I’m hoping that next weekend ends the drought of trips out of town. It’s been tough with the weather and my search for a bicycle. But also there is a darker truth – I don’t enjoy camping as much as I once did, especially those shorter trips with the longer drives – now that I’m in my forties.

It’s just a lot of work to pack, drive out of town to set up camp for one or two nights. It’s gotten more and more expensive with inflation, namely food and fuel prices. But also I find it harder and harder to find new and novel places relatively close to home to explore. It’s boring to do the same trip over and over again, I get little out of it.

Vacation is in two weeks. I am really hopeful to take delivery of my mountain bike soon. I will be at the shop that was supposed to be assembling my bicycle on Saturday to get a status update and find alternative plans as necessary, such as ordering at a different shop. And I might get out next weekend for a long weekend, depending on the weather.

Still, I want to get up to the Potholers at least a few more times before it gets cold out in mid-to-late September, likewise I would like to swim at the Mine Kill Pool a few times before it closes in seven weeks after Labor Day Weekend. With two weekend allocated to summer vacation that last and first week of August, Labor Day Weekend will be here before you know it.

Labor Day Weekend I am still thinking about Speculator Tree Farm, namely Hardwood Hill if I can get and riding around the Tree Farm, and doing some paddling in Lake Pleasant. Later in September, I would like to get out to Charles Baker State Forest to ride the many forest roads there, and paddle Nine Mile Swamp in Hamilton which I haven’t done in years.

Later in the autumn, I am still thinking about a trip up to the Black River Valley, and maybe a trip to North-Central PA to ride in the Grand Canyon / Pine Creek Gorge trail which could be combined with a trip to the Finger Lakes National Forest or Allegheny National Forest. Maybe camp at Burnt-Rossman around Columbus Day Weekend. so I could ride those roads and do more of the Catskill Scenic Trail once the leafs start to pop.

And also maybe a trip to Cazenovia / Stoney Pond to camp there after it’s open without reservation in the autumn after the crowds are gone for the season. That could be a good one for November or early December if the snow holds off. Then a December trip to NY 8 – East Branch to close out the year.

Rensselearville State Forest remains a good option for autumn camping and or even winter camping once hunting season is done. But I’d rather go other places a little farther from home, though it sure is convenient and easy to get a campsite in the winter. Plus that road is plowed year round. The dirt roads for the most part would be good on the mountain bike, and I wouldn’t mind exploring the OSI parcel further, especially after a good cold snap when the ticks aren’t so bad.