Catharine Creek WMA

At the southern end of Seneca Lake, between Watkins Glen and Montour Falls, New York, an unusual natural area has evolved. Sedimentation and manipulation of the lake level has led to the formation of a 1,000 acre marsh complex. The area, named for the local Seneca Indian Queen, Catharine Montour, provides a haven for innumerable wildlife. Once navigable into what is now Montour Falls, the waters of Catharine Creek still feed a remnant section of the Chemung Barge Canal, which runs through the center of the marsh. This canal, critical to local industrial development, connected this portion of southern New York to the entire east coast. The Pennsylvania Railroad, bordering the canal through the marsh, served the area after the canal was closed in 1878. The area is rich with history from the time of the Senecas through the years, when much of the marsh was used for truck crop farming, muskrat farming and eventually reed harvesting.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/24429.html
http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31021.html

Great Blue Heron

Some darn kids 🧒 throwing rocks scared him off but I got a picture but I wish I had a more powerful zoom lens. 🔭 

Taken on Sunday August 16, 2020 at Catharine Creek WMA.

Paddling on Catharine Creek Marsh

It turns out it is possible to do a short -- 3/4 mile paddle on the marsh from the Airport Road parking area along part of the drainage canal and creek, however when water levels are higher supposedly you can get out to the center part of the marsh. Lots of birds and wildlife!

Taken on Monday August 2, 2021 at Catharine Creek WMA.

July 31, 2021 – Looking Ahead This Week

What to do today? Time is tight, July is winding down, so is summer vacation. ⌚

It’s a beautiful day and time is tight. ⏳ Last full day of vacation. I think the plan should be to explore the Connecticut Hill WMA 🚶🏻 with walking some of the dirt roads and the Finger Lakes Trail. That said, I’m seriously considering paddling Seneca Lake first 🛶 as it’s so calm this morning although with the sun rising ☀ I’m not sure if that will remain as such.

Later on I do want to paddle part of the Catharine Creek Marsh 🛶 and then go for a swim 🏊🏻‍♂️ one last time at Watkins Glen. The pool is open until seven 7⃣ on Saturday which gives me a little bit more time. Then maybe one more ice cream 🍧 at the Glen Dairy Bar. Maybe another night watching the sun set at Seneca Lake.

Tomorrow looks rainy ⛈️ but I’m in no rush to get home. 🏡I want to leave the Finger Lakes by five 5⃣ o’clock so I will have the bulk of the day but I can poke home on NY 23 or another back road 🚗 🐢 but be home by nine 9⃣ so I’m not driving in the dark and have time to get a bit unpacked and shower 🚿 before bed.

Then it’s back to work 🏢 downtown on Monday but I kept a set of clothes 👚 ready for that. I’ll probably do the laundromat after work, although technically Tuesday I still have the option to work remotely, so maybe I can work from the laundromat on my truck as they have Wi-Fi there. 📶

But I’m fine with that. 🏖 Vacation can’t last forever and I’m running low on money 💵. I also look forward to looking at and posting more vacation pictures and getting back home where I can use my laptop to learn more about python and all the data science and analysis things I’ve been learning about. 💻 Looking kind of forward to the normality of working back in the office downtown 🏢 and going to the library 📚 and park 🏞 after work. No more working from home or mixing fun camping with eight hours of work. Camping 🏕 will just be all about fun.

And the future 🔮 – my vacation in the autumn in West Virginia, learning a lot more python, figuring out my mental health needs, changing my life. 🐮 And then getting closer to the rural life, saving money 💵 so eventually I can have that off grid property 🏡 and own my own land where I can have my guns and fires whenever I want.

Weather Summary
This Afternoon.
Feels like …
September 24th.
Mostly Sunny and 71 degrees , 8:26 sunset.
Tonight.
Feels like …
September 14th.
Mostly Cloudy and 53 degrees , 5:59 sunrise.
Sunday.
Feels like …
September 17th.
Heavy Rain and 74 degrees , 53 max dew point, 8:26 sunset.
Sunday Night.
Feels like …
September 9th.
Showers then Chance of Showers and 55 degrees , 6:00 sunrise.
Monday.
Feels like …
September 30th.
Mostly Sunny and 68 degrees , 59 max dew point, 8:25 sunset.
Monday Night.
Feels like …
September 22nd.
Mostly Clear and 50 degrees , 6:01 sunrise.
Tuesday.
Feels like …
September 19th.
Mostly Sunny and 73 degrees , 53 max dew point, 8:24 sunset.
Tuesday Night.
Feels like …
September 9th.
Partly Cloudy and 55 degrees , 6:03 sunrise.
Wednesday.
Feels like …
September 14th.
Mostly Sunny then Chance of Showers and 75 degrees , 56 max dew point, 8:22 sunset.
Wednesday Night.
Feels like …
September 3rd.
Chance of Showers then Partly Cloudy and 57 degrees , 6:04 sunrise.
Thursday.
Feels like …
September 8th.
Mostly Sunny then Chance of Showers and 77 degrees , 58 max dew point, 8:21 sunset.
Thursday Night.
Feels like …
August 30th.
Chance of Showers then Partly Cloudy and 58 degrees , 6:05 sunrise.
Friday.
Feels like …
September 8th.
Mostly Sunny and 77 degrees , 60 max dew point, 8:20 sunset.