17.3 Mile Ride on the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
12.3 Mile Ride on the Erie Canalway Trail, Gates to Lock 33
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Ann headed down to the ambulance base to spend 4 hours on EMT duty tonight, so I packed my gear and took the bike over to the Public Safety Center for a ride on the canal path. Between the holiday and the fact that it was dark, I was fairly sure I wouldn't see anyone else on the path (and I was right... though I did scare a bunny and a deer while I was riding.)
Right off the bat I ended up questioning whether I should ride tonight, when I got a flat all of a half mile from the car... so I headed back to the car, changed the tube, switched to a slightly heavier jacket (it was chillier than I thought, and I don't have any of my warmer tops out here) and headed back out. Thankfully the remainder of the ride passed without mishap.
The section of path just east of Genesee Valley Park is pretty sad... I had seen it from the highway but it's even worse being on the path. What used to be a tree-lined, partly shaded path is now wide open on one side, thanks to the arboricidal maniacs at the Canal Corporation. Over the last few years they've been cutting down trees and clearly bushes along the edge of the canalway trail, probably for very practical reasons - but I can't help but lament the loss of flora, habitat for the local birds and critters, and shade for those of us who spend time on the path.
I had forgotten that heading east is always easier than heading back west, thanks to the typically eastward blowing wind along the canal - and tonight was no exception. Made for a tough, chilly ride back, with zero temptation to extend my time on the bike for a few more miles.
I continue to be very pleased with my Niterider MiNewt 350 bike headlight - man, that thing is bright! Definitely the best investment I've ever made toward riding at night.
And I continue to be dismayed by how little time I've spent on my bike this year... after all, bike season has wound way down and I'm not even at 700 miles for the year. I've got to be more committed to riding next year, or I'm going to pay for it big time during any duathlons I do.
JMH
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Ann headed down to the ambulance base to spend 4 hours on EMT duty tonight, so I packed my gear and took the bike over to the Public Safety Center for a ride on the canal path. Between the holiday and the fact that it was dark, I was fairly sure I wouldn't see anyone else on the path (and I was right... though I did scare a bunny and a deer while I was riding.)
Right off the bat I ended up questioning whether I should ride tonight, when I got a flat all of a half mile from the car... so I headed back to the car, changed the tube, switched to a slightly heavier jacket (it was chillier than I thought, and I don't have any of my warmer tops out here) and headed back out. Thankfully the remainder of the ride passed without mishap.
The section of path just east of Genesee Valley Park is pretty sad... I had seen it from the highway but it's even worse being on the path. What used to be a tree-lined, partly shaded path is now wide open on one side, thanks to the arboricidal maniacs at the Canal Corporation. Over the last few years they've been cutting down trees and clearly bushes along the edge of the canalway trail, probably for very practical reasons - but I can't help but lament the loss of flora, habitat for the local birds and critters, and shade for those of us who spend time on the path.
I had forgotten that heading east is always easier than heading back west, thanks to the typically eastward blowing wind along the canal - and tonight was no exception. Made for a tough, chilly ride back, with zero temptation to extend my time on the bike for a few more miles.
I continue to be very pleased with my Niterider MiNewt 350 bike headlight - man, that thing is bright! Definitely the best investment I've ever made toward riding at night.
And I continue to be dismayed by how little time I've spent on my bike this year... after all, bike season has wound way down and I'm not even at 700 miles for the year. I've got to be more committed to riding next year, or I'm going to pay for it big time during any duathlons I do.
JMH
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
PRE-THANKSGIVING RUN WALK
1.5 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
When I got up this morning I was pretty sure I'd go for a short run today... my foot was feeling a good deal better, and I've tried to go for a run the day before Thanksgiving for the last seven years (though I missed 2009 due to a knee injury... bleah.)
But... it was cold and raining outside (as in "barely above freezing" cold and raining.) And I listened to a podcast from Endurance Planet talking about why it's a bad idea to try to run through plantar fasciitis. And I was sufficiently tired this afternoon that I really needed to lay down and take a nap. So - no run for me today. And honestly it was probably best that I keep giving my foot a break from running, especially since I'm planning to run both days this weekend.
Instead, I took the Buckingham Lake ducks some Thanksgiving cracked corn (which they greatly appreciated) and walked two laps around the pond. Between the crummy weather (it had stopped raining but was still cold) and the upcoming holiday there were very few people there. Always a nice plus!
The ducks were, as usual, very entertaining. I fed them at a spot where the water is a bit deeper, so there was a lot of dabbing and splashing (ducks tipping their butts up in the air, so their bills can reach the bottom) and even one female who apparently has been hanging out with diving ducks - she repeatedly went completely under water to get cracked corn that had drifted to the bottom.
JMH
1.5 Mile Walk at Buckingham Lake
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
When I got up this morning I was pretty sure I'd go for a short run today... my foot was feeling a good deal better, and I've tried to go for a run the day before Thanksgiving for the last seven years (though I missed 2009 due to a knee injury... bleah.)
But... it was cold and raining outside (as in "barely above freezing" cold and raining.) And I listened to a podcast from Endurance Planet talking about why it's a bad idea to try to run through plantar fasciitis. And I was sufficiently tired this afternoon that I really needed to lay down and take a nap. So - no run for me today. And honestly it was probably best that I keep giving my foot a break from running, especially since I'm planning to run both days this weekend.
Instead, I took the Buckingham Lake ducks some Thanksgiving cracked corn (which they greatly appreciated) and walked two laps around the pond. Between the crummy weather (it had stopped raining but was still cold) and the upcoming holiday there were very few people there. Always a nice plus!
The ducks were, as usual, very entertaining. I fed them at a spot where the water is a bit deeper, so there was a lot of dabbing and splashing (ducks tipping their butts up in the air, so their bills can reach the bottom) and even one female who apparently has been hanging out with diving ducks - she repeatedly went completely under water to get cracked corn that had drifted to the bottom.
JMH
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Farewell Anne McCaffrey
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Anne McCaffrey was a prolific award-winning science fiction author, best known for her "Dragonriders of Pern" novels. She wrote close to 100 books either as sole author or in collaboration with others, and was very active in the wider science fiction writing community for over 40 years. She died yesterday at her home in Ireland, reportedly due to a stroke, at the age of 85.
I haven't read one of her books in years, in part because it seemed like they were becoming a bit repetitive and in part because my tastes drifted first toward more epic fantasy and then toward mostly urban fantasy. But I have very fond memories of her earlier books. When I first got a job and started earning my own money to spend in high school, one of the things I started to do was buy books. My options were fairly limited - there was a small bookstore in the commercial area outside of Hudson (the largest "city" near where I grew up, about a 20-30 minute drive away) that had a decent science fiction/fantasy section and new releases every week (keeping in mind that the new release market in the early 1980's didn't have nearly the volume it has now.) Of course it helped that they also stocked a good selection of comic books... that was probably what first got me in the door, since those were substantially cheaper than paperback (25 cents, versus $1.50 or so) and much more affordable on the small allowance my parents could provide.
Much of my early book reading in junior high and high school was supported by the school librarian, who was a science fiction fan and loaned me many of her own books, and a fellow who went to the church my family attended who gave me quite a few books and stacks of old pulp magazines that he no longer wanted to take up storage space at his family's home. I owe them both a huge thank you for encouraging my love of books and reading fantastic fiction that continues to this day. Anyway, once I had a little money coming in on a regular basis, it wasn't long before I latched on to the idea of buying books for myself... and Ann McCaffrey's Dragonrider books, with their wonderful Michael Whelan covers, were some of the first ones that I bought and read. I probably even re-read them once or twice - I remember doing that decades ago, before my collection of books grew so huge that even my "to be read" pile has its own bookcases (which are overflowing!)
So thank you, Ann McCaffrey, for many hours of reading pleasure, and for helping to grow my love of reading and my massive collection of books. She was truly one of the great science fiction authors of our time and there is no doubt she will be missed.
JMH
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Anne McCaffrey was a prolific award-winning science fiction author, best known for her "Dragonriders of Pern" novels. She wrote close to 100 books either as sole author or in collaboration with others, and was very active in the wider science fiction writing community for over 40 years. She died yesterday at her home in Ireland, reportedly due to a stroke, at the age of 85.
I haven't read one of her books in years, in part because it seemed like they were becoming a bit repetitive and in part because my tastes drifted first toward more epic fantasy and then toward mostly urban fantasy. But I have very fond memories of her earlier books. When I first got a job and started earning my own money to spend in high school, one of the things I started to do was buy books. My options were fairly limited - there was a small bookstore in the commercial area outside of Hudson (the largest "city" near where I grew up, about a 20-30 minute drive away) that had a decent science fiction/fantasy section and new releases every week (keeping in mind that the new release market in the early 1980's didn't have nearly the volume it has now.) Of course it helped that they also stocked a good selection of comic books... that was probably what first got me in the door, since those were substantially cheaper than paperback (25 cents, versus $1.50 or so) and much more affordable on the small allowance my parents could provide.
Much of my early book reading in junior high and high school was supported by the school librarian, who was a science fiction fan and loaned me many of her own books, and a fellow who went to the church my family attended who gave me quite a few books and stacks of old pulp magazines that he no longer wanted to take up storage space at his family's home. I owe them both a huge thank you for encouraging my love of books and reading fantastic fiction that continues to this day. Anyway, once I had a little money coming in on a regular basis, it wasn't long before I latched on to the idea of buying books for myself... and Ann McCaffrey's Dragonrider books, with their wonderful Michael Whelan covers, were some of the first ones that I bought and read. I probably even re-read them once or twice - I remember doing that decades ago, before my collection of books grew so huge that even my "to be read" pile has its own bookcases (which are overflowing!)
So thank you, Ann McCaffrey, for many hours of reading pleasure, and for helping to grow my love of reading and my massive collection of books. She was truly one of the great science fiction authors of our time and there is no doubt she will be missed.
JMH
Monday, November 21, 2011
Aaargh... Plantar Fasciitis...
Monday, November 21, 2011
For a while now I've had some minor heel pain, usually when I first get up in the morning... initially I thought I'd just bruised it, but the fact that the pain would disappear once I'd walked around a bit suggested that wasn't the case. Instead, it's probably a mild case of plantar fasciitis - an inflammation of the plantar fascii, a band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom on the foot. There are all sorts of reasons it might have happened - increased running mileage, decreased flexibility in my lower leg, or even the weight I've gained over the past couple of years. On the plus side, it's been very minor and most of the time I don't even think about it.
Except of course that this weekend I managed to aggravate it more than usual, possibly by pushing hard for the 2nd half of the Lil Rhody or possibly because I've put too many miles too quickly on the new Adidas trail shoes I've been using, after running mostly on Vasques for the last few years. All I know for sure is that it was sore walking around after the race, and really sore when I got up this morning.
Which is more than a bit worrisome, given that I've plunked down the registration fee for the Seashore Nature Trail 50k in mid-December. So no running for me for the next few days at least, while I see how it responds. I'd been planning to do a long (20 or so miles) run Wednesday but clearly that's not a good idea now - also worrisome since my window of opportunity for a last long run is shrinking rapidly. I may have to go into the 50k trusting my previous training (which hasn't been what I'd wanted it to be, but was enough for me to finish Stone Cat with my fastest time yet for a trail marathon.)
Oh, well, nothing to be done for it other than to try to be sensible and hope for the best...
JMH
Monday, November 21, 2011
For a while now I've had some minor heel pain, usually when I first get up in the morning... initially I thought I'd just bruised it, but the fact that the pain would disappear once I'd walked around a bit suggested that wasn't the case. Instead, it's probably a mild case of plantar fasciitis - an inflammation of the plantar fascii, a band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom on the foot. There are all sorts of reasons it might have happened - increased running mileage, decreased flexibility in my lower leg, or even the weight I've gained over the past couple of years. On the plus side, it's been very minor and most of the time I don't even think about it.
Except of course that this weekend I managed to aggravate it more than usual, possibly by pushing hard for the 2nd half of the Lil Rhody or possibly because I've put too many miles too quickly on the new Adidas trail shoes I've been using, after running mostly on Vasques for the last few years. All I know for sure is that it was sore walking around after the race, and really sore when I got up this morning.
Which is more than a bit worrisome, given that I've plunked down the registration fee for the Seashore Nature Trail 50k in mid-December. So no running for me for the next few days at least, while I see how it responds. I'd been planning to do a long (20 or so miles) run Wednesday but clearly that's not a good idea now - also worrisome since my window of opportunity for a last long run is shrinking rapidly. I may have to go into the 50k trusting my previous training (which hasn't been what I'd wanted it to be, but was enough for me to finish Stone Cat with my fastest time yet for a trail marathon.)
Oh, well, nothing to be done for it other than to try to be sensible and hope for the best...
JMH
Sunday, November 20, 2011
SEALS!
2.7 Mile Walk at John H. Chafee Nature Preserve
Sunday, November 20, 2011
I visited the Chafee Nature Preserve back in May, on my way home from the Shad Bloom 10 trail race on Block Island. At the time I'd read that during the late fall and winter, harbor seals often would haul out on a group of offshore rocks at low tide... unfortunately, I wasn't there at the right time of year or at low tide, so all I got was a pleasant walk through the woods and along a rocky, shell-covered beach. But I did make tentative plans to come back, especially after exploring the excellent Rome Point seals website.
I had originally thought to return to the preserve after running the Lil Rhody Runaround this morning, but then last night I checked the tide table and discovered that low ride would be around 8:30 AM... which meant my best bet for seeing seals would be to go before the race, ideally arriving around 7:30 AM... so I set my alarms for an very early morning and programmed the TomTom for a trip to the Chafee Preserve followed by a dash to Burlingame State Park in time to get ready for the race.
Got off to a slightly late start, but made it to the preserve by 7:45 and was pleased to find myself alone in the parking lot... for a few moments, before multiple cars with dogs arrived. So I hustled down the main path in hopes of remaining ahead of them, and surprisingly managed to do so all the way down to the beach. As I walked along the beach out to the point, I did run into one of the walkers and her dogs... but was lucky to find the actual point deserted. Though the boat out on the water left me skeptical about the chances of seeing any seals...
But once I zoomed in on the rocks, I was thrilled to see that I was wrong - there were several seals on the flatter rocks, as well as gulls and cormorants! So I settled in as comfortably as I could to wait and see if more seals showed up (according to the website, there were no seals the previous two Sundays, but 72 seals this past Tuesday!) It was tough to tell in the small camera screen, but it did seem like a few more showed up while I waited - and later review of the photos showed a number of seals I couldn't see at the time.
While I waited and watched I also watched the gulls, in particular a pair that seemed to be looking for food a short distance away - they drew a lot of attention to themselves by periodically launching into shrieking calls, especially if another gull flew by. I also spent time swatting some nasty biting flies - apparently November only cuts their numbers but doesn't wipe them out completely (then again, it was up around 60 degrees today...)
Eventually time ran out, and I had to make the hike back to the car. Snapped a few final shots of the seals and the bay, and then headed back to the road along a different set of trails. When I got back to the parking lot I discovered that I was leaving at a good time - there were a lot of people and dogs in the lot! I was definitely lucky to have the point mostly to myself for the hour or so that I was down there!
JMH
2.7 Mile Walk at John H. Chafee Nature Preserve
Sunday, November 20, 2011
I visited the Chafee Nature Preserve back in May, on my way home from the Shad Bloom 10 trail race on Block Island. At the time I'd read that during the late fall and winter, harbor seals often would haul out on a group of offshore rocks at low tide... unfortunately, I wasn't there at the right time of year or at low tide, so all I got was a pleasant walk through the woods and along a rocky, shell-covered beach. But I did make tentative plans to come back, especially after exploring the excellent Rome Point seals website.
I had originally thought to return to the preserve after running the Lil Rhody Runaround this morning, but then last night I checked the tide table and discovered that low ride would be around 8:30 AM... which meant my best bet for seeing seals would be to go before the race, ideally arriving around 7:30 AM... so I set my alarms for an very early morning and programmed the TomTom for a trip to the Chafee Preserve followed by a dash to Burlingame State Park in time to get ready for the race.
Got off to a slightly late start, but made it to the preserve by 7:45 and was pleased to find myself alone in the parking lot... for a few moments, before multiple cars with dogs arrived. So I hustled down the main path in hopes of remaining ahead of them, and surprisingly managed to do so all the way down to the beach. As I walked along the beach out to the point, I did run into one of the walkers and her dogs... but was lucky to find the actual point deserted. Though the boat out on the water left me skeptical about the chances of seeing any seals...
But once I zoomed in on the rocks, I was thrilled to see that I was wrong - there were several seals on the flatter rocks, as well as gulls and cormorants! So I settled in as comfortably as I could to wait and see if more seals showed up (according to the website, there were no seals the previous two Sundays, but 72 seals this past Tuesday!) It was tough to tell in the small camera screen, but it did seem like a few more showed up while I waited - and later review of the photos showed a number of seals I couldn't see at the time.
While I waited and watched I also watched the gulls, in particular a pair that seemed to be looking for food a short distance away - they drew a lot of attention to themselves by periodically launching into shrieking calls, especially if another gull flew by. I also spent time swatting some nasty biting flies - apparently November only cuts their numbers but doesn't wipe them out completely (then again, it was up around 60 degrees today...)
Eventually time ran out, and I had to make the hike back to the car. Snapped a few final shots of the seals and the bay, and then headed back to the road along a different set of trails. When I got back to the parking lot I discovered that I was leaving at a good time - there were a lot of people and dogs in the lot! I was definitely lucky to have the point mostly to myself for the hour or so that I was down there!
JMH
Saturday, November 19, 2011
MISSING YOU...
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Often when Ann comes to visit we'll go for a walk at one of the places I enjoy visiting near Albany - Thacher Park, Vischer Ferry, Five Rivers, and others. Sometimes when I go back to those places I find myself thinking about walking there with Ann and really wishing she could be there with me again, seeing the things I'm seeing. We've visited Five Rivers several times, most recently just a couple of weeks ago, and back in August we spent some time in RI and CT where I'm heading today and tomorrow. Today is one of the many days that I miss my best friend and sweetheart.
JMH
Saturday, November 19, 2011
When I left the house this afternoon I was struck by how lifeless it seems when I'm not there... I guess I always used to have a sense of Chaos being there (and even further back, Ninja too) even when she wasn't visible. I try not too think about it very often, but sometimes it just hits me - like this afternoon. I miss my two fuzzy beasties.I've been missing you, more than words can say,
And that I've been thinking about it every day.-Missing You, Chris De Burgh (1988)
Often when Ann comes to visit we'll go for a walk at one of the places I enjoy visiting near Albany - Thacher Park, Vischer Ferry, Five Rivers, and others. Sometimes when I go back to those places I find myself thinking about walking there with Ann and really wishing she could be there with me again, seeing the things I'm seeing. We've visited Five Rivers several times, most recently just a couple of weeks ago, and back in August we spent some time in RI and CT where I'm heading today and tomorrow. Today is one of the many days that I miss my best friend and sweetheart.
JMH
TURKEYS & DEER... AND OBNOXIOUS CHILDREN...
2.7 Mile Walk at Five Rivers EEC
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Well, so much for my plans to head down to CT early today, visit one or two parks, and run the trails at Bluff Point and Haley Farm. By the time I finally got my backside in gear it was clear I wouldn't reach anyplace in CT until shortly before dusk, so I decided to get in a rare winter daytime walk at Five Rivers.
The turkeys were once again right by the Visitors' Center - I guess they really appreciate the easy pickings at the bird feeders. I had to resist the temptation to get some cracked corn out of the car - maybe another time when there aren't as many people around. From there I walked down to the ponds - not much to see at either today, it was too early for the geese and beavers, and too cold for turtles and frogs. On the way up the hill from the far end of the Beaver Pond I startled a deer in the middle of the path - there must have been something tasty there, because he hung around until a walker coming from the opposite direction scared him off.
Walked back through the fields and around the various ponds - heard a few birds but didn't see much. Spotted several groups of mallards out in the water, paddling around looking for food. As I headed back along the edge of one of the fields I also saw several hawks flying over the field, and half a dozen deer in the old orchard. While I was watching them a couple of kids walked through and apparently decided to try to sneak up on the deer, but then gave up before they spooked them, fortunately.
The turkey were closer to the parking lot, so I walked over and watched them for a bit before heading back to the car. I was surprised when two of them flew up into the spruce trees near the Visitors' Center - perhaps they heard the yelling kids coming. Walked back over with my camera to try to get some shots of them up in the trees (always an odd-looking situation to me!) and watched as one of the kids started chasing the turkeys still on the ground. He kept it up long enough that I finally growled at him to stop chasing the turkeys. His sisters came along and looked about to do the same thing, but finally the parents caught up to them and seemed more interested in getting them to the car. As they were walking away the remaining turkeys flew up into the trees - can't say as I blame them. I don't even really blame the kids for their poor behavior, since it's the idiot parents who are at fault for not keeping their kids under control and educating them in proper behavior.
JMH
2.7 Mile Walk at Five Rivers EEC
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Well, so much for my plans to head down to CT early today, visit one or two parks, and run the trails at Bluff Point and Haley Farm. By the time I finally got my backside in gear it was clear I wouldn't reach anyplace in CT until shortly before dusk, so I decided to get in a rare winter daytime walk at Five Rivers.
The turkeys were once again right by the Visitors' Center - I guess they really appreciate the easy pickings at the bird feeders. I had to resist the temptation to get some cracked corn out of the car - maybe another time when there aren't as many people around. From there I walked down to the ponds - not much to see at either today, it was too early for the geese and beavers, and too cold for turtles and frogs. On the way up the hill from the far end of the Beaver Pond I startled a deer in the middle of the path - there must have been something tasty there, because he hung around until a walker coming from the opposite direction scared him off.
Walked back through the fields and around the various ponds - heard a few birds but didn't see much. Spotted several groups of mallards out in the water, paddling around looking for food. As I headed back along the edge of one of the fields I also saw several hawks flying over the field, and half a dozen deer in the old orchard. While I was watching them a couple of kids walked through and apparently decided to try to sneak up on the deer, but then gave up before they spooked them, fortunately.
The turkey were closer to the parking lot, so I walked over and watched them for a bit before heading back to the car. I was surprised when two of them flew up into the spruce trees near the Visitors' Center - perhaps they heard the yelling kids coming. Walked back over with my camera to try to get some shots of them up in the trees (always an odd-looking situation to me!) and watched as one of the kids started chasing the turkeys still on the ground. He kept it up long enough that I finally growled at him to stop chasing the turkeys. His sisters came along and looked about to do the same thing, but finally the parents caught up to them and seemed more interested in getting them to the car. As they were walking away the remaining turkeys flew up into the trees - can't say as I blame them. I don't even really blame the kids for their poor behavior, since it's the idiot parents who are at fault for not keeping their kids under control and educating them in proper behavior.
JMH
Friday, November 18, 2011
2.3 Mile Walk on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Friday, November 18, 2011
I had planned to go for a ride tonight after work - even left early enough that I could have started in daylight - but as has been the case far too often this fall, I was just too darned tired when I got home. But after eating a bit of dinner I did manage to pry myself off the couch to go out and run some errands, with the understanding that I'd also go for a walk.
Started out at Buckingham Lake, and spent a few moments tossing cracked corn to the ducks - took them a while to figure it out, since it was getting dark and the corn fragments were really tough to see. But in the end I just didn't feel like walking two loops around the pond, so I headed over the the bike path instead and walked down the to Niska Isle bridge and back.
It was a really good night for a walk - I actually found myself wishing I'd dressed to run instead. Chilly but not too cold, lots of stars visible... I heard muskrats and geese out on the river and flushed a heron under the bridge; I couldn't see him, but I heard the sound of his wings as he took off and he squawked angrily at me when he got a ways away.
All too soon that section of the bike path may be one of the few places I can run without snowshoes at night, and no doubt I will be quite tired of it by the time winter is over... but for tonight it was the perfect place for a walk.
JMH
Friday, November 18, 2011
I had planned to go for a ride tonight after work - even left early enough that I could have started in daylight - but as has been the case far too often this fall, I was just too darned tired when I got home. But after eating a bit of dinner I did manage to pry myself off the couch to go out and run some errands, with the understanding that I'd also go for a walk.
Started out at Buckingham Lake, and spent a few moments tossing cracked corn to the ducks - took them a while to figure it out, since it was getting dark and the corn fragments were really tough to see. But in the end I just didn't feel like walking two loops around the pond, so I headed over the the bike path instead and walked down the to Niska Isle bridge and back.
It was a really good night for a walk - I actually found myself wishing I'd dressed to run instead. Chilly but not too cold, lots of stars visible... I heard muskrats and geese out on the river and flushed a heron under the bridge; I couldn't see him, but I heard the sound of his wings as he took off and he squawked angrily at me when he got a ways away.
All too soon that section of the bike path may be one of the few places I can run without snowshoes at night, and no doubt I will be quite tired of it by the time winter is over... but for tonight it was the perfect place for a walk.
JMH
Thursday, November 17, 2011
HOT WATER!!!!!!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
It's incredible how much of a difference little things can make... Tuesday morning I woke up to water running out of my hot water heater in the basement, and it was finally replaced this evening. After two days of shaving and washing up with cold water, washing my hair under water cold enough to give me a headache on Wednesday morning, and washing it with a bike bottle filled with a boiling water/cold water mix this morning... it feels awfully darn good to turn on the tap and have hot water coming out tonight. And taking a hot shower tomorrow morning before work is going to feel even better...
Just another reminder I guess that I shouldn't take for granted all the little things that make my life easier and more enjoyable every day...
JMH
Thursday, November 17, 2011
It's incredible how much of a difference little things can make... Tuesday morning I woke up to water running out of my hot water heater in the basement, and it was finally replaced this evening. After two days of shaving and washing up with cold water, washing my hair under water cold enough to give me a headache on Wednesday morning, and washing it with a bike bottle filled with a boiling water/cold water mix this morning... it feels awfully darn good to turn on the tap and have hot water coming out tonight. And taking a hot shower tomorrow morning before work is going to feel even better...
Just another reminder I guess that I shouldn't take for granted all the little things that make my life easier and more enjoyable every day...
JMH
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
MAJOR TRAIL CHANGES INDEED
4.8 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Chilly, rainy, foggy night... but I really wanted to get in at least a short run, so I stopped at the Pine Bush Discovery Center and hit the trails there. Fortunately it wasn't too chilly, since I dropped my gloves in a puddle as I was getting ready - don't know that I would have wanted to be out in the rain much longer than I was, though.
Very slow going, partially because I'm trying to be nice to my right knee, which I tweaked a bit last weekend (all those darn hills... sigh) and partially because I haven't run much at night this year and I didn't want to end up stretched out on the trail. I headed up and over the hill, then out to the trail that parallels the Thruway - sadly, as I expected, the connector trail has been closed down. From there I ducked under 155 and followed the loop through the fields on the far side of the road. That was interesting mostly because I kept flushing some sort of bird, possibly woodcocks - I could hear them flying off making a whistling sound and really only caught a glimpse of one because it was sitting in the middle of the trail when I flushed it.
Once I was back on the east side of 155, I followed the perimeter trail toward the landfill. I knew from my brief walk here almost two weeks ago that they've closed a bunch of the trails - what I didn't know is how extensive the change is. Found the fence closing off the connector trail, and then found myself on a wide path skirting the edge of the landfill - very different from the trail that ran along the base of the hill. The new path follows the landfill and then goes down into the section between the preserve and the old trailer park, follows some of the previously "illegal" mountain bike trails around the wetlands and back into the main preserve, and then traces a new route along the ridge before rejoining the old path through the hardwood swamp. From there the trail back to the parking lot is the same, except for showing lots of signs of the heavy equipment that was used to cut the new trails (my guess would be some sort of hydroaxe.) I've definitely got to get over there in the daylight to see what it all looks like.
I have to admit I'm a bit bummed about the trail changes... one of the nice things about the Karner Barrens was the variety of trails there, and the way you could build up longer distances by using different connector trails - that's no longer possible. Now there are basically two loops, I would imagine to cut down on the amount of habitat fragmentation. I also suspect the section along the landfill won't be as pleasant to visit in the summer, no matter how much "habitat restoration" (ie. planting on top of the landfill cap) they do - maybe Mayor Jerry and his cronies don't think the landfill stinks, but anyone spending time in the Karner Barrens on a warm windy day knows differently (heck, just driving by on the Thruway on a warm day makes the truth about that clear!) Perhaps it's for the best that I don't run in the Pine Bush nearly as much as I did several years ago... except of course in the winter when I need trails to run and snowshoe at night.
JMH
4.8 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Chilly, rainy, foggy night... but I really wanted to get in at least a short run, so I stopped at the Pine Bush Discovery Center and hit the trails there. Fortunately it wasn't too chilly, since I dropped my gloves in a puddle as I was getting ready - don't know that I would have wanted to be out in the rain much longer than I was, though.
Very slow going, partially because I'm trying to be nice to my right knee, which I tweaked a bit last weekend (all those darn hills... sigh) and partially because I haven't run much at night this year and I didn't want to end up stretched out on the trail. I headed up and over the hill, then out to the trail that parallels the Thruway - sadly, as I expected, the connector trail has been closed down. From there I ducked under 155 and followed the loop through the fields on the far side of the road. That was interesting mostly because I kept flushing some sort of bird, possibly woodcocks - I could hear them flying off making a whistling sound and really only caught a glimpse of one because it was sitting in the middle of the trail when I flushed it.
Once I was back on the east side of 155, I followed the perimeter trail toward the landfill. I knew from my brief walk here almost two weeks ago that they've closed a bunch of the trails - what I didn't know is how extensive the change is. Found the fence closing off the connector trail, and then found myself on a wide path skirting the edge of the landfill - very different from the trail that ran along the base of the hill. The new path follows the landfill and then goes down into the section between the preserve and the old trailer park, follows some of the previously "illegal" mountain bike trails around the wetlands and back into the main preserve, and then traces a new route along the ridge before rejoining the old path through the hardwood swamp. From there the trail back to the parking lot is the same, except for showing lots of signs of the heavy equipment that was used to cut the new trails (my guess would be some sort of hydroaxe.) I've definitely got to get over there in the daylight to see what it all looks like.
I have to admit I'm a bit bummed about the trail changes... one of the nice things about the Karner Barrens was the variety of trails there, and the way you could build up longer distances by using different connector trails - that's no longer possible. Now there are basically two loops, I would imagine to cut down on the amount of habitat fragmentation. I also suspect the section along the landfill won't be as pleasant to visit in the summer, no matter how much "habitat restoration" (ie. planting on top of the landfill cap) they do - maybe Mayor Jerry and his cronies don't think the landfill stinks, but anyone spending time in the Karner Barrens on a warm windy day knows differently (heck, just driving by on the Thruway on a warm day makes the truth about that clear!) Perhaps it's for the best that I don't run in the Pine Bush nearly as much as I did several years ago... except of course in the winter when I need trails to run and snowshoe at night.
JMH
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Ah, Late Fall - When a Not-So-Young Man's Fancy Lightly Turns to Thoughts of SNOWSHOE SEASON!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The 2011-12 WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series schedule was released today... snowshoe season is almost upon us!
Snowshoe racing has really taken off in the northeast... when I started snowshoeing, the main option was the WMAC Dion series, with a few races offered out in western NY. Now there are major series in western New England, New Hampshire, and New York, plus a slew of races that are either part of smaller series or stand-alone events.
The oldest (and, in my biased opinion, the best!) series is the WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series, with races in western MA, southern VT, southern NH, and eastern NY. This year we have a tentative schedule of 17 races, from literally the day after Christmas until mid-March. This is a great group for newbies to snowshoeing - we welcome all paces (most races have at least a few folks who hike the course rather than run it) and most of the events have a low-key feel that I really appreciate. If you're going to do any snowshoe events this season, I strongly recommend doing one with this group. A word of warning, though - you may find yourself hooked and then you too will be spending winter weekends travelling to all sorts of spots in the middle of nowhere to stumble around in the snow for a while.
The Dion Empire State Snowshoe Series is relatively new and grew out of the old Empire State Snowshoe Racing Association (designed to help people qualify for the Empire State Winter Games.) There are currently 14 races on the schedule; in the past, their site has also been a good resource for non-series races around New York state (at the moment, that portion is marked as needing an update.)
The third major series is the Granite State Snowshoe Series, organized by the folks at Acidotic Racing. No surprise, the races are focused on New Hampshire, mainly the eastern portion of the state. They've currently got 8 races on their schedule.
more to come...
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The 2011-12 WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series schedule was released today... snowshoe season is almost upon us!
Snowshoe racing has really taken off in the northeast... when I started snowshoeing, the main option was the WMAC Dion series, with a few races offered out in western NY. Now there are major series in western New England, New Hampshire, and New York, plus a slew of races that are either part of smaller series or stand-alone events.
The oldest (and, in my biased opinion, the best!) series is the WMAC Dion Snowshoe Series, with races in western MA, southern VT, southern NH, and eastern NY. This year we have a tentative schedule of 17 races, from literally the day after Christmas until mid-March. This is a great group for newbies to snowshoeing - we welcome all paces (most races have at least a few folks who hike the course rather than run it) and most of the events have a low-key feel that I really appreciate. If you're going to do any snowshoe events this season, I strongly recommend doing one with this group. A word of warning, though - you may find yourself hooked and then you too will be spending winter weekends travelling to all sorts of spots in the middle of nowhere to stumble around in the snow for a while.
The Dion Empire State Snowshoe Series is relatively new and grew out of the old Empire State Snowshoe Racing Association (designed to help people qualify for the Empire State Winter Games.) There are currently 14 races on the schedule; in the past, their site has also been a good resource for non-series races around New York state (at the moment, that portion is marked as needing an update.)
The third major series is the Granite State Snowshoe Series, organized by the folks at Acidotic Racing. No surprise, the races are focused on New Hampshire, mainly the eastern portion of the state. They've currently got 8 races on their schedule.
more to come...
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Lights on the Lake Are Back
Sunday, November 13, 2011
One of the signature sights on my drive to and from Rochester this time of year is the annual Lights on the Lake display along the eastern shore of Onondaga Lake. The Thruway passes over the northern end of Ononadaga Lake Park, and on the drive east you can see the lights running for 2 miles along the shoreline. Ann and I have driven through the display twice, and it is quite the show.
I have to admit to mixed feelings at seeing the lights. On the one hand they remind me that winter is just around the corner (snowshoe season! yeah!) and they bring back memories of the hundreds of times I've driven past them on winter nights over the last dozen years or more, and those are happy thoughts. But on the other hand they also remind me that another year is almost over, and that makes me a little bit sad.
I had hoped to find a photo online of the view of the lights from across the lake, but no luck. I guess I'll just have to stop sometime and take one.
JMH
Sunday, November 13, 2011
One of the signature sights on my drive to and from Rochester this time of year is the annual Lights on the Lake display along the eastern shore of Onondaga Lake. The Thruway passes over the northern end of Ononadaga Lake Park, and on the drive east you can see the lights running for 2 miles along the shoreline. Ann and I have driven through the display twice, and it is quite the show.
I have to admit to mixed feelings at seeing the lights. On the one hand they remind me that winter is just around the corner (snowshoe season! yeah!) and they bring back memories of the hundreds of times I've driven past them on winter nights over the last dozen years or more, and those are happy thoughts. But on the other hand they also remind me that another year is almost over, and that makes me a little bit sad.
I had hoped to find a photo online of the view of the lights from across the lake, but no luck. I guess I'll just have to stop sometime and take one.
JMH
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Saturday, November 05, 2011
SUCCESS!!!!
LONG DISTANCE 2011 - Race #28
Stone Cat Trail Marathon
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Success! After two DNF's at long distance events earlier this year (Sehgahunda and Finger Lakes) and a couple of missed long runs, I really wasn't sure how today was going to go... especially since Stone Cat is a loop course and I find those to be mentally challenging (it's awfully easy to convince myself that I really don't need to do another loop...)
Made it to the Doyon School in Ipswich and checked in no problem, though finding a place to stash my gear in the very crowded gym was a challenge. Waited in the very long line for the men's bathroom only to get inside and find the urinals free... sigh. Then I gathered up my gear and headed outside to put it somewhere convenient and wait for the start, along with about 300 other people walking around with headlamps on their heads. It was very strange to look up at the sky and see stars shining brightly before a race...
Didn't hear much of what the RD said before the start, just waited for the siren and then followed the line of marathon runners across the athletic fields. The Stone Cat course is a 12.5 mile loop, so we needed to do an extra 1.2 miles before heading out on the "normal" loop - we ran around the school property, then up the road a ways, before turning around and heading out on the trails into Willowdale State Forest. This led to another first for me - being in a race where my fellow runners were heading back toward me with their LED headlamps shining brightly in the dark.
I was determined to keep to a nice, easy pace on the first loop - to increase the likelihood that I would want to do a second loop. The initial trail was a jeep road through the woods, alongside some marshy areas - apparently there are a lot of wetlands in this state forest. Couldn't see much beyond the circle of light ahead of me and the lights of a couple of runners bobbing off in the distance, though the sky was starting to get lighter. Switched to singletrack after a bit, twisting and winding through the woods, uphill and downhill... walked the uphills and made the best time I could on the downs. By the time I reached the next jeep road it was light enough that I was able to ditch the headlamp and switch to my usual running hat... yeah!
The rest of the course into the 1st aid station was much the same... stretches of singletrack, stretches of jeep road, lots of woods, some wetlands... pretty much rolling terrain overall and pretty runnable to boot, albeit a fairly slow run for me. Just before the aid station there was a section of the trail that was flooded - man that water was cold! But it did encourage me to run a little faster afterwards to try and warm my feet back up.
Folks at the aid station were great, topped off my water bottle and then headed back out to more of the same, up and down through the woods, running pretty consistently on the jeep roads and mixing running and walking on the singeltrack. My favorite stretch was a section of singletrack on the hillside overlooking a large beaver pond, with nice views of the pond through the trees. Eventually I came out at the 2nd aid station, and the folks there were as great as the first one. Refilled the bottle, chatted a bit about hydration (people always want to know what the dark brown fluid in my bottles is - Kona Kola Nuun) and then took off for the 5 miles to the end of the first loop. It was long this stretch that the front runners for the 50 mile race passed me while completing their 2nd loop of the course... those guys were moving! And a few miles from the transition the top marathoners also passed me, pretty much on schedule - I had anticipated that I was moving a little under half as fast as they were, though it seemed like a lot slower when they blew by me. I was getting a little tired of meandering mountain bike trails by the time I made it back to the jeep road we'd run in on, and I was also just plain getting a bit tired - didn't have any juice at all for running uphill, and the level stretches and downhills were starting to hurt a bit too. It definitely didn't help that I was getting some chafing from my compression shorts and my right little toe was getting ground into hamburger for some reason. But overall I was in reasonably good shape for having covered 13.7 miles, and at 3 hr 21 min anticipated somewhere around a 7-7.5 hour finish, a definite improvement over my best time at Nipmuck several years ago. On the way in I also saw a number of runners I knew - Rich Busa, Karen McWhirt, and one of the faster folks from the snowshoe series, Amy Lane (who was doing the 50mi.) Always nice to see a friendly face...
Tried my best not to hang around at the transition area for too long... ditched my double bottle carrier (which I used only so I'd have a place to stash my headlamp once it got light, it was cool enough that I didn't anticipate needing more than one bottle between aid stations) and pulled a dry short sleeve short on over my long sleeved one, then started the second loop. It was clear from the get-go that I would be doing a lot more walking on this one. Familiarity with the course was both a plus (I knew none of it was too awful) and a minus (I had a pretty good idea of just how far it was to the next downhill, the next aid station, or even the next section that I might actually be able to run. I tried to approach the loop as a series of shorter distances - to the first aid station (4.2mi), then the 2nd aid station (3.3mi) and finally to the finish (5mi) since I knew I could make it those shorter distances. The singletrack sections were particularly tough, with my legs getting tired I was reduced to walking a lot just to avoid tripping and falling. Walked with Art Gulliver for a ways into the 2nd aid station- he talked about some physical challenges he has since having a stroke several years ago and losing his wife of 50 years to leukemia back in the spring. That actually got me thinking about how good I've got it and motivated me to push myself a bit more over the last five miles - but it was still a long haul to the finish. But I made it there in the end, with a total time of 7:16:45 - on the one hand slightly disappointing (it took me just under 4 hours to do the 2nd loop, after completing the longer 1st loop in 3:21) but on the other hand very exciting because (1) I actually finished after multiple DNF's over the last few years at long distance events and (2) that's roughly 15 minutes faster than my previous best time for a trail marathon (OK, the Stone Cat course is easier than Nipmuck, but still...)
I had thought to stick around and down some free food, but they were cooking a new batch of burgers and I just didn't have the patience to wait. Didn't see any signs of a shuttle back to the marathon parking (at some athletic fields about 0.6 miles away) so I walked back to the car, took a painfully slow time to change into clean clothes, and then started the long drive home (punctuated by lots of stops along the MA turnpike to try to get my legs functioning again.)
Overall, I'd have to say this was a good day. Fantastic weather - not too cold, not too hot - and sunny, so the woods were gorgeous. I accomplished what I set out to do and had a reasonably good time doing it, even beating my anticipated finish time by a bit (I expected 7.5-8 hours.) I don't know that I'd want to run Stone Cat every year, but I can definitely see myself coming back again... with luck I'll even have more training miles under my shoes and will manage a PR. But for today - I'm happy with how it all went.
JMH
2011 Event Totals
Run 307.4 mi, 76 hr 31 min
Bike 57.7 mi, 4 hr 17 min
Snowshoe 74.3 mi, 18 hr 57 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
LONG DISTANCE 2011 - Race #28
Stone Cat Trail Marathon
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Success! After two DNF's at long distance events earlier this year (Sehgahunda and Finger Lakes) and a couple of missed long runs, I really wasn't sure how today was going to go... especially since Stone Cat is a loop course and I find those to be mentally challenging (it's awfully easy to convince myself that I really don't need to do another loop...)
Made it to the Doyon School in Ipswich and checked in no problem, though finding a place to stash my gear in the very crowded gym was a challenge. Waited in the very long line for the men's bathroom only to get inside and find the urinals free... sigh. Then I gathered up my gear and headed outside to put it somewhere convenient and wait for the start, along with about 300 other people walking around with headlamps on their heads. It was very strange to look up at the sky and see stars shining brightly before a race...
Didn't hear much of what the RD said before the start, just waited for the siren and then followed the line of marathon runners across the athletic fields. The Stone Cat course is a 12.5 mile loop, so we needed to do an extra 1.2 miles before heading out on the "normal" loop - we ran around the school property, then up the road a ways, before turning around and heading out on the trails into Willowdale State Forest. This led to another first for me - being in a race where my fellow runners were heading back toward me with their LED headlamps shining brightly in the dark.
I was determined to keep to a nice, easy pace on the first loop - to increase the likelihood that I would want to do a second loop. The initial trail was a jeep road through the woods, alongside some marshy areas - apparently there are a lot of wetlands in this state forest. Couldn't see much beyond the circle of light ahead of me and the lights of a couple of runners bobbing off in the distance, though the sky was starting to get lighter. Switched to singletrack after a bit, twisting and winding through the woods, uphill and downhill... walked the uphills and made the best time I could on the downs. By the time I reached the next jeep road it was light enough that I was able to ditch the headlamp and switch to my usual running hat... yeah!
The rest of the course into the 1st aid station was much the same... stretches of singletrack, stretches of jeep road, lots of woods, some wetlands... pretty much rolling terrain overall and pretty runnable to boot, albeit a fairly slow run for me. Just before the aid station there was a section of the trail that was flooded - man that water was cold! But it did encourage me to run a little faster afterwards to try and warm my feet back up.
Folks at the aid station were great, topped off my water bottle and then headed back out to more of the same, up and down through the woods, running pretty consistently on the jeep roads and mixing running and walking on the singeltrack. My favorite stretch was a section of singletrack on the hillside overlooking a large beaver pond, with nice views of the pond through the trees. Eventually I came out at the 2nd aid station, and the folks there were as great as the first one. Refilled the bottle, chatted a bit about hydration (people always want to know what the dark brown fluid in my bottles is - Kona Kola Nuun) and then took off for the 5 miles to the end of the first loop. It was long this stretch that the front runners for the 50 mile race passed me while completing their 2nd loop of the course... those guys were moving! And a few miles from the transition the top marathoners also passed me, pretty much on schedule - I had anticipated that I was moving a little under half as fast as they were, though it seemed like a lot slower when they blew by me. I was getting a little tired of meandering mountain bike trails by the time I made it back to the jeep road we'd run in on, and I was also just plain getting a bit tired - didn't have any juice at all for running uphill, and the level stretches and downhills were starting to hurt a bit too. It definitely didn't help that I was getting some chafing from my compression shorts and my right little toe was getting ground into hamburger for some reason. But overall I was in reasonably good shape for having covered 13.7 miles, and at 3 hr 21 min anticipated somewhere around a 7-7.5 hour finish, a definite improvement over my best time at Nipmuck several years ago. On the way in I also saw a number of runners I knew - Rich Busa, Karen McWhirt, and one of the faster folks from the snowshoe series, Amy Lane (who was doing the 50mi.) Always nice to see a friendly face...
Tried my best not to hang around at the transition area for too long... ditched my double bottle carrier (which I used only so I'd have a place to stash my headlamp once it got light, it was cool enough that I didn't anticipate needing more than one bottle between aid stations) and pulled a dry short sleeve short on over my long sleeved one, then started the second loop. It was clear from the get-go that I would be doing a lot more walking on this one. Familiarity with the course was both a plus (I knew none of it was too awful) and a minus (I had a pretty good idea of just how far it was to the next downhill, the next aid station, or even the next section that I might actually be able to run. I tried to approach the loop as a series of shorter distances - to the first aid station (4.2mi), then the 2nd aid station (3.3mi) and finally to the finish (5mi) since I knew I could make it those shorter distances. The singletrack sections were particularly tough, with my legs getting tired I was reduced to walking a lot just to avoid tripping and falling. Walked with Art Gulliver for a ways into the 2nd aid station- he talked about some physical challenges he has since having a stroke several years ago and losing his wife of 50 years to leukemia back in the spring. That actually got me thinking about how good I've got it and motivated me to push myself a bit more over the last five miles - but it was still a long haul to the finish. But I made it there in the end, with a total time of 7:16:45 - on the one hand slightly disappointing (it took me just under 4 hours to do the 2nd loop, after completing the longer 1st loop in 3:21) but on the other hand very exciting because (1) I actually finished after multiple DNF's over the last few years at long distance events and (2) that's roughly 15 minutes faster than my previous best time for a trail marathon (OK, the Stone Cat course is easier than Nipmuck, but still...)
I had thought to stick around and down some free food, but they were cooking a new batch of burgers and I just didn't have the patience to wait. Didn't see any signs of a shuttle back to the marathon parking (at some athletic fields about 0.6 miles away) so I walked back to the car, took a painfully slow time to change into clean clothes, and then started the long drive home (punctuated by lots of stops along the MA turnpike to try to get my legs functioning again.)
Overall, I'd have to say this was a good day. Fantastic weather - not too cold, not too hot - and sunny, so the woods were gorgeous. I accomplished what I set out to do and had a reasonably good time doing it, even beating my anticipated finish time by a bit (I expected 7.5-8 hours.) I don't know that I'd want to run Stone Cat every year, but I can definitely see myself coming back again... with luck I'll even have more training miles under my shoes and will manage a PR. But for today - I'm happy with how it all went.
JMH
2011 Event Totals
Run 307.4 mi, 76 hr 31 min
Bike 57.7 mi, 4 hr 17 min
Snowshoe 74.3 mi, 18 hr 57 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VT
Friday, November 04, 2011
GEESE, GEESE, AND MORE GEESE
1.4 Mile Walk at Ooms Conservation Area
Friday, November 4, 2011
I really didn't want to pass on spending a little time outdoors today, so I gave up any hope of picking up my race packet this evening (the store closed at 7 PM) and stopped at Ooms along the way for a short walk.
There were a few geese out on the pond when I first got there - it was also getting pretty chilly since it was close to sundown with very clear skies. As I walked along the pond I spotted a trio of small diving ducks - unfortunately it was too dark for me to see just what kind, but they were very quick to pop under the water. As I walked across the field and up the hill to the gazebo (getting my feet very wet and cold in the process - the trail was downright swampy) group after group of geese came in to land on the pond. It was windy, and the pond is down in something of a bowl between the hills, so it was interesting to watch them maneuvering in the air currents. By the time I reached the gazebo I'd guess the number of geese on the water had gone from a two dozen or so to several hundred.
I wish I could have gotten out earlier and spent more time walking... I might have kept on for a bit longer despite the chill in the air, but not only was it getting dark (well... as dark as it gets on a fairly clear night with a bright half moon) but I also have an early morning tomorrow to get to race HQ for Stone Cat by around 5:15 or so. So I bid the geese a fond farewell (not that I could see them by that point, but that many geese makes enough noise that it's pretty clear where they are) and got back on the road. Maybe it was just as well I didn't arrive too much earlier - the pond definitely got a lot livelier once all the geese started dropping in to spend the night.
JMH
1.4 Mile Walk at Ooms Conservation Area
Friday, November 4, 2011
I really didn't want to pass on spending a little time outdoors today, so I gave up any hope of picking up my race packet this evening (the store closed at 7 PM) and stopped at Ooms along the way for a short walk.
There were a few geese out on the pond when I first got there - it was also getting pretty chilly since it was close to sundown with very clear skies. As I walked along the pond I spotted a trio of small diving ducks - unfortunately it was too dark for me to see just what kind, but they were very quick to pop under the water. As I walked across the field and up the hill to the gazebo (getting my feet very wet and cold in the process - the trail was downright swampy) group after group of geese came in to land on the pond. It was windy, and the pond is down in something of a bowl between the hills, so it was interesting to watch them maneuvering in the air currents. By the time I reached the gazebo I'd guess the number of geese on the water had gone from a two dozen or so to several hundred.
I wish I could have gotten out earlier and spent more time walking... I might have kept on for a bit longer despite the chill in the air, but not only was it getting dark (well... as dark as it gets on a fairly clear night with a bright half moon) but I also have an early morning tomorrow to get to race HQ for Stone Cat by around 5:15 or so. So I bid the geese a fond farewell (not that I could see them by that point, but that many geese makes enough noise that it's pretty clear where they are) and got back on the road. Maybe it was just as well I didn't arrive too much earlier - the pond definitely got a lot livelier once all the geese started dropping in to spend the night.
JMH
OFF TO STONE CAT
Friday, November 4, 2011
In 14 hours I'll be starting the Stone Cat Trail Marathon with a couple of hundred other crazy runners who will be taking to the woods at 6:15 AM to run either 26.2 miles or 50 miles.
I have to admit to a certain amount of trepidation, since I dropped out of both of the previous long events I did this year - Sehgahunda at 15.5 miles and Finger Lakes after 1 loop, about 17 miles. Do I have what it takes to do the mini-loop and then two full loops at Stone Cat? Tomorrow afternoon I'll know the answer...
JMH
Friday, November 4, 2011
In 14 hours I'll be starting the Stone Cat Trail Marathon with a couple of hundred other crazy runners who will be taking to the woods at 6:15 AM to run either 26.2 miles or 50 miles.
I have to admit to a certain amount of trepidation, since I dropped out of both of the previous long events I did this year - Sehgahunda at 15.5 miles and Finger Lakes after 1 loop, about 17 miles. Do I have what it takes to do the mini-loop and then two full loops at Stone Cat? Tomorrow afternoon I'll know the answer...
JMH
Thursday, November 03, 2011
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