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.
Good morning! What day is it? Hump Day, of course. 🐫
Does it really matter at this point with the weeks going by so quickly these days? You do the best with the limited time you have.
Cloudy, damp with fog around, 62 degrees in Bethlehem, NY. 🌫 Mild for sure. Calm wind. The dew point is 61 degrees. Definitely damp out from last night’s rain. Maybe it’s good the landlord is working on the roof this morning before a leak occurs. Temperatures will drop below freezing at Saturday around 6 am. ☃️
I was running 🏃 a bit late so I was literally running down the road to the express bus 🚍 but I made it and that’s all that really matters. But I ended up needing to be in the office 🏢 early but I got those emails 📧 and done and getting my steps 👣 in on the Plaza at least as many as I can.
It’s nice to be able to wear a t shirt 👕 as it’s super mild for late October. 🎃 But also November looks to start out mild so maybe I’ll be able to do a Cazenovia trip before the snow 🌨 and rifle season. It’s tough this year as Election Day 🗳 is unusually late for this time of year.
Yesterday was busy and insane 🤪, and by the time I got home, had dinner and walked it was time for bed 🛏. But I like getting up early at six although with the mornings so dark this time of year doesn’t save much on electricity. 🔌
Today I’ll probably go to the store 🏬 and get groceries. I an thinking about heading out of town this weekend ⛺ and maybe remote working on Friday 💻 and I know how busy Thursday gets with work.
Early Voting 🗳 starts Saturday but I’m not planning on voting until Election Day until maybe around 7 o’clock when I run home to get my big jacked up truck. 🚘 I am bit undecided about some of the races. I do think I will be voting though for pro-second amendment candidates. 🔫 I’ve been reading the news about the debate last night, and it really has helped me make up my mind on some of the races.
For a while last night, it was absolutely pouring out. This morning not so much. Actually it was raining for a bit but slowed before it was time to walk down to the express bus. But I totally hit the snooze button multiple times but still somehow managed to catch the express bus to work this morning. I don’t know how that happened but it did.
Today. Feels like … September 28th.
Patchy drizzle with a chance of showers before 11am, then a chance of showers, mainly between 11am and noon. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy.
Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
69 degrees
,63 max dew point,
5:59 sunset.
Tonight. Feels like … August 20th.
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy.
Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
60 degrees
,
7:20 sunrise.
Wednesday. Feels like … September 28th.
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy.
Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
69 degrees
,64 max dew point,
5:57 sunset.
Wednesday Night. Feels like … September 14th.
A chance of showers, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy.
South wind around 6 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
53 degrees
,
7:21 sunrise.
Thursday. Feels like … October 14th.
Mostly sunny.
West wind 10 to 15 mph.
and
62 degrees
,53 max dew point,
5:56 sunset.
Thursday Night. Feels like … October 28th.
Areas of frost after 2am. Otherwise, mostly clear.
and
37 degrees
,
7:22 sunrise.
Friday. Feels like … October 29th.
Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny.
and
56 degrees
,
5:55 sunset.
Friday Night. Feels like … November 7th.
Areas of frost after 2am. Otherwise, partly cloudy.
and
34 degrees
,
7:24 sunrise.
Saturday. Feels like … October 22nd.
Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny.
Talk about a dark and tough morning to get up. In more than one way I struggled to get going this morning. May have been the rain pounding on the roof, or the fact it was pitch black at 6 AM and I couldn’t fathom waking up early. It will be so much easier when the time changes in a week and a half from now, though it will mean dark commutes home.
Rain and 57 degrees in Bethlehem, NY. ☔ Calm wind. The dew point is 57 degrees. The skies will clear Thursday around noontime.
Yesterday traffic was bad due to State Street Repaving 🚧 and it was raining so I took the local bus back home. I got home and made up some fish sticks. 🐟 Watched a few videos and read up some more about Matplotlib. While I am a big R user, Python does somethings better, and I know the National Weather Service uses Matplotlib for most of their public-facing maps with quite nice results. R though is much better for working with Census data, mostly because of it’s tight integration with the tigris package.
It really was a pretty quiet evening. 😴 Which is good because lately work has been all drama, and I like some down time when I’m not running from place to place, and I have a little time to learn and think. 🤔 It just seems like time goes by so quickly, and people are in such a rush and so demanding. I don’t want anything to do with it all.
I am looking forward to the time change. ⏰ I hate getting up in the darkness, but at the same time, I like going to bed early 🛌 as I sleep much better if I’m in bed by 9 PM most nights and limit my screen time with my phone, retiring to bed shortly after the evening walk. 🚶♀️
Rainy the next few days but maybe nice for weekend 😎
Maybe it will be a good weekend to head out of town. I have to think about it some more, depends how busy I am. Lately weekends have been such a blur.
Today. Feels like … October 14th.
A chance of showers, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy.
Light north wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
and
62 degrees
,56 max dew point,
6:01 sunset.
Tonight. Feels like … September 12th.
A chance of showers, mainly after 2am. Mostly cloudy.
Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
54 degrees
,
7:19 sunrise.
Tuesday. Feels like … September 26th.
A chance of showers, mainly before 11am. Mostly cloudy.
Calm wind becoming south 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
70 degrees
,63 max dew point,
5:59 sunset.
Tuesday Night. Feels like … August 26th.
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy.
Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
59 degrees
,
7:20 sunrise.
Wednesday. Feels like … September 28th.
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy.
Southeast wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
and
69 degrees
,64 max dew point,
5:58 sunset.
Wednesday Night. Feels like … September 9th.
A chance of showers before 2am. Mostly cloudy.
Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Big traffic jam heading into the Empire Plaza, really slowing things on down. I think the issue is South Swan Street has been narrowed due to repaving which is backing thing up. Feels like I’m stuck in the Cross-Bronx Expressway.
Rain showers and 52 degrees at the Elm Ave Park and Ride. ☔ Calm wind. The dew point is 49 degrees. The skies will clear Thursday around 1 am.
Over the weekend I was able to find out what is making the truck feel loose in backend. 🛻 It’s another one of those shock bushings is starting to get some play in it again. Not a big expense to get fixed, I just have to call up the lift kit shop and have it put in. Not a real big priority, but maybe I should get it done before my November trip out to Cazenovia, just so things don’t sway and ride like shit on the rough roads.
