Mine Kill State Park

Mine Kill State Park, nestled in the picturesque Schoharie Valley, provides a scenic vantage point overlooking the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project by the NY Power Authority. The lower reservoir is a fishing haven, stocked with trout, walleye, bass, and more, catering to motor boating, kayaking, and water skiing. The park features an Olympic-sized pool, wading pool, and diving pool, free for the public to use (no fees are collected at this park due to hydro plant subsdies). Swim lessons are available in summer. Warm weather pursuits include hiking, mountain biking on the 8-mile trail network, and soccer on regulation fields. The park’s namesake, Mine Kill Falls, an 80-foot cascade through a gorge, is accessible via overlook platforms and the Long Path trail. Winter brings snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling opportunities.

August 7, 2016 Afternoon

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Good afternoon! Partly sunny and 77 degrees in North Blenheim at Mine Kill State Park. Back swimming after a delightful night camping. There is a west-northwest breeze at 10 mph. The dew point is 60 degrees.

This afternoon will be mostly sunny, with a high of 80 degrees at 4pm. Two degrees below normal. Northwest wind around 11 mph. Maximum dew point of 60 at 1pm. The record high of 102 was set in 1918. The sun will set at 8:09 pm with dusk around 8:39 pm, which is 1 minutes and 19 seconds earlier than yesterday. Today will have 14 hours and 11 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 2 minutes and 22 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low of 55 degrees at 5am. Six degrees below normal. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Maximum dew point of 57 at 6pm. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1948.

Cloudy periods:
Wednesday 5 am to 7 pm – rain and thunderstorms expected

Rain expected:
Wednesday 2 to 8 am – slight chance of rain
Wednesday 8 am to 8 pm – chance of rain and thunderstorms – 0.36 inches expected
Wednesday 8 pm to Thu. 8 am – slight chance of rain and thunderstorms
Thursday 8 am to 8 pm – chance of rain and thunderstorms
Thursday 8 pm to Fri. 8 am – slight chance of rain and thunderstorms

Muggy periods:
Wednesday 10 am to Fri. 12 am – Max Temp: 84, Heat Index: 88, Dew Point: 70

There are 5 weeks until September 11th when the sun will be setting at 7:13 pm with dusk at 7:41 pm. The average high temperature is 74 degrees, with a record high of 98 in 1931.

Camped last night along Betty Brook at big campsite along the brook. Last time I camped at the lower Betty Brook site, but I like this big site much better. Betty Brook Road currently has a tree down about two miles north from Creek Road, so there is only access from the north end. I will put in a call tomorrow to the DEC to get it removed. 

I noticed that camping last night, the sun really is setting earlier. Betty Brook hollow always gets dark early but now the sunset is around 8:10 and shadows overtook the valley around 7 pm. 

I got the propane refilled yesterday. It works well, now that I always make sure to get the connections really tight and clean, turn off the connectors before slowly turning on the tank. Then everything works well. I’ve gotten better at working with propane and unique properties. It’s a much different fuel then liquid fuel. 

The stars were quite pretty last night.  Around 10:30, I saw a shooting star. A big one, low in the horizon. This morning I stopped by the Shauls Farm Market and picked up some goodies. So many good things. Good prices. 

Definitely a nice morning after a very pleasant evening. It was nice camping down by the Betty Brook. I had a nice fire and listened to podcasts until midnight. Did some fishing in the Schoharie Creek just south of the dam. That said, I was pretty tired from sitting out in the sun all day. I do like swimming and getting toasty in the sun and retired fairly early last night. 

I need to get some more candles and bags. I am down to the last three candles I have and they are kind of their last legs. I think I could have a lot of fun with candles if I camp down by Powley Place Bridge the next time I’m at Piseco-Powley Road. I want to camp there one more time before August concludes. 

Back at Mine Kill Pool today. Just put on the sunscreen and once it soaks in, I’m heading in for a swim. A very nice day. 

August 6, 2016 Evening

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Good evening! Partly sunny and 81 degrees in North Blenheim. There is a west-northwest breeze at 13 mph. The dew point is 64 degrees.

Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low of 59 degrees at 5am. Two degrees below normal. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph. Maximum dew point of 63 at 6pm. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1994. The sun will set at 8:10 pm with dusk around 8:41 pm, which is 1 minutes and 17 seconds earlier than yesterday. Waxing Crescent Moon tonight with 30% illuminated. The moon will set around 11:59 pm. The First Quarter Moon is on Wednesday with mostly cloudy skies expected. The Full “Strugeon” Moon is on Thursday, August 18th.

Tomorrow will have a slight chance of showers between 10am and noon. Mostly sunny, with a high of 78 degrees at 3pm. Four degrees below normal. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Maximum dew point of 59 at 8am. The record high of 102 was set in 1918.

In four weeks on September 3 the sun will be setting at 7:27 pm, which is 43 minutes earlier then today. The average high is 77 degrees, and the record for that date is 100 degrees was set back in 1953.

I tell you, going from the Watkins Glen State Park Pool to the Mine Kill pool is an enormous step down. The pool is so much smaller and shallow. But at least three cloud has passed by the sun and there is a nice breeze. The sun is still quite warm. 

As we head into the six o’clock hour, the cloudy morning is but a memory. The skies are blue especially with the polarizing sunglasses. A definitely nice afternoon. Nice evening with the dew point rapidly dropping. 

Next I’m going to head to camp and cook some dinner. Probably skip fishing this evening but maybe tomorrow morning. If I had camp already set up my plans might be different. 

August 6, 2016 Afternoon

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Good afternoon! Partly sunny and 79 degrees in North Blenheim. Heading into the Mine Kill Pool after I finish lunch. There is a west breeze at 10 mph. The dew point is 66 degrees. The muggy weather ends around 8 pm.

This afternoon will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high of 81 degrees at 3pm. One degrees below normal. West wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. Maximum dew point of 66 at 1pm. The record high of 98 was set in 1900.

July 17, 2016 Morning

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Good morning! Happy Sunday. Partly cloudy and 74 degrees in North Blenheim. Calm wind. The dew point is 62 degrees. Back at Mine Kill State Park to go swimming once again. Went for a short walk along the reservoir and will shortly go for a swim. Not really warm right now with the clouds covering the sun, but hopefully it will get nicer. I can’t stay too long as I do have to get home. 

Today will be mostly sunny, with a high of 82 degrees at 3pm. One degrees below normal. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Maximum dew point of 62 at 11am. The record high of 99 was set in 1900. The sun will set at 8:31 pm with dusk around 9:04 pm, which is 43 seconds earlier than yesterday. Today will have 14 hours and 54 minutes of daylight, a decrease of 1 minutes and 35 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low of 62 degrees at 5am. Typical for tonight. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight. Maximum dew point of 59 at 6pm. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1939.

0.5 inch of rain expected between Monday 8am and Tuesday 1am. Within the next four days, a total of 0.5 inches of rain is expected.

We have some muggy weather coming up. Monday 1pm – Monday 4pm. Maximum temperature will be 85 degrees, a heat index reaching 81, and a maximum dew point of 65. Friday 4pm – Saturday 12pm. Maximum temperature will be 88 degrees, a heat index reaching 90, and a maximum dew point of 68.
On this day in 1944, Near the San Francisco Bay, two ships laden with ammunition for the war explode in Port Chicago, California, killing 320. Also on this day, another deadly tragety. In 1981, A structural failure leads to the collapse of a walkway at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Missouri killing 114 people and injuring more than 200.

There are 2 weeks until Mutts Day when the sun will be setting at 8:17 pm with dusk at 8:49 pm. The average high temperature is 82 degrees, with a record high of 98 in 1917.

Last night it was fairly warm but we had drizzle on and off, then it poured with a pretty good thunderstorm around 2 AM. I was a little concerned about a dying Elm tree I parked under camping but it was fine.I haven’t camped on the lower part of Betty Brook Road at not since the night of Barack Obama’s acceptance speech back in 2008. It was nice down there but not a drop of radio reception. Podcasts kept me entertained. 

Enjoy your Sunday! 

July 16, 2016 Evening

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Good afternoon! Mostly cloudy and 79 degrees in North Blenheim. There is a west breeze at 7 mph. The dew point is 62 degrees.

It’s been a fun afternoon sitting in the sun, enjoying some podcasts, covering myself in sunscreen and occasionally hitting the pool. Summer is a fun season. 

This afternoon will have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high of 79 degrees at 4pm. One degrees below normal. West wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Maximum dew point of 64 at 5pm. The record high of 99 was set in 1900.