As we head into the 1 pm hour, we are right at the freezing point or maybe a degree above it. Overcast skies, with some of the clouds pushing in from the storm that is riding up the coast. Air pressure is at 30.18 bars and falling as the low pushes off. The latest models have Albany with a 20% chance of snow showers which is up a bit from earlier. We might reach 40 degrees this afternoon but don’t expect it to go beyond that with the clouds. Sunset is at 7:08 pm.

Went for about a two hour hike this morning along the Albany County Rail Trail. Hiked from my place off Elm Avenue to where the rail trail junctions Adams Place, then took the rail trail about two miles, about a quarter mile beyond Rockefeller Road, down to where the trail overlooks the Normans Kill. I would have liked to hiked down to the Normans Kill bridge, a but time wouldn’t allow that as I needed to be home by 12:30, so I could have lunch and freshen up before the Save the Pine Bush Hike. While the suburban parts of the trail are kind of boring, when you get into the Normans Kill gorge, the trail winds a bit more and it’s pretty scenic. The trail being a railroad grade, is a nice easy grade, making for good walking. Lots of yuppies and dog walkers on the trail, but it’s wide and blacktopped after the Delaware Avenue overpass. East of Adams Place, there are no at grade road crossings which makes for quick hiking and gentle grades, I my obese self, made an average of 3.2 miles per hour. My morning walk totalled a little over 6 1/2 miles, which ain’t bad. Plus I have the Save the Pine Bush Hike in one hour.

So don’t forget about the Save the Pine Bush Hike today at 2 pm. Cloudy maybe, but I’ll try to make it worth your time. Occasionally the sun peaks out. The hike is going to be at the East Blueberry Hill Trail Head, near Kiddie Academy and 13 Columbia Circle in the big sprawling office campus where years ago I worked a temporary job. Hopefully people will show up, otherwise it will be a nice solitary hike.