Seneca Lake

Seneca Lake stands as the largest among the glacial Finger Lakes within the state of New York. Renowned for its substantial size and depth, it remains entirely contained within the state’s borders. The lake has earned distinction as the preeminent locale for lake trout angling, exemplified by its role as the host of the esteemed National Lake Trout Derby. Positioned at the northern terminus of Seneca Lake, the city of Geneva, New York, commands attention, serving as the domicile for Hobart and William Smith Colleges, along with housing the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, a constituent entity of Cornell University. Conversely, the village of Watkins Glen, situated at the southern extremity of the lake, boasts a notable reputation due to its association with motorsport, primarily due to the presence of Watkins Glen International racetrack, as well as its picturesque cascades.

Seneca Lake possesses an uncommon macroclimate that has bestowed it with the distinction of nurturing over 50 wineries, predominantly characterized as farm wineries. Its geographical attributes have led to the designation of the Seneca Lake American Viticultural Area (AVA), solidifying its reputation within oenophilic circles.

In terms of dimensions, Seneca Lake stretches across a length of approximately 38 miles, securing its position as the second longest Finger Lake. Remarkably voluminous, it is estimated to contain an impressive 3.81 cubic miles (15.9 kmยณ) of water, accounting for nearly half of the cumulative water volume across all the Finger Lakes. The lake’s profundity is notable, averaging 291 feet, while plunging to a maximum depth of 618 feet. The expansive water body covers a surface area of approximately 66.9 square miles (173 kmยฒ).

July 24, 2019 Morning

Good morning! What day is it? Halfway Through Vacation, of course. Next Wednesday is Teeth Cleaning Day ๐Ÿ˜ƒ. Mostly sunny and 65 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. Calm wind. The dew point is 54 degrees.

I took down camp โ›บ but I’ve not totally decided my plans yet for the day, I may play it by ear ๐Ÿ‘‚. This campsite is kind of a mess from the mud and it could use some time to dry up. Plus it could use some time recovering with the grass after four nights of camping. I think I will go to Watkins Glen pool ๐ŸŠ and the Glen Dairy Bar but after that I’m not totally sure. I think with the low temperature and low dew point it might be cold to spend the whole day there. But I would like to watch one more nice Finger Lakes sunset. ๐ŸŒ‡

Today will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 3pm and 4pm. Mostly sunny ๐ŸŒž, with a high of 75 degrees at 3pm. Eight degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 8th. Maximum dew point of 56 at 10am. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies. It was humid. The high last year was 89 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 1941.

Tonight will be mostly clear ๐ŸŒƒ, with a low of 55 degrees at 5am. Seven degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around September 6th. Maximum dew point of 57 at 8pm. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. In 2018, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became partly cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It was very sticky. It got down to 73 degrees. The record low of 46 occurred back in 1953.

In four weeks on August 21 the sun will be setting at 7:59 pm,๐ŸŒ„ which is 36 minutes and 13 seconds earlier then today. In 2018 on that day, we had partly sunny, rain showers and temperatures between 80 and 65 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 80 and 59 degrees. The record high of 98 degrees was set back in 1916.

Looking ahead, My Teeth Cleaning Day ๐Ÿ˜ƒ is in 1 week, Altamont Fair Opens ๐ŸŽก is in 3 weeks, State Fair Opens ๐ŸŽก is in 4 weeks, Average High Falls To 79 ๏ธDegrees โ›ฑ๏ธ๏ธ๏ธ is a month away, Back to School Day ๐ŸŽ’ is in 6 weeks, September 11th ๐Ÿ‡ธ is in 7 weeks, More Night then Day ๐ŸŒŒ is in 9 weeks and Inauguration Day 2021 ๐Ÿ‘ด๐Ÿป is in 78 weeks.

Sparking River

July 23, 2019 Night

Good evening! Partly clear and 62 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. ๐ŸŒƒ Calm wind. The dew point is 56 degrees. Cool and clear for a change.

It was a decent day but cloudier and grayer then I would have hoped for part of the day. โ˜ Did get a nice hike along the Burnt Hill, Gorge and Interlaken Trails although parts were muddy. Swimming wasn’t that great with the cloudy skies but so be it. ๐ŸŠ I spent about two hours at the Watkins Glen library working on the blog and Save the Pine Bush stuff.

I’m thinking about tomorrow staying on more night in the Finger Lakes but not at this campsite as you can see from the pictures, the driveway is a muddy mess. ๐ŸฝI figure I should let the land recover and if I do stay in the Finger Lakes another night, it will be at a different site. I’m not worried about getting my big jacked up truck stuck but I don’t want to tear it up anymore.

Tonight will be mostly clear ๐ŸŒƒ, with a low of 56 degrees at 5am. Six degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around September 3rd. Yeap, Labor Day Weekend will come and go before you know it. Maximum dew point of 56 at 10pm. Light northwest wind. In 2018, we had mostly clear skies. It was sticky. It got down to 75 degrees. The record low of 45 occurred back in 1985.

Tonight will have a Last Quarter Moon with 49% illuminated with the moon rising at 12:03 am. ๐ŸŒ—The moon will set at 12:57 am. The Last Quarter Moon will be tonight with mostly clear skies. The Strugeon Moon ๐ŸŒ is on Wednesday, August 14th. The sun will rise at 5:51 am with the first light at 5:18 am, which is 57 seconds later than yesterday. ๐ŸŒ„ Tonight will have 9 hours and 15 minutes of darkness, an increase of one minute and 52 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will have a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 3pm and 5pm. Mostly sunny ๐ŸŒž, with a high of 72 degrees at 2pm. 11 degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 16th. Maximum dew point of 55 at 11am. Light northwest wind becoming north 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. A year ago, we had rain in the morning, which became partly cloudy by afternoon. It was very sticky. The high last year was 89 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 1941.

I’m really not sure about tomorrow. If it’s beautiful I’m all about staying another day in the Finger Lakes.๐Ÿ’ญ But if I wake up tomorrow and it doesn’t look good for swimming then I’ll head west. 72 degrees is pretty cold in my book for swimming especially if it’s cloudy and stormy like today. Often it seems like the wonderful forecasts are over predictions. ๐Ÿ˜Although I wouldn’t mind seeing a good sunset tomorrow in the Finger Lakes like I could see if I camped on Matthew’s Hill. Beautiful sunsets up there, especially in the pasture to say nothing of the views of the stars โœจ and the wineries amd farms across Seneca Lake. That campsite didn’t look to muddy when I was up there yesterday, it’s not flooded like two years ago. Otherwise I could go out to one of the state forests in Allegany County tomorrow like I had planned and then Thursday drive up to Letchworth State Park and then maybe camp Thursday night at McCarthy Hill / Rock City in Salamanca and do the Allegany State Park Friday and Pine Creek Gorge on Saturday. On my way out, I’ll probably also hit up the Sugar Hill Firetower not because the views are that great but it’s pretty much on the way out to Hammondsport and all points west. ๐Ÿ‘“

In four weeks on August 20 the sun will be setting at 8:00 pm,๐ŸŒ„ which is 35 minutes and 36 seconds earlier then tonight. In 2018 on that day, we had partly sunny and temperatures between 80 and 60 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 80 and 60 degrees. The record high of 97 degrees was set back in 1937.

I lost my deodorant that I just replaced on Saturday so I bought more at Walmart today when I returned cans and bought groceries. I felt so stinky hiking without deodorant. I also bought milk ๐Ÿฎ and ice and a summer sausage that appealed to me. No ice cream today as I was thinking I could get ice cream tomorrow ๐Ÿฆif I stayed anl extra day in the Finger Lakes.

Looking ahead, World Mosquito Day ๐Ÿž is in 4 weeks, Constitution Day ๐Ÿ“œ is in 8 weeks, October ๐Ÿ›ฅ is in 10 weeks and Election Day 2020 ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ is in 67 weeks.

I’m feeling remarkably tired so I don’t know how much longer I’ll stay up.

Evening Shadows