Camping a Duck 🦆 Pond
I love this campsite. Lots of wildlife with the recent tree cut reverting back to woods, very remote and quiet, but I have some cell reception.
Sunday August 23, 2020 — Burnt-Rossman State Forest
A busy Saturday ahead 🫑🚵 🛒🧓
My day explained in emoji lol. There is much to do today though first I’m pausing at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center for a walk and nature observation until 8:30 when I head back home.
Good morning! Partly sunny 🌞 and 57 degrees at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. Calm wind. The dew point is 55 degrees.
I could have walked 🚶 in the neighborhood this morning but I was thinking with Blackie 🚵 the ride to Five Rivers Environmental Education Center 🐸 is but twenty minutes away and it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been out here. Figured check out the cows 🐮 and the farm landscape on Meads Lane and see what Meads has for sale. 🍅 Those heirloom tomatoes look good. It looked like they had some nice flowers 🌻 but I can’t eat that. And freezer beef 🥩 something to keep in mind but not for today. 🐦 Time is tight at Five Rivers though by 8:30 need to be back on the road to be home before nine 9⃣ to shower 🚿.
Breakfast was oatmeal and banana pancakes 🥞 topped with Maine blueberries 🫐 and sugar free syrup. Decided to experiment using night before oatmeal – I let the oatmeal soak in water overnight in the fridge to let it expand and soften before blending with the mixer today, and also added some stevia for sweetness (unneeded) and also some vanilla for a vanilla flavor (also probably not needed). Chia seeds for protein. Fresh coffee ☕ with milk and I added a glob of fat free plain Greek yogurt. Good breakfast.
Lunch today is going to be good ol spike your blood sugar with couscous 🍚 mixed with chia seeds, edamine and chopped red onions. On the whole not so bad as I included protein, fats and fiber as the edamine is unshelled and couscous cooks 🧑🍳quickly unlike brown rice or anything whole grain. I treat chia seeds as a band aid for all wrong in my diet lol but they’re kind of fatty too. 🩹 Time is tight and I’m out of cooked rice. 🕒 Looking at the label for couscous it really is junk food though at least it is fat and added sugar free. But all carbs no vitamins at all except a tiny amount of iron. But it’s done in five minutes after boiling water 💦 which cooks the edamine.
Today will have showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 4pm. Otherwise, partly sunny 🌦, with a high of 80 degrees at 2pm. Three degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around August 28th. Maximum dew point of 68 at 6pm. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 79 degrees. The record high of 99 was set in 1944.
At nine 9⃣ I plan to shower 🚿 and load Blackie into Big Red. 🚲 Gas up Big Red ⛽➡ 🛻 and at ten o’clock drive out to Stanton’s Farm Market in New Scotland 🫑 to see what they have. Peaches, hot peppers more zucchini and sweet corn 🌽 are on the short list. Bringing a cooler with ice to keep things fresh. Then visit Goodwill in Guilderland to see what they have for clothes that might fit me well with my smaller size. 👕👖 I’m not that hopeful, they’re small and I’ve heard their men’s section is tiny and they’re over priced – often no cheaper than new at Walmart. Then mountain biking in the Albany Pine Bush 🚵 which is allowed on preserve trails. Nothing crazy, no jumping steps or roaring through the preserve, just a nice easy ride for observing nature. 🔭
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:01 pm with sun having an altitude of 62.4° from the due south horizon (-8.4° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 3.1 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:24 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (285°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (292°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:03 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 6 seconds with dusk around 8:32 pm, which is one minute and 24 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:12 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and thunderstorms 🌩 and temperatures around 72 degrees. The dew point will be 67 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 7 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 6 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 28 seconds over yesterday.
After one o’clock I want to run up to Salvation Army in Schenectady off of Central Avenue. 👖 They have a much bigger selection and are much more affordable. I used to go there when I was starting out my career for affordable dress clothing. 🕴🏻If time doesn’t allow I’ll go there after visiting John Wolcott but it makes sense to go before due to the location and trip route, plus I saw online they often close early due to a lack of staff. 🧓 Then visiting John Wolcott. He’s been home from the hospital for nearly two weeks but he’s not doing that great I’ve heard so time is precious. Then depending on time and the weather and the order I visit Salvation Army a possible bike ride from Five Mile Reservoir or the Erie Canal Trail in Niskayuna. 🚲 Might be raining ☔ by then. Then Walmart or another grocery store in search of pearl onions and another big bag of sweet onions, plus frozen fruit, frozen spinach and kale.🛒
Tonight will have showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 10pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Patchy fog before 1am, then patchy fog after 2am. 🌧 Low of 65 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 68 at 6pm. 🏖️ South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. In 2022, we had cloudy skies. It got down to 59 degrees. The record low of 43 occurred back in 1957.
Yesterday rode to work 🚲 after riding to my dentist appointment 🦷. My teeth are in excellent shape for age forty, though I was worried 😯 after all that ice cream 🍦, lemons 🍋 and hot peppers 🌶️ out in the Finger Lakes with reduced milk 🥛 consumption but more Greek yogurt. After work rode to Voorheesville for 32 miles ridden for the day. 🚲 Nice evening, beautiful out at the Voorheesville Park 🏞 before heading out past the high school and library then back on the rail trail.
Tomorrow I’m thinking 💭 about riding out to Indian Ladder Farms to see what they have in stock 🍏, probably apples from last year but I wonder what else. Looking forward to fresh apples come the autumn from sure from Indian Ladder. Signed up for their newsletter 📰 last night. Then out to the folks house 👪 though in Big Red and not on Blackie for that. 🛻
As previously noted, there are 2 weeks until National Dog Day 🐩 when the sun will be setting at 7:41 pm with dusk at 8:09 pm. On that day in 2022, we had humid, partly cloudy and temperatures between 83 and 62 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 81 degrees. We hit a record high of 98 back in 1948.
Healthy foods and recipes 🍏
You are better off if you cook your own food from basic ingredients and don’t buy so called prepared “healthy foods”. Also stay away from recipes and cooking shows – most are bad advice.
Instead it’s better to learn a little bit about what is healthy, tastes good together and experiment. Cooking doesn’t have to have a million rules despite what the television says. Measuring cups really don’t have a place in the kitchen. They belong in the science laboratory.
The older generation died with their recipes not because they were hiding something but because they were the ultimate in experimenters, cooking based on what they had and knew in their head tasted good, not some recipe they had written down in a book.
Happy Teeth Cleaning Day 🪥
I bet I would have gotten a better a grade from the dentist before I had gone on summer vacation with all those ice cream sundaes, lemons and chilli peppers and not always flossing every day especially earlier in the week when I ran out of dental floss. I guess you can’t look back.
Good morning! Yeah, it’s Friday! I complained about the week going by too quickly on summer vacation but not so much this week. Mostly sunny and 61 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☀ There is a west-northwest breeze at 8 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 59 degrees.
A pretty nice morning 🌅 though as we start to approach the second half of autumn the mornings at six o’clock are much darker. Good for sleeping. It was such a nice morning that I thought about doing a quick ride out to Five Rivers Environmental Education Center or the Town Park and walking 🚶 three but ultimately settled on my ordinary morning walk. The air smells like silage 🌽 and there is so many people out walking.
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 79 degrees at 3pm. Four degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 1st. Maximum dew point of 60 at 7am. West wind 8 to 13 mph. Summer is not looking back. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with more sun in the afternoon. The high last year was 85 degrees. The record high of 98 was set in 1944.
This morning doesn’t have to be terribly rushed 🦷 as my dentist appointment isn’t until 10 am as I had originally planned for it to be the kick off for a weekend out of town but plans changed. Going to bike down to the dentist then to work. 🚲 I decided to stay in town this weekend ☔ as I’m thinking Saturday afternoon could be quite wet but mostly because I want a weekend in town after a busy past few weeks. Plus Piseco Powley Road has my name written on it for next Thursday morning should the weather be decent.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:02 pm with sun having an altitude of 62.7° from the due south horizon (-8.1° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 3.1 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:26 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (285°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (292°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:05 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 7 seconds with dusk around 8:34 pm, which is one minute and 23 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:14 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 70 degrees. The dew point will be 56 degrees. There will be a west-northwest breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 8 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 27 seconds over yesterday.
When I got home last night 🛏 I had a quick dinner of rice and beans, with some broccoli 🍚 and took a nap until eight while it rained. ☔ Woke up and cut into that watermelon 🍉 which was pretty darn good. This morning I’m thinking zucchini, sweet onions and maybe some spinach with eggs. 🍳 Trying to get less sugar on my teeth before going to see the dentist but truth be told it will it will probably be difficult to get all that spinach and onions off my teeth before I visit. But my insurance pays the hygentist so he can’t complain too much. I need a good amount of fiber and protein for riding to work 🚲. My throat is feeling better today, ☺ and my energy levels are back up. The week after vacation is always the hardest at work. Especially when work is super quiet and mundane as this work has been. No really colorful characters this week to research, though that BS session midweek about 2024 was fun.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 56 degrees at 5am. Six degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around September 6th. Maximum dew point of 56 at 7pm. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies. It got down to 60 degrees. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1987.
Continuing to have issues with my shorts being too loose. 👖 Buying shorts that were 38s at the beginning of the summer was a mistake as even the 36 pair I have is much too loose. At some I’m going to figure out what size of jeans I need and think about getting some as it’s going to be getting cold but I need to figure out what my waist size will be. Hell of it is I’m not dieting or limiting portion sizes at this point, just eating healthy 🍏 and I keep losing weight. Funny what a difference it makes when fruits and vegetables are the center piece of your meal and the rice, meat and dairy are the side or the dessert. I might try to do some thrift storing tomorrow in search of less expensive clothing options, lest what I buy is too big or small in a few months. 👕
Tomorrow will have a slight chance of showers between 11am and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly sunny 🌦, with a high of 84 degrees at 2pm. One degree above normal. Maximum dew point of 67 at 6pm. South wind 5 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with more sun in the afternoon. The high last year was 79 degrees. The record high of 99 was set in 1944.
Tomorrow fairly early I want to head to the Albany Pine Bush 🌲🚲 to trail ride potentially stopping at Stanton Farm Market in New Scotland 🌶 🍆🌽 and the thrift store 🏬 on my way over. See if I can visit John mid afternoon then maybe stop at the grocery store or quite possibly Washington Avenue Extension Walmart is search of those wonderful dried pearl onions 🧅they had at least in the Finger Lakes.
Looking ahead to Sunday, a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a slight chance of showers between 8am and 2pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. ⛈ Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Maximum dew point of 65 at 7am. Typical average high for the weekend is 83 degrees.
I will take a wait and see approach to the Sunday. ⛈ It might go for a bike ride in the morning 🌅 and then going out to the folks house in the evening.
Looking ahead to September, there are 3 weeks until Average High 79🌡️when the sun will be setting at 7:31 pm with dusk at 7:59 pm. On that day in 2022, we had mostly sunny, rain showers and temperatures between 73 and 55 degrees. We hit a record high of 96 back in 1953. Hoping to be up in Spectulator that weekend to be celebrating the end of the summer at the Spectulator Tree Farm. By then I wouldn’t be surprised if the high country has it first signs of autumn. 🍂
Why I trust chemistry over processed healthy foods ⚗
Frequently, I encounter reactions from people who notice my dedication to healthy eating habits—tracking calories, fat, sugar, and salt intake—alongside my preference for incorporating items like sugar-free maple syrup, stevia, and MSG into my meals to enhance flavors. Additionally, I remain unperturbed by the choice between organic and conventionally processed foods. In all honesty, if I were to make a decision, I would lean towards conventionally produced items due to their affordability and comparable, if not superior, environmental impact.
The crux of the matter lies in the fact that much of the natural and organic product industry centers around bureaucratic procedures and labeling, rather than prioritizing health or ecological sustainability. Extra costs are incurred for foods with questionable health and environmental advantages. Numerous products flaunted as healthy, organic, or sustainable do not align with these labels. Many items marketed as natural, organic, or healthy are replete with undesirable elements—chiefly excessive calories, fat, sugar, and salt.
To truly enhance well-being, a return to basics is warranted. Opting for whole foods—those reminiscent of garden or orchard produce, or akin to farm-fresh staples like milk and meat—proves significantly more beneficial. Rather than investing in processed foods parading as healthy, directing resources towards fresh fruits and vegetables for the pantry is the wiser choice.
The sight of supposedly healthy organic cookies and wholesome snack cakes deeply troubles me, for such notions are largely unfounded. Despite advertising claims, honey nut cheerios do not qualify as a healthy option. Opting for alternatives like cream of wheat or whole grain, slowly cooked oatmeal and enhancing them with personal choices like honey and nuts stands as a superior option. A judicious sprinkling of MSG onto vegetables can heighten their taste appeal without excessively elevating sodium levels in the body. Similarly, incorporating stevia into freshly squeezed lemonade imparts extra sweetness, as opposed to utilizing natural sugars that contribute to weight gain and overall unhealthiness.
The concept of perceived risk, when examined closely, is often not as alarming as it initially appears. Many products, such as artificial sweeteners and MSG, have undergone rigorous testing and generally carry a consensus of safety. Conversely, the unhealthy nature of sugar and salt remains regardless of their natural origins. While pesticide residues do pose a certain level of risk, it’s important to recognize that this risk is well-researched and tested. On the contrary, neglecting the consumption of adequate fresh fruits and vegetables poses a well-established risk—one that cannot be overlooked. The fear of potential risks should not deter us from pursuing a healthy dietary path.
This morning is a drag 🐲
Puff the magic dragon by lived by the sea, and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee. A dragon lives forever but not so little boys.
Good morning! Happy Thursday. It’s cloudy and 60 degrees in Delmar, NY. ⛅ Calm wind. The dew point is 60 degrees. Fog around, and it’s in my head this morning and I’m not stoned but maybe I wish I was as I stumble around this morning skipping my morning walk.
So I can get at least some steps in 👣 taking the long way around the High School 🚸 superblock to the express bus 🚍 as I have enough time. Breakfast was a bowl of light red kidney beans with sugar free maple syrup and a little bit of Greek yogurt and fresh fruit. I have a bit of sore throat this morning and maybe that’s my excuse for my dragging ass, though truth be told it’s the gray skies my struggle to recover from summer vacation. 🛏 I was in bed shortly after 9 pm and slept well but had to run to the bathroom 🚽 a few times during the night as I had a bunch of lemonade 🍋 after my evening bike 🚲 ride to Voorheesville.
Today will have a slight chance of showers before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Mostly cloudy 🌦, with a high of 78 degrees at 12pm. Five degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 5th. Maximum dew point of 67 at 1pm. Lighyg south wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. It was somewhat humid. The high last year was 79 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 1949.
If the weather was going to be better today ⛈ I would definitely be riding into work. 🚲 It was a nice bicycle commute yesterday, although my ride home was a bit heavy with all that sweet corn 🌽, zucchini, cucumbers 🥒 and that watermelon 🍉 I had loaded into the back of my bike. Howard Street does get a bit crazy 🚘 at 5 o’clock but once I hit the bike path under 787 and do the climb out of the valley it’s a bit of serenity. Tomorrow I’ll ride down to the dentist 🦷 and then to work.
Yesterday I rode close to 30 miles or maybe more. 🚲 Not sure though I did GPS log it. Sunset is getting earlier 🌇 and I was running late 🏃 after dinner but it was still a great ride. That said my mountain bike is so slow compared to the road bikes and it’s boring 💤 to ride on asphalt but take it to the places I like to camp ⛺ it’s wonderful and it beats walking 🚶 around town. It just annoys me as road bikes fly by on the bike path, and general boredom of the bike path, but I remember it’s a compromise compared to the great places I can get up in the wilderness. I am thinking the gravel/stone dust of Pennsylvania’s Pine Creek Gorge might be fun this autumn.
I’ve been kicking myself for not stopping in Triangle on my way home from the Finger Lakes to get more zucchini and have been desperate ever since. 🥒 The zucchini I had in the Finger Lakes was so good that all I’ve been dreaming of all week is more zucchini. Fried with onions, some MSG, some pepper and a bit of stevia and olive oil it was so good. Eat way too much but there are worse foods to over indulge in. Sweet corn also for dinner and a plum for dessert. 🌽 This morning as I mentioned it was red kidney beans and syrup, and lunch is going to be onions, rice with peas and lentils and then some edamame thrown in. Haven’t had edamame in a few weeks, and it’s good, mostly because of vacation.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:02 pm with sun having an altitude of 63° from the due south horizon (-7.8° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 3.1 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:27 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (286°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (292°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:06 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 7 seconds with dusk around 8:35 pm, which is one minute and 22 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:15 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and thunderstorms 🌩 and temperatures around 71 degrees. The dew point will be 66 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 7 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 11 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 26 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will have showers and thunderstorms likely before 1am, then a slight chance of showers between 1am and 2am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 61 degrees at 4am. One degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around August 13th. Maximum dew point of 66 at 6pm. South wind around 8 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 63 degrees. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1941.
Another summer weekend on tap. 🏖 Saturday, a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 7 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 66 at 5pm. Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Maximum dew point of 68 at 10am. Typical average high for the weekend is 83 degrees.
This weekend I’m thinking of either riding or driving out to Our Families Harvest farm stand 🌽 in New Scotland to stock up on produce then maybe some mountain biking / trail riding in the Albany Pine Bush 🦋, I think that could be a lot of fun. Do it early as I see thunderstorms ⛈️ and rain popping up by afternoon. Then maybe go to see John and get some groceries at the Walmart in Albany. I specifically like those little pearl onions they have, I haven’t seen them at other grocery stores. They’re like candy and you can eat them raw after you peal the outer skin or toss them in a frying 🍳 pan and they quickly get brown and extra sweet. Maybe head a bit further north in Colonie and do some of the Canalway trail but I doubt it. Quiet day Sunday, maybe Five Rivers Environmental Education Center 🐸 and go out and see the folks. 👪
I asked the secretary 🗓 to schedule no meetings for me on Thursday and Friday of next week, lest I want to head up to the Potholers for a long weekend and to ride Piseco-Powley Road on Blackie 🚵 and camp at House Pond Campsite ⛺ assuming it’s open. I could go for a nice few days at the swimming 🏊 hole there maybe with some clams again 🦪 and tons of fresh farm produce 🌽 🥒 🍅 🧅 to toss in the beer and clam broth. We’ll see, it depends on the weather. I could use some time floating on the tube ⭕ and cooling in the Potholers before summer is done. I can’t do the following week as the other director is off. Right now the second half of next week looks good, and we might finally get some warmer and drier weather. One last stand before summer is done. I’m also thinking of seeing if I can work remote or take a personal day that Friday before Labor Day Weekend 👷♀️ so I can get camp set up early on Friday, then work or have fun as time would allow.
One month 📅 from now will be 6:30 Sunrise 🌇 when the sun will be setting at 7:16 pm with dusk at 7:43 pm. It will mean darker mornings especially for walking 🚶 although I should be able to walk for a few more weeks after then at 6:15 as dawn is about a half hour earlier and I do that most of the winter at any rate. The cooler air will be refreshing and help wake me up when those days come.
September Long Weekend Trip Options
I am considering my options for a mid to late September trip. Probably do only one. Some possibilities:
1) Moose River Plains in fall foliage season – always real nice, the Wakely Firetower is open again!
2) Tug Hill Plateau and Black River Valley – maybe meet old friend from Boy Scouts, see Confusion Flats, Whitestone Gulf, Lowville
3) North Lake Reservoir – Kayak, explore now that the crowds and motor boats are mostly gone
4) Early Autumn hike in the Catskills, camp at Burnt Rossman?
5) Jones Pond and the St Regis Canoe area
