Five Rivers Environmental Education Center

Five Rivers Environmental Education Center is a living museum comprising over 450 acres of broad fields, towering forests, and tranquil wetlands. Five Rivers offers people of all ages a rich variety of guided and self-guided opportunities to encounter nature directly. Stimulating interpretive programs and guided school lessons promote awareness, knowledge and appreciation of New York State’s environment year ’round. With over 10 miles of trails for self-guided exploration, Five Rivers fosters discovery, spiritual refreshment and physical fitness through wholesome outdoor recreation.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1835.html

I didn’t expect to get wet before heading out to Five Rivers ๐Ÿธ

I mean I probably should have with the summer we’ve had expect rain. Going to clear out later but will be cool for the family clam bake.

Good morning! Happy Sunday. Rain showers and 65 degrees at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. โ˜” There is a north-northwest breeze at 6 mph. ๐Ÿƒ. The dew point is 60 degrees. The skies will clear around noontime.

Woke up early ๐ŸŒ… and to run to the bathroom ๐Ÿšฝ and decided not to go back to sleep. Milled oatmeal down to a fine powder in the food processor and then added one of the fresh apples ๐Ÿ that I got at Yonder Farms and ultimately a banana ๐ŸŒ for sweetness and consistency and a bit of water for pancakes ๐Ÿฅž. Black coffee โ˜• and frozen fruit with sugar free syrup made for a good breakfast.

Rode Blackie ๐Ÿšต out to Five Rivers Environmental Education Center ๐Ÿธ for some nature observation and to get away a bit this morning, though I wasn’t expecting the rain. โ˜” Not super wet but unexpected in my mind, I’m hiding our under the pavilion for now. I’ll go for a short walk ๐Ÿšถ and then head home. Then shower ๐Ÿšฟ, get a few groceries at Walmart and clams ๐Ÿฆช at Market 32 ๐Ÿ›’ then head out to the folks house by later midday. ๐Ÿ•›

Today will have isolated showers before 9am. Partly sunny ๐ŸŒž, with a high of 76 degrees at 3pm. Five degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 11th. Maximum dew point of 62 at 11am. North wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning with more sun in the afternoon. It was somewhat humid. The high last year was 81 degrees. The record high of 97 was set in 1948.

Yesterday afternoon at Thacher Park ๐Ÿž was nice, though some of those trails were rougher on the bike ๐Ÿšฒ then expected but I try to be super gentle with Blackie not wanting to break shit but I’m also not afraid to now ride somewhat rougher trails with Blackie but I still prefer gravel. Super muddy after the summer that was. Still want to get to Charles Baker State Forest to ride before the snow ๐ŸŒจ comes. Not that I probably have much of a worry this winter with El Niรฑo and I’m not planning on doing much trail riding which closes October 31st, just road riding.

John Wolcott’s funeral is over โ›ช that chapter is closed. The whole wheat bread I made last night came out pretty good, most of it is now frozen. Last night’s dinner was commercial protein pasta you find in the supermarket with a bunch of spinach and the remaining kale I had plus mackerel for a good boost in the omega 3, healthy fats to help absorb the vitamins that make up the spinach and kale. The fats, protein and fiber fill you up quickly. ๐Ÿฒ

Solar noon ๐ŸŒž is at 12:58 pm with sun having an altitude of 57.5ยฐ from the due south horizon (-13.3ยฐ vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 3.8 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour ๐Ÿ… starts at 7:03 pm with the sun in the west (278ยฐ). ๐Ÿ“ธ The sunset is in the west-northwest (285ยฐ) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 7:41 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 59 seconds with dusk around 8:08 pm, which is one minute and 39 seconds earlier than yesterday. ๐ŸŒ‡ At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Gibbous ๐ŸŒ” Moon in the south-southeast (151ยฐ) at an altitude of 15ยฐ from the horizon, 228,020 miles away. ๐Ÿš€ The best time to look at the stars is after 8:45 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies ๐ŸŒ„ and temperatures around 71 degrees. The dew point will be 59 degrees. There will be a north breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 13 hours and 26 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 44 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be partly cloudy ๐ŸŒƒ with a low of 56 degrees at 6am. Three degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around September 6th. Maximum dew point of 60 at 6pm. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2022, we had clear skies in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It became humid as the night progressed. It got down to 59 degrees. The record low of 42 occurred back in 1982.

Now that I made bread with yeast ๐Ÿž, I’m interested in doing baking using baking powder or baking soda for those times I don’t want to mess with kneading or waiting 24 hours for the bread to rise. That’s more kind of for making biscuits but they can be a source of healthy carbs too if you limit the unhealthy fats by using olive oil or ghee and don’t use sugar. Also I was playing with my food processor this morning and will just dry oatmeal seems to do a decent job of milling whole grain oatmeal down to oat flour – and not just pancakes. ๐Ÿช

Today in 1859, Petroleum is discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania leading to the world’s first commercially successful oil well. ๐Ÿ›ข To this day, that town still smells like petroleum, and it floats in the creeks, but they produce much less oil today then at the peak around the turn of the century. Exploring the Oil Creek State Park is fun as is Pithole abandoned oil town but do expect a strong petroleum smell. ๐Ÿ‘ƒ But then again, Western PA smells like petroleum like the Black River Valley smells like cattle and manure. Just part of the country.

Looking ahead but maybe not forward to dark mornings walked or risen, there are 2 weeks until 6:30 Sunrise ๐ŸŒ‡ when the sun will be setting at 7:16 pm with dusk at 7:43 pm. On that day in 2022, we had mostly sunny, patches of fog and temperatures between 83 and 56 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 77 degrees. We hit a record high of 96 back in 1931.

Mallet Pond

A busy Saturday ahead ๐Ÿซ‘๐Ÿšต ๐Ÿ›’๐Ÿง“

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 ๐ŸŒž and 57 degrees at the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. Calm wind. The dew point is 55 degrees.

I could have walked ๐Ÿšถ in the neighborhood this morning but I was thinking with Blackie ๐Ÿšต the ride to Five Rivers Environmental Education Center ๐Ÿธ is but twenty minutes away and it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been out here. Figured check out the cows ๐Ÿฎ and the farm landscape on Meads Lane and see what Meads has for sale. ๐Ÿ… Those heirloom tomatoes look good. It looked like they had some nice flowers ๐ŸŒป but I can’t eat that. And freezer beef ๐Ÿฅฉ something to keep in mind but not for today. ๐Ÿฆ Time is tight at Five Rivers though by 8:30 need to be back on the road to be home before nine 9โƒฃ to shower ๐Ÿšฟ.

Breakfast was oatmeal and banana pancakes ๐Ÿฅž topped with Maine blueberries ๐Ÿซ 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 โ˜• 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 ๐Ÿš 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 ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿณquickly 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. ๐Ÿฉน Time is tight and I’m out of cooked rice. ๐Ÿ•’ 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 ๐Ÿ’ฆ which cooks the edamine.

Today will have showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly after 4pm. Otherwise, partly sunny ๐ŸŒฆ, 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 9โƒฃ I plan to shower ๐Ÿšฟ and load Blackie into Big Red. ๐Ÿšฒ Gas up Big Red โ›ฝโžก ๐Ÿ›ป and at ten o’clock drive out to Stanton’s Farm Market in New Scotland ๐Ÿซ‘ to see what they have. Peaches, hot peppers more zucchini and sweet corn ๐ŸŒฝ 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. ๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘– 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 ๐Ÿšต which is allowed on preserve trails. Nothing crazy, no jumping steps or roaring through the preserve, just a nice easy ride for observing nature. ๐Ÿ”ญ

Solar noon ๐ŸŒž is at 1:01 pm with sun having an altitude of 62.4ยฐ from the due south horizon (-8.4ยฐ 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 ๐Ÿ… starts at 7:24 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (285ยฐ). ๐Ÿ“ธ The sunset is in the west-northwest (292ยฐ) 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. ๐ŸŒ‡ The best time to look at the stars is after 9:12 pm. At sunset, look for rain ๐ŸŒง and thunderstorms ๐ŸŒฉ 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. ๐Ÿ‘– 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. ๐Ÿ•ด๐ŸปIf 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. ๐Ÿง“ 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. ๐Ÿšฒ Might be raining โ˜” 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.๐Ÿ›’

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. ๐ŸŒง Low of 65 degrees at 5am. Three degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 68 at 6pm. ๐Ÿ–๏ธ 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 ๐Ÿšฒ after riding to my dentist appointment ๐Ÿฆท. My teeth are in excellent shape for age forty, though I was worried ๐Ÿ˜ฏ after all that ice cream ๐Ÿฆ, lemons ๐Ÿ‹ and hot peppers ๐ŸŒถ๏ธ out in the Finger Lakes with reduced milk ๐Ÿฅ› consumption but more Greek yogurt. After work rode to Voorheesville for 32 miles ridden for the day. ๐Ÿšฒ Nice evening, beautiful out at the Voorheesville Park ๐Ÿž before heading out past the high school and library then back on the rail trail.

Tomorrow I’m thinking ๐Ÿ’ญ about riding out to Indian Ladder Farms to see what they have in stock ๐Ÿ, 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 ๐Ÿ“ฐ last night. Then out to the folks house ๐Ÿ‘ช though in Big Red and not on Blackie for that. ๐Ÿ›ป

As previously noted, there are 2 weeks until National Dog Day ๐Ÿฉ 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.

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