Good evening. Currently 62 degrees at the Otter Creek Campsites in Greig, NY. There is a stiff breeze on top of the mountain that is making it feel cooler than the mercury says. The clouds and high pressure will keep the temperatures from dropping off much more.

Tomorrow the summer heat lasts for one more day, heading up to 80 degrees. Then the front comes through and temperatures will drop to 45 degrees by morning. Showers as the front comes through. Sunday will only reach 64 degrees for a high. Sunday evening will be even colder with a steady breeze. No snow is expected, and heck, the first half of autumn is shaping to mostly be above normal temperatures. I guess it’s kind of like an extra summer with short fall days.

Tonight was the first sunset before 7 PM in Delmar although out in Lowville being further west, sunset held off until 7:06 pm. It didn’t matter that much as I couldn’t see the sunset from camp. But with the clouds it was getting dark NY 7:30 PM. The lights are nice but they don’t replace the long nights of early summer.

This morning I had nothing packed but I did go grocery shopping the previous evening. The first thing I did was put the kayak on the roof of my truck, carefully with the step ladder that I bought yesterday. I had a fear of re-injuring my ankle but it was fine, if not easier with the steps tool compared to climbing on the floor boards of the cab. My ankle doesn’t hurt that much these days although I felt it by the time I got packed.

I stopped in Boonville to take a piss break and to drop a bill from the doctor at the Post Office. Nice downtown buy surprisingly bustling and a challenge to park. But then it was off to Turin and eventually to the Otter Creek Campsites.

I was pleasantly surprised that the Otter Creek Campsites had been relocated up the hill, spread out and with new outhouses, picnic tables, and fireplaces. I liked the Otter Creek Campsites because they were close to Whetstone Gulf and Lowville but didn’t like the crowded conditions or wear from heavy use. The new sites are a real improvement. Some are grouped together but the most part are spread out. There remains six sites, with three designed to be wheelchair accessible including accessible outhouses, tables, and a flat gravel base. It’s nice to know the state has developed all these accessible sites, especially if someday I have a severe injury that otherwise confines me to a wheelchair. After spraining your ankle you think about such things more.

This evening went for a drive out to Confusion Flats and out to by Chases Lake. Last time I was up here it was quite rainy and the camera quit working early on the trip before I got pictures. Took both Instagram photos and Digital SLR pictures. Confusion Flats is such beautiful Adirondack Sand Plains. The maps up here are terrible, including the topographic maps and ones created by DEC data. There are a lot of old roads and paths cut through Confusion Flats that are now horse trails, while the truck trails often differ from old routes on topographic maps and some are better quality then the Jeep Trails on the map would suggest. All of the roads up here are just sand and the frequent equestrian use means that the are pitted by horse hooves. At least horse hooves don’t damage sand like the washboard roads of Moose River Plains.

Set up a tarp so I’m prepared for tomorrow’s rain which I’m sure isn’t going to materialize with the tarp up. The Bluetooth adapter with my powered  computer speakers aka now camp speakers works great. I love being able to play on my phone while listening to music, podcasts, and radio – and change the station or song without even leaving my seat. Technology is pretty cool.

I hope you had a good evening. Sleep well.