Good evening! Rain showers and 69 degrees in City of Albany. There is a south-southeast breeze at 5 mph. The dew point is 53 degrees. Definately are going to want the umbrella or rain coat this evening, and keep an eye on the sky.

I wasn’t feeling that great last night – mostly tired so I retired to bed pretty early last night. Never did a blog post. This morning I was also feeling a bit under the weather with a headache and general achiness, but I went to work. By afternoon, I was feeling a little better — but still a little out of it. Hopefully this won’t last. Maybe it’s just the weather. Been kind of rainy and cold over the last few days.

Last night night, I did run to the car wash and did a quick scrub to get the thick mud off. I didn’t worry about getting it perfect because I’m going to Moose River Plains on Friday, and with the thunderstorms kicking up the mud I’m sure things will be quite muddy once again for next week. But I didn’t want to have all that caked on mud sitting on my truck all week, allowing the tin worm to spend the week chewing away at the quarter panels. I also needed lunch meat. And I bought more sparklers. They’re so cheap I should make sure to light plenty of this weekend, and they’re wood so they can be burnt with the regular camp garbage. I do want to get some fountains — usually they have good prices on them at Shoprite, so I may stop by there later in the week.

While it seems to be coming quickly, Tuesday is Independence Day when the sun will be setting at 8:35 pm with dusk at 9:10 pm. On that day in 2016, we had mostly sunny skies and temperatures between 87 and 54 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 82 degrees. We hit a record high of 104 back in 1911.

I left much of my camping gear in the truck from the past weekend. I do have to put the kayak rack and kayak back on the roof of my truck. I also have some additional gear to put in there, including my solar panel, although I’m starting to wonder how much sun I will have this weekend. I am thinking about getting another fishing rod as mine has the tip broken off it (and missing several eye rings) and a bigger tackle box because the one I have is too small. I also need to put some fresh line on the pole — the line is starting to get weak from sitting my truck with the UV light. I have the line, I just need to install it on the reel. Maybe a few more lures? I did lose that one over the weekend. Although, I don’t think the fishing at Moose River Plains is that great, but shore fishing in Inlet might be fun.

The sun will set at 8:37 pm with dusk around 9:11 pm, which is one second earlier than yesterday. At sunset, look for partly clear conditions and 66 degrees. The dew point will be 52 degrees. There will be a west breeze at 7 mph.

This afternoon will have showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Mostly cloudy, with a high of 69 degrees at 4pm. 11 degrees below normal. Maximum dew point of 53 at 4pm. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had thunderstorm, thunderstorm rain, rain, mist, mostly cloudy skies and a high of 83 degrees. The record high of 99 was set in 1901.

Waxing Crescent Moon tonight with 30% illuminated. The moon will set around 12:23 am. The First Quarter Moon is on Saturday night with showers is likely expected. The Full “Buck” Moon is on Sunday, July 9th. The sun will rise at 5:19 am with the first light at 4:44 am, which is 25 seconds later than yesterday. Tonight will have 8 hours and 42 minutes of darkness, an increase of 29 seconds over last night.

Tonight will have showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 8pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Partly cloudy, with a low of 52 degrees at 4am. Eight degrees below normal. Maximum dew point of 53 at 10pm. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. In 2016, it got down to 66 degrees with thunderstorm and thunderstorm rain and rain and mist and mostly cloudy skies. The record low of 43 occurred back in 1970.

Not a particularly nice weekend on tap. Saturday, showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Maximum dew point of 71 at 8am. Sunday, a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Maximum dew point of 69 at 6am. Typical average high for the weekend is 81 degrees.

In four weeks on July 25 the sun will be setting at 8:22 pm, which is 14 minutes and 52 seconds earlier then today. In 2016 on that day, we had rain, cloudy skies and temperatures between 89 and 67 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 83 and 62 degrees. The record high of 97 degrees was set back in 1963.

On this day in 1985, U.S. Route 66 is officially removed from the United States Highway System. You could no longer get you’re kicks on Route 66 because everybody was taking I-40 and I-44 through the heartland of America.

It looks like Wednesday may be a long and busy day at work, so maybe tonight I will put the kayak on the roof my truck. And maybe review my packing list. It all depends on how I feel. I have no idea what the second half of the week will be like, but I’m hoping that I can get out of work at by one PM on Friday — and have time to shop in one of the next two days. I guess I could go shopping tonight, but I’m a bit tired still.

Looking ahead, Independence Day is Next Tuesday, August 1st is in 5 weeks, Altamont Fair Opens is in 7 weeks, Friday the 13th (October) is in 14 weeks, Election Day 2017 is in 19 weeks, Average High is 40 is in 20 weeks, Election Day 2018 is in 71 weeks and Election Day 2020 is in 175 weeks.