Balsam Swamp State Forest

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.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/8261.html

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Today’s Almanac for Thursday November 3

Today’s Almanac

Night before dawn is 7 hours and 2 minutes,
Dawn starts at 7:02 am and runs for 27 minutes,
Sunrise is at 7:30 am which is 4 hours and 29 minutes before noon,
High noon, the transit of the sun, is at 12:38 pm,
From twelve noon to the sunset at 5:47 pm is 5 hours and 47 minutes,
Dusk lasts for 32 minutes concluding at 6:15 pm,
Leaving 5 hours and 44 minutes until midnight.

Weather Update – November 3, 2022

Nice week ahead 👍

Maybe more clouds for the weekend but very mild. 🌥 Might even get to see the lunar eclipse 🌒 on Tuesday though it will probably getting light by the time the eclipse reaches its maximum. 🌅 Looking forward to the extra daylight in the morning but not the dark commutes in the evening.

Today.
Feels like …
September 30th.

Sunny

Sunny.

Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

and

68 degrees , 46 max dew point, 5:47
sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
October 15th.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

South wind around 7 mph.

and

41 degrees , 7:31
sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
September 26th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

South wind 6 to 9 mph.

and

70 degrees , 52 max dew point, 5:46
sunset.
Friday Night.
Feels like …
September 14th.

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy.

South wind around 9 mph.

and

53 degrees , 7:32
sunrise.
Saturday.
Feels like …
September 19th.

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny.

South wind 8 to 13 mph.

and

73 degrees , 62 max dew point, 5:44
sunset.
Saturday Night.
Feels like …
July 31st.

Mostly Cloudy then Chance of Showers

A chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

and

62 degrees , 60 max dew point, 6:34
sunrise.
Sunday.
Feels like …
September 17th.

Showers is likely

Showers likely, mainly between 8am and 2pm. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 60%.

and

74 degrees , 63 max dew point, 4:43
sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
September 3rd.

Chance of Showers then Mostly Cloudy

A chance of showers before 8pm. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 30%.

and

57 degrees , 6:35
sunrise.
Monday.
Feels like …
September 24th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

and

71 degrees , 58 max dew point, 4:42
sunset.
Monday Night.
Feels like …
October 12th.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

and

42 degrees , 6:36
sunrise.
Tuesday.
Feels like …
October 24th.

Sunny

Sunny.

and

58 degrees , 4:41
sunset.
Tuesday Night.
Feels like …
November 10th.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

and

33 degrees , 6:37
sunrise.
Wednesday.
Feels like …
October 24th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

and

58 degrees , 4:40
sunset.

Daily Update – November 3, 2022

Good morning! Happy Thursday. 🌅

Another pleasant mid autumn morning with the sun rising.

Sunny and 37 degrees at the Elm Ave Park and Ride. 🌞 Calm wind.

Maybe not as warm this morning 🌅 but we are still looking at 67 degrees by afternoon but it will cool down in the evening with the early sunset 🌇.

Out walking 🚶 the Plaza this morning but I am looking forward to next week when I can walk before work with the time change. While so far this week I’ve gotten my steps 👣 in every day and a little above what is absolutely necessary, I really prefer to walk in Delmar where things aren’t as dirty as the city.

Yesterday I thought about early voting after work 🗳 but I’m still really undecided. I almost feel like skipping this one out though I haven’t missed a election since 2010 primary. I have very mixed feelings about the major party candidates and voting third party is not an option unless I write one it. I have a lot of questions about my identity and what I believe these days.

Weather Update – November 2, 2022

Sunny and nice for the foreseeable future 🔮

We can ignore the threat of winter for now but it’s certainly coming and come Sunday the evenings will be dark. But observing the sun this morning I’m fairly sure that the morning walk will be possible again, even at 6:15 for the first few weeks after the time change.

Today.
Feels like …
October 7th.

Sunny

Sunny.

North wind 5 to 7 mph.

and

65 degrees , 49 max dew point, 5:48
sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
October 28th.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

Calm wind.

and

37 degrees , 7:30
sunrise.
Thursday.
Feels like …
September 30th.

Sunny

Sunny.

Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

and

68 degrees , 45 max dew point, 5:47
sunset.
Thursday Night.
Feels like …
October 15th.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

Light south wind.

and

41 degrees , 7:31
sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
September 30th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

South wind 5 to 10 mph.

and

68 degrees , 51 max dew point, 5:46
sunset.
Friday Night.
Feels like …
September 19th.

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy.

and

51 degrees , 7:32
sunrise.
Saturday.
Feels like …
September 19th.

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny.

and

73 degrees , 60 max dew point, 5:44
sunset.
Saturday Night.
Feels like …
August 20th.

Mostly Cloudy then Chance of Showers

A chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 30%.

and

60 degrees , 6:34
sunrise.
Sunday.
Feels like …
September 19th.

Chance of Showers

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 40%.

and

73 degrees , 62 max dew point, 4:43
sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
September 12th.

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy.

and

54 degrees , 6:35
sunrise.
Monday.
Feels like …
September 26th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

and

70 degrees , 55 max dew point, 4:42
sunset.
Monday Night.
Feels like …
September 27th.

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy.

and

48 degrees , 6:36
sunrise.
Tuesday.
Feels like …
October 14th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

and

62 degrees , 46 max dew point, 4:41
sunset.

Daily Update – November 2, 2022

Good morning! Day by Day. Happy first Wednesday of November 🦃

Day by day
Oh, Dear Lord
Three things I pray
To see thee more clearly
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day

Partly sunny and 51 degrees in Bethlehem, NY. 🌞 There is a north-northwest breeze at 5 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 48 degrees.

It’s weird to be talking about the dew point or fifty degree weather in November 🌅 but it’s an extraordinarily nice morning that is only expected to get more pleasant as the week progresses into the weekend.

The Federal Reserve plans to meet today 💵 pushing up interest rate another three quarters point. The stock market was down in anticipation though is anybody really surprised? Hopefully they’ll break the back of old inflation but I’m not hopeful. It’s just so obnoxious how every week I invest money 💸 I watch as the balances go down even while the shares increase.

Gas prices are back above $4 a gallon ⛽ again locally as oil supplies continue to tighten. Natural gas and electricity prices are back up too, they were talking about it on the news 📰. I’m glad I fixed the air leaks around the door 🚪 and have the electric blanket to stay warm at night. And that it looks like at least a few more weeks until it gets cold ❄ out.

Veterans Day Weekend 🪖 I’d like to get away to Cazenovia but it depends on the weather. Rising gas prices might put a damper on that and how much groaning and creaking my old truck makes. 🛻 Then I might do some ski 🎿 and winter camping 🏕 trips to Rensselaerville State Forest or Cole Hill depending on how cold and snowy ☃ it is.

Weather Update – November 1, 2022

Rain today, then clearing and mild going forward for a while 🌧 ➡️ 😎

I am not complaining about the mild weather. I have the windows open and are enjoying the fresh air.  Maybe not a ton of sun for the weekend, but still very mild. And then we loose that hour in the evening, but I will sure enjoy when the mornings are more sunny once again. And a weekend in the 70s in November. No complaints on that front for sure.

Today.
Feels like …
October 7th.

Scattered Showers

Scattered showers, mainly between noon and 5pm. Mostly cloudy.

Light southwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

and

65 degrees , 59 max dew point, 5:49
sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
September 27th.

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy.

Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.

and

48 degrees , 7:28
sunrise.
Wednesday.
Feels like …
October 5th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

North wind 6 to 9 mph.

and

66 degrees , 51 max dew point, 5:48
sunset.
Wednesday Night.
Feels like …
October 31st.

Mostly Clear

Mostly clear.

Light north wind.

and

36 degrees , 7:30
sunrise.
Thursday.
Feels like …
October 9th.

Sunny

Sunny.

Light south wind.

and

64 degrees , 47 max dew point, 5:47
sunset.
Thursday Night.
Feels like …
October 9th.

Partly Cloudy

Partly cloudy.

 

and

43 degrees , 7:31
sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
September 30th.

Mostly Sunny

Mostly sunny.

 

and

68 degrees , 50 max dew point, 5:45
sunset.
Friday Night.
Feels like …
September 27th.

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy.

 

and

48 degrees , 7:32
sunrise.
Saturday.
Feels like …
September 21st.

Partly Sunny

Partly sunny.

 

and

72 degrees , 57 max dew point, 5:44
sunset.
Saturday Night.
Feels like …
September 12th.

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy.

 

and

54 degrees , 6:33
sunrise.
Sunday.
Feels like …
September 19th.

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly cloudy.

 

and

73 degrees , 60 max dew point, 4:43
sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
September 6th.

Chance of Showers

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy.

Chance of precipitation is 30%.

and

56 degrees , 6:35
sunrise.
Monday.
Feels like …
September 26th.

Chance of Showers

A chance of showers. Partly sunny.

Chance of precipitation is 40%.

and

70 degrees , 59 max dew point, 4:42
sunset.

Daily Update – November 1, 2022

Good morning! Happy November Twenty Two. 🦃

I like November especially if it’s free of snow and road salt. GIS Month, elections come and mostly go away, a lot of paid holidays and Thanksgiving. Cheesy Christmas music.

Rain and 57 degrees at the Exit 23 – Albany (I-787). ☔ Calm wind. The dew point is 55 degrees. The skies will clear around 6 pm.

Traffic is moving a bit slow 🚙🛻🚚🚐🚌 on the Southern Boulevard due to the rain and people learning how to drive in it and the express bus is a bit late as the driver had to do the school 🚸 run first. But it’s not raining hard so I walked laps in the the parking 🅿 lot waiting for the earlier express bus which was only eight minutes late and the driver entered in the correct block number 🔢 so I could watch him approach.

Looking forward to the time change 🕒 when I once again can walk 🚶 in the morning in Delmar before work at 6:45. While it will get darker come December in the morning I’d rather walk closer home than the Plaza. 🏡 It’s an easier walk, 👣 and I get more steps in and no homeless people to yell at you for walking past them more then one. 😠

Started to work on the 30 Day Map Challenge. 🗺 I don’t know if I will participate all 30 days but it will be a fun way to improve my ability to make maps and plot data in R. I think there is a lot of interesting possibilities for maps, especially if I’m forced to come up with new concepts every day.

Thought about Early Voting 🗳 yesterday, as the line was short but I think I will wait until later on Election Day to vote, just because I’m undecided.