were people walking and riding them. The lamas were all inside their barn, and the one standing in the doorway didn't look particularly pleased to see us. The fallow deers were pretty indifferent, as were the very large pigs and the sheep.
The biggest surprise was a pair of emus in one pen - those are funky birds, no doubt about it. The goats were probably the most fun to watch, since the males were constantly butting heads with each other - literally! It's hard to imagine how thick their skulls must be to handle those kinds of impact.
When we stopped to look at the swans, geese, and ducks we were surprised to see they had some visitors in their pen - a couple of chipmunks and a woodchuck taking advantage of the free food.
I suspect I'm glad the main building was closed; somehow I don't think I would have been too happy seeing all the cats, dogs, and smaller animals in need of a permanent home. It's really a shame we have to have places like this to ensure that animals are properly cared for... but it's also a good thing that there are people and places like this there for the animals that need them.
JMH
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Lollipop Farm site
Lollipop Farm is home to the Humane Society of Greater Rochester. In addition to the usual dogs, cats, and small animals they also give homes a a variety of larger animals - horses, deer, lamas, goats, pigs, and sheep - as well as ducks, geese, and swans. Since we were right next door for our ride today, we decided to stop by and walk through the animal pens before heading home.
We saw several pens with horses - earlier in the day there were people walking and riding them. The lamas were all inside their barn, and the one standing in the doorway didn't look particularly pleased to see us. The fallow deers were pretty indifferent, as were the very large pigs and the sheep.
The biggest surprise was a pair of emus in one pen - those are funky birds, no doubt about it. The goats were probably the most fun to watch, since the males were constantly butting heads with each other - literally! It's hard to imagine how thick their skulls must be to handle those kinds of impact.
When we stopped to look at the swans, geese, and ducks we were surprised to see they had some visitors in their pen - a couple of chipmunks and a woodchuck taking advantage of the free food.
I suspect I'm glad the main building was closed; somehow I don't think I would have been too happy seeing all the cats, dogs, and smaller animals in need of a permanent home. It's really a shame we have to have places like this to ensure that animals are properly cared for... but it's also a good thing that there are people and places like this there for the animals that need them.
JMH
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
No Question - I've Got It Pretty Darn Good
Monday, August 3, 2009
Spent part of the day a bit bummed that my knee is sore (from my pushing too had at Indian Ladder yesterday) and my lower back is sore (muscle spasm... it sucks getting old) and blah blah blah, grumble gripe complain.
Tonight while I was riding my bike I passed a gal on the path who was smiling while walking her dog... from her wheelchair. My knee and my back didn't seem like such a big deal after that.
JMH
Monday, August 3, 2009
Spent part of the day a bit bummed that my knee is sore (from my pushing too had at Indian Ladder yesterday) and my lower back is sore (muscle spasm... it sucks getting old) and blah blah blah, grumble gripe complain.
Tonight while I was riding my bike I passed a gal on the path who was smiling while walking her dog... from her wheelchair. My knee and my back didn't seem like such a big deal after that.
JMH
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Saturday, August 01, 2009
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