Good evening! Partly cloudy and 68 degrees in Delmar, NY. 🌃 Calm wind. The dew point is 61 degrees.

Made it back home 🏡 by around 9:15. Not too bad time as I left Danby around 5:30 and took NY 23 across the state for a change. Not the fastest way back home but I get tired of driving the same route back from the Finger Lakes. It was all and all a good trip and I got a lot rammed into the week while at the same time picking less crowded places to explore. Plus I had to stop for gas, ⛽ a bite to eat 🌭 and a bathroom 🚽 break. Hopefully I didn’t get Coronavirus from pissing at the Interstate 88 rest area bathroom. I washed my hands 👐🏻 a second time good when I got home. 👾

The Danby State Forest overlook was fine 🗻 but I really visited it during the wrong time of the day, the sun ☀ was in my eyes 👀 and made it nearly impossible to get a good view of the overlook. Hot in that sun too. I’m not sure if I would drive Bald Mountain Road again, it sure was rough and parking 🅿 is very limited although next time I would have parked in designated Campsite 4.

I did enjoy poking around Catharine Marsh some more 🐦, I saw several Great Blue Heron, Semipalmated Plover, Monarch Butterfly 🦋 and lots of frogs 🐸. While the loop trail through the woods is in disrepair, the former Airport Road Trail is hardened with gravel as it runs over a sewer pipe and offers more than a mile of trail to observe the marsh from points south and west along the Barge Canal. Really a great area. I want to study satellite 🛰 photos for future ideas on whether or not I can explore the area with a kayak 🛶.

Also the Watkins Glen Pool 🏊🏻‍♂️ was nice and not too crowded today. Stayed until 1 pm today, I would have stayed longer but there was a lot to see and do on my final day of summer vacation.

Tonight will be partly cloudy ☁️, with a low of 59 degrees at 4am. One degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around August 21st. Maximum dew point of 61 at 9pm. Light south wind. In 2019, we had mostly clear skies in the evening, which became cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It became very sticky as the night progressed. It got down to 67 degrees. The record low of 40 occurred back in 1979.

Doesn’t seem like the big washout 😭 they were originally promising for tomorrow. That’s fine its good to be home for a while and I have a busy work week ahead and sometimes being home means less distractions than trying to work from the woods. I did think 🤔 about staying at Cherry Ridge 🍒 at least overnight but I decided it best to come home. I was out of food and for many reasons it just made more sense to come home and work from there.

Tonight will have a Waining Crescent 🌘 Moon with 5% illuminated. The darkest hour is at 1:01 am, followed by dawn at 5:34 am, and sun starting to rise at 6:05 am in the east-northeast (71°) and last for 3 minutes and 4 seconds. Sunrise is one minute and 4 seconds later than yesterday. 🌄 The golden hour ends at 6:43 am with sun in the east-northeast (77°). Tonight will have 10 hours and 9 minutes of darkness, an increase of 2 minutes and 35 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will have scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny 🌞, with a high of 74 degrees at 1pm. Seven degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical day around September 11th. Maximum dew point of 65 at 2pm. Southeast wind 3 to 5 mph. 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 partly cloudy skies in the morning, which became thunderstorm by afternoon. It became sticky as the day progressed. The high last year was 88 degrees. The record high of 97 was set in 1913.

It will be a busy day when I get stated in the morning 📑 but I’m ready for a good week that goes by quickly. Already thinking 💭 about a Schoharie County trip for next weekend including some time at the Mine Kill Pool. 🏊🏻‍♂️

In four weeks on September 13 the sun will be setting in the west (275°) at 7:08 pm,🌄 which is 46 minutes and 49 seconds earlier then tonight. In 2019 on that day, we had mostly sunny and temperatures between 72 and 45 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 73 and 53 degrees. The record high of 92 degrees was set back in 1948.

Looking ahead, Average High 70 🎑 is in 5 weeks, More Night then Day 🌌 is in 6 weeks, Last Sunset After 6:30 PM 🌆 is in 7 weeks, November 🥧 is in 11 weeks, First Sunday of Advent ✝️ is in 16 weeks, Saint Nicholas Day 🎅 is in 16 weeks, Tea Party Day 🐍 is in 4 months, Latest Sunrise of the Winter 🌄️ is in 20 weeks and Valentines Day ❤️ is in 26 weeks.

Good evening! Mostly clear and 73 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. There is a north breeze at 6 mph. 🍃. The dew point is 53 degrees. A very nice evening, might even want a long sleeved shirt 👚 by morning. No fan tonight for me in the truck cap. ☢️

I did everything that I planned today without feeling rushed. 😊 I too often feel like I am running 🏃 from park to park 🏞 on vacation and not taking time to relax. But this year with the pandemic smoldering in the background and an otherwise busy season with work I’ve been taking it slow and doing a lot of reading 📖 and relaxing 🛏 while still enjoying the Finger Lakes. I’ve limited the number of parks I plan to visit and are staying at the same campsite ⛺ with no cell service 🔕 all eight nights to avoid set up and take down. After vacation, work is going to be non-stop as a supervisor, and I’ll be on call 📞 virtually all the time through November.

Caywood Point was interesting to explore on Seneca Lake. 🛥 I bet it’s fun to camp dorm there on a very starry night. 🌃 Some folks had tents pitched right on the shoreline – I guess you don’t have to worry about the tide on a Finger Lake. Seemed like an interesting group of people who hang out there. I should think about going back there and do some fishing 🎣 off the dock or go for a swim 🏊🏻‍♂️ there.

I hiked part of the Catherine Valley Rail Trail 🚂 through the Catherine Marsh WMA aka Bad Indian Swamp. 🌿I am sure the later is disfavored as a name, with the preference today recalling Seneca Chief Catherine Montour, although to this day there are towns that recall the first and last name, so the natives are hardly forgotten. 🐸🦆🕊️🐌🐍🐢 And I doubt the old name was referring to a Bad Indian, just that it was a large, thick area that was marshy and filled with reeds and difficult to pass until the Barge Canal and later the railroad tracks and NY 14 on the east shore. 🌾The swamp is largely reeds, probably the best views from the rail trail are of the Barge Canal. At least from the trail it didn’t stink of sewage. 💩

Then I went for a quick swim 🏊🏻‍♂️ at Watkins Glen State Park. Nobody was manning the toll booth so I didn’t have to show my Empire Passport 🛂. But the pool was open and mostly empty and lead to a nice cool way to break up the evening and cool down.

I went to Tops and stocked up on some food. 🥩 I bought some boneless chicken which I realized at camp was actually pork chops. 🐖 I have nothing against pork, it was good with the rice I bought, stuck in a nice hamburger role, washed down and with some beer 🍻. I also stopped at Glen Dairy Bar and got a large dish of soft ice cream 🍧 dipped in peanut butter 🥜. That was good.

Then before dark I went kayaking 🛶 from the Watkins Glen boat launch. I was going to paddle up to Hector Point but on the way up there I was warned by another kayaker that the water was choppy once you got beyond the bend, and after paddling a few more minutes agreed it seems a bit rough and didn’t want to get caught on open water and ended up just paddling along the south end of the lake by Clute Park. 🎣 Had my fishing pole but the lake was so rough and the south end of the lake so shallow I decided it wasn’t worth it.

Got back to camp around eight, 🏕️ cooked up the pork chops 🥩 and rice 🍚 had dinner and started a fire 🔥 and laid back in the hammock. I forgot to buy coffee ☕ today, I’ll have to get some tomorrow. Ice is not holding up well in the heat 🌡️, I may need to get more at any rate tomorrow and can get coffee at the same time.

Tonight will be mostly clear 🌃, with a low of 59 degrees at 3am. Two degrees below normal, which is similar to a typical night around August 21st. Maximum dew point of 54 at 10pm. North wind 3 to 6 mph. In 2019, we had cloudy skies in the evening, which became light rain by the early hours of the morning. It was sticky. It got down to 67 degrees. The record low of 43 occurred back in 1957.

Tonight will have a Last Quarter 🌗 Moon with 37% illuminated. The Strugeon 🐡 Moon is on Wednesday, August 26. The darkest hour is at 1:13 am, followed by dawn at 5:42 am, and sun starting to rise at 6:12 am in the east-northeast (69°) and last for 3 minutes and 5 seconds. Sunrise is one minute and 3 seconds later than yesterday. 🌄 The golden hour ends at 6:51 am with sun in the east-northeast (75°). Tonight will have 10 hours of darkness, an increase of 2 minutes and 28 seconds over last night.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny 🌞, with a high of 82 degrees at 3pm. One degree above normal, which is similar to a typical day around August 9th. Maximum dew point of 57 at 5pm. Calm wind becoming northeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. A year ago, we had mostly sunny skies in the morning, which became cloudy by afternoon. It was somewhat humid. The high last year was 81 degrees. The record high of 98 was set in 1947.

While I’m not totally sure and left the kayak on my truck, I am thinking tomorrow would be a good day for hiking. 🚶🏽 I am thinking about the Dresden – Penn Yann rail trail as I’ve never explored that part of the Finger Lakes and that was recommended to me on Facebook. Apparently this trail follows the old railroad grade in the gorge along the Penn Yann outlet. 🏞 Sounds intreguing in my book but I should read up on it before making the trip in the morning.

I’ve been having a few problems uploading photos 📸 today, there was a glitch in my new phone uploader that I built but I think it’s working now. I still have to upload photos from kayaking 🛶 this evening on Seneca Lake but that will have to wait until tomorrow when I have better cell service 📶.

I was saddened to hear about the passing of Reszin Adams, 😔 who has been called the alpha activist of Albany. Not only did she bake lasagna for every Pine Bush Dinner for 35 plus years, she was involved in everything from protesting the Vietnam War to Aprahid in South Africa.

I don’t know where things stand with the documentary 📹 I was working with Cynthia Pooler on her – we cut some n roll at her birthday party 🎂 in February but when she pandemic hit everything kind of stopped except for video editing. I barely know how to use the camera but we did interview several people om Reszin. Definitely sad news for everybody in the Capital Region that cared about progress and change.

At least I got to know her a little bit more than Theresa Cooke, 👩🏼 the lady who confronted Erastus Corning and made a big difference in openness and change in the Albany County Democratic Machine.🐴 I had met Cooke at Pine Bush dinners in her late years but never knew the difference she made in the 1970s. She just struck me as some kind of activist but I never asked any questions until I learned about her history upon her death.

In four weeks on September 9 the sun will be setting in the west (277°) at 7:27 pm,🌄 which is 45 minutes and 25 seconds earlier then today. In 2019 on that day, we had mostly sunny, patches of fog and temperatures between 73 and 49 degrees. Typically, you have temperatures between 75 and 54 degrees. The record high of 94 degrees was set back in 1959.

Looking ahead, National Dog Day 🐩 is in 2 weeks, Corn Moon 🌕 is in 3 weeks, SORRY NO NOT NATIONAL CORN DOG DAY, Columbus Day 🛥️ is in 2 months, Average High is 55 🍂 is in 11 weeks, Day After Election Day 🛀 is in 12 weeks, Veterans Day 🇺🇸 is in 13 weeks, Earliest Sunset of the Year ⌛️ is in 17 weeks, Tea Party Day 🐍 is in 18 weeks, Festivus 🍖 is in 19 weeks, Bacon Day 🥓 is in 20 weeks, Make Your Dream Come True Day 🏡 is in 22 weeks, Inauguration Day ✅ is in 23 weeks, Clean Your Computer Day 🧹 is in 26 weeks and Presidents Day 👴 is in 27 weeks.

Good morning! Happy Sunday. Six weeks to Average High 70 🎑 . Sunny and 71 degrees at the Finger Lakes National Forest. Tree🌲🌞 Calm wind. The dew point is 64 degrees.

Went for a walk 🚶 again this morning on the Interlaken Trail and to Foster Pond. Definitely a nice morning, 🌞 lots of sun and wildflowers. 🌻Had a nice pan of corned beef hash and cheese for breakfast. 🍳 Some eggs 🥚 would be nice but I’ll have to get them today.

Wildflowers are definitely better this time of year 🌻🌼🦋🐝 compared to earlier in the summer when I often take my vacation. It just makes my vacation a little more enjoyable seeing the road sides in bloom, the butterflies and bees. And yes, all that field corn 🌽 is getting tall.

Been quite busy up here 👩‍👩‍👦‍👦👨‍👨‍👧, with so many things closed during the pandemic based on the number of cars 🚘 I’ve seen on the road. Fortunately, my campsite is quite remote and quiet 🤫 so nobody is bothering me. Seen more equestrians 🐴 than normal – in part because the Upper Assembly Area is closed at Sugar Hill. 🔐

Today will be sunny 🌞, with a high of 82 degrees at 4pm. Typical for today. Maximum dew point of 66 at 6pm. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 8 mph in the morning. A year ago, we had partly cloudy skies in the morning with some clearing in the afternoon. The high last year was 81 degrees. The record high of 96 was set in 2001.

Kind of breezy up here on the backbone 🗻 but I’m hoping the breeze will die down later and I can get out on Seneca Lake and the Montour Canal later. 🛶 I’m excited about all the wildlife I might see there. 🐦🦆🕊️🐸🐢🦎🐟 I just don’t want to go on Seneca Lake if it’s at all breezy 🚣🏻‍♂️ because it’s a big lake and can be very choppy. 🌊

Solar noon 🌞 is at 1:13 pm with sun having an altitude of 63.1° from the due south horizon (-7.6° vs. 6/21). A six foot person will cast a 3 foot shadow today compared to 2.2 feet on the first day of summer. The golden hour 🏅 starts at 7:38 pm with the sun in the west-northwest (286°). 📸 The sunset is in the west-northwest (292°) with the sun dropping below the horizon at 8:17 pm after setting for 3 minutes and 8 seconds with dusk around 8:46 pm, which is one minute and 21 seconds earlier than yesterday. 🌇 The best time to look at the stars is after 9:26 pm. At sunset, look for partly cloudy skies 🌃 and temperatures around 77 degrees. The dew point will be 67 degrees. There will be a west breeze at 5 mph. Today will have 14 hours and 8 minutes of daytime, a decrease of 2 minutes and 25 seconds over yesterday.

Tonight will be partly cloudy 🌤, with a low of 68 degrees at 5am. Seven degrees above normal. Maximum dew point of 67 at 7pm. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph. In 2019, we had light rain in the evening, which became partly cloudy by the early hours of the morning. It got down to 57 degrees. The record low of 48 occurred back in 1955.

Been reading 📖 more of the Real Goods Solar Living Handbook. Half marketing catalog, half pseudo green living for rich folk, it sure seems like it’s gotten real dated fast. 🌎 Still an interesting read even if it’s more ideological and about marketing over-priced organic crap and green products for the landfill 🗑 then practical realities of providing for one’s self and obeying the laws of nature.

I was noticing how much of the forest along Potomac Road was ash trees. 🌳It’s only a matter of time before much of the forest is going to be dying than gone. I see they have an Emerald Ash Boerer trap on the road to detect the invaders but I doubt they’ll treat all of the trees. Already as little as 50 miles south of here in Wellsboro you can see the devestation of the forests from EAB. 🐛 Forests are always in a state of decline – thats entropy – but they’re always changing with the land and introduced species.

One week from now I’ll be taking down camp and heading back to Albany. 🏡 Or at least heading closer to that direction. But there is a lot more reading 📖, hiking 🚶 and paddling to do before then. Vacation really is just beginning – today is my first full day in the Finger Lakes.

I am still thinking I want to go the way I came 🤔 although I would want to avoid that rough seasonal use only road. If it’s really nice a week from Sunday I might overnight at Cherry Ridge 🍒 and then head back home through Madison County. I like seeing the rough dairy country. 🐮 The hills, the cows, the rundown shacks and hollows. 🗻

I really like the wild country 🐏 and wish I could live out here full time. Somehow I like it even better than the Adirondacks. Redneck country life is fun, even if at times it’s dirty and smelly. 💩 But alas I’m making good money at my job 💵 and are able to save a lot of it for a better tomorrow. It’s nice having some professional success in life and knowing it will lead to a better tomorrow, especially as I try to live frugally as possible. Some days I’ll live in a small town, have land and be able to listen 👂 to the moos of cattle full time. 🐄

Looking ahead, there are 6 weeks until Average High 70 🎑 when the sun will be setting at 7:06 pm with dusk at 7:34 pm. On that day in 2019, we had partly sunny, patches of fog and temperatures between 79 and 42 degrees. Typically, the high temperature is 71 degrees. We hit a record high of 90 back in 1946.