Balsam Swamp is a sprawling state forest that stretches almost 5.5 miles east-west across 4 towns. The area is very rural, and the landscape surrounding the State Forest is predominantly forested. Balsam Swamp State Forest is comprised of a mix of native hardwood forests, hemlock swamps, and conifer plantations. There are no designated recreational trails on the forest, but there is ample opportunity for self-guided day hikes to explore the diversity of habitats represented on this State Forest. Additionally, the western section of Balsam Swamp State Forest is adjacent to Five Streams State Forest to the south.
The main attraction of this forest is Balsam Pond. The impoundment is approximately 152 acres and is a popular destination for fishing and paddle boat sports. Balsam Pond is a warm water fishery that contains a mix of largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead and sunfish. Tiger muskellunge have been stocked in the past with the last stocking occurring in 1995. However, there have been very few reports of anglers catching any of the adult tiger muskies. A shallow gravel boat launch is suitable for launching small fishing boats.
A small rustic camp ground is also located at Balsam Pond. Camping spaces are available at no cost on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is no running water or electricity. A fire ring, outhouse, and picnic table are provided for each camping space. A sign on Balsam-Tyler Road in Pharsalia designates the entrance to the boat launch and camping facility. This is a carry-in carry-out facility. Please do not litter.
I forgot how much fun it is to just cruise the back roads, like I did much more in my younger years, though back then it was more about filling my pyromania looking for burn barrels and bonfires.
But I really like the country and folks out in the hollows and hills, and even these days just cruising feels so good. At this point where I’m in Knox I’m probably too far away from work to settle down and call home but after wandering down some more dirt and gravel in my big jacked up truck I’ll start heading back closer to the Albany.
Kind of sunny but cool. But a nice day for a drive out in the country, where I’m going to start to look at properties and then maybe do an evening hike down along the Switz Kill at Partridge Run. Both to scope things out and because I want to think what I’m getting myself into. I have options, maybe too many options, and that’s the problem. Do I really want to live in country, raise animals and garden? Do I want to give up my travels and adventures, as tired and worn out as they seem now? Or do I want to live the urban life, ride and walk most of my adventures? I really liked Downtown Troy.
I don’t know who I want to be when I grow up. I could see if I could keep renting my current apartment for another year, the higher rent is still pretty competitive. The more my research shows about my landlord, I’m not sure if he really has more aspirations then being a slumlord. Buying the building doesn’t necessarily mean he has the cash now to knock it down. Most of the other buildings he owns aren’t exactly “A” quality buildings, especially those sub-100k very old and worn out buildings in Coeymans where he got his start. Most of them look like my apartment.
Good afternoon! Partly cloudy 🌤 and 27 degrees at Delmar, NY. ⛅ There is a north-northwest breeze at 14 mph. 🍃. The current wind chill is 16. Things will start to thaw out at tomorrow around noontime. 🌡️
I woke up feeling pretty damn frustrated, frazzled and sad, after a tough week. 😫 Kind of like I went to bed last night. That database upgrade project at work, along with issues with telecommunications on Thursday and Friday, really drained me by the end of each day. Plus the recording of the podcast, and just looking at houses on Zillow and other sites, really zapped me. I am still so fried. Next Friday, is March 1st, hopefully the landlord will accept my paper check, and I’ll have my new office, as former Data Services director will be off on her retirement journey. While I’ve had the title and all the authorities of the position since January 1st, it’s like I had training wheels until next Friday, with somebody with 42 years of experience to fall back on when I didn’t know the answer.
This afternoon will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 31 degrees at 3pm. Seven degrees below normal. But wait until next week. Northwest wind around 15 mph. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning, which became light snow by afternoon. The high last year was 38 degrees. The record high of 74 was set in 2017. 8.0 inches of snow fell back in 1962.❄
First of the plan is to buy a bottle of wine 🍷 as a gift to my friend who is taking me around to look at land and property tomorrow, and give advice. I also got him another little gift that I think he will like. Just little things. It’s been years since we’ve been together in Boy Scouts, 🤠 🏕 and I look forward to getting back together with him and his wife tomorrow. Then to get gas, ⛽ and just drive around Berne until dark, with my mountain bike 🚵♀️ in case I want to pull over and take a closer, slower look at property. 🔍 I’ll bring my laptop too, 💻 as I have the full NYS Property Tax database saved on it.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:10 pm with sun having an altitude of 37.8° from the due south horizon (-33.1° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 7.7 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 5:00 pm with the sun in the west-southwest (251°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (258°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 5:38 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 58 seconds with dusk around 6:06 pm, which is one minute and 15 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Waning Gibbous 🌖 Moon in the east-northeast (78°) at an altitude of 2° from the horizon, 252,207 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 6:40 pm. At sunset, look for mostly clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 27 degrees. The wind chill around sunset will be 16. ☃️ There will be a northwest breeze at 14 mph. Today will have 11 hours and one minute of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 47 seconds over yesterday.
There were a few houses on Zillow I really liked,🏡 but first I want to talk to my friend tomorrow along with my parents to get their advice and think about it a bit more before I run out to make a decision that will impact my live well into the 2030s. While I know requesting a tour isn’t a commitment, and I should move forward on getting pre-approved, I’ve held back for now. I don’t want to drag my feet too much, but I also don’t want to rush too much. 💸 Going to be warmer soon, so that will help with the air leaks in my apartment, 🌬 and I also based on researching my new landlord, I don’t think I face that much of risk of immediate eviction, even if I know in the long run the current arrangement isn’t sustainable for me. I’ll assume he’ll replace door if it rots away and can no longer be shut. 🚪 This dumpy apartment, even with the rent going to the mustang-driving cigar-smoking slumlord, 🏎 is probably the most financially responsible choice as I can ride my bike to work or take public transit. 🚌
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 10 degrees at 5am. 10 degrees below normal. Going to be a really cold night for future. Maximum wind chill around 4 at 2am; Northwest wind 7 to 13 mph. In 2023, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became light snow by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 12 degrees. The record low of -14 occurred back in 1914. I’m surprised that record is so cold but alas it still is February. By the end of the week though I might be able to keep the heat off as it will be above freezing.
Looking ahead, next Saturday is Read Across America Day 📚 when the sun will be setting at 5:48 pm with dusk at 6:14 pm. On that day in 2023, we had cloudy, rain showers and temperatures between 41 and 35 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 40 degrees. We hit a record high of 65 back in 1991.
Rent check via auto delivery is on the way to the new landlord. I’m on my way via bicycle to work. The best thing I’ve done is mute the banks and realtors who are super interested in me since I started expressing interest n buying a house.
Good morning! Yeah, it’s Friday! Rain showers are parting and 35 degrees at the Stewart’s. ❄ Calm wind. Temperatures will drop below freezing at tomorrow around 2 am. ☃️
Today will rain and snow likely before 8am, then a chance of rain between 8am and noon. Mostly cloudy ⛅ 👉 🌞, with a high of 48 degrees at 2pm. 10 degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around March 22nd. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected. A year ago, we had light freezing rain in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 35 degrees. The record high of 69 was set in 2017. 6.9 inches of snow fell back in 1935.❄
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:10 pm with sun having an altitude of 37.4° from the due south horizon (-33.4° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 7.8 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 4:59 pm with the sun in the west-southwest (251°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (257°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 5:37 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 58 seconds with dusk around 6:05 pm, which is one minute and 16 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Full 🌝 Moon in the east (80°) at an altitude of 13° from the horizon, 251,578 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 6:39 pm. At sunset, look for partly cloudy skies 🌃 and temperatures around 45 degrees. There will be a northwest breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 10 hours and 58 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 47 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will have a slight chance of snow showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy 🌧, with a low of 21 degrees at 6am. One degree above normal, which is similar to a typical night around February 26th. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. In 2023, we had light rain in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 19 degrees. The record low of -11 occurred back in 1894.
Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny ☁👉 ☀ , with a high of 29 degrees at 2pm. Nine degrees below normal. North wind 11 to 14 mph. A year ago, we had light freezing rain in the morning, remaining cloudy in the afternoon. The high last year was 38 degrees. The record high of 74 was set in 2017. 8.0 inches of snow fell back in 1962.❄
Looking ahead to Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 38. ☀ West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Perfect 👌 day for cruising the back roads and looking for property. 🛻 Typical average high for the weekend is 38 degrees.
Looking ahead, next Friday is March 🌨 when the sun will be setting at 5:46 pm with dusk at 6:13 pm. On that day in 2023, we had mostly cloudy, snow showers and temperatures between 39 and 20 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 40 degrees. We hit a record high of 66 back in 2017.
Just another SQL expression as you try to make sense of things. I’m pulling county tax records to find parcels of interest, cross checking against bank foreclosures and the county land bank. But sometimes it’s all just garbage what you get in and it can be hard to fix no matter the research. Yet, the golden signal is found in the noise. Good things come to those who dig through the SHIT. More awk and grep and I’ll find it.
Good morning! Happy Thursday. Partly cloudy and 29 degrees in Delmar. ⛅ There is a south-southeast breeze at 6 mph. 🍃. Things will start to thaw out at around 8 am. 🌡️
Kind of a cool start to the morning 🎐 but things should warmup fairly quickly, though it might feel cooler today with the clouds rapidly pushing in and possible rain showers by evening. 🚲 I am going to ride in this morning, especially as come Friday it might be too wet. Too bad but at least it will get some of the salt off the roads. 🌧 A day riding to work is a good one, though who knows how much longer they will last.
Today will have a slight chance of showers after 4pm. Mostly cloudy 🌦, with a high of 45 degrees at 2pm. Seven degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around March 15th. South wind 6 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Pretty marginal risk. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, which became light snow by afternoon. The high last year was 38 degrees. The record high of 68 was set in 1997. 14.8 inches of snow fell back in 1893.❄
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:10 pm with sun having an altitude of 37° from the due south horizon (-33.8° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 8 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 4:57 pm with the sun in the west-southwest (250°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (257°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 5:36 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 59 seconds with dusk around 6:04 pm, which is one minute and 16 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Full 🌝 Moon in the east (83°) at an altitude of 23° from the horizon, 250,311 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 6:37 pm. At sunset, look out for possible rain showers 🌧 and temperatures around 42 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 9 mph. Today will have 10 hours and 56 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 47 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will have showers likely, mainly after 1am. Cloudy 🌧, with a low of 34 degrees at 1am. 14 degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around April 7th. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. In 2023, we had light snow in the evening, which became light freezing rain by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 23 degrees. The record low of -16 occurred back in 1972.
A picture perfect weekend on tap. 😎 Saturday, sunny, with a high near 29. Northwest wind around 17 mph. Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 39. Typical average high for the weekend is 38 degrees.
Looking ahead, there are 4 weeks until First Day of Spring 💮 when the sun will be setting at 7:10 pm with dusk at 7:37 pm (Daylight Savings Time). That will be nice, especially if the town park isn’t too wet. On that day in 2023, we had partly sunny and temperatures between 59 and 24 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 47 degrees. We hit a record high of 78 back in 1921.
Tear it down, or more likely have the DEC toss a molotov cocktail through the window, and anything beside the scrap metal push into the foundation and cover with dirt and rock. It’s a fitting conclusion to a former Great Adirondack Camp, one that is now restored to the public for public use without fee. It would be a nice primitive picnic and camping area for all of the public to use, rather then an exclusive club for paying members.
Going to be fairly sunny and warm at least. I’m still feeling incredibly sore but I’m going to try to ride to work today. Such a nice day ahead.
Good morning! What day is it? A chilly start to Hump Day, but it should warm up quickly. Sunny and 18 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌞 Calm wind. Things will start to thaw out at around 10 am. 🌡️
Just another really busy day ahead. 🚲 The bicycle ride if I feel up to it will be some needed solitude and relaxation. I was up later then usual last night so I did not get a real early start but the orange – oatmeal pancakes 🥞 were a nice sugary start to the morning. 🗃️ I already have a file full of stuff to review today, ignoring the call backs from banks wanting to sell me a mortgage and real estate agents salivating for my business. 😋 I am free to ignore their emails, text and calls. 📧
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 42 degrees at 3pm. Four degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical day around March 6th. Light south wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Not too bad. A year ago, we had cloudy skies in the morning, which became mostly sunny by afternoon. The high last year was 46 degrees. A little warmer than today. The record high of 73 was set in 2018. 11.0 inches of snow fell back in 1929.❄
I got two different pre-qualification reports from banks 🏦 and I’m exceptionally well qualified for up to a house up to $400k in financing if I put 20% down. No way am I planning to buy something that fancy. I called an old friend from Boy Scouts and we’re going to look at some foreclosures and abandoned houses🏚️ on land. He bought his homestead fairly cheap and got a FHA loan and developed a financing plan that had contractors rebuild his house up to spec.
I really love the idea 💡 of saving a blighted, old farmstead – particularly a small cabin or house on acerage. I can certainly haul trash and tires to the dump, scrap metal to scrap yard, and work with the fire department 🧑🚒to have bonfires to burn up wood and woody debris. 🪵 Rent a bulldozer to bulldoze any old non toxic farm dumps, cover deep with rock and dirt. This way I could restore a house that might otherwise be demolished and recycle or repurpose as much of the waste as possible. ♻ It could be a lot of fun. Many things I’d have to rely on inspectors and contractors to repair 👷 but as my friend was saying those costs can be part of the mortgage. Plus all then I have control over how many gee gaws on the property, I’d rather have more acerage for goats 🐐 and pigs 🐽 than marble counter tops. Pigs after running a few ton of grain through can do miracles for poor quality land, but you want them well downwind of your house mPlus no neighbors right near by to smoke out with my fires or listen to the roar of their ATVs. 🔥
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:10 pm with sun having an altitude of 36.7° from the due south horizon (-34.1° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 8.1 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 4:56 pm with the sun in the west-southwest (250°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (256°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 5:35 pm after setting for 2 minutes and 59 seconds with dusk around 6:02 pm, which is one minute and 16 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Full 🌝 Moon in the east (87°) at an altitude of 33° from the horizon, 248,471 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 6:36 pm. At sunset, look for clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 39 degrees. There will be a south breeze at 10 mph. Today will have 10 hours and 53 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 45 seconds over yesterday.
This evening I’m driving up to Troy 🛻 to be on TJ Kennedy’s Upstate Outdoors podcast. 🎧 It really should be a fun half hour to talk about some of my wilderness experiences ⛺, camping 🏕 and what my plans are for what is happening in my life. 🐐 It’s just so exciting to think I might be moving back out to the country again, and maybe it’s not the complete off-grid experience, I want to live simple and small, have acerage and so forth. 🏡 It’s almost as if I’m now ready to put the whole camping and wilderness experience behind me for a place that I can actually call my true home. Okay I haven’t found my abandoned farm property yet nor do I have a restoration plan in place but I am hopeful.
Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌃 , with a low of 27 degrees at 5am. Eight degrees above normal, which is similar to a typical night around March 18th. South wind 6 to 8 mph. In 2023, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became mostly clear by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 25 degrees. The record low of -8 occurred back in 1963.
I’m nervous about all the changes lately 😏 but I know good things will come. Maybe I’m pushing too quickly for change, there are big decisions ahead. I don’t have to return realtor or bank calls right away 🔕 they’re just trying to get me to part with tens of thousands of dollars 💵 and buy something wrong for me. 🏡 I need to do my homework, really study property and figure out what is right for me. Obviously that’s enough land where I can have things like bonfires and camp ⛺ without ever leaving home. I’ll miss the travel but I’m honestly ready to settle down. If I heat with wood 🪚 and can have fires out back that takes away from a lot of the reasons to spend weekends in the wilderness.
A picture perfect weekend on tap. 😎 Saturday, sunny, with a high near 27. That’s a bit cool for this time of year. Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Sunday in particular would be great for searching the back roads for homes with that bud from boy scouting. Maybe I could also do an overnight in the woods on Saturday night. First though, I need to study bank and county foreclosure lists. 📃 Typical average high for the weekend is 38 degrees.
Looking ahead, next Wednesday is Average High is 40 ☀️ when the sun will be setting at 5:44 pm with dusk at 6:11 pm. On that day in 2023, we had snow showers, partly cloudy and temperatures between 36 and 26 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 40 degrees. We hit a record high of 63 back in 1903.
Started bothering me during the weekend but this morning it’s incredibly sore. Apparently all that tumerac that left my hands yellow over the weekend was not enough to arrest the pain. I’m growing old and it’s just been a stressful few weeks. So much change, so little time.
Good morning! Happy Tuesday. Sunny and 13 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌞 Calm wind. Things will start to thaw out at around noontime. 🌡️
While I went for a morning bike 🚲 ride for about twenty minutes in the neighborhood, I am driving 🚘 into work today for the first time in years and the first time at the new office 🏢 with acres of parking. As I don’t yet have the private office, I want to be able to talk to the mortgage bankers 🏦 from the privacy 🔏 of my truck. Tomorrow I’ll ride in again, assuming my shoulder is okay enough. If anything the morning bike ride somewhat loosened up my shoulder and it’s a bit better. Cold though, even with my heavy duty biker gloves 🧤 and silk liners my fingers felt a bit chilly. Need to warm up my truck well before heading in today.
Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 37 degrees at 4pm. Typical for today. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. The high last year was 56 degrees. The record high of 66 was set in 1930. 11.2 inches of snow fell back in 1977.❄
New landlord replied back to my concerns and agreed 🤝🏻 to allow me to pay rent via paper check and gave me permission to store my kayak 🛶 outside. He also provided me with an address for written correspondence, which hopefully I’ll never need but you know when you have a financial relationship it’s important for both parties to protect their interest. 🏡 Likewise when buying a house and land, I am insisting on having a seperate buyer’s and seller’s agent – if a realtor finds me a property they’re also selling – I will insist they step down as my agent on the buyer side. I also will shy away from a suggested title agent or inspector by the realtor unless I get an independent recommendation that agrees. 👍🏻 It’s not about being an asshole but protecting one’s interests.
Solar noon 🌞 is at 12:10 pm with sun having an altitude of 36.3° from the due south horizon (-34.5° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 8.2 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 4:54 pm with the sun in the west-southwest (249°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-southwest (256°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 5:33 pm after setting for 3 minutes with dusk around 6:01 pm, which is one minute and 17 seconds later than yesterday. 🌇 At dusk you’ll see the Full 🌝 Moon in the east (92°) at an altitude of 44° from the horizon, 246,156 miles away. 🚀 The best time to look at the stars is after 6:35 pm. At sunset, look for clear skies 🌄 and temperatures around 35 degrees. There will be a south-southeast breeze at 6 mph. Today will have 10 hours and 50 minutes of daytime, an increase of 2 minutes and 46 seconds over yesterday.
Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 20 degrees at 4am. One degree above normal, which is similar to a typical night around February 23rd. South wind 5 to 7 mph. In 2023, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 27 degrees. The record low of -10 occurred back in 2015.
A picture perfect weekend on tap. 😎 Saturday, mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Sunday, mostly sunny, with a high near 40. Typical average high for the weekend is 38 degrees.
Looking ahead, there are 4 weeks until Last Day of Winter 🏂 when the sun will be setting at 7:08 pm with dusk at 7:35 pm (Daylight Savings Time). On that day in 2023, we had partly sunny skies with snow showers and temperatures between 33 and 22 degrees. That sounds ugh) Typically, the high temperature is 46 degrees. We hit a record high of 78 back in 2012.
