Speculator, NY

Good afternoon! Currently light rain and 53 degrees at Mason Lake. There is a southwest breeze at 9 mph.

We will have light showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. The normal high for this afternoon is 77, so it will be about normal for this time of year. The record high of 94 happened back in 1949.

Tonight the sun will set at 8:38 pm with dusk around 9:14 pm, which is 32 seconds later than yesterday in Speculator. Tonight we have a First Quarter Moon with 50% illuminated. Not sure how much of that will be visible with the clouds and rain
The moon will rise around 11:22 am and will set around 1:52 am. June’s Strawberry Moon is on Monday, June 20th.

Near constant temperatures and continued dampness tonight. We will have a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. West wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. The normal low for tonight is 56, so it will be about normal for this time of year. The record low in Albany of 38 occured back in 1972.

In four weeks on July 9 the sun will be setting at 8:39 pm, which is the same time then tonight. The average high is 82 degrees, and the record for that date is 103 degrees was set back in 1936.

I was surprised to run into Ranger John Ploss who lives in that off grid cabin in Pisceo and is most often seen at Pisceo Powley Road. I guess Forest Rangers cover a big territory. The truck he was driving had big rust holes and the bed was falling off it, as is the case with many of those old F250s. Somehow I suspect they won’t be reselling that truck after retirement.

Shore fishing at Mason Lake. Thinking about getting the kayak out, but I don’t want to get soaked on the lake. But this shore fishing so far sucks. We will see. It’s pretty cold sitting out in the rain.

47 degrees this morning at Perkins Clearing. I knew rain from thunderstorms was a possibility this afternoon but really wasn’t expecting it in the morning — especially not pouring rain. But I got the tarp up this morning before the sky opened up, with good drainage and I have the heater on low below my chair so I’m comfortable. If it clears out this afternoon, I’ll head over to Mason Lake and do some fishing from the kayak there. I may end up driving to Speculator this afternoon to buy some firewood if everything continues to get soaked in the woods. I have some dry wood but not a lot.

Started to read William Kennedy’s O Albany. I’m sure I’ve read it years ago, but it’s good to refresh one’s memory. No black flies with the cold wet weather  so that’s nice. The campsite I’m at is steeply sloped so it should drain well.

State game warden drove by last night but didn’t stop by. I know they’re busy and usually don’t stop by except during hunting season – the few times they are scene in the woods at all. They patrol enormous areas, when they’re not stuck in the office doing paperwork. I was hoping to learn more about the Jessup River and maybe some good fishing spots from him. Still they tend to be quite knowledge about the land as many spend years in a specific area.

Last night was nice but cool. Lots of stars and the moon for a while. But chilly. Temperatures dropped to the mid 40s by 11 o’clock. Had a decent fire although burning the existing wood at the campsite was difficult because some of it was still fairly green. I was tired from a long week at work, so I retired to bed a half hour before midnight.