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Replacing All My Camp Lighting Next Year with LEDs

Right now, my primary source of camp lighting is a set of two 100-watt equivalent florescent bulbs, hooked to my truck’s inverter. Due to the nature of camping, and because things often get wet or dropped, they really do not last very long, and frequently need replacing.

Camp Lights

When they don’t get broken, I usually bring them home, and save them to the some day in the future when I return them for recycling. When they break — I don’t freak out — I usually just chuck them in the campfire, and pack out the glass and unburnt debris in the morning. I don’t really freak out about the mercury. But for environmental reasons, I would like to get away from mercury-based lighting, despite the relatively tiny amount of mercury in each bulb.

In recent years, I’ve been slow moving away florescent lighting whenever I can for camping. An early purchase of mine was LED Christmas light strings. The purpose of the Christmas lights was not so much for decoration — even though they’re pretty — but to provide a small amount of backlight to the campsite, so I don’t trip on things. A string of LED Christmas lights uses a fraction of the energy, even a smallish compact florescent uses.

Before I Killed the Lights

This past year, I noticed that LED light bulbs have finally come down enough in price to reasonably affordable. I bought my first one this past July, a 40-watt equivalent bulb that uses only 7-watts of electricity, for a bright warm white lighting of my American flag. It not only seems quite durable and efficient, it always bright regardless of the temperature. It keeps the flag lit regardless of the weather.

All Lit Up for the Night

With prices coming down even further, I bought a second LED bulb this fall for $10. It’s a 60-watt equivalent that uses only 10 watts of electricity. Best of all, even during the cold winter months, it works quite well.  I wasn’t crazy about the heat shielding on the model I bought, but many of the newer ones lack the ugly heat shielding over the glass. Despite 15 degree temperatures, the 10 watt LED bulb kept things bright all night long.

LED lighting is the future. Fluorescent lighting not only contains mercury, it also uses more power and dims dramatically even under modest temperature drops. Florescent lighting is fine indoors, in relatively warm rooms. But it doesn’t work well outside, especially when camping, when air temperatures can 50 degrees or even lower in the even lower. Common fluorescent lamps dim in the cold, while LEDs shine their brightness, regardless of the cold.

 

Two years ago, when I bought my truck cap, I bought a series of LED strip lights to light up the cap. At the time, I had the choice between warm-color LEDs and cool-color LEDs. I bought the cool colored ones, as I thought they would look more neat in the truck cap. I’ve been thoroughly impressed with them since purchasing, and would consider having them as part of a future off-the-grid home.

8_25

What’s nice about LEDs is they are natively 12-volts, so they work well with batteries, solar-panels, and most renewable sources of energy. The onces I bought for my truck, required no transformer or adapter, as they worked on natively at that voltage. It’s also relatively easy to step down 120 volt AC power and run it through a diode to create 12 volts DC to run LED lamps. Most LED lights are natively dimmable with common thysor-based dimmers and require no ballast.

led-flexi-strip-cool-white-ip65-24v

A decade ago, I toured an off-the-grid house in Clinton County. It was a neat home, and one of it’s best features was the use of 12-volt wiring for lighting. Rather then step up the voltage from the solar panels and batteries for lighting purposes, they chose to efficiently just use 12-volt DC lamps, mainly the relatively new LED bulbs and some halogens. They also had a large inverter to power 120-volt AC appliances and select number of florescent light bulbs.

No Campfire Yet

I think LEDs are the future. I am sure after spending $10 a bulb to buy a third or fourth camp light, prices will come down even further, and I will look back and think what a waste of money.

Technological progress has meant LED bulbs are cheaper, more efficient, and work well in the cold outdoors conditions.

Article XIV (Conservation) of NY State Constitution

As amended by the voters on November 5, 2013.

Section 1: Forest preserve to be forever kept wild; authorized uses and exceptions.

The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be forever kept as wild forest lands. They shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed.

Snowy Mountain

Exception 1:
Adirondack Northway.

Nothing herein contained shall prevent the state from constructing, completing and maintaining any highway heretofore specifically authorized by constitutional amendment, nor from constructing and maintaining to federal standards federal aid interstate highway route five hundred two from a point in the vicinity of the city of Glens Falls, thence northerly to the vicinity of the villages of Lake George and Warrensburg, the hamlets of South Horicon and Pottersville and thence northerly in a generally straight line on the west side of Schroon Lake to the vicinity of the hamlet of Schroon, then continuing northerly to the vicinity of Schroon Falls, Schroon River and North Hudson, and to the east of Makomis Mountain, east of the hamlet of New Russia, east of the village of Elizabethtown and continuing northerly in the vicinity of the hamlet of Towers Forge, and east of Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain and continuing northerly to the vicinity of the village of Keeseville and the city of Plattsburgh, all of the aforesaid taking not to exceed a total of three hundred acres of state forest preserve land, …

Exception 2:
State-owned Ski Resorts Bellayre and Gore Mountain.

… nor from constructing and maintaining not more than twenty-five miles of ski trails thirty to two hundred feet wide, together with appurtenances thereto, provided that no more than five miles of such trails shall be in excess of one hundred twenty feet wide, on the north, east and northwest slopes of Whiteface Mountain in Essex county, nor from constructing and maintaining not more than twenty-five miles of ski trails thirty to two hundred feet wide, together with appurtenances thereto, provided that no more than two miles of such trails shall be in excess of one hundred twenty feet wide, on the slopes of Belleayre Mountain in Ulster and Delaware counties and not more than forty miles of ski trails thirty to two hundred feet wide, together with appurtenances thereto, provided that no more than eight miles of such trails shall be in excess of one hundred twenty feet wide, on the slopes of Gore and Pete Gay mountains in Warren county, …

Exception 3:
Realignment of Certain State Highways in Adirondacks,
Namely Route 9, Route 73, Route 28, and Route 30.

… nor from relocating, reconstructing and maintaining a total of not more than fifty miles of existing state highways for the purpose of eliminating the hazards of dangerous curves and grades, provided a total of no more than four hundred acres of forest preserve land shall be used for such purpose and that no single relocated portion of any highway shall exceed one mile in length.

Exception 4:
Saranac Lake Town Dump Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the state may convey to the village of Saranac Lake ten acres of forest preserve land adjacent to the boundaries of such village for public use in providing for refuse disposal and in exchange therefore the village of Saranac Lake shall convey to the state thirty acres of certain true forest land owned by such village on Roaring Brook in the northern half of Lot 113, Township 11, Richards Survey.

Exception 5:
Piseco Airport, Part I, Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the state may convey to the town of Arietta twenty-eight acres of forest preserve land within such town for public use in providing for the extension of the runway and landing strip of the Piseco airport and in exchange therefor the town of Arietta shall convey to the state thirty acres of certain land owned by such town in the town of Arietta.

Exception 6:
Moose River Plains and International Paper Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions and subject to legislative approval of the tracts to be exchanged prior to the actual transfer of title, the state, in order to consolidate its land holdings for better management, may convey to International Paper Company approximately eight thousand five hundred acres of forest preserve land located in townships two and three of Totten and Crossfield Purchase and township nine of the Moose River Tract, Hamilton county, and in exchange therefore International Paper Company shall convey to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve approximately the same number of acres of land located within such townships and such County on condition that the legislature shall determine that the lands to be received by the state are at least equal in value to the lands to be conveyed by the state.

Exception 7:
Sagamore Insitute Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions and subject to legislative approval of the tracts to be exchanged prior to the actual transfer of title and the conditions herein set forth, the state, in order to facilitate the preservation of historic buildings listed on the national register of historic places by rejoining an historic grouping of buildings under unitary ownership and stewardship, may convey to Sagamore Institute, Inc., a not-for-profit educational organization, approximately ten acres of land and buildings thereon adjoining the real property of the Sagamore Institute, Inc. and located on Sagamore Road, near Racquette Lake Village, in the Town of Long Lake, county of Hamilton, and in exchange therefor; Sagamore Institute, Inc. shall convey to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve approximately two hundred acres of wild forest land located within the Adirondack Park on condition that the legislature shall determine that the lands to be received by the state are at least equal in value to the lands and buildings to be conveyed by the state and that the natural and historic character of the lands and buildings conveyed by the state will be secured by appropriate covenants and restrictions and that the lands and buildings conveyed by the state will reasonably be available for public visits according to agreement between Sagamore Institute, Inc. and the state.

Exception 8:
Piseco Airport, Part II Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions the state may convey to the town of Arietta fifty acres of forest preserve land within such town for public use in providing for the extension of the runway and landing strip of the Piseco airport and providing for the maintenance of a clear zone around such runway, and in exchange therefor, the town of Arietta shall convey to the state fifty-three acres of true forest land located in lot 2 township 2 Totten and Crossfield’s Purchase in the town of Lake Pleasant.

Exception 9:
Town of Keene Cemetery Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions and subject to legislative approval prior to actual transfer of title, the state may convey to the town of Keene, Essex county, for public use as a cemetery owned by such town, approximately twelve acres of forest preserve land within such town and, in exchange therefor, the town of Keene shall convey to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve approximately one hundred forty-four acres of land, together with an easement over land owned by such town including the riverbed adjacent to the land to be conveyed to the state that will restrict further development of such land, on condition that the legislature shall determine that the property to be received by the state is at least equal in value to the land to be conveyed by the state.

Exception 9:
Hamlet of Raquette Lake Drinking Wells, Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions and subject to legislative approval prior to actual transfer of title, because there is no viable alternative to using forest preserve lands for the siting of drinking water wells and necessary appurtenances and because such wells are necessary to meet drinking water quality standards, the state may convey to the town of Long Lake, Hamilton county, one acre of forest preserve land within such town for public use as the site of such drinking water wells and necessary appurtenances for the municipal water supply for the hamlet of Raquette Lake. In exchange therefor, the town of Long Lake shall convey to the state at least twelve acres of land located in Hamilton county for incorporation into the forest preserve that the legislature shall determine is at least equal in value to the land to be conveyed by the state. The Raquette Lake surface reservoir shall be abandoned as a drinking water supply source.

Exception 10:
Tupper Lake/National Grid “Tri-Lakes Reliability Project” Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions and subject to legislative approval prior to actual transfer of title, the state may convey to National Grid up to six acres adjoining State Route 56 in St. Lawrence County where it passes through Forest Preserve in Township 5, Lots 1, 2, 5 and 6 that is necessary and appropriate for National Grid to construct a new 46kV power line and in exchange therefore National Grid shall convey to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve at least 10 acres of forest land owned by National Grid in St. Lawrence county, on condition that the legislature shall determine that the property to be received by the state is at least equal in value to the land conveyed by the state.

Exception 11:
Ending the Township 40/Racquette Lake Property Dispute.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the legislature may authorize the settlement, according to terms determined by the legislature, of title disputes in township forty, Totten and Crossfield purchase in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton county, to resolve longstanding and competing claims of title between the state and private parties in said township, provided that prior to, and as a condition of such settlement, land purchased without the use of state‐appropriated funds, and suitable for incorporation in the forest preserve within the Adirondack park, shall be conveyed to the state on the condition that the legislature shall determine that the property to be conveyed to the state shall provide a net benefit to the forest preserve as compared to the township forty lands subject to such settlement.

Exception 12:
NYCO Minerals Land Exchange.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the state may authorize NYCO Minerals, Inc. to engage in mineral sampling operations, solely at its expense, to determine the quantity and quality of wollastonite on approximately 200 acres of forest preserve land contained in lot 8, Stowers survey, town of Lewis, Essex county provided that NYCO Minerals, Inc. shall provide the data and information derived from such drilling to the state for appraisal purposes. Subject to legislative approval of the tracts to be exchanged prior to the actual transfer of title, the state may subsequently convey said lot 8 to NYCO Minerals, Inc., and, in exchange therefor, NYCO Minerals, Inc. shall convey to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve not less than the same number of acres of land, on condition that the legislature shall determine that the lands to be received by the state are equal to or greater than the value of the land to be conveyed by the state and on condition that the assessed value of the land to be conveyed to the state shall total not less than one million dollars. When NYCO Minerals, Inc. terminates all mining operations on such lot 8 it shall remediate the site and convey title to such lot back to the state of New York for inclusion in the forest preserve. In the event that lot 8 is not conveyed to NYCO Minerals, Inc. pursuant to this paragraph, NYCO Minerals, Inc. nevertheless shall convey to the state for incorporation into the forest preserve not less than the same number of acres of land that is disturbed by any mineral sampling operations conducted on said lot 8 pursuant to this paragraph on condition that the legislature shall determine that the lands to be received by the state are equal to or greater than the value of the lands disturbed by the mineral sampling operations.

Ashokan Reservior

Section 2:
Reserviors.

The legislature may by general laws provide for the use of not exceeding three per centum of such lands for the construction and maintenance of reservoirs for municipal water supply, and for the canals of the state.

Such reservoirs shall be constructed, owned and controlled by the state, but such work shall not be undertaken until after the boundaries and high flow lines thereof shall have been accurately surveyed and fixed, and after public notice, hearing and determination that such lands are required for such public use.

The expense of any such improvements shall be apportioned on the public and private property and municipalities benefited to the extent of the benefits received. Any such reservoir shall always be operated by the state and the legislature shall provide for a charge upon the property and municipalities benefited for a reasonable return to the state upon the value of the rights and property of the state used and the services of the state rendered, which shall be fixed for terms of not exceeding ten years and be readjustable at the end of any term. Unsanitary conditions shall not be created or continued by any such public works.

Mallet Pond Dam

Section 3:
Forest and wild life conservation; use or disposition of certain lands authorized.

1. Forest and wild life conservation are hereby declared to be policies of the state. For the purpose of carrying out such policies the legislature may appropriate moneys for the acquisition by the state of land, outside of the Adirondack and Catskill parks as now fixed by law, for the practice of forest or wild life conservation. The prohibitions of section 1 of this article shall not apply to any lands heretofore or hereafter acquired or dedicated for such purposes within the forest preserve counties but outside of the Adirondack and Catskill parks as now fixed by law, except that such lands shall not be leased, sold or exchanged, or be taken by any corporation, public or private.

2. As to any other lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve referred to in section one of this article, but outside of the Adirondack and Catskill parks as now fixed by law, and consisting in any case of not more than one hundred contiguous acres entirely separated from any other portion of the forest preserve, the legislature may by appropriate legislation, notwithstanding the provisions of section one of this article, authorize:

(a) the dedication thereof for the practice of forest or wild life conservation; or

(b) the use thereof for public recreational or other state purposes or the sale, exchange or other disposition thereof; provided, however, that all moneys derived from the sale or other disposition of any of such lands shall be paid into a special fund of the treasury and be expended only for the acquisition of additional lands for such forest preserve within either such Adirondack or Catskill park.

Farm Tractor

Section 4:
Protection of natural resources; development of agricultural lands

The policy of the state shall be to conserve and protect its natural resources and scenic beauty and encourage the development and improvement of its agricultural lands for the production of food and other agricultural products.

The legislature, in implementing this policy, shall include adequate provision for the abatement of air and water pollution and of excessive and unnecessary noise, the protection of agricultural lands, wetlands and shorelines, and the development and regulation of water resources.

The legislature shall further provide for the acquisition of lands and waters, including improvements thereon and any interest therein, outside the forest preserve counties, and the dedication of properties so acquired or now owned, which because of their natural beauty, wilderness character, or geological, ecological or historical significance, shall be preserved and administered for the use and enjoyment of the people.

Properties so dedicated shall constitute the state nature and historical preserve and they shall not be taken or otherwise disposed of except by law enacted by two successive regular sessions of the legislature.

Off Firetower

Section 5:
Violations of article; how restrained.

A violation of any of the provisions of this article may be restrained at the suit of the people or, with the consent of the supreme court in appellate division, on notice to the attorney-general at the suit of any citizen.

Gorging on Gorges, An Adventure, Day 3

I woke up around 8:30 AM on Day 3 of Gorging on Gorges. It was cold and wet enough, I decided I needed a full breakfast, even if was only sprinkling out. I decided to make eggs and sausage up, with the works once again. It was a good breakfast. Originally today was supposed to be the day to go to Letchworth State Park, but because of weather, and practical need to spend more days in Finger Lakes if I really wanted to see all the gorges, I ended up staying in the Finger Lakes one more day.

American Flag

Drove down Potamac Road then Pinic Area Road. I wanted to snap a few pictures of government closure signs, so I could have something for my records. Who knows how long before I will see another government shutdown. They had government shutdown signs posted on the Blueberry Hill Camping Fee Area, and the Interloken Horse Camp, but that’s about it. Most other areas were still open. I was actually more worried about the Allegheny National Forest, for the second half the week, should it still be closed.

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I got my picture, along with several other roads on Finger Lakes National Forest. Several were fairly colorful. Then I drove down through Texas Hollow, where there is a state forest in the a remote part of the gorge, surrounded by hunting camps and crossed by the Finger Lakes Trail. The prettiest part of Texas Hollow is actually the northern end, before you get deeper in the hollow, due to the open farm land showing the colors of the trees on the surrounding hills. I wish I could have stopped and got a picture, but the narrow road combined with the terrian, did not make it anything resembling safe.

Texas Hollow Road 1

I left the hollow, and there was a dairy farm, and I was dumped into Cayuta. A bridge closure and the stupid GPS left me lost in Odessa. Next I put into the GPS to take me to Robert Treman State park, via the most direct route. I was honestly hoping to see a bit of Connecticut Hill WMA, although I ended up going past Cayuta Lake, and Cayutaville along the way. I stopped a Cayuta Lake for a bit. Driving through Alpine gave me views of Connecticut Hill and some very rural farm land, but that’s about it. I stopped for a picture, because it was kind of a pretty looking scene.

Farm Fields with Connecticut Hill WMA in Background

Made it Robert Treman State Park. I was disappointed to find out the gorge trail into Enfield Glen was closed due to severe weather that washed out of the gorge trail. That said, the South Rim trail was open, so I hiked down to the overlook for Lucifer Falls then partially down The Stairs. The view from The Stairs into the gorge was quite colorful, especially in light of the fog that was hanging over the area.

This is Lucifer Falls

Next it was off to Watkins Glen. Part of Watkins Glen was starting to turn quite colorful, with yellows really sticking out. It was Columbus Day, so the glen was pretty packed, although once you got past the Mile Point Bridge, the crowded started to drop off. Hiked back via the North Rim Trail which is an old carriage road, with several overlooks to the gorge. It was getting late. I stopped at the P&C in Watkins Glen and picked up a few more groceries, and got more gas – I burned up a lot of it –- then headed up to Sugar Hill State Forest. I had hoped to swing past the firetower, but as I climbed out of Watkins Glen into the hills above it, I drove into a deep fog, and figured it wasn’t even worth driving that ½ mile to get up there.

Spiral Tunnel Falls

Decided to camp down at the Lower Assembly-area. Columbus Day Weekend was over, the horses and horse trailers were all gone. It did smell like horse shit, but of course it’s a state horse camp, so that’s to be expected. Hung up a tarp tonight, because I was sure it would rain, but of course it did not. Got the flag up, quickly gathered some firewood, built a few, cooked some dinner on the picnic table. Stayed up to around 10 PM, then went to bed, as I knew I had a real big day for number four.

Campfire

Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, Western NY Trip to Offer New and Old Experiences

Next week, Columbus Day Weekend and the days following it, I will be taking a trip out to the Finger Lakes, then out to Western NY and the Southern Tier, then to Chautauqua County, then dip down into Pennsylvania, and come back along US 6. Many of these destinations I’ve been to before, but also there are many other destinations I want to explore, anew.

IMG 2663

I will probably start the first part of the week at the Finger Lakes National Forest and/or Sugar Hill State Forest. I would like to check out many of the gorge parks in fall, especially Robert Treman State Park. I also am interested in seeing Fillmore Glen, possibly on the way out there, as that is the only gorge I have not been to in the various Finger Lakes State Parks.

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Later on the week, I want to visit  Harriet Hollister Spencer Recreation Area, then Letchworth State Park. Possibly stay over night at the campground, depending on the weather. Then at some point, I want to check out the Allegheny County State Forests, and I may be able to camp at Bully Hill State Forest. The Bully Hill website says that hunters are allowed to camp at the various gravel pull offs at that state forest. It is after all, small game hunting season.

Flowing North

Then I hope to visit the ever so special Zoar Valley gorge. I bet you that gorge is filled with color this time of year. It certainly was spectacular, last November, at least when it wasn’t dropping wet snow.

Great Valley

From there, probably visit Little Rock City, then progress west through Chautauqua County to the Chautauqua Gorge. There are campsites there, and I might spend a night there, until heading south to Allegheny National Forest for a day or two. Visit Kinzua Bridge State Park – which surprisingly I have never been to.

South Branch as It Enters the Main Branch

From there, probably take a southernly route, e.g. State College and Jersey Shore, before eventually coming across the Pennsylvania wilds into Endless Mountain Country, and ultimately returning back to New York.

McCarty Hill from Great Valley

At least that’s the tentative plans. Things don’t always work out the way they first appear, and it’s possible that for the Allegheny leg, in particular, that some of the roads and overlooks will be gated off for the government shutdown, assuming it’s not resolved in the next few days.

When the Rain Stopped for a While at Moose River Plains

Nobody will kid you about it being a rainy summer. But it seems like no place has been rainier in the past year then Moose Plains. For the past three weekends I spent at Moose Plains it rained. That was Moosefest 2012, last September, followed by Memorial Day Weekend 2013 and Labor Day Weekend 2013. Almost every day, during those weekends, it rained, only stopping momentarily with the sun peaking out occasionally.

Listening to Radio in the Rain

Part of the reason why I spent so much time in the rain at Moose River Plains, is I was invested in an idea. Moose River Plains is 120 plus miles from home, so it seems a bit too far to go up there just on a whim, compared to say Piseco-Powley Road at 75 miles or Burnt-Rossman Hills at 55 miles, each way. Often like with Memorial Day Weekend, I get excited about the concept of visiting Moose Plains – the hell with the weather. After all, it had been six months since I had spent any time up at the plains. Labor Day didn’t seem like that much of a wash from the forecast, until it rained almost every day. And the prior year – I knew with my work schedule – that if I didn’t go up to Moose Plains during Moosefest week, in the rain, I wouldn’t be back there until spring time.

Increasingly Soggy Cedar River Limekiln Lake Road

So it’s been wet. But I figured spending time at Moose Plains still was better then a day stuck at home – the hell with the gasoline burned to get up there, drive from place to place, or for that matter, to keep the lights burning brightly well into the night. But rain can put a damper into plans. Who really wants to go kayaking on Cedar River Flow in the pouring rain or hiking Wakely Mountain in the rain? Not like your going to see much in the rain, plus dampness makes everything miserable, even if you are plenty warm. Skin chaffs from moisture. So I spend my days under the tarp, reading, listening to podcasts, and watching a smoldering campfire struggle against the rain.

Kyle Bourgault - Rensselaer County Sherriff 2023 General Election [Expires November 1 2024]

Finally, this past extended weekend, I got a break from the rain. There were blue skies for two and half days, although by Saturday, high clouds and haze at times kind of drowned out the sunshine. A foliage trip, there probably were more hunters on the trails then color on the trees. But as weekend progressed, so did the color. And with the chance to go out and enjoy the outdoors, I finally did get out around to see many places at Moose Plains that I longing to see for some time, once again. I spent two beautiful moonlight evenings, hanging off Wakely Dam, enjoying the stars under the bright full moon. I haven’t camped at Wakely Dam on Cedar River Flow in years. I hiked up Wakely Mountain one day, then paddle around the Cedar River Flow, then Wakely Dam, then Helldiver Pond all in one day. The next day, I camped down at Campsite 56, my favorite wilderness campsite in the plains, followed by a surprising nice day, with good foliage, which gave me a chance to visit Indian Lake, off the Indian River at Moose Plains.

Scenic Paddle

But then again, by 5:30 PM, the rain came again, and once again I camping under the tarp, as the fire struggles to keep up against the rain. I guess rain is just a natural thing.

Rain Pounds On Down

Shrug.

More Choppiness

Primary Day. Delightful Fall Weather Takes a Break. Attended Syria-Anti War Ralley. Body Lifts. More Frequent Blog Posts.

Rainy Primary Day Today. While’s its true that primary day doesn’t actually start until 12 PM today, it does seem like a pretty good thunderstorm is coming through this morning. It needs to rain from time-to-time, and now seems like as good any time for it to rain. It is literally pouring down.

Delightful Fall Weather Takes A Break for a Couple of Days. This is a good thing, because one could get concerned about early fall is coming this year, after a relatively cool summer — at least in the second half. Going to be hot — and wet today it seems. If this weather pattern continues, it could be a very cold, and very snowy winter. Which might be fun, except despite the fact natural gas is cheap, heating is still expensive.

Went Down to the Syria Anti-War Ralley. It was good to lend my support for a half hour. While I’m not so much into the activism thing these days, I do from time to time get involved in what I view to be a good political cause.

Body Lift. It turns out the bed can be removed from my truck without damaging the Line-X spray-on bedliner. Apparently the bolts they sprayed over were the bolts to the cross members. The cross members bolt to the frame from the bottom, so pulling the bed to put on a body lift on my truck (on top of the future suspension lift) or repair something like the fuel tank, ain’t a big deal.

Here’s a picture of a Silverado pickup with a 6-inch lift and 3-inch body lift.

More Frequent Blog Posts. That’s my new goal. I am going to try to do a new blog post every day, or at least a re-run. I am also going to bring back the notes format more often too, along with the Map of the Day and Photo of the Day. Should be fun.

Trees Along North Lake Road

Going to Be a Rainy Start to Week.

So the forecast is predicting. Lots of heavy rain to follow the previous rain in recent days, including the very gloomy wet Friday and Saturday, earlier this week. Probably really bad for the sewers and overflowed sewage treatment plants, that will continue keeping the Hudson River a muddy-raw sewage soup.

WUNIDS_map

Next weekend’s weather forecast looks nice, but things can change by then. I really look forward to a nice solidly good weekend, as Memorial Day Weekend was pretty crappy except for Memorial Day, and two weekends ago at Piseco-Powley Place was darn hot and humid with rain showers and thunderstorms throughout the weekend.

Past the Flag

Looking forward to the nice weather … should it actually be as nice as the forecast predicts.