Day: April 10, 2026💾

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Malone Area

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When you out of the northern fringe of the Adirondacks, leaving past Debar Flow and Titus Mountain, the Adirondacks rapidly drop into the relatively flat St. Lawrence Plain.

Malone Area

Terrain Map: Waterbury Gap
Map: Debar Pond

Consumer Spending, Engine of the U.S. Economy, Is Under Strain – The New York Times

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Consumer Spending, Engine of the U.S. Economy, Is Under Strain – The New York Times

Angie Howard lives in a walkable neighborhood in Portland, Ore., and works from home, so she has not had to shell out for higher gas prices since the war in the Middle East began. Still, Ms. Howard, who lives alone, said she had noticed costs jumping all around her anyway. “You go into the grocery store, you buy the things you normally would, and then all of a sudden it’s $20 or $30 more there, and you start to see additional fuel charges,” she said. “And at the end of the week, where you would normally have two nickels to rub together, now they’re not there.”

Rain tonight the forecast app warns ☀️

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But first a brilliantly sunny morning to start the day, as I ride my bike to work. I’ll pack a rain coat. Things are starting to green up, slowly but surely, but I suspect things will really start to pop into bloom come next week.

I slept much better come morning, 🛏️ once I opened my windows. I dream of nights in wilderness, but it’s not going to happen for a while until I get my truck cap, though I might hammock camp with the screen in the mean-time. Thinking about how long it will be before I have my truck cap has me down, 🐜 but black fly season camping sucks, and with gas prices likely to be elevated all summer, ⛽ maybe it’s best to minimize miles on the new SuperDuty.

Last night was another Save the Pine Bush meeting via Zoom, 📹 which I did from Five Rivers. 🐸 It was a nice evening, breezy and a lot of people at Five Rivers until around dark, but I enjoyed the fresh air and it wasn’t too cool. I tried to not be too much of an argumentative, contentious fellow, but yeah I’m kind of a blow-hard at those kinds of meetins.

Apple 🍏 cinnamon carrot 🥕 pancakes this morning, 🥞 like usual, it helps buffer and fill my stomach so I’m not hungry all days. I grated up a massive fat carrot and then half of a smaller one, I try to include one to two cups of carrots in my mix, so I can use much less whole wheat flour, and that fiber not only helps with passing the stool but also keeping my stomach full as I hate to be hungry. 😋

Tomorrow it’s off to Ruth’s to order the truck cap, 🚚 and get the bad news about how long I have to wait. ☹️ Then off to Goodwill and Salvation Army to look for some more work clothes. Then maybe a hike in Albany Pine Bush until dark, and then maybe I’ll swing by Wally World Albany Edition for groceries and supplies. I don’t want to get too much stuff, but just basics. And then head home. ⛽ It will be interesting to see what the fuel economy of the SuperDuty is when I’m driving through traffic with that big block.

Well folks, I need to get in the shower 🚿 and then head off to work on this most beautiful of spring days, 🌸 as the birds chirp 🐦 and the grass starts to green up. 🌾 Of course, I’m riding my bike in this morning, 🚲 but I’ll also bring a rain coat ⛈ to ensure no rain this evening. Probably have meetings downtown, so if it pours by evening I can take the bus home, assuming the iRide app works on my phone as my Navigator card is now disabled.

Map: Severence Hill Trail
Map: Gilman Lake