1.5 Mile Walk at Buckingham Pond
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
21.3 Mile Ride on the Cayuga County Cato-Fair Haven Trail
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
I first looked at riding the Cato-Fair Haven rail trail a couple of summers go, but passed on it after reading some on-line reviews that suggested that allowing the local ATV club to use the trail had ruined it. Since then more favorable reviews have been posted, so I decided to take a chance today and see how it went. And I'm glad I did.
One plus to the very dry summer we've had - the trail wasn't muddy or flooded, though there were plenty of signs that it had been that way at times in the past. Overall the trail was in pretty good shape, though there was definite ATV damage in spots (just not as bad as the damage done to the MA State Forest trails, probably because the ATV club has been working to keep their access to the trail.)
Much of the trail was wooded, with some sections running through some wetlands. I would have liked to ride all the way to Fair Haven, but a good chunk of the ride out was downhill, so I got worried that I'd bonk out on the ride back and turned around after 10 1/2 miles. Based on how the return trip went, I probably would have been OK, but it was still probably better to play it safe. I'll just have to ride the remaining bit (and maybe the connecting Hannibal Hojack trail) another time.
JMH
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
I first looked at riding the Cato-Fair Haven rail trail a couple of summers go, but passed on it after reading some on-line reviews that suggested that allowing the local ATV club to use the trail had ruined it. Since then more favorable reviews have been posted, so I decided to take a chance today and see how it went. And I'm glad I did.
One plus to the very dry summer we've had - the trail wasn't muddy or flooded, though there were plenty of signs that it had been that way at times in the past. Overall the trail was in pretty good shape, though there was definite ATV damage in spots (just not as bad as the damage done to the MA State Forest trails, probably because the ATV club has been working to keep their access to the trail.)
Much of the trail was wooded, with some sections running through some wetlands. I would have liked to ride all the way to Fair Haven, but a good chunk of the ride out was downhill, so I got worried that I'd bonk out on the ride back and turned around after 10 1/2 miles. Based on how the return trip went, I probably would have been OK, but it was still probably better to play it safe. I'll just have to ride the remaining bit (and maybe the connecting Hannibal Hojack trail) another time.
JMH
Monday, August 29, 2016
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
WHOOPS.
Friday, August 26, 2016
Got to the Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve at 5:55 and found myself in an empty parking lot... because apparently the race that I thought was at 6:30 tonight is tomorrow evening instead.
On the plus side, at least I didn't go out to Rochester first and drive back there with Ann... though that is likely what we'll be doing tomorrow evening...
JMH
Friday, August 26, 2016
Got to the Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve at 5:55 and found myself in an empty parking lot... because apparently the race that I thought was at 6:30 tonight is tomorrow evening instead.
On the plus side, at least I didn't go out to Rochester first and drive back there with Ann... though that is likely what we'll be doing tomorrow evening...
JMH
Thursday, August 25, 2016
WALKING IN THE RAIN
2 Mile Walk at Five Rivers
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Quads were grumbling a bit so I decided a day off was in order and headed over to Five Rivers for a walk. The new parking area is open and the old area is being re-done, and work proceeds on the new visitors center. Thanks to the rain I had the trails to myself... walked out along the the field to the small loop through the woods (where I saw my first red efts of the summer) and then back along the various ponds, which are very low (and in one case almost completely dried up.) Lots of frogs, which is always good to see. Startled a muskrat at one point, and two young deer at another. Other than the initial stretch of construction zone, it was very peaceful.
Until I got back to the car and found a flat tire, probably due to something it picked up in said construction zone. Sigh. Swapped on the spare but now I have to re-work my plans to head west so that I can get the flat fixed first. Aargh.
JMH
2 Mile Walk at Five Rivers
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Quads were grumbling a bit so I decided a day off was in order and headed over to Five Rivers for a walk. The new parking area is open and the old area is being re-done, and work proceeds on the new visitors center. Thanks to the rain I had the trails to myself... walked out along the the field to the small loop through the woods (where I saw my first red efts of the summer) and then back along the various ponds, which are very low (and in one case almost completely dried up.) Lots of frogs, which is always good to see. Startled a muskrat at one point, and two young deer at another. Other than the initial stretch of construction zone, it was very peaceful.
Until I got back to the car and found a flat tire, probably due to something it picked up in said construction zone. Sigh. Swapped on the spare but now I have to re-work my plans to head west so that I can get the flat fixed first. Aargh.
JMH
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
RUNRIG
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
If I had to choose a favorite band/muscian/etc, I'd probably have to go with Runrig, a scots folk-rock band that has been performing in various configurations since 1973. Founding members Calum & Rory MacDonald are still part of the band (after 43 years!) and two other current members have been around since 1978 (Malcolm Jones) and 1980 (Ian Bayne). They drew approximately 15000 fans for their 40th anniversary concert in 2013 and regularly tour Britain and Europe - and the vast majority of folks in the US have never heard of them.
I first heard their music when I was in graduate school (likely around 1989) - their album The Cutter and the Clan was reviewed in one of the celtic music newsletters I received back then, and when I stumbled across a used copy in a record store in New Haven (yup, an actual LP!) I picked it up cheap and really enjoyed the sound. And then didn't hear anything else of their for well over a decade, because the internet barely existed at that time and almost nobody in the US had heard of these guys. Then, sometime in the early 2000's, I reluctantly started converting to CDs (I'm always a late adopter - I resisted switching from VHS to DVD until 2001-2002, when the 2nd season of Farscape was only released on DVD, and even then it was several years before I switched over exclusively to DVDs.) And started frequenting Ebay. And figured out that one could purchase all sorts of used Runrig CDs for a good deal less than their retail cost - which was good, because by then there were some 14-15 albums available, some studio, some live, and some compilations. Since then I've stayed fairly up-to-date with their new releases and even picked up 5 or 6 concert DVDs - probably the closest I'll ever be to seeing the band perform.
Today I received my copy of their latest studio album, The Story - which they've said will likely be their last studio work. And I am simultaneously thrilled to have 11 new Runrig songs to enjoy and very sad to think that this is the last time that will happen.
They closed out their 40th anniversary concert saying "we're not done yet", and I've read that Calum MacDonald has said in interviews that the band isn't ready to retire yet... but this strikes me as a reminder that the day they do is coming, and it will likely be sooner rather than later. Sigh.
Two more comments about the new album (which I've listened to while working on this...)
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
If I had to choose a favorite band/muscian/etc, I'd probably have to go with Runrig, a scots folk-rock band that has been performing in various configurations since 1973. Founding members Calum & Rory MacDonald are still part of the band (after 43 years!) and two other current members have been around since 1978 (Malcolm Jones) and 1980 (Ian Bayne). They drew approximately 15000 fans for their 40th anniversary concert in 2013 and regularly tour Britain and Europe - and the vast majority of folks in the US have never heard of them.
I first heard their music when I was in graduate school (likely around 1989) - their album The Cutter and the Clan was reviewed in one of the celtic music newsletters I received back then, and when I stumbled across a used copy in a record store in New Haven (yup, an actual LP!) I picked it up cheap and really enjoyed the sound. And then didn't hear anything else of their for well over a decade, because the internet barely existed at that time and almost nobody in the US had heard of these guys. Then, sometime in the early 2000's, I reluctantly started converting to CDs (I'm always a late adopter - I resisted switching from VHS to DVD until 2001-2002, when the 2nd season of Farscape was only released on DVD, and even then it was several years before I switched over exclusively to DVDs.) And started frequenting Ebay. And figured out that one could purchase all sorts of used Runrig CDs for a good deal less than their retail cost - which was good, because by then there were some 14-15 albums available, some studio, some live, and some compilations. Since then I've stayed fairly up-to-date with their new releases and even picked up 5 or 6 concert DVDs - probably the closest I'll ever be to seeing the band perform.
Today I received my copy of their latest studio album, The Story - which they've said will likely be their last studio work. And I am simultaneously thrilled to have 11 new Runrig songs to enjoy and very sad to think that this is the last time that will happen.
They closed out their 40th anniversary concert saying "we're not done yet", and I've read that Calum MacDonald has said in interviews that the band isn't ready to retire yet... but this strikes me as a reminder that the day they do is coming, and it will likely be sooner rather than later. Sigh.
Two more comments about the new album (which I've listened to while working on this...)
- the final track is called "Somewhere" and closes with a transmission between NASA ground control and Commander Laurel Clark on the space shuttle Columbia in 2003 - the mission which ended with the shuttle exploding on re-entry. Commander Clark was a fan and had two Runrig CDs with her - both were eventually recovered in the wreckage. Powerful stuff. (More about that story can be found here - I recommend having a box of tissues handy unless you're made of sterner stuff than I am.)
- Prior to the release of the album back in January, the band released the title track along with the music video. Here it is:
Back when they were getting ready for their 40th anniversary concert and tour, they released a single called "And We'll Sing" - and that seems to me to be the best way to close this out. So here it is, from the 2013 concert...
END-TO-END-TO-END, Year 1
22.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path & Route 5S
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Another day, another section of the Canalway Trail - though this stretch was mostly on-road, along route 5S, which features a number of gradual but long hills. I've only ridden it once before, 2 years ago... traffic isn't pleasant (fast and a lot of large trucks) but the shoulder is wide enough to drive my car along it, which is a big plus. And I always enjoy the bike paths along the old canal in Rotterdam Junction.
Still, looking ahead to the road sections between Newark and Port Byron, Camillus and Dewitt, and Utica and Little Falls... it would definitely be worth trying to find a way to do those as one-way rides. I suspect that will be a project for next summer, though I am hoping to do a few more segments of off-road trail this fall... with luck I'll manage to complete over half of the entire trail by the end of this year.
JMH
22.2 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path & Route 5S
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Another day, another section of the Canalway Trail - though this stretch was mostly on-road, along route 5S, which features a number of gradual but long hills. I've only ridden it once before, 2 years ago... traffic isn't pleasant (fast and a lot of large trucks) but the shoulder is wide enough to drive my car along it, which is a big plus. And I always enjoy the bike paths along the old canal in Rotterdam Junction.
Still, looking ahead to the road sections between Newark and Port Byron, Camillus and Dewitt, and Utica and Little Falls... it would definitely be worth trying to find a way to do those as one-way rides. I suspect that will be a project for next summer, though I am hoping to do a few more segments of off-road trail this fall... with luck I'll manage to complete over half of the entire trail by the end of this year.
JMH
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
END-TO-END-TO-END, Year 1
20.8 Mile Ride Through the Corning Preserve, Schuyler Flatts, Watervliet, Green Island, and Van Schaick Island
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
A little more of the Erie Canalway Trail done... and I rode on some streets I haven't seen in a long time and along a stretch of trail that I didn't even know existed, including a re-decked railroad bridge, over one of the places where the Mohawk River flows into the Hudson. For the most part traffic was light through Watervliet and Green Island - overall, the on-street stretches went very smoothly.
The geese and turtles that Ann and I saw a week or so ago at Van Schaick Pond were nowhere to be seen today... and unfortunately the construction tearing up a chunk of the woods near the pond has advanced significantly. From all the excavating they're doing I suspect some sort of housing is going in, probably more condos like they've built closer to the river.
After years of construction in the meadow near the I90 bridge, it's great to see open fields again. But the Corning Preserve still has mainly proximity going for it... I87 running just to the west is noisy, annd there's a lot of buckling in the pavement through the Watervliet section.
JMH
20.8 Mile Ride Through the Corning Preserve, Schuyler Flatts, Watervliet, Green Island, and Van Schaick Island
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
A little more of the Erie Canalway Trail done... and I rode on some streets I haven't seen in a long time and along a stretch of trail that I didn't even know existed, including a re-decked railroad bridge, over one of the places where the Mohawk River flows into the Hudson. For the most part traffic was light through Watervliet and Green Island - overall, the on-street stretches went very smoothly.
The geese and turtles that Ann and I saw a week or so ago at Van Schaick Pond were nowhere to be seen today... and unfortunately the construction tearing up a chunk of the woods near the pond has advanced significantly. From all the excavating they're doing I suspect some sort of housing is going in, probably more condos like they've built closer to the river.
After years of construction in the meadow near the I90 bridge, it's great to see open fields again. But the Corning Preserve still has mainly proximity going for it... I87 running just to the west is noisy, annd there's a lot of buckling in the pavement through the Watervliet section.
JMH
STILL ALIVE...
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
... despite the best efforts of those damn yellowjackets. I've haven't had such an extreme reaction previously, so it's likely part of the problem was getting stung multiple times - they got me in three spots, and I suspect based on what I was feeling they may have stung me more than once in each spot.
But the benadryl did the trick and knocked out the scary severe reaction. Now I've just got to put up with swollen, itchy sting sites for the next week or so. And avoid getting stung again for as long as possible. And maybe plan on getting to a doctor for a prescription for an epi pen.
Fun, fun, fun.
JMH
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
... despite the best efforts of those damn yellowjackets. I've haven't had such an extreme reaction previously, so it's likely part of the problem was getting stung multiple times - they got me in three spots, and I suspect based on what I was feeling they may have stung me more than once in each spot.
But the benadryl did the trick and knocked out the scary severe reaction. Now I've just got to put up with swollen, itchy sting sites for the next week or so. And avoid getting stung again for as long as possible. And maybe plan on getting to a doctor for a prescription for an epi pen.
Fun, fun, fun.
JMH
Monday, August 22, 2016
BARRED OWL DUET
6.2 Mile Run at Saratoga Spa State Park
Monday, August 22, 2013
Since I was heading up to the Saratoga area anyway, I decided to put in 5-6 miles at the state park before heading to Wilton for tonight's race. Lots of folks out and about in the park, which was good to see, especially since not many of them were on most of the trails I was running. And it was a perfect day for a run - sunny but cool and breezy.
Heard two barred owls calling back and forth in the woods overlooking the Ferndell path... I might have hung around and tried to spot them, but I was running low on time at that point and needed to get back to the car to make the drive to Wilton.
JMH
6.2 Mile Run at Saratoga Spa State Park
Monday, August 22, 2013
Since I was heading up to the Saratoga area anyway, I decided to put in 5-6 miles at the state park before heading to Wilton for tonight's race. Lots of folks out and about in the park, which was good to see, especially since not many of them were on most of the trails I was running. And it was a perfect day for a run - sunny but cool and breezy.
Heard two barred owls calling back and forth in the woods overlooking the Ferndell path... I might have hung around and tried to spot them, but I was running low on time at that point and needed to get back to the car to make the drive to Wilton.
JMH
Sunday, August 21, 2016
RIDING IN THE RAIN AGAIN...
7.8 Mile Ride on the Albany County Rail Trail
Sunday, August 21, 2016
The rain seemed to be holding off in the late afternoon, so I put the mountain bike on the car to go ride the unpaved portion of the rail trail between Slingerlands and Voorheesville. Naturally it started raining not long after I left the house, but I decided to be stubborn and ride anyway (and hope that it didn't turn into a downpour.)
It rained steadily the entire ride, leaving me soaked and grimy from the dirt thrown up by the wheels. Only one other person on the trail, and given the fact that she was still walking west when I was on my way back I suspect she was going somewhere rather than out for a stroll.
The steady rain last through my walk to the store after getting home (to pick up some steaks for dinner) and then picked up again later in the evening. No complaints here - we need the water, and the walk in the rain (with an umbrella) and later listening to it outside the bedroom window was quite enjoyably peaceful.
JMH
7.8 Mile Ride on the Albany County Rail Trail
Sunday, August 21, 2016
The rain seemed to be holding off in the late afternoon, so I put the mountain bike on the car to go ride the unpaved portion of the rail trail between Slingerlands and Voorheesville. Naturally it started raining not long after I left the house, but I decided to be stubborn and ride anyway (and hope that it didn't turn into a downpour.)
It rained steadily the entire ride, leaving me soaked and grimy from the dirt thrown up by the wheels. Only one other person on the trail, and given the fact that she was still walking west when I was on my way back I suspect she was going somewhere rather than out for a stroll.
The steady rain last through my walk to the store after getting home (to pick up some steaks for dinner) and then picked up again later in the evening. No complaints here - we need the water, and the walk in the rain (with an umbrella) and later listening to it outside the bedroom window was quite enjoyably peaceful.
JMH
20.4 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Sunday, August 21, 2016
I thought about riding the stretch from Rotterdam Junction to Amsterdam (as well as the bike path to the Junction) but decided my legs weren't up for the hills. Turned out to be a good decision since there was an atypical east-to-west wind, which made riding west fun but heading back was work. So instead I stopped at the end of the bike path on the west side of the Junction.
Lots of wood ducks in the old canal and a fair number of turtles as well. Not as many people on the path, possibly because it was cool and windy. Overall a ride which felt better than I expected it to, given the tired state of my legs.
JMH
Sunday, August 21, 2016
I thought about riding the stretch from Rotterdam Junction to Amsterdam (as well as the bike path to the Junction) but decided my legs weren't up for the hills. Turned out to be a good decision since there was an atypical east-to-west wind, which made riding west fun but heading back was work. So instead I stopped at the end of the bike path on the west side of the Junction.
Lots of wood ducks in the old canal and a fair number of turtles as well. Not as many people on the path, possibly because it was cool and windy. Overall a ride which felt better than I expected it to, given the tired state of my legs.
JMH
Saturday, August 20, 2016
14.8 Mile Ride on the Mohawk Hudson Bike Path
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Figured my legs weren't nearly fried enough from this morning's trek around Jug End, so I took the bike over to the bike path in Colonie (well, the Colonie/Niskayuna line) and rode the stretch between the big hills... because one thing that became clear fairly quickly was that my quads had no more climbing left in them.
Not too busy, and a pleasant breezy evening... interestingly, my Forerunner 610 and Edge 25 stayed the closest they've been in the three times I've used the Edge. Wish I knew what the difference was between tonight and the last two rides...
JMH
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Figured my legs weren't nearly fried enough from this morning's trek around Jug End, so I took the bike over to the bike path in Colonie (well, the Colonie/Niskayuna line) and rode the stretch between the big hills... because one thing that became clear fairly quickly was that my quads had no more climbing left in them.
Not too busy, and a pleasant breezy evening... interestingly, my Forerunner 610 and Edge 25 stayed the closest they've been in the three times I've used the Edge. Wish I knew what the difference was between tonight and the last two rides...
JMH
Slow & Steady 2016 - Race #29
Jug End Ultra 6hr Trail Race
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Jug End was one of the places I used to run, hike, and ski back when I lived and worked in the southern Taconics, and it's also a site where I've long thought we should hold a snowshoe race. So when I saw that a 6 hr ultra would be held there this year, I decided to sign up, even though I knew it was unlikely I'd last all six hours.
Cooler weather moved in overnight which gave us perfect conditions for the 8 AM start. Since both knees have been bothering me I decided to start out very cautiously and walked the first 4 mile loop. Up, up, up for the first two miles (about a 600 foot elevation gain) and then down down down back to the start. The trails were as gorgeous as always, though the wildflowers in the meadows during the last mile were past their prime. About a mile from the end I was passed by the frontrunners who were completing their second loop and flying right along.
Since the knees were cooperating I took off on a 2nd loop with the plan to run where I could. By the time I'd reached the top of the climb I'd decided to stop after two loops, but then I was able to run a lot of the trail back to the start and that gave me renewed determination to tackle a 3rd loop. Managed to knock 10 minutes off my time for the first loop, and was passed by a reduced group of frontrunners somewhere along the way, finishing their 4th loop and still flying.
During the climb on the 3rd loop I once again decided to stop this time around, except this time I was pretty sure it would stick. About a mile and a half from the end I was again lapped by the guy in front, who was now alone and still flying (he was heading to hit 24 miles in under 3 1/2 hours, yow.) Enjoyed my final pass through the meadows and let the timers know I was done - they offered the option of running one or more of the mini-loops (which were mandatory after the 4 hr 50 min mark) but 12 miles was enough for me today.
Could I have done another loop? Yes, but I suspect I would have walked almost all of it, and my legs would have been beyond fried when I finished. Stopping at 12 miles meant I could probably go for a ride this afternoon, and a run on Monday (the final race of the Camp Saratoga Summer XC series in Monday evening.) And by finishing the first loop I qualified for a nifty Jug End Ultra mug. So all in all a successful morning.
JMH
2016 Event Totals
Run 210.9 mi, 52 hr 12 min
Bike 67.3 mi, 5 hr 3 min
Snowshoe 6.2 mi, 1 hr 39 min
Kayak 1.5 mi, 20 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI
Jug End Ultra 6hr Trail Race
Saturday, August 20, 2016
Jug End was one of the places I used to run, hike, and ski back when I lived and worked in the southern Taconics, and it's also a site where I've long thought we should hold a snowshoe race. So when I saw that a 6 hr ultra would be held there this year, I decided to sign up, even though I knew it was unlikely I'd last all six hours.
Cooler weather moved in overnight which gave us perfect conditions for the 8 AM start. Since both knees have been bothering me I decided to start out very cautiously and walked the first 4 mile loop. Up, up, up for the first two miles (about a 600 foot elevation gain) and then down down down back to the start. The trails were as gorgeous as always, though the wildflowers in the meadows during the last mile were past their prime. About a mile from the end I was passed by the frontrunners who were completing their second loop and flying right along.
Since the knees were cooperating I took off on a 2nd loop with the plan to run where I could. By the time I'd reached the top of the climb I'd decided to stop after two loops, but then I was able to run a lot of the trail back to the start and that gave me renewed determination to tackle a 3rd loop. Managed to knock 10 minutes off my time for the first loop, and was passed by a reduced group of frontrunners somewhere along the way, finishing their 4th loop and still flying.
During the climb on the 3rd loop I once again decided to stop this time around, except this time I was pretty sure it would stick. About a mile and a half from the end I was again lapped by the guy in front, who was now alone and still flying (he was heading to hit 24 miles in under 3 1/2 hours, yow.) Enjoyed my final pass through the meadows and let the timers know I was done - they offered the option of running one or more of the mini-loops (which were mandatory after the 4 hr 50 min mark) but 12 miles was enough for me today.
Could I have done another loop? Yes, but I suspect I would have walked almost all of it, and my legs would have been beyond fried when I finished. Stopping at 12 miles meant I could probably go for a ride this afternoon, and a run on Monday (the final race of the Camp Saratoga Summer XC series in Monday evening.) And by finishing the first loop I qualified for a nifty Jug End Ultra mug. So all in all a successful morning.
JMH
2016 Event Totals
Run 210.9 mi, 52 hr 12 min
Bike 67.3 mi, 5 hr 3 min
Snowshoe 6.2 mi, 1 hr 39 min
Kayak 1.5 mi, 20 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI
Friday, August 19, 2016
The Sad State of the Erie Canal Village
Friday, August 19, 2016
For as long as I've been familiar with the Old Erie Canal State Park (16+ years?) I've been vaguely aware that the Erie Canal Village is at the eastern end of the trail in Rome. Never actually made it that far before, though I did get within a few miles on one ride. In any case I knew that it was a living history park & museum, basically replicating a canal town along the Clinton's Ditch Erie Canal, and I'd always imagined it was a lot like the Genesee Country Village near Rochester (another place I've never actually visited, but I've seen it when visiting the Genesee Country Nature Center right next door) or like Mystic Seaport down in Connecticut (which I visited a long time ago on an elementary school trip.) I wasn't planning to tour the Erie Canal Village today, but I figured I'd at least finally get to see it as I rode through the area.
It was quite a surprise then to pull up and find an empty parking lot, a fairly shabby and definitely closed visitor's center (complete with a sign in the window giving the hours that the village is supposedly open), a bridge across the old canal barred by a locked gate, and a crumbling packet boat "docked" next to the bridge. Not at all what I was expecting and a major disappointment.
A bit of research once I got home revealed that while the site was originally owned by the city of Rome, roughly 20 years ago it was turned over to private management. It seems to have limped along until recently, though it seems a number of the buildings were assessed as unsafe and closed. Over the last two years a new company expressed interest in reviving the site, but seems to have run into all sorts of problems in doing so - after having the grounds open for several festivals last summer, it never re-opened this year. It seems like a major point of conflict is the removal and storage of the various historic artifacts that are in the buildings so the buildings can be renovated - the artifacts are owned by the city, which says they can't be removed before being inventoried, and there's no place safe on site to do the inventory, and without removal of the artifacts the owners can't renovate, etc etc. A recent summary of some of the issues can be found here.
And so a piece of New York State history sits there, rotting away. As of two years ago, the estimated cost of bringing the site back up to code was something like $2 million... let's face it, that's not likely to happen any time soon, unless someone with deep pockets and a interest in local history takes an interest and decides to fund the project.
It's particularly sad in light of next year being the 200th anniversary of the start of construction of the canal.
JMH
Friday, August 19, 2016
For as long as I've been familiar with the Old Erie Canal State Park (16+ years?) I've been vaguely aware that the Erie Canal Village is at the eastern end of the trail in Rome. Never actually made it that far before, though I did get within a few miles on one ride. In any case I knew that it was a living history park & museum, basically replicating a canal town along the Clinton's Ditch Erie Canal, and I'd always imagined it was a lot like the Genesee Country Village near Rochester (another place I've never actually visited, but I've seen it when visiting the Genesee Country Nature Center right next door) or like Mystic Seaport down in Connecticut (which I visited a long time ago on an elementary school trip.) I wasn't planning to tour the Erie Canal Village today, but I figured I'd at least finally get to see it as I rode through the area.
It was quite a surprise then to pull up and find an empty parking lot, a fairly shabby and definitely closed visitor's center (complete with a sign in the window giving the hours that the village is supposedly open), a bridge across the old canal barred by a locked gate, and a crumbling packet boat "docked" next to the bridge. Not at all what I was expecting and a major disappointment.
A bit of research once I got home revealed that while the site was originally owned by the city of Rome, roughly 20 years ago it was turned over to private management. It seems to have limped along until recently, though it seems a number of the buildings were assessed as unsafe and closed. Over the last two years a new company expressed interest in reviving the site, but seems to have run into all sorts of problems in doing so - after having the grounds open for several festivals last summer, it never re-opened this year. It seems like a major point of conflict is the removal and storage of the various historic artifacts that are in the buildings so the buildings can be renovated - the artifacts are owned by the city, which says they can't be removed before being inventoried, and there's no place safe on site to do the inventory, and without removal of the artifacts the owners can't renovate, etc etc. A recent summary of some of the issues can be found here.
And so a piece of New York State history sits there, rotting away. As of two years ago, the estimated cost of bringing the site back up to code was something like $2 million... let's face it, that's not likely to happen any time soon, unless someone with deep pockets and a interest in local history takes an interest and decides to fund the project.
It's particularly sad in light of next year being the 200th anniversary of the start of construction of the canal.
JMH
END-TO-END-TO-END, Year 1
24.8 Mile Ride Through the Old Erie Canal State Park, on the Rome Streets, & on the Erie Canalway Trail (New London to Rome)
Friday, August 19, 2016
And... that's a wrap. I've now ridden the entire Old Erie Canal State Park, for the first time ever. I started at Lock 21 just west of Rome, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the first 2+ mile were paved! Then it was stone dust until just before the Erie Canal Village. Lots of turtles in the old canal... only got a few pictures because whenever I stopped they tended to dive into the water, so after the couple of tries I just rode on by when I saw them.
Only stopped briefly at the Erie Canal Village because it was very closed (more on that in a bit) - from there I followed the recommended path through Rome, which wasn't too bad, and after a couple of miles on streets ended up back on paved paths, first along the modern canal to a very nice waterfront park (Bellamy Harbor Park) and then alongside a busy construction zone all the way east to the end of the Canalway Trail between Rome and Oriskany.
The ride back was a bit smoother just because I knew where I was going, though I did watch a police boat going zooming up the canal - they ended up locking through at Lock 21 while I was packing up to leave. Gotta wonder what was up...
JMH
24.8 Mile Ride Through the Old Erie Canal State Park, on the Rome Streets, & on the Erie Canalway Trail (New London to Rome)
Friday, August 19, 2016
And... that's a wrap. I've now ridden the entire Old Erie Canal State Park, for the first time ever. I started at Lock 21 just west of Rome, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the first 2+ mile were paved! Then it was stone dust until just before the Erie Canal Village. Lots of turtles in the old canal... only got a few pictures because whenever I stopped they tended to dive into the water, so after the couple of tries I just rode on by when I saw them.
Only stopped briefly at the Erie Canal Village because it was very closed (more on that in a bit) - from there I followed the recommended path through Rome, which wasn't too bad, and after a couple of miles on streets ended up back on paved paths, first along the modern canal to a very nice waterfront park (Bellamy Harbor Park) and then alongside a busy construction zone all the way east to the end of the Canalway Trail between Rome and Oriskany.
The ride back was a bit smoother just because I knew where I was going, though I did watch a police boat going zooming up the canal - they ended up locking through at Lock 21 while I was packing up to leave. Gotta wonder what was up...
JMH
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Monday, August 15, 2016
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Friday, August 12, 2016
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Monday, August 08, 2016
Sunday, August 07, 2016
Saturday, August 06, 2016
Friday, August 05, 2016
#*$#@** KNEE
Friday, August 5, 2016
Right knee started doing some major bitching toward the end of last night's run... I suspect it was a result of going down all the steps in the gorge. It doesn't hurt all the time... but when I do something it doesn't like it lets me know it in no uncertain terms. So my trip to OH to run, ride, and walk is definitely off, and my trip to PA to do the Lake Erie Duathlon at Presque Isle State Park is likely off as well - waiting to see how things go during the day today.
VERY frustrating... I've been managing the knee fairly well for the past year only to have it get screwed up in a race I've done half a dozen times (and during the "easy" portion to boot.)
Aaargh.
JMH
Friday, August 5, 2016
Right knee started doing some major bitching toward the end of last night's run... I suspect it was a result of going down all the steps in the gorge. It doesn't hurt all the time... but when I do something it doesn't like it lets me know it in no uncertain terms. So my trip to OH to run, ride, and walk is definitely off, and my trip to PA to do the Lake Erie Duathlon at Presque Isle State Park is likely off as well - waiting to see how things go during the day today.
VERY frustrating... I've been managing the knee fairly well for the past year only to have it get screwed up in a race I've done half a dozen times (and during the "easy" portion to boot.)
Aaargh.
JMH
Thursday, August 04, 2016
A Brief Sunset Visit to Montezuma NWR
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Took a quick drive through the main part of the reserve on my way to Rochester... a little more water than a week ago, but pretty much the same cast of characters - lots of wood ducks, geese, ducks, and blackbirds, plenty of herons. No egrets visible along the wildlife drive, and there weren't any eagles or osprey hanging out in the trees along the Seneca River (or is it the Cayuga-Seneca Canal along that stretch?) Sunset over the marshes was very pretty...
JMH
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Took a quick drive through the main part of the reserve on my way to Rochester... a little more water than a week ago, but pretty much the same cast of characters - lots of wood ducks, geese, ducks, and blackbirds, plenty of herons. No egrets visible along the wildlife drive, and there weren't any eagles or osprey hanging out in the trees along the Seneca River (or is it the Cayuga-Seneca Canal along that stretch?) Sunset over the marshes was very pretty...
JMH
Slow & Steady 2016 - Race #26
Forge the Gorgeous 4mi Trail Race
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Signed up to do the longer race (7+ miles) but a combination of a course change, increasing heat/humidity, and being tired led me to drop down to the shorter version... my objection to doing that in the past has always been that the drop point is just before running up through the gorge, which is the main reason I keep coming back to this race (it certainly isn't the uphill hikes on either the north or south rims... ugh!) Well, this year the course was changed so that instead of running down the south rim, we ran down the gorge, after which the long course went up the south rim. So I could drop down and still go through the gorge, which is exactly what I did.
While that was convenient, I don't know that I like the course change... I actually prefer running down the south rim and up the gorge (going up all the steps is easier on my knees, and the regain of elevation is a bit gentler) and having down the hike up the south rim last year (when the gorge trail was closed to through traffic, so we ran out and back on the rim trails) wasn't exactly my idea of a good time. And given the griping my right knee started doing just before the drop point (and just before going down the long set of stairs that come out by the swimming area... joy!) I strongly suspect my legs agree that this new course is harder than the old one.
JMH
2016 Event Totals
Run 191.8 mi, 46 hr 55 min
Bike 67.3 mi, 5 hr 3 min
Snowshoe 6.2 mi, 1 hr 39 min
Kayak 1.5 mi, 20 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI
Forge the Gorgeous 4mi Trail Race
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Signed up to do the longer race (7+ miles) but a combination of a course change, increasing heat/humidity, and being tired led me to drop down to the shorter version... my objection to doing that in the past has always been that the drop point is just before running up through the gorge, which is the main reason I keep coming back to this race (it certainly isn't the uphill hikes on either the north or south rims... ugh!) Well, this year the course was changed so that instead of running down the south rim, we ran down the gorge, after which the long course went up the south rim. So I could drop down and still go through the gorge, which is exactly what I did.
While that was convenient, I don't know that I like the course change... I actually prefer running down the south rim and up the gorge (going up all the steps is easier on my knees, and the regain of elevation is a bit gentler) and having down the hike up the south rim last year (when the gorge trail was closed to through traffic, so we ran out and back on the rim trails) wasn't exactly my idea of a good time. And given the griping my right knee started doing just before the drop point (and just before going down the long set of stairs that come out by the swimming area... joy!) I strongly suspect my legs agree that this new course is harder than the old one.
JMH
2016 Event Totals
Run 191.8 mi, 46 hr 55 min
Bike 67.3 mi, 5 hr 3 min
Snowshoe 6.2 mi, 1 hr 39 min
Kayak 1.5 mi, 20 min
states visited: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI
Wednesday, August 03, 2016
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