The Rattlesnake Hill Wildlife Management Area is a 5,100 acre upland tract, situated approximately eight miles west of Dansville, New York. Roughly two-thirds of the area lies in southern Livingston County, while the remaining third lies in northern Allegany County. The tract was purchased in the 1930’s under the Federal Resettlement Administration and is one of several such areas turned over to DEC for development as a wildlife management area.
The area is appropriately named after the Timber Rattlesnake, which may be occasionally found in the more remote sections of the “Hill”.
The area offers an interesting blend of upland habitats such as mature woodland, overgrown fields, conifer plantations, old growth apple orchards and open meadows.
The area is inhabited by a variety of game species and is open to public hunting. The white-tailed deer, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, grey squirrel, cottontail rabbit and woodcock are found on the area. An occasional snowshoe hare may be observed adjacent to thick creek bottom brush or conifer plantation habitats.
A number of small marsh units have been developed and provide limited hunting for waterfowl. Some of the area’s furbearing species such as mink, beaver and raccoon may be occasionally viewed at these marsh units.
While it would have been nice to get out of town for the Memorial Day Weekend, I’m enjoying the light breeze camping in the back country of Cole Hill, eating good healthy and delicious meals cooked over the fire and enjoying the light of a fire, the moon and candles in the evening. I’m sure if I had gone to the Adirondacks I would have been dealing with a lot more black flies to say nothing of the long drive, traffic and probably not getting my dream campsite. Onwards to Juneteenth Weekend, lol.
Good morning! Happy Sunday. Sunny and 68 degrees at the Cole Hill State Forest. 🌞 Calm wind. The dew point is 46 degrees. Warming up quickly after a somewhat cool night. I probably could have used another blanket for hammock camping last night.
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 82 degrees at 4pm. Seven degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around June 24th. Maximum dew point of 47 at 11am. Calm wind becoming northwest 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. That breeze is nice and it’s not expected to be real humid. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning, which became cloudy by afternoon. The high last year was 80 degrees. The record high of 93 was set in 2016. I think that year I was camping in the Green Mountain National Forest and spending much of the day at the beach at Grout Pond. There was a dusting of snow in 1902.❄
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:55 pm with sun having an altitude of 68.8° from the due south horizon (-2° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.3 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:43 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (294°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (301°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:24 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 21 seconds with dusk around 8:57 pm, which is 52 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waxing Gibbous 🌔 Moon in the south-southwest (199°) at an altitude of 51° from the horizon, 248,997 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:41 pm. At sunset, look for clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 71 degrees. The dew point will be 51 degrees. There will be a west-northwest breeze at 7 mph. Today will have 15 hours and 3 minutes of daytime, an increase of one minute and 30 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 51 degrees at 4am. One degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 26th. Maximum dew point of 51 at 8pm. Northwest wind around 7 mph. In 2022, we had partly cloudy skies. It got down to 51 degrees. The record low of 34 occurred back in 1956.
I took my bike to Downtube and they told me that they didn’t think it warranted a professional rebuild 🚲 due to numerous components needing replacement to get it up and running well. They were more than happy to show me the latest 2023 models which run about $800 after tax and destination charges, but suggested my bicycle might still be a fun project to rebuild myself even if there are some components – namely the gas suspension which is bad and will fail catastrophically at some point in the future. They pointed me in the direction of the Albany Bicycle Rescue which offers free classes on bicycle repair on Tuesday.
Looking ahead, there are 2 weeks until the Gas Up Day 2 🚜 when the sun will be setting at 8:35 pm with dusk at 9:08 pm. On that day in 2022, we had partly sunny and temperatures between 78 and 50 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 78 degrees. We hit a record high of 94 back in 1947.
I came to the conclusion after two hours of cuss words and fiddling with my bike spokes to take it to the dealer Downtube and have them rebuild the wheel, tune and repair the derailer. Hopefully find a solution once and for all to the broken spokes. I’ve been waiting too long for parts, struggling to much to make repairs and I want to throw some money at it and getting running good so I can up many more miles on it with quality dealer repairs.
Good morning! Happy Saturday. Finally the Memorial Day Weekend! Sunny and 53 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌞 There is a north-northwest breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 44 degrees.
It’s an absolutely beautiful weekend ☺ but I’m starting it off slow as I’ve needed to catch up on sleep for some time now and have a long list of things I’m working through before the bike store 🚲 opens at 11 am then I’m going to hammock camp for two nights in the back country, not in the Adirondacks. I’ve been packing my large backpack, I got a bug screen for my hammock last night. 🛠 Checked the tightness of the lug nuts on the truck and now I’m out walking 🚶.
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 79 degrees at 4pm. Five degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around June 12th. North wind around 6 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. It was humid. The high last year was 77 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1914.
I’m looking forward to setting up camp ⛺ and a few quiet nights in the back country. But first I want to get the bike to the shop. 🏪 It looks like I have a little bit of legislative work to do this morning but I’ll get that done and then up to camp. 🌲
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:54 pm with sun having an altitude of 68.7° from the due south horizon (-2.2° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.3 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:41 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (294°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (301°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:23 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 21 seconds with dusk around 8:55 pm, which is 54 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the First Quarter 🌓 Moon in the southwest (216°) at an altitude of 53° from the horizon, 250,697 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:39 pm. At sunset, look for clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 73 degrees. The dew point will be 46 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Today will have 15 hours and 2 minutes of daytime, an increase of one minute and 34 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 50 degrees at 5am. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 23rd. Light southeast wind. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became partly cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It was somewhat humid. It got down to 56 degrees. The record low of 33 occurred back in 1994.
Looking ahead, there are 4 weeks until Latest Sunset 🌆 when the sun will be setting at 8:38 pm with dusk at 9:12 pm. On that day in 2022, we had partly cloudy and temperatures between 86 and 61 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 82 degrees. We hit a record high of 96 back in 1943.
And I’m so not rushing around to make sure I have everythingpacked so I can be eaten alive by the black flies while I struggle to find cell service so I can work. Or rolling out of Mayfield watching traffic queue three miles in the distance as people crawl towards Northville and I’m openly wondering if all the good campsites are taken. I’m sure there is a lot of summer and autumn left.
Good morning! Yeah, it’s Friday before Memorial Day Weekend! 🇺🇸 Sunny and 42 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌞 Calm wind. An absolutely beautiful morning, although a bit cool for the morning walk.
These days with the early sunrise 🌅 I find it difficult to sleep much past five o’clock which is bad for the sleep 😴 as it’s also hard to get to bed before 9:30 or so after the evening walk 🚶. But I’m moving forward and I’m thinking eggs, tofu spinach and feta for breakfast this morning. 🍳 I’ve really been overdoing the sugar lately and eggs have an amazing staying power for the full day. 💪
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 72 degrees at 5pm. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around May 19th. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 7 mph in the morning. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 74 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 2010. There was a dusting of snow in 1953.❄
Should be a pretty nice day. ☺ Yesterday wasn’t half bad, walked 11 ½ miles had a good dinner with salmon, peppers, tomatoes and a lemon juice 🍋 topping. Work was busy but it’s exciting getting that new Census Housing Data for sure. 🖥 That said, I had most depressing project to review yesterday 📝 but not everything can always be happy and fun when you are paid to review it.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:53 pm with sun having an altitude of 68.5° from the due south horizon (-2.3° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.4 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:40 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (293°). 📸
Going to catch the earlier express bus 🚏🚌 in this morning so I can bring the Lupine Festival 🦋 display to my office 🏢 and hopefully bring it back to Lynne this afternoon. Then do some more walking 🚶 before getting down to work for the day. As I won’t be leaving right from work today to the Adirondacks I figure I won’t be guilty of such clock 🕒 watching today but it should still go by quickly as I expect to be quite busy.
The sunset is in the west-northwest (300°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:22 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 20 seconds with dusk around 8:54 pm, which is 55 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the First Quarter 🌓 Moon in the southwest (234°) at an altitude of 52° from the horizon, 251,804 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:38 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 65 degrees. There will be a calm wind. Today will have 15 hours of daytime, an increase of one minute and 37 seconds over yesterday.
After work tonight I want to go to the library 📚 and get a book to read for the holiday weekend then run to Walmart after 8 pm after they restocked followed by Market32 for anything they don’t have. 🫑🍎🌶️🥚 Want to make sure to have lots of fresh fruits and vegetables for camping 🏕.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 45 degrees at 5am. Seven degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around May 7th. Light and variable wind. In 2022, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It became humid as the night progressed. It got down to 63 degrees. The record low of 30 occurred back in 1969.
The plan for tomorrow 🚲 is to work on the bicycle in the morning 💻 along with any other work that comes in tonight into the morning then go out and primatively hammock camp ⛺ in the back country as simply as possible doing all my cooking 🍳 over a fire with hiking 🚶, reading and nature observation during the day. Use a candle 🕯 and the fire 🔥 for light at night 🌃.
Tomorrow will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 79 degrees at 5pm. Five degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around June 12th. Calm wind. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 77 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1914.
Looking ahead to Sunday, sunny, with a high near 85. ☀ Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Maximum dew point of 55 at 8pm. That will feel like summer. Typical average high for the weekend is 74 degrees.
And Memorial Day 🇺🇸 will be sunny ☀ with a high of 87 degrees as the heat wave strengthens heading into the work week, even if Monday is a holiday. I’m sure it will be a long and busy work week next week, though maybe not so bad as Tuesday is the Assembly Majority picnic and Thursday is a get away day. Then that final hellish week and they will be gone. And then the recovery weekend for me spent with dad at the Gas Up. 🚜
The truth is I’m more focused on the following weekend, June 3-4 for more of a get out of town adventure ⛺🛶🌳🌲 just because I know the woods will be quieter that weekend, the black flies less bad 🐜, water warmer, less traffic and likely less work for me. All a win – win assuming the warm weather doesn’t crap out by then. And of course, Juneteenth long weekend extended by a few extra days at the Potholers. 🏊♂️
Looking ahead, there are 7 weeks until National Nude Day 👱 when the sun will be setting at 8:33 pm with dusk at 9:06 pm. On that day in 2022, we had partly cloudy and temperatures between 85 and 65 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 84 degrees. We hit a record high of 99 back in 1995.
If Puerto Rico was a state, it would be by far the poorest in America. Significant poverty continues to exist in the south, indeed the most impoverished states are Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, New Mexico and Alabama according to the 2020 American Community Survey 5 year averages.
Do I stay or do I go is the question on my mind, noting the likely ton of black flies if I head out of town. But the flip side is the long weekend forecast is rapidly improving and it would be fun to get out of town. But where to go? Speculator? Green Mountains?
Good morning! Happy Thursday. Partly cloudy and 44 degrees in Delmar for the morning walk. ⛅ There is a west-northwest breeze at 6 mph. 🍃. The skies will clear around 11 am.
Oatmeal with blackberries and maybe blueberries for breakfast 🥣 this morning. Cold coffee ☕ maybe black though I probably should get some dairy into my diet this morning with the coffee. 🐮
Today will be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny 🌥 👉 ☀ , with a high of 65 degrees at 4pm. Nine degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around April 28th. North wind 6 to 11 mph. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 77 degrees. The record high of 94 was set in 1981.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:53 pm with sun having an altitude of 68.3° from the due south horizon (-2.5° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 2.4 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:39 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (293°). 📸
The sunset is in the west-northwest (300°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:21 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 20 seconds with dusk around 8:53 pm, which is 56 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the First Quarter 🌓 Moon in the west-southwest (250°) at an altitude of 49° from the horizon, 252,261 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:37 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 59 degrees. There will be a north-northeast breeze at 7 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 59 minutes of daytime, an increase of one minute and 40 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 41 degrees at 5am. 10 degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around April 26th. North wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2022, we had mostly clear skies. It got down to 57 degrees. The record low of 38 occurred back in 1972.
A perfect Memorial Day Weekend 🇺🇸 ahead. Saturday, sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon. Maximum dew point of 49 at 8pm. Sunday, sunny, with a high near 83. Maximum dew point of 53 at 8pm. Memorial Day, 85 degrees and sunny. Typical average high for the weekend is 74 degrees.
Looking ahead, next Thursday is 9 PM Dusk 🌆 when the sun will be setting at 8:27 pm with dusk at 9:00 pm. On that day in 2022, we had rain and temperatures between 69 and 60 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 76 degrees. We hit a record high of 94 back in 1918.
Just showcasing some of the more refined maps I’ve made up. This looks really good when printed on color on Arch C-sized paper. I was looking at these maps on my table yesterday, and they are absolutely beautiful. I was pondering getting into the map business, but the cost of printing and shipping really has discouraged me. It’s hard to make the money work unless you can sell multiple copies of any one map you’ve produced.
