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Why Kayak the Hudson River Between Albany and Troy?

Andy | May 5, 2013

Most people have probably never kayaked between Albany and Troy on the Hudson River. Yet, it’s a trip one should make, because it’s both fascinating and relaxing, as you paddle between two cities through a lush green landscape.

Not only is the Hudson River conviently located between the two cities, a short drive for residents of the Capital Drive, it demostrates the solitude one can get, and still be within a couple of miles of major former industrial cities in Upstate NY.

It shows the scale of man’s industrial works up close, as they tower far above you. Who would have ever thought the South Troy Bridge was so tall?

And while the river is much cleaner then yesteryear, you will still smell the raw sewage floating in from some storm drains.

You’ll find secret little tributatories, all but forgotten about in the era of powerboats and superhighways that once buried important little rivers and creeks, and made islands into mainland.

You will get a new impression of the river and it’s many crossings, and the noisey automobile traffic that “flies” over the river.

You’ll notice how nature’s creations tower far above our cities and urbanized areas.

And you’ll get a new look at the ordinary city, that often looked at as one passes it buy almost in an ignorant fashion.

Hiking Lyon Mountain

Andy | October 16, 2012

Last October I went for a hike up Lyon Mountain. The first 3/4 of a mile you can drive up to the parking lot, then from there, it’s a two mile hike to the summit, or about 3 miles if you take the new trail.

The old trail, following an old woods road is eroded and rough in places, but it well traveled as it much shorter. The new trail, being so twisty is not as well traveled, but it is far less steep and tends to be less wet in the spring time.

Heading up from the parking area, the first part of the trail follows the old trails route, before swinging left near a registration kiosk.

It was very colorful along the new trail as all the maples where at about peak color going up the mountain.

I decided to switch over from the new trail to the old trail, once I reached the point where the trails reached their closest point at the midpoint up the mountain.

As you get about 2/3rds the way up the mountain, you can look back and see Lake Chazy.

The old trail certainly is eroded and in rough sape in some parts. You can understand why they re-routed it.

Ah, finally see the fire tower.

Hazy day, but there’s Lake Chazy and the farms along it.

Wind turbines of the Chazy Highlands…

Lyon Mountain is a popular hike, as seen by all the hikers on the ledge.

Excuses for Not Regularly Updating My Blog

Andy | May 15, 2012

1) Slowly, but surely been working on the next-generation of the blog, which seems to be more on paper then actually coded into a workable product. It’s a dream of a lot of neat things that haven’t made it to the reality stage.

2) I am too much of an alcoholic, and it’s difficult to compose a good blog post after you’ve been drinking. But evenings are a whole lot less stressful after 3 or 4 beers, especially if you not drive anywheres.

3) It’s still only the start of spring, so my list of adventures is fairly limited, and therefore, there are relatively few things to blog about.

4) It’s spring time, and I like going down to the park and reading in the evening, rather then blogging. Staying inside sucks on nice days.

5) I’ve kind of run out of good things to blog about. Most of the really cool and interesting posts are long done, and now all I can do is run them in re-runs, that everybody is sick and tired of, much like microwaved left overs.

6) I’ve been sick a lot. This past winter and spring, it’s been one non-stop sinus infection or upper-respitatory infection of some sort. Blame it on the mold in my apartment, smoke floating in my neighbor dragging on a cigerette next door, or maybe just stress.

Twenty-Nine

Andy | January 29, 2012

Today is my twenty-nineth birthday. Last year before turning 30. While people assure me that turning 30 is not a big deal, and everybody goes through it, somehow I feel like I got to make my 29th birthday, and make my 29th year something special.

Everytime around this time of year, I like to take a few minutes to think back about the past year and the coming year. In many ways this year is kind of a blank slate, something to be planned as things go along.

Not having big plans doesn’t mean I won’t do big things…

I already are thinking about many weekend and longer road trips, hikes, and camping trips. I at least don’t have to worry too much about my truck breaking down. I probably won’t set anything down in stone for sure, but I do want to get back to some of my favorite spots in the Adirondacks, the Green Mountains, Central NY, Finger Lakes, and the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania.

I got to get a truck cap this spring, and kayak racks for my truck. Hopefully by mid-summer, I can my truck wired up with a second battery to power my camping gear without fears of running my main battery dead. I need to work to build up my savings, a lot of which went into purchasing my pickup truck last year.

I also got to look forward to future years. This year I will become vested in the State Employee Pension Plan, which means I will have other options opening. I might consider going back to college, or even moving out of the state. I look forward to the adventures of the coming year.

e-FOIL Your Government Monthly

Andy | June 4, 2011

Could 15 minutes a month make a big difference in how your government is run and allow you to make informed decisions about government policies? With New York’s Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), and a quick email off to your government officials, you can make a big difference.

Under Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, any person can request almost any government document using a quick email to the Records Access Officer that every state agency and subdivision such as counties, cities, towns, public authorities, public corporations, and school boards keep. You can request meeting agendas, meeting notes, email sent from government accounts, studies, maps, word documents, GIS Shapefiles, databases. While there are some exceptions to this law, the reality is most government documents are public property, and can be received through FOIL.

To send a FOIL request, you simply need to …

1) Figure out what your interested in. It helps to know what format the records are stored in, such as Word Processor Documents, Spreadsheets, Email, Database, GIS Shapefile, PDF. You also should try to make the best guess where the data is from, and describe it as possible. You have to accept records in whatever format stored by the agency as they are not required to convert or summarize the record, meaning you need to accurately request what they have or risk being denied access.

2) Go to agency’s website your are interested in, and try to find the Records Access Officer or FOIL request officer or other email. Typically emailing the highest level official in the agency is acceptable if no FOIL information is listed.

3) While not every agency accepts emails, but any that has a capacity to e-mail must accept requests in that format.

4) Write a very quick and simple email to the agency saying:

Dear Records Access Officer:

Under Article 6 of the Public Officers Law (NY Freedom of Information Law), I am requesting the following records:

Any and all emails sent from Commissioner John Smith jsmith@example.state.ny.us from April 1, 2011 through May 1, 2011 with the words “solid waste management” in the body of the email.

The Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, relating to revenue received through recycling programs. I am requesting the April 2011 numbers, as prepared by Solid Waste Specialist Deborah Smith.

Thank you. If you have any questions or need clarification, please email me at joe@example.com.

It’s that easy. You will get a receipt of your request within 5 days. Within 35 days, you will receive the requested documents or reasons for denial of such requests under the limited exceptions of NY Freedom of Information Act. You have the right to appeal such a denial to the records appeal officer, which you should be notified of whom it is when such information is denied. The Committee on Open Government offers advisory opinions to help you understand the law, and cite case law in your response.

I really encourage you to get into the practice of regularly writing FOIL requests. With e-mail it’s easy, and it keeps your elected officials and public servants on their toes. Receiving even one request for information perks up their ears, and more requests makes them realize that the public is keeping a watchful eye over them. Moreover, the records you will receive are both interesting and informative, and allow you to make better comment over public policies in the future.

You can be the hero that saves democracy and get lots of fun government documents for free to your email!

Snowshoeing Partridge Run

Andy | February 13, 2011