RAINY WOODS
1.3 Mile Walk at Tinker Nature Park
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Sunday, May 31, 2015
NO DUATHLON FOR THE TURTLE...
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Yesterday the weather varied between being sunny, humid, and hot, and rainy, humid, and hot. Despite taking it very easy for the duration of my run at Highland Forest, I still found myself downing tons of fluids all afternoon before I finally seemed to be rehydrated. So I was moderately pleased when I saw a forecast of 60 degrees for today... it seemed to bode well for this morning's 1st annual Rochester Duathlon, despite the fact that I'm really not in shape yet for an Olympic-distance du (5k run, 40k bike, 10k run.)
So waking up at 5:15 AM to sub-40 degrees, rain, and high winds really was an unpleasant surprise.
I've done cold rides, and rainy rides, and windy rides... but the combination of all three, especially when I hadn't packed any cold weather gear, tipped the scales, and I made the correct decision to go back to bed. Had I been stubborn and tried to tough it out, I have no doubt that I would have dropped out after one loop of the bike course, and I would have spent the rest of today recovering from being a frozen drowned rat.
Often when I skip a race I've signed up for I end up second-guessing my decision and in some cases kicking myself for not getting my butt out there to run, ride, or whatever. That would have been the case yesterday had I skipped Highland Forest like I was tempted to when the alarm went off at 5:20 AM. But today there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice, and that tackling today's du under those conditions would have been stupid.
JMH
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Yesterday the weather varied between being sunny, humid, and hot, and rainy, humid, and hot. Despite taking it very easy for the duration of my run at Highland Forest, I still found myself downing tons of fluids all afternoon before I finally seemed to be rehydrated. So I was moderately pleased when I saw a forecast of 60 degrees for today... it seemed to bode well for this morning's 1st annual Rochester Duathlon, despite the fact that I'm really not in shape yet for an Olympic-distance du (5k run, 40k bike, 10k run.)
So waking up at 5:15 AM to sub-40 degrees, rain, and high winds really was an unpleasant surprise.
I've done cold rides, and rainy rides, and windy rides... but the combination of all three, especially when I hadn't packed any cold weather gear, tipped the scales, and I made the correct decision to go back to bed. Had I been stubborn and tried to tough it out, I have no doubt that I would have dropped out after one loop of the bike course, and I would have spent the rest of today recovering from being a frozen drowned rat.
Often when I skip a race I've signed up for I end up second-guessing my decision and in some cases kicking myself for not getting my butt out there to run, ride, or whatever. That would have been the case yesterday had I skipped Highland Forest like I was tempted to when the alarm went off at 5:20 AM. But today there is no doubt in my mind that I made the right choice, and that tackling today's du under those conditions would have been stupid.
JMH
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Friday, May 29, 2015
Thursday, May 28, 2015
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Monday, May 25, 2015
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Friday, May 22, 2015
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
A BRIEF DOWNPOUR & REPTILE CROSSINGS
18.9 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Headed over to the bike path shortly after getting home, hoping to get my ride done before the rain moved through... unfortunately I was headed toward the dark clouds, and less than a mile after I started riding the rain began. Good thing I'd packed a rain jacket, because it got heavy pretty quickly.
It didn't last long, maybe 15 minutes or so, and then the storm moved on and the sun reappeared. So maybe I should have goofed off at home for a while, I might have gotten to the path after the storm moved through! On the other hand, there was definitely something enjoyable about riding in the rain and not letting a little bad weather get me down. Though I can't say I minded when it let up...
After dropping the rain jacket back in the car, I headed east to SCCC and back. Easy riding the entire way, my legs are still grumbling about Sunday's trek at Soapstone. When I got back to the car, I picked up my camera and rode out to Scrafford Lane one more time.
During my 1st leg along the old canal, a tiny turtle was scrambling across the bike path... unfortunately it was raining too hard to get a picture of him. I left the camera in the car when I dropped off my rain jacket, which turned out to be unfortunate - on the way back from SCCC I passed a 2 ft milk snake with some absolutely gorgeous colors. After watching him for a while I herded him off the pavement before someone came along and ran him over.
I did take a few shots my second time along the old canal... a baltimore oriole perched in a tree long enough for me to get some pictures (usually they just tease me by calling from behind a bunch of leafy branches) and a wood duck hopped up on the leg where one of the geese is nesting while I was there. The oddest thing was it appears one of the nests has been abandoned... no geese in sight, and the eggs are clearly intact. I wonder what happened to the female and her mate?
On a totally different note, the last few times I visited this section of the path, it was "closed" from Mabee Lane to Scrafford Lane due to a spot where the pavement had become undermined and collapsed. I was worried that the powers-that-be would just leave it that way... but today it had been repaired, which made me very happy. This is one of my favorite local areas to visit, so it's good to see that someone is willing to put some money into keeping it repaired. Maybe they're finally serious about putting a tunnel under the tracks... though that's been "in the works" for at least as long as I've been in the Albany area.
JMH
18.9 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Headed over to the bike path shortly after getting home, hoping to get my ride done before the rain moved through... unfortunately I was headed toward the dark clouds, and less than a mile after I started riding the rain began. Good thing I'd packed a rain jacket, because it got heavy pretty quickly.
It didn't last long, maybe 15 minutes or so, and then the storm moved on and the sun reappeared. So maybe I should have goofed off at home for a while, I might have gotten to the path after the storm moved through! On the other hand, there was definitely something enjoyable about riding in the rain and not letting a little bad weather get me down. Though I can't say I minded when it let up...
After dropping the rain jacket back in the car, I headed east to SCCC and back. Easy riding the entire way, my legs are still grumbling about Sunday's trek at Soapstone. When I got back to the car, I picked up my camera and rode out to Scrafford Lane one more time.
During my 1st leg along the old canal, a tiny turtle was scrambling across the bike path... unfortunately it was raining too hard to get a picture of him. I left the camera in the car when I dropped off my rain jacket, which turned out to be unfortunate - on the way back from SCCC I passed a 2 ft milk snake with some absolutely gorgeous colors. After watching him for a while I herded him off the pavement before someone came along and ran him over.
I did take a few shots my second time along the old canal... a baltimore oriole perched in a tree long enough for me to get some pictures (usually they just tease me by calling from behind a bunch of leafy branches) and a wood duck hopped up on the leg where one of the geese is nesting while I was there. The oddest thing was it appears one of the nests has been abandoned... no geese in sight, and the eggs are clearly intact. I wonder what happened to the female and her mate?
On a totally different note, the last few times I visited this section of the path, it was "closed" from Mabee Lane to Scrafford Lane due to a spot where the pavement had become undermined and collapsed. I was worried that the powers-that-be would just leave it that way... but today it had been repaired, which made me very happy. This is one of my favorite local areas to visit, so it's good to see that someone is willing to put some money into keeping it repaired. Maybe they're finally serious about putting a tunnel under the tracks... though that's been "in the works" for at least as long as I've been in the Albany area.
JMH
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Friday, May 15, 2015
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
BIRDIES, BIRDIES, BIRDIES...
Driving All Around Montezuma NWR
Sunday, May 10, 2015
After breakfast Ann and I headed to the main headquarters for Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. We started out by checking the birds visible from the viewing deck - a small flock of terns, lots of Canada geese, and a lone snow goose. We also spotted an osprey hunkered down on the nest near the HQ.
From there we made our way along the wildlife drive... where we saw even more geese and quite a few herons, ducks (including both the typical mallards and a few unusual suspects like a redhead, a blue-winged teal, and several shovelers), more snow geese, an occasional grebe,and quite a few common gallinules. We also spotted four or five immature bald eagles and even one mature eagle flying off in the distance.
From there we headed north and made our way out to the sandhill crane unit... sadly no cranes in evidence (I definitely got lucky last May when that pair flew in and landed near the HQ) but still more geese and ducks, and wrapped things up with a visit to Lock CS-1, where one of the young bald eagle was visible on the nest, and where it looks like a pair of ospreys may have reclaimed the nest on top of the tower across from the parking lot.
JMH
Driving All Around Montezuma NWR
Sunday, May 10, 2015
After breakfast Ann and I headed to the main headquarters for Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. We started out by checking the birds visible from the viewing deck - a small flock of terns, lots of Canada geese, and a lone snow goose. We also spotted an osprey hunkered down on the nest near the HQ.
From there we made our way along the wildlife drive... where we saw even more geese and quite a few herons, ducks (including both the typical mallards and a few unusual suspects like a redhead, a blue-winged teal, and several shovelers), more snow geese, an occasional grebe,and quite a few common gallinules. We also spotted four or five immature bald eagles and even one mature eagle flying off in the distance.
From there we headed north and made our way out to the sandhill crane unit... sadly no cranes in evidence (I definitely got lucky last May when that pair flew in and landed near the HQ) but still more geese and ducks, and wrapped things up with a visit to Lock CS-1, where one of the young bald eagle was visible on the nest, and where it looks like a pair of ospreys may have reclaimed the nest on top of the tower across from the parking lot.
JMH
Saturday, May 09, 2015
Friday, May 08, 2015
... AND THE BIRDIES ARE SINGING...
11.7 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Friday, May 8, 2015
I had hoped to ride a bit further from my usual stomping grounds tonight, but I got on the road later than I intended and didn't want to risk finishing in the dark... so I stopped at the Rotterdam Kiwanis Park and spent some time on the bike path along the Mohawk and the old Erie Canal.
I was a bit surprised at how few people were out, especially after last night's packed parking lots and bike path... not that I'm complaining. Maybe the unseasonal heat is getting to folks - I know I'd like to see it dialed back to spring, instead of early summer.
Lots of birds singing tonight... while I didn't spot them, I definitely heard several towhees and orioles. The geese are still nesting, but I would imagine they'll be hatching in another week or two - I think it was a couple of weeks ago that I saw them setting up their nests.
Another short ride so that I don't fry my legs before tomorrow's duathlon... maybe next week I can get in a longer ride again.
JMH
11.7 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Friday, May 8, 2015
I had hoped to ride a bit further from my usual stomping grounds tonight, but I got on the road later than I intended and didn't want to risk finishing in the dark... so I stopped at the Rotterdam Kiwanis Park and spent some time on the bike path along the Mohawk and the old Erie Canal.
I was a bit surprised at how few people were out, especially after last night's packed parking lots and bike path... not that I'm complaining. Maybe the unseasonal heat is getting to folks - I know I'd like to see it dialed back to spring, instead of early summer.
Lots of birds singing tonight... while I didn't spot them, I definitely heard several towhees and orioles. The geese are still nesting, but I would imagine they'll be hatching in another week or two - I think it was a couple of weeks ago that I saw them setting up their nests.
Another short ride so that I don't fry my legs before tomorrow's duathlon... maybe next week I can get in a longer ride again.
JMH
Thursday, May 07, 2015
GREEN EVERYWHERE...
12.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, May 7, 2015
I can't remember the last time I saw the parking lots for the bike path as packed as they were tonight... guess people were taking advantage of the sudden shift to summer-like weather. Personally, I'd rather we went back to some cooler spring temperatures...
Rode west to the base of the old landfill, and then east to the wastewater treatment plant before heading back to the car. A short ride, but then again I'm still recovering from last night's trek up and down Platte Clove Road, and I really don't want to fry my legs before Saturday's Du the Lakes duathlon.
It's incredible how the plants have responded to the warmer weather... seems like just last week things were grey and brown, and now everything is green and flowering. I must say that's one of the things I really enjoy about spring...
JMH
12.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Thursday, May 7, 2015
I can't remember the last time I saw the parking lots for the bike path as packed as they were tonight... guess people were taking advantage of the sudden shift to summer-like weather. Personally, I'd rather we went back to some cooler spring temperatures...
Rode west to the base of the old landfill, and then east to the wastewater treatment plant before heading back to the car. A short ride, but then again I'm still recovering from last night's trek up and down Platte Clove Road, and I really don't want to fry my legs before Saturday's Du the Lakes duathlon.
It's incredible how the plants have responded to the warmer weather... seems like just last week things were grey and brown, and now everything is green and flowering. I must say that's one of the things I really enjoy about spring...
JMH
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
Sunday, May 03, 2015
Saturday, May 02, 2015
Friday, May 01, 2015
TIRED LEGS & TRAIL REROUTINGS
2.8 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Friday, May 1, 2015
I had hoped to run 5-7 miles today... but it became clear very quickly that my legs are still pretty beat up from last Saturday's paddle triathlon... while I'm sure I could have finished a longer run, I've got the Medved Madness trail race coming up in two days, and I'm hoping to actually run all three loops this year. So I listened to my legs and cut the run very short.
The trails through Karner Barrens West have undergone a slight re-routing... where the trail used to run slightly into the interior of the preserve and then went up and over one of the dunes, now it runs straight along the perimeter, much closer to the Thruway. No big surprise - the Pine Bush Commission seems to be moving more and more of the trails to the preserve perimeters, presumably to reduce "habitat fragmentation." In some ways I think that's unfortunate, because many of the newer trails run along noisy areas or past backyards or more developed areas, away from some of the more attractive parts of the Preserve.
JMH
2.8 Mile Run in the Albany Pine Bush
Friday, May 1, 2015
I had hoped to run 5-7 miles today... but it became clear very quickly that my legs are still pretty beat up from last Saturday's paddle triathlon... while I'm sure I could have finished a longer run, I've got the Medved Madness trail race coming up in two days, and I'm hoping to actually run all three loops this year. So I listened to my legs and cut the run very short.
The trails through Karner Barrens West have undergone a slight re-routing... where the trail used to run slightly into the interior of the preserve and then went up and over one of the dunes, now it runs straight along the perimeter, much closer to the Thruway. No big surprise - the Pine Bush Commission seems to be moving more and more of the trails to the preserve perimeters, presumably to reduce "habitat fragmentation." In some ways I think that's unfortunate, because many of the newer trails run along noisy areas or past backyards or more developed areas, away from some of the more attractive parts of the Preserve.
JMH
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