July 7, 2019 | Andy Arthur.org

This past long independence Day Weekend I went up to Moose River Plains. Some observations and notable things from the weekend that was — I’m going to post additional pictures and stories later.

Wednesday

I got to leave work early on Wednesday around 3 PM, so I was home by 3:30 PM on the road by 4 PM.
Deciding that the traffic would be bad at that hour on all expressways, I decided to shun the main roads for the blue highway.
I took State Farm Road (NY 155) to US 20 West to Duanesburg Church Road past Mariaville Farm to NY 30 to Indian Lake then out to Cedar River Road.
Driving past the Mariaville Farm, I was noticing how many hogs they had in a barnyard near their home. And I saw a hog taking a piss — they pee like cows. Farming is great but I think I’d want more distance my house and livestock.
I still need to visit For the Love of Bacon. It’s just off of the first exit of Interstate 88, I have no excuse not to.
Google Maps estimates that the trip via the Northway at normal traffic would take 2 hours and 20 minutes, my shun-pike way took about 3 1/2 hours, although the Northway with delays was looking closer to 3 hours when I checked on Wednesday evening.
That said it was worth it because I really hate driving on the expressway.
I thought I heard a noise driving up to Moose River Plains that had me a bit worried, turned out just to be strap on the kayak flapping around.
Made it to Cedar River Flow by 7:30, took some pictures at the flow and signed in.
There are new entrance signs. They say you should call for a camping permit for all stays over three nights even if you plan to camp at a different part of the plains. I think that’s silly and not consistent with the regulations – I stayed four nights but at two different sites.
I wouldn’t object to getting a camping permit but it’s a pain to play phone tag with the ranger when you should be able to do it online.
As soon as I stepped out of the truck I realized what a buggy weekend it was going to be with a shit ton of horse flies
The first night I camped at campsite 26 which is a little ways up from the Silver Run. Nice night, but buggy until it got dark.
It was nice to leave work early and not have to set up in the dark. Kept my campsite simple as I planned to break camp early and get a site I really liked around the Moose River so I could walk to a swimming hole from camps.
I bought some wood at Quinzal’s on Cedar River Road on the way up and had a good fire with that plus some wood I found in the woods.
Stayed up late until around midnight, drank a lot of beer, listened to some podcasts and music until around midnight.

Independence Day

The next morning I got up probably too early, stumbled around and took down camp. Headed straight toward the Big T, hoping to find a campsite near water in the plains where I could swim.
I ended up choosing campsite 94 which was a short walk to the Moose River Bridge which at the time I set up had no near neighbors
It was a nice site, open and airy but well screened and set back from the road. Had a nice new outhouse and picnic table although the fire place was in rough shape.
Deer flies were nasty.
I tried sitting and reading in my hammock and despite being covered from head to toe in a mixture of Picardin, DEET and PMD it only limited them a bit.
Another family on Independence Day took the campsite across the way – a good working class family and they had a pretty wild party up at Moose River Plains on independence Day with lots of country music, fireworks and alcohol.
Independence Day was hot and buggy, the deer fly were so bad for a while I left hammock and took a nap in my truck with the fan blowing.
Despite napping in my truck a deer fly got inside and bit my lip while napping. It hurt like a mother. I almost thought about taking down camp and heading home.
I eventually strapped on my bathing suit and went down to the Moose River to cool off for a few hours.
Finished one book started another one. Very pleasant laying in the hammock after dark .
Did a night hike to Icehouse Pond and it was nice but buggy.
Had a decent size fire, lit off some small fireworks

Friday

Friday I hiked back to the Beaver Lake. Been a long time since I’ve been back there. Not many fish biting with the heat.
Beaver Pond at least had a steady breeze that limited the horse flies but it was hot.
That said while I was down by the lake I got bit by a horse fly and my ear got swollen.
I forgot how enormous that
Hiked back to camp then back into the Moose River to cool down.
In the evening I hiked down Otter Brook Road to the Sly Pond Trailhead.
Laid out on the Moose River Bridge for about an hour looking at the stars
It was pretty laying back in the hammock watching the stars and my laser light show on the trees above how the light scattered and was beautiful.

Saturday

Saturday was a bit more stormy with lots of clouds but only a few showers
I had plenty of electricity despite the lack of sun for most the day
I did more reading, laid in the hammock, wrote some blog posts and listened to podcasts
Disassembled my camp stove and determined it was the burner unit is where the leak is and needs to be replaced.
I went to Moose River to swim for a few hours, listening to podcasts.
Didn’t gets lot of rain but most of the day was cloudy. Certainly not the heavy rains of Albany.
Went back to Icehouse Pond to fish around dusk
Sat out on the Moose River Bridge watching the stars into the wee hours of the morning. Much clearer tonight no light pollution

Sunday

Sunday I broke camp modestly early although I proscastinated a bit as I wanted to top off the starting battery with solar so it would be healthy to start the truck.
Ended up deciding Stillwater was too far away to hike the Fire Tower so decided to paddle Moss Lake.
Not a really big late, lots of noise pollution from Big Moose Road and crowds, wouldn’t paddle again and caught nothing.
I wish I had done something different but I felt like I should use the kayak having brought it.
Headed home shunning the interstates again, taking NY 28 through Old Forge to Remsen then Middleville and NY 169 to Little Falls to NY 5S and then decided to take NY 152 through Rural Grove down to NY 20 and home. Slower than the Thruway but I like seeing all the farms along it.