Delmar, NY

A hot day before summer vacation vacation 🏖

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The breeze and the clouds are making it not as quite as hot as it could be, though also the dew point is kind of modest. I’m dragging my butt to get walking this morning, but it’s getting done. I was up late last night doing some cleaning and packing, I’m inching closer to leaving tomorrow fairly early for summer vacation.

Good morning! Happy Thursday. Cloudy and 70 degrees in Delmar, NY. ☁️There is a south breeze at 11 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 67 degrees. The skies will clear around 6 pm.

So, yep it’s morning. 😵 I’m going, I’m doing my morning walk. 🍳 When I get back home I’m planning a quick breakfast of eggs with spinach, tomatoes, peppers and mushroom. Then I am hoping to walk down and catch the express bus downtown. 🚏 🚌 Yesterday, I rode my bike to work and it was a nice ride, 🚵‍♀️ but to be honest I think it’s going to rain or storm by afternoon, and I figure it best to catch the bus downtown. Plus I’m just not feeling real energetic this morning, though I’m doing my walk and hoping the eggs and spinach with some coffee ☕ will get me moving.

Today will have showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 1pm and 5pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy and hot 🌧, with a high of 90 degrees at 2pm. Six degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 72 at 12pm. South wind 11 to 14 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 83 degrees. The record high of 97 was set in 1955.

Last night I went for a ride down to Normans Kill West Preserve 📖 and sat down by the Normans Kill for a while with a book before returning them to the library. Then I went home, cooked down and froze the black beans 👨‍🍳 and did some cleaning in the bathroom, and further packing to prepare for the trip. ⛺ I have a few more things to do tonight regarding packing, but I think I’ll skip the laundromat as I can wear shorts a second time on vacation, and I probably need additional pairs of clothes, as many that I own really don’t fit well at this point but I can always pick some up in the Finger Lakes. 👕

Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:03 pm with sun having an altitude of 66.6° from the due south horizon (-4.2° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.6 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:42 pm in the west-northwest (291°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (298°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:23 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 15 seconds with dusk around 8:54 pm, which is one minute and one second earlier than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Gibbous 🌔 Moon in the south (186°) at an altitude of 24° from the horizon, 235,816 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:36 pm. At sunset, look for rain 🌧 and thunderstorms 🌩 and temperatures around 81 degrees. The dew point will be 70 degrees. The heat index around sunset will be 77. ⛱ There will be a west breeze at 8 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 42 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and one second over yesterday.

The plan is to mostly finish packing tonight 💼 except for a few things I will need in the morning. I am not sure if I will put the kayak on my truck until the morning, as I think it might rain or thunderstorm ⛈ and I don’t want to drive out to the Finger Lakes with the kayak sloshing full of water, on the roof of my truck. 🛶  I was going to replace the front tie down rope for the kayak but I’ll hold off on that for now, but the next time I’m at Walmart I should pick up some more rope and maybe cut that down to size for use the next time I load the kayak up.  🥚 I think I may hard boil the remaining eggs I have at home tonight, so I can have that as a protein boost before leaving tomorrow, which I want to leave at 8:45 AM so I can swing by my insurance agent to ask them about the new spousal insurance law, and if I can decline that coverage. 🏦 Then try to be on the road a little after 9 AM, then maybe stop first down Oneonta to get fuel ⛽ and pick up a few supplies at Walmart, 🛒 and a bathroom break. 🚽 The plan then is to not stop until I’m at the National Forest 🌲 and can start setting up camp by mid-day. 🏕

Tonight will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 9pm. Partly cloudy 🌃, with a low of 69 degrees at 5am. Six degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 72 at 6pm. West wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It became sticky as the night progressed. It got down to 67 degrees. The record low of 44 occurred back in 1971.

Right now, a split verdict on the weekend. 😕 Saturday, a chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 70 at 11am. Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Maximum dew point of 58 at 7am. Typical average high for the weekend is 84 degrees.

As previously noted, next Thursday is Campfire Day 🔥 when the sun will be setting at 8:15 pm with dusk at 8:45 pm. On that day in 2022, we had hot, mostly sunny and temperatures between 90 and 64 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 83 degrees. We hit a record high of 97 back in 1975.

Mud Lock In Cayuga Lake

Most people try to avoid Occam’s razor as what it often reveals is painful.

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There might be quite a few reasons why folks sometimes steer clear of using Occam’s razor in certain situations, whether they’re aware of it or not:

  1. Cognitive biases: Humans are prone to cognitive biases that can lead to faulty reasoning. These biases may cause people to prefer complex explanations because they seem more impressive or intellectually stimulating, even if they lack empirical evidence.
  2. Emotional attachment: Individuals may be emotionally attached to a particular belief or explanation, and therefore resist adopting a simpler alternative, even if it is more likely to be correct. This attachment can make it difficult for them to objectively evaluate different explanations.
  3. Lack of information or knowledge: Sometimes, people may not have access to all the relevant information or possess the necessary knowledge in a particular field. In such cases, they may resort to more complex explanations due to a lack of understanding or awareness of simpler alternatives.
  4. Overcomplication for personal gains: In some instances, individuals may deliberately introduce unnecessary complexity to obscure the truth or manipulate others for personal gain. This can be seen in various fields, such as politics, marketing, or pseudoscience.
  5. Desire for uniqueness: People may also avoid Occam’s razor because they want to propose unique or groundbreaking ideas. By presenting complex explanations, they may believe they are offering a novel perspective or approach, even if it lacks sufficient evidence.

A summer’s night

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Under the starry sky’s gentle gleam,
In the wilderness, where dreams redeem,
A summer’s night unfolds its glorious might,
As nature sings a symphony of delight.

The moon, a silver beacon, shines so bright,
Casting a soothing glow upon the night,
Whispering secrets to the rustling trees,
As a gentle breeze dances with ease.

The symphony of crickets fills the air,
Their melodies, a rhythm beyond compare,
Joined by the croak of a distant frog,
Lost in nature’s tranquil dialogue.

The fireflies, like twinkling fairy lights,
Illuminate the dark with their whimsical flights,
Gently guiding wanderers through the stillness,
In nature’s sanctuary of peace and bliss.

The scent of wildflowers graces the breeze,
Carrying their essence on a gentle tease,
Their colorful petals blooming in delight,
Painting the darkness with vibrant light.

Amidst this wilderness, serenity abounds,
As the night’s beauty effortlessly surrounds,
A summer’s night, in its wild embrace,
Leaves memories etched, with tranquil grace.

So let us revel in this magical sight,
Embrace the enchantment of the summer’s night,
In the wilderness, where dreams take flight,
Where nature’s poetry whispers with sheer delight.

Today I’m out exploring the Catskill Scenic Trail on Blackie 🚵🏻

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The Catskill Scenic Trail is a captivating 26-mile pathway nestled in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. This picturesque trail offers a diverse array of natural beauty, from vibrant foliage and majestic forests to tranquil streams. It is a popular destination for biking, hiking, and horseback riding, providing a peaceful and immersive experience for all. Along the trail, visitors can enjoy stunning vistas, restful spots, and a chance to reconnect with nature.

Murphy Farm

Upper Pool

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Most of Goldmine Stream Falls is a series of gentle drops along granite that has been colored by sulfur in the rock.

Taken on Saturday July 25, 2020 at Delmar, NY.

My allergy to home internet service, air conditioning and television

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My allergy to home internet service, air conditioning and television 📺

I am an unusual person this day of age choosing to live without home internet access or air conditioning. It’s part of my choice to live simply and without modern conveniences that a lot of folks have. My budget is pretty tight these days and while I could make such things fit I choose to do without.

But I also worry if I made my apartment too comfortable if I would ever go out. What is the incentive to go to the library or down to the park if I had internet at home? Why ever go outside in the summer months if my apartment is perfectly chilled to a delightful temperature. No need to drive up to the Adirondacks for a swimming hole or a cool night in the woods if I can sit next to the cool breeze at home.

Maybe my objection to air conditioning is a bit silly. I mean there are plenty of people who live off grid down in Missouri and Oklahoma and other southern states and they have air conditioning – you can build a big enough system with batteries and solar to keep cool year round. Plenty of farmers and homesteaders have air conditioning – sure they’re barns might be sticky but their tractors and trucks are air conditioned – and when they’re done with chores they climb into an air conditioned tractor cab, office or home. People who fish, hunt and camp in the summer typically lack air conditioning.

The same is true for the internet. Having high speed access to the web doesn’t mean you can’t go outside or enjoy life away from home. It’s just more convenient than looking for a free hot spot. Having internet access at home might be essential in the future for some remote work jobs, especially if i want to run a business from my off-grid cabin. But still it seems kind of imprisoning to have the unlimited, always on flow of information at your house.

Not owning a television. Well that’s one I can’t criticize. I don’t see much benefit to commercials. I do watch my favorite off-grid and homesteading channels, the real farmer channels and some stuff about electronics and electricity – mechanical shit – but not anything I’d find on commercial television. I download them as free from YouTube.

Maybe my views are changing but I still have to think living with less is a better way of life. I like my toys but it’s better to enjoy them outside rather than inside.