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.
Nice morning today with lots of sun and not much of a breeze.
Sunny and 42 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌞 Calm wind.
I decided to work from home 🏡 today so I can sit outside and soak up the sun while working on my laptop. 🖥 I thought about heading out of town but it’s a been a busy week and rain – clouds is expected Saturday.
At this point the days are falling off the calendar almost faster than the leaves. Holloween and my favorite month of the year – November is just around the corner.
Partly sunny and 41 degrees at the Elm Ave Park and Ride. ☀ Temperatures will drop below freezing at tomorrow around 5 am. ☃️
Chilly start to the morning it felt like in bed 🌅 though when I walked down to the earlier express bus 🚍 it didn’t seem so bad. Going to be warmer but breezy later today.
Well, I ended up getting call down to the dungeon after work 📞 and making phone calls and doing work so I did not get a chance to get to the store 🏬. But I did go for a walk and got in 15,000 steps for the day. 👣
Cold walking 🚶 on the Plaza before work this morning thought with the wind 🍃. I guess the warmth of summer couldn’t last forever. I do want to patch the air leaks by the door of my run down apartment though before turning on the heat.
Not a half bad morning. Caught the earlier express bus doing walks around the Plaza before work.
Mostly sunny but a bit chilly at 35 degrees at the Elm Ave Park and Ride. ☀ Calm wind.
Yesterday I got my steps in 👣 but declined to go to the store. 🛏 Retired to be pretty early as it was a fairly cool evening and I didn’t want to use electricity unnecessarily. Another dark morning, looking forward to the time change except for the dark walk home from the express bus.
Night before dawn is 6 hours and 43 minutes, Dawn starts at 6:43 am and runs for 27 minutes, Sunrise is at 7:10 am which is 4 hours and 49 minutes before noon, High noon, the transit of the sun, is at 12:40 pm, From twelve noon to the sunset at 6:10 pm is 6 hours and 10 minutes, Dusk lasts for 32 minutes concluding at 6:37 pm, Leaving 5 hours and 22 minutes until midnight.
Moving forward on this week. Yesterday was nutty but not insanely busy. Often that’s the best one can hope for. Another day, another dollar invested for a better tomorrow.
After a rainy night the sun is rising though the clouds and its going to be a nice day but cool. ☀ We are at 44 degrees in Delmar heading up to 57 later in the day with more sun. Sunset this evening is at 6:08 pm. Only a few more weeks until November 6 with the time change. But that will make it easier to walk before work especially at 6:45 am.
Yesterday I went to the laundromat and washed my clothes. 👖 I don’t mind, they have free Wi-Fi there that I can use from my truck. But when my parents are around I still often wash them there. Beats though the cost of owning and maintaining a washing machine. Rained on and off pretty hard at times. But then it stopped when I got home.
Didn’t get my steps 👣 in yesterday. I got working on a GIS project yesterday and missed the time to leave for the express bus. Only had time for a lunchtime walk and while I did walk home from the express only ended up with 5,405 for the day. It’s hard with the mornings so dark and busy long days at work. Took the earlier express bus in today 🚍 and are walking 🚶 the Plaza now so hopefully I’ll make my steps goal for today.
