The Barn Board

Back Home

2012-02-05T16:46:00.000-05:00

The past year has had us splitting our time between a job in Vermont and back at our home. Work has brought us back to the farm! We are so happy to be able to spend more time here with our old farm and barn! We are much closer to family, and will have more time to putter about the barn.

I'll miss Vermont, especially the people, mountains and Lake Champlain . . .

. . . but we'll continue to enjoy the Finger Lakes area.

It's good to be home!

Still Looking

2012-01-22T20:43:00.002-05:00

There was a big solar flare this week. There were reports that we might see Northern Lights! I have never seen them (it is one of my bucket list items).

I went out after dark. I drove out of town out to a small rise by an open field. It was cold and windy. There were a few inches of snow on the ground.

I set the camera up on a stand, pointed it to the north, and tried some 60 second exposures. After a half hour of freezing my hands and feet, I came home to see if I had anything.

Nothing.

You could see the glow of the city to the north. Some of the shots were away from the glow of the city, but they did not show the Northern Lights.

I spun the camera around and took a few shots of Orion. Kinda nice . . .

You got to keep looking up!

Happy Birthday Mom

2012-01-22T08:04:00.000-05:00

We wish you were still here with us!

Winter Has Arrived

2012-01-15T15:54:00.002-05:00

The last few days have seen some snow and cold temperatures. Finally, I can experience the beauty of the winter.

Saturday -

I went snow-shoeing yesterday. The temperature was at 16 degF, and expected to continuing to drop as the day progressed. I went to the Robert Frost trails, and then headed up the Water Tower Trails.

There were a few snow showers up on the higher peaks.

The Middlebury is still flowing. In time, it will ice up.

I started the climb up the Northstar Trail. I kept my head down as slogged along. I told myself to stop and listen. I could hear my breathing, feel my heart beat. The low rumble of automobiles climbing the Green Mountains off in the distance was the only other sound I heard. I looked up, making sure I took in all the sights.

The trails went on. In time I had reached the top of the trail and had an easy time of descending. Other had went on before me . . .

I stopped at Widow's Clearing. I climbed the small rise there and just took in the mountains.

I turned around and headed back. I came to the top of the Water Trails.

I descended down the Trepidation Trail (very very steep), and then cut over on Afternoon Delight. No one had been there in the last few days. The snow was pristine. The sun would peak through the clouds, and the shadows of the trees on the terrain were interesting.

I even took a self portrait!

I got back down to the Middlebury. I rested for a while, just listening to the water.

Back on the Robert Frost trails, I came across a copy of his poem "The Road Not Taken". I have had a lot of things to think about the last month, and I found the idea that I could be following a new path comforting!

I decided to take a different road back home!

Sunday -

I decided to visit Kingsland Bay. I temperature was 1 degF! The rivers are iced up, and the bays are starting to get iced in. I could see ice fog rolling across the mouth of the bay.

I followed she shoreline. I came across flocks of Robins! Lately, I was wondering if they go south.

There were platter-sized chunks of ice by the shore. They looked like frozen lily pads.

I followed along the shoreline. I walked the trail by the cliffs. The water looked cold, and the trail was slippery.

I came across a stand of trees, shattered by some fierce wind this past year.

I came around a bend in the shoreline. I could see the ice fog moving across the bay towards me.

Ice was coating the rocks.

It was quiet by the water. The only signs of bird-life were some gull tracks by the shore.

The cold wind and ice fog were bitter. I would take my gloves off to shoot some photos, and quickly loose feelings in m fingers. My eyes were tearing up.

The ice fog left delicate crystals on the trees . . .

. . . and the rocks.

After shooting some more photos, and freezing to death, I decided to head back.

I followed a trail through the woods. I had some respite from the winds.

I could here birds about. I stopped and took my hood down. Birds were all around me.

Chicadees . . .

. . . Cardinals . . .

. . . and Robins!

I followed the trail back to the car. I looked out, and saw a pair or Mergansers in the water. I don't know how they do it!

I passed by the South Slang. It is iced over. It will be months before I can paddle there again.

Time to go home and thaw out!

A Wintertime River Walk

2012-01-08T20:02:00.000-05:00

We've had a warm winter so far, but the Otter is starting to ice up. The river continues to run by the falls...

... but is starting to close in downstream.

I like walking by the water this time of year. There were a few snowflakes in the air. The birds were silent, and the river was quiet.

I stopped to look at some of the old brick buildings by the basin. A few of the buildings used to be old warehouses. They were converted to homes years ago.

I came across an old print that showed a number of buildings along the river by the basin back over 100 years ago when the steamships came up the Otter. The brick buildings were in the print, but a number of other warehouses were there. They are long-gone, but a few of their foundations still exist.

It amazes me how much things have changed over time...

Start of Another Year

2012-01-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

Got up.

Made a pot of coffee.

Went to the auction house.

Did some shopping.

Decided to clean out the barn...
- Yes, it is nearly 50 degF outside.
- Opened the doors to the hay mow.

- Opened the doors by the stalls.

- Nope, the owl doesn't keep the bats away~

- Yep, I had to sweep up a lot of bat poop! (I cheat - I use a leaf blower!)

The rain is coming in. It will cool off over the next few days. A little snow is predicted.

Happy New Year!

Winter Morning

2011-12-30T09:40:00.001-05:00

We had a light dusting of snow last night. It was barely enough to cover things about our property.

It seems we had a visitor last night. Its prints were around the house and the barn!

Yep, a domestic cat. We see one prowling around on occasion (the Wife thinks we should get a barn cat to keep the varmints away). I wonder when we will get some real snow?

Have a great day!

Playing Around

2011-12-28T16:00:00.000-05:00

I found a new application for the iPhone / iPod Touch which allows one to easily stitch together photos into a panoramic photo. The application is called Photosynth.

I put together a few photos of our property (from the street, and back behind the barn by the creek.

There is some fish-eye effect when shooting close, but the application worked fine.

Enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:39:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas! Hope you are all having a safe and wonderful day!

A Christmas Tale...

2011-12-23T12:21:00.000-05:00

T’was the night before Christmas.

Pay heed to my yarn

About the strange happenings

Around my old Barn.

I went to the Barn

To check on things there

Hoping that all

Was tidy and square.

The rush of the water

In the rain-swollen creek.

Was all I could hear -

But then there’s a "squeak".

I went to the hay mow

To find it was still

Not a varmint about

In the cold winter chill.

The stables were empty

The barn was all dark

Not a chirp or a peep

Or a growl or a bark.

When rounding a corner

I was taken aback!

Someone had sharpened

My saws and my Axe!

To the workshop I went

And climbing the stair

To find someone had

Been cleaning in there!

And looking about

I startled myself

Off in the corner

I saw a Barn Elf!

He scurried about

And kept cleaning the place

I couldn’t keep up

With his very quick pace.

He suddenly stopped

Once he was all done

He was smiling a lot

(I guess he had fun!)

He spun ‘round three times

And then pulled his beard

In the blink of an eye

He just disappeared!

I heard a faint noise

As I turned out the light.

"Peace be to all ,

Be safe, and Good Night!"

Ice and Snow

2011-12-11T16:43:00.001-05:00

It was 22 degF this morning when I decided to go kayaking! (The wife thinks I am crazy, but I just had to see what Nature has has brought forth!). I was going to put in at the South Slang, but when I got there it was covered in ice!

The old beaver lodges were silent . . .

. . . as were the marshes.

I decided to put in at Kingsland Bay. The winds were from the south at just 2 or 3 knots. Lake Champlain was calm.

There are not many waterfowl about. Some seagulls . . .

. . . and cormorants.

I always enjoy following the cliffs about the lake.

Though the leaves are long past, the algae on the rocks were an unexpected bit of green against the gray and brown rocks.

I like paddling near the shoreline, but one has to be careful of the rocks. Some are barely submerged, and running into them can lead to a capsize (not a good thing in the winter!).

I paddled out onto the broad lake and headed east to the mouth of the South Slang,

The ice was out all the way to the lake. There was no safe way to paddle into the slang (yes, the boat could break through most of the ice, but it is hard to maneuver through the broken pans of ice).

The marshes are getting iced-in.

I headed back to Kingsland Bay. Off in the distance I could see Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks.

There was a wonderful interplay of waves and light in the shallow bays. The water is now very clear, and I can see the ripples in the sand below. The slight wind-waves created patterns on the sand, creating a pattern all along the lake bottom as far as I could see!

I paddled back to my car. My feet were getting cold. By the time I took my kayak out of the water, by hands were felt like they were encased in pins and needles (yes, I had to get my hands wet when I took my kayak out of the cold water)!

After a glass of warm cider, I decided to go for a short bike ride. I went up over the hill on Green Street. I passed the frozen marshes . . .

. . . and cycles along the quiet roads.

There is still a slight covering of snow in the woods. Soon I will be snow shoeing!

I had to stop by some open farm field and take in the views to the east of the Green Mountains. Spectactular!

I hope you don't let the cold stop you from enjoying natures glory!

Christmas Scenes...

2011-12-09T20:42:00.000-05:00

We have been about getting our Christmas errands completed. We have been up to Church Street in Burlington for some shopping . . .

. . . as well to the Christmas Loft. We like visiting the 'village' at the Christmas Loft. While there we came across a scary elf! Enough to give you nightmares!

I'll try to be a good boy - I don't want this guy to visit!

An Uncle Tractor Christmas

2011-11-28T18:45:00.000-05:00

Our family tradition is to put up our Christmas tree over Thanksgiving weekend. We don't decorate our entire house (a wreath on the door, some white candles in the windows, a little greenery on the porch). But we really go all out on the tree.

We decorate our tree in glass ornaments. The wife and I have been collecting them over the years. We have old family ornaments, those we have found at antique shops and auctions, ones we get get from various shops, and those we pick up from the places we travel. In total, we have well over 400 glass ornaments on our tree.

In keeping with the theme of 'The Barn Board', we have barns. Traditional barns like ours . . .

. . . and classic Shaker round barns!

There are little snow-covered houses . . .

. . . snow covered cottages . . .

. . . churches . . .

. . . fanciful buildings . . .

. . . quaint cottages . . .

. . . and even fine hotels!

I need to find a few more buildings. Maybe an outhouse!

Lacking Motivation

2011-11-26T18:35:00.000-05:00

Usually this time of year I find myself indoors on the rowing machine working on rowing 200K meters as part of the Concept2 Holiday Challenge.

Well . . .

I just can't do it this year! No, it's not lack of time. No, it isn't desire to exercise.

It's just that I don't want to be inside.

I'll go to the gym, but the weather is still good enough to be outside. Today is was in the 40s (degF). I was cycling outside. It snowed earlier this week, but the roads are dry.

The views of the mountains are beautiful, even on a gray November day.

The water is is gray, like the sky.

Dead Creek is still. There is ice in a few spots. Soon it will be frozen. In time, the river and lake will then freeze.

I hope the roads keep dry through the winter to allow me to ride into Spring!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T15:59:00.001-05:00

Hoping you are all well and are finding time to be thankful!

~ Uncle Tractor

November

2011-11-19T20:12:00.000-05:00

The still of winter is not far away.

The varmints are busy getting food . . .

The morning frost has finally knocked back the knotweed for the season . . .

The raking is done. The compost bins are full . . .

I installed snow guards on the new roof.

I hope they will stop all the snow from collecting on the porch roof!

I got a new snowblower. I call it an early Christmas gift.

The snow geese are about. Winter is soon to come.

No Snow,
No Sun,
No Color,
November!

First Snow

2011-10-30T17:33:00.001-04:00

The nor'easter that went up the east coast yesterday and early this morning just left a slushy inch of snow with us.

Bummer!

I wanted to do some paddling in the snow. The scenery would have been spectacular as there is still some color on the trees.

I set out anyway. There was some snow on the boat -

but by the Otter there was no snow.

It was very peaceful, but the winds were from the north and cold. Luckily, I had fleece on, dry-pants, neoprene socks, by paddling jacket, and PFD. With my hood up and gloves on, I was fine.

The osprey have been gone for quite a while. I would occasionally see some ducks. Off in the distance I would hear the the retort of guns from waterfowl hunter out on the lake.

I paddled into the 'Hidden Marsh'. In the spring flood I could paddle to the far side. Now I could only progress 1/4 of the way in.

I spooked a few of the late-season blue heron.

Sometimes I could just sit and take in the quiet!

I continued upstream, The maritime museum had a few of their row boats down at a marina on the Otter.

I paddled up to the mouth of Dead Creek. The water is much lower now than in the spring. I could paddle under the bridge into Dead Creek.

There was a lone heron off in the distance.

I started back. I had the wind in my face, but it was now around 40 degF. I had seen a single cormorant earlier. He was now working his way into the Hidden Marsh.

Six month ago I posted about a beaver lodge I had chanced upon. It was still active (you can tell as there are young, freshly-cut saplings and branches submerged near the lodge. No signs of beaver!

I noticed a small channel behind the lodge. It looks like the beaver have been busy keeping a channel open. I decided to paddle into it to see where it went.

It meandered a short distance, and opened up into a broad marsh.

I came across another beaver lodge. I also saw this one back in April when the river was flooded.

I headed back to the car. It will be some time before the river freezes. Then I'll have to be content sitting in my 'lodge' like the beavers, waiting for ice-out on the river. Stay Warm!

To the Palisades

2011-10-23T19:53:00.002-04:00

It was a cool morning (about 40 degF), overcast skies with light winds from the south. I was planning on getting a longer paddle in this weekend.

I put in at the mouth of the Otter at Fort Cassin, and headed west across Lake Champlain to the Palisades. Where the shoreline on this portion of the Vermont side of the lake is dotted with farms and lake houses, the New York side is steep and deeply wooded.

As I entered the broad lake, I saw what looked like 2 islands of to the south. At first I thought they were the Diamond Islands. I quick glance to the north confirmed that they weren't. What were they?

Duck blinds! Yep, its that time of year!

The crossing is about 2 miles. As I approached the New York side, I could see the remnant of a rockslide on the steep mountainside.

The shoreline is a battle between wood and rock. In some places you can't tell where the rock ends and the wood begins.

I paddled south to Ore Cove. I remember reading somewhere that these was mining here, but the steepness of the terrain led to numerous slides. Maybe there is an abandoned mining operation here. . .

There is a small campsite here. The ground is very rocky, while there is no easy take-out as the water at the shore is several feet deep.

The campsite is part of the Lake Champlain paddlers trail.

Across the lake to the east I could see Camel's Hump in the Vermont Green Mountains.

This part of the lake is bounded by the Adirondack State Forest.

As I paddled near the shore I could here something moving in the woods. What was it?

A red squirrel!

There are a lot of tiny coves. As I came around a corner into one I startled a pair of ducks.

The rock face is very steep in parts. In places, huge blocks of stone were poised to fall into the lake!

I came across another campsite. My nephew and I stopped at this one years ago.

It is also a Lake Champlain paddler trail site.

As I continued south, I came to the high cliffs known as the Palisades. I looked up and at the top I saw a Peregrine Falcon watching me. They nest in the cliffs.

After a few minutes it flew away.

There are several places were water cascades down the cliffs . . .

I came to another of the paddler trail campsites. I stayed at this site about 8 years ago.

There is a little, protected cove . . .

. . . a shelter . . .

. . . and even first rate accommodations!

I paddled back across the lake to the Vermont side. The crossing here is only about 1 mile. I headed over to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum where they have a recreation of the gunboat Philadelphia (aka the Philadelphia II). The Philadelphia was built in 1776 at the southern end of the lake in Whitehall, NY. Whitehall is the birthplace of the US Navy!

As I headed north back to Fort Cassin, I could see the Palisades off to the west.

Another fascinating paddle!

An Autumn Stroll

2011-10-22T21:44:00.001-04:00

The wife and I took a late afternoon walk down by the lake.

The fields are still soaked from all the recent rains. The paths and roads were wet and muddy.

There were berries on the trees and shrubs - the end of the season is at hand.

We came across a old barn with a charming collection of flowers . . .

The lake was still and calm. The sun was setting over the Adirondacks.

The setting sun revealed the wonder of nature. Beautiful.

It was a fine walk.

Pedal Power

2011-10-10T21:05:00.000-04:00

We went to the Shelburne Museum this past weekend. This trip, we visited a number of the collections associated with woodworking, tools, toys and carving. I took a lot of photographs - a lot a material for future blog postings.

For this entry, I thought I'd show some of the foot-operated tools from the Blacksmith Shop and the collections in the Shaker Shed.

The first piece of equipment had me stumped. It was obvious it was a foot powered machine which would drive a sharp metal tool down. But what was it? I consulted a book I have on American hand tools (Alvin Sellens' Dictionary of American Hand Tools - A Pictorial Synopsis). Aha! It was a mortising machine. One would have drilled out the hole to be mortised, and then squared-up the hole using the foot-powered chisel.

I like the wooden leaf-spring at the top, but it seems that the upper and lower leaf springs are flipped. I looks like the pedal would not be able to move very far before both springs would come in contact. I'm just going to go back and ask a few questions.

There was a great foot-powered saw . . .

. . . a foot powered lathe . . .

. . . and a foot powered jig saw.

There was also a slate cutter's bench. It is similar to a shaving bench in operation. There used to be a lot of slate quarries in the area. Something else to study!

Reprieve . . .

2011-10-08T21:26:00.000-04:00

We are having an unusual warm spell the next few days. I don't mean we'll be in the 90's. Highs will be in the mid to high 70's. Given that we had frost a couple of times this week, these temperatures are wonderful.

Fall is here, and winter is not far away. We get our first appreciable snow the end of October.

I went for a short ride. I came across several woolly bear caterpillars. I've given up trying to determine if they are can prognosticate winter weather.

I decided to paddle Dead Creek. I have not paddled it this year. Soon duck season will be here, and I won't want to be near the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area (I find the bullet holes in the sign ironic!).

Most of the bird-life has gone. There are still great blue heron about.

Dead Creek has wide areas for paddling, and tiny little passages. I like to explore the tiny passages - you never know what you'll come across.

In one isolated area, I came across more blue heron.

The water is very still in Dead Creek. I loved the reflections in the water.

More reflections . . .

To the west, I could see the Adirondacks . . .

. . . and Snake Mountain was to the east.

Occasionally geese were overhead. Dead Creek will be chock full of waterfowl as the fall migration continues.

The sumac are now deep red. The sun was getting lower in the sky, and the moon is rising over the Green Mountains.

I hope to keep paddling until the water freezes in mid-winter.

Ghost Signs in Montreal

2011-09-30T21:48:00.000-04:00

Overloaded . . .

I've been traveling a lot the last month. We traveled to Vermont and back twice. I've been on business travel to Huntsville, Phoenix, and Montreal. This week we are staying put. It gives me a little time to sort through photos.

Last weekend we were in Montreal. So many things I could blog about - great food, architecture, the old city, friendly people. Where to start . . .

I know - the Ghost Signs!

While walking around the old city, I saw three large Ghost Signs.

One was for a company known as Mercantile Printing. I couldn't find much about it.

The second was for La Sauvegarde D'Assurance (Safeguard Insurance). From what I can tell, it was started around 1915 and continued in business into the 1960's.

It took me a while to figure out the last sign. It was for Dupuy & Ferguson. They were a seed distributor in the first half of the 20th century.

Keep looking up!

The Approaching Autumn

2011-09-18T17:55:00.001-04:00

It was a beautiful, fall-like morning. The morning temperatures were around 45 degF. The winds were light and from the north-east.

I set out from Kingsland Bay and was planning to cross the lake and head to the Palisades. Once on the broad lake, I decided to head back to the Vermont side and paddle into Porter Bay. I had never paddled Porter Bay - I was hoping to see some wildlife.

Autumn is coming fast. Much of the bird life is disappearing. Canada geese are still about . . .

. . . as are the cormorants.

The swamp maples are really starting to change.

Off in the distance, I saw a large bird on the shoreline. It was a young bald eagle. I was lucky to snap one photo.

I wanted to follow the eagle as is flew off to the east deep into the bay. Porter Bay is weedy. Though the lake is a little higher after all the rains we have had over the last few weeks, I could not follow.

The osprey are now gone. It will be 6 months before the nests will be occupied.

There were a few open passages into the bay. You never know what you'll find in the weeds.

Peaceful . . .

Off in the distance, I saw great blue heron flying about. They will stay around for a while, but will fly away as the cold weather closes in.

At this time of year, the boat traffic decreases.

The camps and large lakefront homes will soon be quiet . . .

As I paddled back, I saw Mount Mansfield off in the distance. In a few months the ski resorts will be in full operation all about the Green Mountains.

One of the first to appear, and one of the last to leave, the mergansers are still about.

Autumn is on its way.

Flooding

2011-09-07T19:08:00.001-04:00

We weathered the remnants of Hurricane Irene. The creek came up a little, but there was no flooding. The ground is now soaked, and our grass hasn't been mowed in weeks.

We decided to do some remodeling this weekend. It was hot and muggy. I painted the master bedroom and living room ceiling and ripped out the old carpeting in the master bedroom. We picked up some new laminate flooring which I'll install in a few weeks. By Sunday evening we were tired. We went out to dinner. On the way home the temperature started to drop. A few rain showers came through. Mists swirled around the mountains.

We painted the master bedroom on Monday. It had rained all night and all through the day. By Tuesday the rain eased up. I got a little yard work in (turned the compost piles, weeded, trimmed brush), and we hauled the old carpet to the dump.

The remnants of tropical storm Lee came in late Tuesday evening. It has dumped inches of rain. The creek overflowed its bank and flooded the eastern part of the yard. The house is okay, but we expect to have a little water in the garage and the barn. Luckily we have most of our stuff on pallets and only shovels and garden tools in the first level of the barn. At most we got an inch of water in a few places.

The water level is already dropping, but we still expect a few more inches of rain overnight. Looks like we will have more cleanup to do next weekend. A few of our neighbors have many inches of water in their basements. Given the fact we have a stone foundation and a dirt floor in our basement, we'll have to run the dehumidifier to keep the dampness down.

We are lucky. This is minor flooding. I think about the people affected by Katrina, or the recent flooding caused by Irene. Nature is dispassionate.

Why I Blog

2011-08-31T20:15:00.000-04:00

One of the main reasons I blog is to keep a record of the natural world around me. I always felt I should learn more about birds, plants, and insects. Today was one of those days when I learned something new.

I had come home from work and my wife greeted me on the porch. She pointed out a caterpillar on one of our potted impatiens.

We went inside and then did a Google image search for 'caterpillar identification'. After scrolling through a few dozen photos, I found out that this was a Pale Tussock Moth caterpillar.

In reading up on this caterpillar, I found out that it can cause rashes. Glad we didn't touch it.

We went for a walk. When we came back, it was gone. What a great little find. I saw something I had never seen before, I learned what it was, and I am able to share it with the blogosphere! Enjoy!

After The Storm

2011-08-30T20:11:00.000-04:00

We weathered hurricane Irene with no problems. Some family in the mid-Atlantic have had no power for days. Towns south of us have had terrible flooding.

Outside there has been the sounds of chain saws. Neighbors have been cutting fallen trees of their roofs.

The Otter is furious. I have never seen the falls so angry, even during spring floods!

The river is up several feet. The parking lot at the basin is flooded.

I hope you all are safe!

Paddling the Little Otter

2011-08-14T03:44:00.000-04:00

I put in at the South Slang and decided to paddle up into Little Otter Creek. The South Slang is now full of white water lilies.

The blue heron are everywhere.

The osprey were high overhead, looking for fish.

As I paddled up the Little Otter, there were more blue heron.

There they are. I had seen white egret earlier in the week. They are common, but more shy than the blue heron.

As soon as I would get close enough to get a reasonable photo, the egrets would fly away!

There were several beaver lodges in the Little Otter. This one was a large 'bank beaver' lodge, built into the bank of the river.

Cormorants were about . . .

Though not as common as the white water lilies, there were a few places of yellow water lilies.

Autumn is not far off. Some of the swamp maples are already changing.

After a few miles, the Little Otter narrows and becomes a small rocky stream.

There were several groups of mallards about . . .

. . . and more egrets!

By the late afternoon, the afternoon clouds had formed.

Autumn is not far off. Many of the birds I saw in the spring have already departed. Soon, the heron and egrets will leave.

Leisurely Paddles

2011-08-09T19:45:00.000-04:00

I put in on the Otter and headed upstream on Sunday morning. It was a soft morning. It threatened rain. The top of Buck Mountain was covered in mist.

I saw several green herons about. It had rained in the early morning and the birds were subdued.

Great herons were also about. They are so much less wary than green herons!

The kingfishers were about. Though they are numerous, it is hard to get a god photo of them as they are very skittish.

Cattle were grazing by the river. I loved the reflections in the water.

As I was snapping the photo of the cattle, I glanced up and there was a kingfisher silhouetted in a tree.

I really liked the tree roots by the water. The juxtaposition of the intertwined roots and soft greenery was almost mystical.

At this time of year, the Otter is calm. There were great reflections in the water.

More great blue herons . . .

. . . and green herons!

I saw a small critter scampering by the river. He climbed into a bush. Do you see him?

He was a chipmunk. What kind of berries is he eating?

Yesterday the wife and I went for a paddle in the early evening.

I like the roots of these three trees.

The wife had a good time paddling in the afternoon sunlight!

The wife spotted this painted turtle.

We came across a willow with 'beards' hanging from it. They were roots that had grown back when the river was much higher!

We saw more kingfishers.

We returned as the sun was setting. The falls were still running strong, though the river has dropped a lot since the floods of the spring. Enjoy!

Rock Art

2011-07-26T19:57:00.000-04:00

We went to Texas Falls last weekend for a picnic. It is a great park. The falls are beautiful, and the river is quiet and peaceful. The area is not heavily used (we had the entire picnic area to ourselves).

It was obvious we weren't the only ones who had been there. We came across a variety of rock formations in a number of places up and down the river!

I wonder if the people who left these rocks knew that others might find them?

Quebec

2011-07-19T18:08:00.001-04:00

Hello! Bonjour!

We went on a vacation to one of my favorite cities – Quebec! It was fantastic. Nous sommes allés en vacances à l'une de mes villes préférées -Québec! Il a été fantastique.

We had a historic hotel in the old city. Nous avions un hôtel historique dans la vieille ville.

I did a lot of walking around. Nous avons fait beaucoup de marche à pied.

We also did a lot of people watching. Nous avons également fait beaucoup de «gens qui regardent».

The city is beautiful. La ville est belle.

We stayed an extra day. I can’t wait to visit again (maybe we’ll try the winter festival!). Nous sommes restés une journée supplémentaire. Je ne peux pas attendre pour visiter de nouveau (peut-être nous allons essayer de la fête de l'hiver!).

Thanks for stopping by! Merci pour votre visite!

Beautiful Day

2011-07-09T14:38:00.000-04:00

Yesterday it was very muggy. I cut the knotweed by the creek. I was soaked in no time.

The threatening clouds were about. In time, the rain and thunderstorms came in. The front pushed through overnight.

Today is magnificent. Cool winds from the north. I went for a ride in the morning. I really enjoy the wildflowers by the side of the road. This time of year the tiger-lilies and chicory are in full glory. As I rode along, the shoulders were beautiful.

I opted to do some climbs. I went up and down a few hills. Near the top of one road I came across this farmer's pond at the base of Buck Mountain. What a nice view.

Thanks for stopping by.

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-04T09:06:00.000-04:00

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.

~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to M. Grundler

To the Lake

2011-07-03T16:57:00.003-04:00

I took Friday off from work, and decided to extend the holiday weekend. I've been looking forward to a long paddle out to the lake. I had the wife drop me off at the falls of the Otter. I would paddle downstream the 8 miles to the lake, head over to the New York side of the lake, paddle back to Vermont side of the lake and camp and fish.

The falls are still running strong.

The Otter is smooth ad placid. It was overcast - a blessing as it was very humid.

I came across a house by the river with tons of purple martin houses.

The river levels are dropping. The old tow paths are now visible. These are covered with ferns.

The stream banks are still flooded.

I took a brief detour into the hidden swamp. I saw some blue herons off in the distance. It was now noon, and the wildlife was laying low.

With the falling water, the lilies and arrowroot are now emerging from the muddy river bottom.

I came to the mouth of the Otter. The broad lake beckons.

I headed to the Diamond Islands. They are just a few piles of rocks with an automated lighthouse.

There is a small structure on the bigger island.

They are posted. I would have loved to get out of my kayak and stretch my legs!

There is an Osprey nest on the light. I wonder how the birds can sleep at night!

I looked south. The lake was calm. There was a light wind from the north.

I continued on to the western side of Lake Champlain. The cliff faces can be seen miles away as light spots on the New York shoreline. They rise up over hundreds of feet in this section of the lake.

The waterfalls of the spring have slowed to seeps and trickles.

I headed north, following the cliff face.

I am always amazed by the flowers and plants that find a hold in the rocks.

I headed back to the Vermont side of the lake. I took a few moments to get my bearings. I then made the 2 mile paddle back across the lake.

I headed closer to my camp site.

There it is. A gently sloping rocky ledge leading up to a wooded area.

I set up camp.

The next bay over was crowded with boats. Here I was, away from the crowds.

The view from my tent.

I did some fishing. The rocky ledges hold smallmouth bass.

I was hungry. I went back to camp and cooked up some red beans and rice.

I relaxed by the camp. It was still very humid. I watched the sun move through the sky. In time the sun started to set. Though I was hot and tired, I needed to move about.

The sky over the Adirondacks was pink.

I went out on the lake. It was beautiful.

The end of a long day.

Recovering

2011-06-27T20:33:00.001-04:00

Last week was hectic. Long days at work. Travel (early morning flights, delays, and early morning returns). I had to work on Saturday to catch up on all the work I missed during the week.

I decided to combine two of my favorite pastimes - kayaking and fishing. On Sunday I put in on the South Slang. The water is still high. With very flooded conditions, it is hard to read the structure of the water. I paddled around and wore my arm out casting, but to no avail.

I put the kayak on the car and headed down the road to Kingsland Bay. The Slang is very weedy. Kingsland Bay is more rocky. I paddled about the cliff faces, casting about for bass and perch.

I had luck getting a few small bass and 1 small yellow perch. Nothing worth keeping, but I release them anyway. I then took a few photos around the bay.

Rocky shorelines . . .

. . . forested cliffs . . .

. . . textured stone . . .

. . . and tree roots grasping stone cliff faces.

I continued fishing, and caught a few more bass. As I was heading back, I cast about a weedy area. On one cast, something smashed my crankbait and tossed it a few feet in the air. I cast back to that area, and then hooked a good-sized fish. I was only fishing 6 pound test, so I had to be careful. The fish was a good fighter. After a few minutes I was able to get it close to the boat - a 28 inch northern pike. I was able to get it to the kayak, but just as I was reaching down, it shook it's head and broke the line. You win some, you lose some. (Actually, I have a love-hate relationship with northern pike, I love to catch them, but their mouth full of teeth make it challenging trying to release them when you are in a kayak - I've been bitten a number of times!)

I hope to go camping next weekend. Some paddling, some fishing, watching wildlife. I need the quiet time.

A Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T13:48:00.000-04:00

The wife and I went for a leisurely paddle on the Otter. It was a glorious day. Cool temperatures, light winds, blue skies.

We saw painted turtles, . . .

. . . mother ospreys, . . .

. . . and father ospreys!

One of my favorites, red-winged blackbirds.

Baby ducklings. They came right up to the shore!

I hope you had a Happy Father's Day!

Into the Hidden Marsh

2011-06-12T16:55:00.000-04:00

I decided to paddle at the mouth of the Otter by Fort Cassin. The lake is still at flood stage, but the road is mostly clear.

The floods are receding. There woods by the river are still flooded. You can see the high-water mark on the trees.

The beaver lodge I saw previously has been enlarged.

The osprey are still plentiful and vigilant

I paddled up stream to an area I call the 'Hidden Marsh'.

Entrance to Hidden Marsh

During the summer when the water is low, it is too choked with weeds to paddle into. With the high water, I could take it all the way in. I finally found that it crosses Kellogg Bay Road.

The marsh is inhabited with the usual wildlife. I saw Virginia Rails, Common Moorhen, ducks, geese and muskrat.

Out towards the edges, I saw heron. There were Great Blue Heron . . .

This one was standing near a smaller heron. What was it?

A Green Heron! Pretty common, but more shy than the Great Blue Heron.

Another stately Great Blue Heron.

I am amazed at the green in the marsh. The Duck Weed was all about . . .

. . . covering logs, . . .

. . . and by the ferns and cattails.

I came across a patch of irises in the weeds. Fantastic!

After a few hours of exploring, I headed back. I came across an Osprey nest I had never seen before.

I then came across another beaver lodge. This one had a dock pushed against it. The dock must have been pushed downstream during the flood.

I had heard and seen frogs all about, but I never could get a photo. Just as I was about to take my boat out, I came across this large bullfrog. It never moved as I took some pictures.

It started to rain as I was preparing to leave. The mosquitoes were fierce. I must have killed over a dozen in my car that got in when I opened the car doors. Luckily it was windy on the water and they did not bother me when I was paddling!

I hope you had a good day today!

It's Turtle Time

2011-06-09T19:32:00.001-04:00

I can think back to 3 times when I've been out cycling in the morning, and have come across snapping turtles on the side of the road laying eggs.

Yep - they crawl out of their watery homes, struggle up the shore, crawl through fields and cross roadways, all to find a sandy place.

Where is the nearest sandy place - why the side of the road.

Today, I saw 2 female snapping turtles on the side of the road digging holes to lay their eggs. Amazing.

I wonder how they determine if it is a good day to lay eggs? It was hot yesterday (our high was ~ 91 degF). This morning it was around 70 degF. It was very humid. The moon is a waxing gibbous at 60% full.

How do you think they know it is a good day to lay eggs?

Peaceful Sunday Morning

2011-06-05T19:22:00.000-04:00

I always liked Sundays. When I was in college, I hated Sundays. It was the one day of the week I didn't have school or work (full engineering course load + 30 hours of work), but I had so much homework and lab reports to catch up on, that my one free day was taken from me. When I went to graduate school, I vowed that Sunday was my day. I would get my homework and projects done during the week, even if that meant I was working Friday night. But to have a day to recharge - what a joy. I still keep Sunday as a rest day.

I started my day cycling. I especially like riding on Sunday mornings - it is quiet and peaceful. My morning ride took me through farmlands . . .

. . . with mountain views, . . .

. . . by farm fields (watch out for the smells of slurry!), . . .

. . . through quiet country roads, . . .

. . . and by mountain marshes.

It's been a while since I went kayaking. I decided to go see how the South Slang was doing (we are still at flood stage in the low-lying areas near Lake Champlain). The woods by the lake are still very flooded.

The South Slang is always a great area for wildlife.

The muskrats dens are rebuilt.

One surprise were the yellow irises I saw throughout the marshes. I was amazed I never noticed them before. Maybe with the higher water I could get deeper into the marshes and see them better.

I didn't paddle very far. I spent most of my time looking for wildlife. I could hear all sorts of bird calls. The red-winded blackbirds were everywhere. The frogs were croaking. I even heard an American Bittern calling out 'oong-ka choong - oong-ka choong'. I have only seen them twice. They are uncommon and secretive. I was on the lookout for one.

I came across a Common Moorhen.

Do you see it?

This character was hard to get in a photo. It is a Virginia Rail. They are a smallish bird (~ 9 inches) and quite camouflaged. It was hard to get a picture of them when they were moving, but as soon as they stopped, they would blend in with the reeds and cattails. Not a great photo. I snapped it when it had its head down.

I was happy to get this photo of a painted turtle.

I didn't see the bittern. Not a problem. Gives me another reason to go back to the South Slang.

Still Shakin' the Bushes Boss . . .

2011-06-01T19:36:00.000-04:00

If you've seen the movie 'Cool Hand Luke', you've seen the scenes where the prisoners are walking down those dusty country roads cutting weeds. I had my version this past weekend. The Japanese Knotweed has been growing like crazy with all the rain. It was over 4 feet tall in places. I got out my trusty scythe and knocked it back by the creek.

Knotweed - Before and After

We couldn't see the creek before, now we can enjoy it again.

. . .

Update - I've been blogging a lot about all the wild trilliums. My lone trillium made it through the winter and it is twice the size it was last year. It did not flower this year, though it can take up to 7 years before it flowers. In time it will build a colony. We'll see what happens over the years (you can see I have a little cage around it to protect it from accidental trimming, etc.).

Enjoy.

Good Barn, Bad Barn, . . .

2011-05-22T16:58:00.001-04:00

As a barn enthusiast (if there is such a thing), I am always on the lookout for interesting barns. As I travel around, I take photos of barns of interest.

Good Barn

This is the round barn at the Shelburne Museum. It was built in 1901 in East Passumpsic, Vermont. It was relocated to the grounds of the Shelburne Museum in 1985/1986.

Okay Barn

This little barn is used for hay storage in Vergennes, Vermont. I always liked the saddle-shaped slate roof. It is well maintained, but the sagging roof and separated siding indicate some structural damage.

Sad Barns

This barn has lost one side and part of the roof. In time it will collapse as water gets in and the structure gets weak.

This a another round barn, but the roof is gone and it is soon for collapse. It takes a lot of money and time to keep a barn in good shape.

Recycled Barn

I've been watching this barn get disassembled. My guess is that the wood is being sold to a company which reuses the wood for furniture, new construction, and flooring. It's better to see the structure get recycled than rot away.

Springtime Yellow and White

2011-05-14T19:30:00.000-04:00

It was going to rain later in the day, so I jumped on the bike early in the morning for a short 20 mile ride. I went along one of my favorite roads - some good hills, marshes, woods, meadows, pastures, red-barned farms, old houses, creeks, covered bridges, and little traffic.

Along the way I noticed that the dominant colors of the wildflowers were white and yellow.

A dense cluster of Trilliums and Sedums.

Dandelions

Marsh Marigolds

Winter Cress

As the summer comes, more colors will appear. I'll keep an eye out for the change of flower colors. Enjoy!

The Flooding Continues

2011-05-10T20:53:00.000-04:00

We have had several rain-free days. Blues skies, moderate winds from the north, and high temperatures around 62 degF.

Lake Champlain is slowly receding. After reaching a peak over 103 feet, it is around 102.5 feet today. It will take many weeks before it is under flood stage.

Though we don't live on the lake, I am continuously confronted by the flooding. There isn't a day when I go cycling that some road isn't closed, or a bridge has water over it. Hundreds of homes and camps are flooded. Our flooding is not as extensive as that of the Mississippi, but we still have a lot of damaged roads and ruined homes.

The Otter is starting to drop in level and volume. I noticed it was more blue than brown today, though the major tributaries (like the Lemon Fair) are still brown and muddy.

Joining of the Lemon Fair with Otter Creek

There has been a lot of flooding of farm fields. The runoff is introducing large amounts of phosphorus into the lake. I wonder what the streams, slangs and lake will be like in the coming weeks and months.

Trilliums and Earthballs

2011-05-08T18:16:00.000-04:00

I went for a long bike ride yesterday. In my younger days, I would just ride as hard as I can to train for racing. As I have gotten older and stopped racing, I find myself looking off to the woods and the streams.

Yesterday I came across tons of trilliums ("... billiums of trilliums ...") growing in the shady roadsides under the trees. Trilliums are some of my favorites. I jumped off my bike and took a few photos.

Just down the road I saw a strange sight. I got off my bike to investigate. Looks like I came across some earthball mushrooms (genus Scleroderma). They are poisonous, unlike the larger puffball mushrooms which I blogged about before.

Always take the time to look around. You ever know what you will find.

Happy Mother's Day!

From the Lake to the Mountains

2011-05-02T20:49:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was a perfect day. The winds were calm, it was sunny, the temperatures where in the low 70s degF. Spring is in full bloom. The grass is green and growing like crazy. The trees are leafing out, and the wildflowers are starting to bloom.

I started the day with a bike ride down by the lake. I was planning on riding to Rt 125 and crossing the little causeway by the lake. However, the recent flooding had the road closed.

As I headed home I looked at the construction of the Crown Point Bridge. It is one of the few bridges that cross Lake Champlain. This bridge was demolished recently and is to open later this year (we hope).

When I got home, the wife an I went for a short hike into the Green Mountains. We drove south and turned east onto Rt 125. Rt 125 comes up from the lake, through dairy farms, and into the Green Mountains. We stopped at the Robert Frost Trail (which I visited a few times in the winter).

We made sure to look down and take in the wildflowers. We saw Nodding Trilliums (which I have never seen before), . . .

. . . tons of Trout Lillies, . . .

. . . wild Phlox, . . .

. . . and Fiddleheads.

We then drove over the Green Mountains, and descended the mountains for a few miles. We came to one of our favorite areas, Texas Falls Recreation Area of the Green Mountain National Forest. There are trails by the falls, as well as a beautiful picnic area.

Rt 125 is one of the great drives through Vermont. Enjoy.

After the Flood

2011-04-30T21:13:00.004-04:00

It was a beautiful day. Comfortable temperatures, clear, azure skies, and no rain. I first went for a bike ride, and then went for a paddle on the Otter. With the lake at a record level, I thought it would be interesting to see what the flooding has done to the wildlife.

I decided to paddle at the mouth of the Otter and head upstream. As you can see, the road was flooded, so I just put-in on the road and headed through the woods until I hit the river.

The flooding is extensive. If you took away the trees that line the bank, the river would look like it is at least 8 times wider.

The lake is 2 feet over flood stage. The flooding makes the river look like a swamp.

There is a lot of debris in the river. In one section where the river turns due north, the south-blowing winds were pushing the north-flowing debris. The water was full of log, sticks, and plant matter.

Some animals seemed to take the flooding in stride. The geese were about as usual...

... as were other waterfowl.

I saw a beaver lodge. With the high water, the lodge was probably flooded. I wondered if there were beaver around...

... and there were. The adult beaver saw me, went into the water, and slapped its tail, moving away from the lodge while continuing to slap the water to draw me away. I know this trick, but decided to move on anyway.

I paddled into a hidden marshy area. I saw that the muskrat dens were flooded. The muskrats were probably around.

Not only has the flooding displaced the beaver and muskrat, but some of the wood duck boxes were flooded. The flooding has hit some people hard, as it has the wildlife.

The redwind blackbirds seemed oblivious to the flooding

I paddled upstream to the mouth of Dead Creek. At this point a road comes close to the river. I went cycling by here a few days ago. The water is even higher. I was able to paddle over the road to Dead Creek, and then back to the Otter.

I saw my first sandpiper.

Osprey were everywhere. I saw at least 7 nests. All of them had a pair of osprey in them. Some were solitary..

... some were working with their mates ...

... and some were keeping an eye on me.

I also saw downy woodpeckers.

I paddled away from the river into one of the flooded areas. I saw muskrat eating and sunning themselves.

One thing I wasn't expecting to see..., the first turtles of the season!

The flood had an immediate impact on the river. It will be interesting to see what nature does in the next few months.

Across The Lake

2011-04-29T21:57:00.003-04:00

In a previous post, I mentioned that I was looking forward to paddling across Lake Champlain from the Vermont side to the New York side. Near us, the New York side of the lake rises hundreds of feet. The cliffs are home to falcons, and after a lot of rain, covered in waterfalls. The lake has little boating on it this time of year. It is a great time to explore the cliffs and take in the wildlife.

Though we have had a lot of storms and rain the last few weeks, the winds were light today. The lake is at record heights (102.5 feet around noon today). By late summer, it will be 6 or 7 feet lower!

The skies were unsettled. I ran into a few sprinkles driving to my put-in place. I unloaded my kayak, checked I had my spare paddle, paddle float, bilge pump, camera and other gear. I was off.

I encountered a few 1 foot waves by the mouth of Kingsland Bay, but the wind died down by the time I reached the New York shore. It was about a 2 mile crossing at this part of the lake.

I stopped paddling and heard the sound of rushing water. There were numerous small streams pouring down the steep walls. I paddled south along the cliffs. In the distance were waterfowl. Ducks, geese and heron were about.

I saw a heron fly off to the west. I then saw more herons flying about. I wonder if there is a rookery nearby...

There would be a small waterfall every 100 to 200 meters. I love watching the water.

You have to paddle right into the falls. By summer, they will be gone.

I continued paddling south. I was nice being on open water. I like to paddle the local rivers, marshes and slangs, but there is something about being on big water that is appealing. Maybe it is the ability to have unobstructed views, or being able to just focus on paddling towards a far-off place. Its very relaxing, just picking a point far away and traveling to it.

Overhead I could hear a falcon cry out. This part of the lake is home to peregrine falcons. They nest in the cliffs.

I looked up one part of the cliff face. I saw vultures soaring overhead. No, I don't think they were watching me!

I could hear loons calling. I started paddling back to the Vermont side and ran into several loons. Their call is haunting.

I was heading towards the Diamond Islands. They aren't very large. Just a few large rocks, some gravel and a small lighthouse in the middle of this part of the lake. I was surprised how high the lake is. By mid-summer, the 2 islands will become one. You can see how high the lake is by the submerged trees.

As I paddled back, I could see Camel's Hump off in the background. Beautiful! It wasn't a long paddle, but it was full of great experiences.

Peace.

Local Flooding

2011-04-28T17:29:00.001-04:00

We have had tons of rain the last week. The rivers and lake are at record heights.

I went for a ride after work yesterday. We had very warm temperatures (80+ degF). It was warm, windy and humid. It felt like summertime. I didn't need to wear any cold weather gear, just my biking shorts and jersey.

It was warm again today. I went for another ride down by the river, but the road was closed - it was flooded.

There was a woman taking photos. She pointed to something in the water.

What is it?

Ants! Ants trying to survive the flooding. Amazing!

I hope to paddle across the lake this weekend. With all the rain, there is a good chance for waterfalls to be coming off the cliffs on the New York side of Lake Champlain. We'll see what it is like . . .

My Easter Paddle

2011-04-24T19:12:00.003-04:00

I decided to get a longer paddle in. I put in above the falls, and paddled up the Otter for 6 miles. This part of the Otter has some houses on the river as you leave town, but then opens into farmland.

The wildlife is not as numerous as that at the mouth of the Otter. The current was pretty strong (~ 2 mph). There were some waterfowl about, mostly Canada geese, mallards and black ducks.

I saw an redtail hawk upstream in a tree. As I got close enough for a photo, it took off. It circled around and then flew off through the trees.

Off in the distance was Buck Mountain.

I would come across ducks, but would never get real close. I would start to get close, but as I would get the camera out, the current would quickly push me downstream away from the ducks.

I was able to get some good photos of swifts. They are very hard to get when they are flying. They always remind me of little fighter jets!

What was that up ahead? Yep - a turkey! I see them a lot when I paddle the Otter.

Ahead I could see Snake Mountain.

Finally, I got to the bridge. It took me 3 hours to go 6 miles.

I turned around and started to head back. It was good to get the current helping me.

There are a number of smaller creeks feeding into the Otter. At this time of year you can paddle up them. You never know what you will find.

Inquisitive squirrels.

Skunk cabbage.

Bracket fungus on an old log.

I pulled into one little creek. Off in the distance was a cluster of weathered barns and an old windmill.

Three hours to go upstream the 6 miles. One hour to get back. A pretty good early season training paddle. Good to build endurance.

I was hungry. I got home and ate some jelly beans and chocolate (no, thats not all I ate - I actually, I ended up eating some pasta for lunch).

I didn't see the Easter Bunny, but I saw some of his friends. Happy Easter!

Not Peeps - Peepers!

2011-04-23T04:08:00.001-04:00

It's almost Easter, and many of us think about marshmallow peeps (my mom loved them).

However, the spring peepers are now about!

As I was riding today, I passed by several upland marshes. The sound of the peepers was incredible. You couldn't hear anything else. Hundred, thousands of tiny frogs calling for a mate across acres of marshland. I lived by a marsh many years ago when I lived near the Chesapeake Bay. But the sound level was nothing like I heard yesterday. Incredible.

Do you enjoy the sound of the spring peepers?

Balance - Part 2

2011-04-19T20:55:00.000-04:00

It was around 50 degF today. I decided to go kayaking after work (I usually cycle, but looked forward to a short paddle).

At first I was planning on putting in on the river and just getting some time in focusing in paddling. The river is great for a flatwater workout for speed and endurance. I stopped by Town Beach at Kingsland Bay. The call of open water got to me, so I decided to put in there. Kingsland Bay is one of the campsites on the Lake Champlain Paddler's Trail. It is one of my favorite places for a short paddle.

The bay is U-shaped. The mouth of the bay is somewhat constricted. The winds were from the north, pushing 1 to 2 foot wind waves into the bay. The bay is ringed by cliffs around its perimeter and at the mouth. The waves were confused near the cliff face at the mouth of the bay. I was going to paddle over to the next bay, but I did not feel like fighting the clapotis. The water is very cold, I was alone, and still need to sharpen my bracing and balance skills. Better safe than sorry.

I paddled around the bay, getting used to the waves under me, practicing bracing and turning. It was fun paddling near the shore and taking in the scenery. I paddled away from shore into the middle of the bay. The waves were 1 to 2 feet in the center. I was exciting paddling into the waves. I then paddled across the bay and did some bird watching. I went back across the bay. There are several mooring buoys in one of the calmer parts of the bay. I practiced turning around the buoys.

At one of the more protected parts of the bay, there was still some remnants of ice. It will be gone soon.

It was getting darker outside. I had been out for over an hour, so I decided to paddle back. The lake is high. One thing you need to be conscious of are submerged rocks. It is a natural tendency to paddle near shore, but you have to be careful not to hit a submerged rock - you don't want to take a spill in 35 degF water!

I was getting hungry. I paddled back to shore, put my kayak on the car, and went home. The weather is looking to be cold and rainy for the next few days. I hope to get a long paddle in over the weekend.

Stay Safe!

Morning on the South Slang

2011-04-17T15:58:00.002-04:00

The high winds and rains ceased early in the morning. The wind has died down, so I decided to get some more paddling in. I went back to the South Slang. With the rain last night, the water will be up a little. By the middle of the summer, the water be be several feet lower and I won't be able to paddle into to slang as easily.

The waters were much calmer this morning. The temperature was about 42 degF.

I was able to paddle into the flooded forests. I could see ducks ahead, but they would fly away before I could get close enough for any photos.

Out on the slang it was peaceful. I just wanted to drift about, but part of me wanted to do some paddling.

The sky would darken, then clear. The wind would pick up, then become calm.

I started to paddle up into the slang. Mallards were about.

Off in the distance I could see a large osprey nest. A pair of osprey were on the nest.

One flew off towards the west.

The other stayed back for a few minutes.

Then flew off to the south.

It came back a few minutes later with a large stick. I missed the shot of it returning. I decided to wait for a while to see what would happen next.

Geese flew by . . .

. . . and the osprey were ever vigilant. What is it looking at?

The mate came back with a fish.

I was blessed with the osprey flying in and out of the nest. I tipped my hat to them and thanked them for allowing me to watch them. I then paddled away.

Just down the slang was another osprey nest. This one was only about 10 feet above the water. I did not come too close as I didn't want to disturb these incredible birds.

What is that in the distance? A Beaver? A Muskrat?

I think it is a muskrat.

However, there are signs of beaver. I did not see any signs of a lodge about, but I know they are around. There used to be some large beaver lodges in the southern part of the slang. I try there later.

Another fine day to be on the water.

Regaining Balance

2011-04-16T17:02:00.000-04:00

I've been very busy the last three weeks. Design reviews, travel to Alabama, trips between New York and Vermont, proposals, and a 5 day trip to San Francisco for meetings. I was feeling tired, the life drained from me. I left work yesterday and drove down to the South Slang and by the lake. There has been a lot of rain, and the lake level is above flood stage. The ice is now clear from most of the bays, and even the slow waters are ice free. Just being by the water made me feel better.

I set out to paddle about the South Slang this morning. The winds were expected to pick up to 20 - 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. I've been out in such conditions before, and don't want to repeat it. I thought I'd get a few hours in before the winds picked up.

It is a grey day with cool temperatures (~40 degF) with winds out of the south. There is flooding around the low-lying fields.

Even the boat launch is under 1 - 2 feet of water.

The road is slightly flooded.

I never thought I'd be sharing the water with cars!

The high water allowed me to paddle into the woods. This is where you will find ducks and geese.

The South Slang is a marshy area filled with cattails. Many birds nest there, as do Canada geese.

I saw something swimming about in the distance. What was it?

An otter!

Muskrats dens are everywhere . . .

. . . as are muskrats!

The woods by the mouth of the South Slang were flooded. It is fun to paddle between the trees.

As I paddled along the cliffs by the shoreline, I came across icicles on the overhanging branches. The wind was out of the north yesterday. The winds caused spray on the plants by the water, and with the below-freezing temperature last night, the icicles were formed.

Lake Champlain is ice free.

The osprey are about.

There is still snow on the mountains.

Geese are about.

I hope to see some wood ducks soon.

As I was paddling, I could feel life flow back into me soul. Every breath seemed to strengthen me. Balance is being restored.

Paddling the Mouth of Otter Creek

2011-03-27T16:47:00.002-04:00

A pictorial of my paddle today. It was cool. About 25 degF. The bays were frozen, . . .

. . . as were the slower slangs and river valleys.

Low-lying areas are still frozen.

The Otter Creek is ice free, and it has flooded low-lying areas around it.

The broad lake still has a sizable ice-pack, . . .

. . . as have most of the bays.

Evidence of the recent icepack breakup on the river is found on this beaver lodge.

A lot of waterfowl are to be found. Buffleheads (female on left, male on the right), . . .

. . . male merganser, . . .

. . . bald eagles, . . .

. . . and immature bald eagles!

Paddling in the flooded woods is like paddling in a swamp!

An occasional cormorant.

Flock of mergansers getting ready to take flight.

Canada geese.

Takeoff!

One of many osprey nests.

One of many wood duck boxes in this wildlife management area.

My kayak. Warm spirit, cold feet!

Enjoy.

Paddling on the Otter

2011-03-26T20:29:00.000-04:00

Finally. The river is ice free, so I put the kayak on the car and launched at the basin by the falls. It was a cool day (just around the mid-30s degF) and we had a steady 10 mph wind out of the NW. When I told some of my compatriots at work I was planning on paddling this weekend, the typical response is:

"Isn't it too cold?"

Too cold! I'm not in the water. I have a fleece layer on, dry-pants, neoprene boots, water-proof jacket, neoprene gloves, cap, and a PFD. I was plenty warm. It's a lot colder standing on top of a mountain in the winter getting ready to ski downhill with winds and 20 degF conditions. The only time I would get cold was putting the boat in the water. Even then, my feet never got very cold.

It was such a good time getting outside. It has been a busy week at work. My mind has been consumed with tons of details. I needed to just disconnect. I looked forward to the adventure. It's been about 6 years since I paddled on the Otter. It hasn't changed much.

Otter Creek is not a very big river. In the summer, it is only about 6 feet deep. Below the falls, it is about 50 to 100 yards wide. It isn't pristine, as it has houses and camps along its bank in many spots, but it still offesr great views of wildlife. I saw tons of waterfowl. Canadian geese, mallards, mergansers, cormorants, gulls, pintails, and great blue herons. At one point, two redtail hawks were flying overhead, following each other through the sky as part of their mating dance. It was great.

I could see signs of the beaver in the area. As the river is large, they build their lodges into the banks of the rivers. I look forward to paddling by the lodges at dusk as the summer approaches as the beavers will be out.

At one point, I paddled into a flooded field. I was only able to go partially into the field as the water there was still covered with ice. I was able to push through the 1/4 inch ice, but got stopped about halfway into the field.

After paddling 5 miles downstream and 5 miles back, I was getting tired. This was a good paddle for the start of the season. I stopped to admire the waterfall at the basin in town before taking out.

I left my boat on top of my car, but not because my shoulders are tight. Rather, I just might go out for another paddle tomorrow. What a great day.

Groan!!!

2011-03-23T19:31:00.000-04:00

Another 4 inches of snow today near the Finger Lakes, with another 6 inches tonight!

Yuch!

I like snow, but I am sick of working out in the gym. Most of the snow we have is nothing but ice. Not good for much of anything. The longer days, my recent bicycle rides and the need to go kayaking have me ready for warm, spring weather.

Oh well. We just have to hang in there. Peace.

Spring is Here!

2011-03-20T09:24:00.000-04:00

What a great weekend!

Today is the first day of Spring. It is cold out today (just 21 degF this morning), but the sun is out, the winds are light, and we will get to 40 degF. I'll get on the bike later this afternoon (I need to clean my chain and frame from all the sloppy, wet riding I have been doing over the last few weeks - my bike can hardly shift!).

I hope you got to see the 'super moon' last nite. It was spectacular.

This was Maple Syrup Open House weekend in Vermont. As we went driving around running our errands yesterday, you could see the steam rising from the sugar shacks. We were reminiscing about making sugar-on-snow with our daughter. What fun. We went to downtown Burlington and hung around Church Street. It was nice to be downtown without tons of snow and sloppy weather. We are looking forward to warm summer days, green, flowers, open water and farmer's markets. We'll still get some snow and snow showers for several week, but I am confident we won't see any large snows.

I had gone cycling after work on Friday (can you believe we were around 55 degF). I rode down by the river, and it was still ice-covered, but the ice was quickly melting and you could see open water in spots. Yesterday, we drove over the falls and the river was ice free above the falls and down in the basin. I need to check out the river today to see if we are now fully ice free. If so, I know I'll be kayaking next weekend.

Enjoy the day!

What Was That . . .

2011-03-15T19:37:00.000-04:00

I went for another ride today. It was around 42 degF, with winds out of the southeast. The first 18 miles were fine, but as the sun set lower and I headed into the wind, I was growing cold and tired.

Then I heard it . . . conk-a-reeee.

It lifted my heart. I kept a lookout for the culprit.

I heard it again . . . conk-a-reeee.

I looked up and saw it!

Yes, it was a red wing blackbird!

As far as I am concerned, Spring is officially here.

Snow has to melt (we still have 1 foot on the ground), and the rivers and lake are ice covered. But the cycle has started back. Though we will officially recognize the Spring equinox next week, as far as I am concerned, Spring is here.

Has Spring started where you are?

1 Week Later

2011-03-14T19:18:00.000-04:00

One week ago we had a monster storm. Two feet of snow, brutal winds, snow drifts. Brrrrrr!

Though it is still cold outside (our high today was 35 degF), the sun was still high and bright in the sky when I left work (I guess the time change has its benefits)!

Instead of going to the gym, I jumped on my bike for a quick ride. I donned cycling shorts, lightweight thermal tights, cycling tights, heavy wool socks, polypropylene undershirt, fleece riding shirt, nylon windshell jacket, glove liners, gloves, cap, helmet, shoes and shoe covers. I was start to sweat just being in the house. That changed when I went outside.

The wind was out of the northeast. My face stung for the first two miles as I got used to the cold. I rode along the river for the first few miles. It was into the wind, but the winding road and woods kept me sheltered from the winds. The river is still frozen. It will be many more weeks before I'll be paddling.

I headed west for a few miles, then turned south. This is a more exposed area as there are numerous open fields and farms. However, I had a tailwind, so I wasn't cold. Lake Champlain was off to my right. It was still frozen all throughout this portion of the lake.

I turned east. The winds were now coming towards me. As this part of the ride I was passing open fields. There was no protection from the winds. I then headed by the falls and looped back to our place. The basin by the fall is still ice choked. It will be interesting to see what happens as the thaw sets in.

It will be nearly 40 degF tomorrow and near 50 degF on Thursday. You know I'll be out riding. Spring is coming!

The Problem With Snow

2011-03-10T19:43:00.001-05:00

Is it too cold? No, I seem to bear the temperature.

Is it too much work to get rid of? Not really, I spend more time mowing grass each week than shoveling or plowing.

Is it ugly? Actually, it is quite beautiful.

Is it boring? No, a good storm is exciting.

What is the problem with snow?

I think the problem with snow is that it just gets in the way. You have to worry about extra clothes, slipping, slush, shoveling roofs, tough driving, tracking ice into the house. You spend so much time working around it, you cannot focus on those things which are more important (or should be more important).

Case in point, March 7th. This past week, we had a whopper of a storm. I focused on shoveling, telecons, cancelled flights, rebooking flights, more shoveling, repacking, emails, etc.

But I missed it. It was 5 years ago on March 7th that my brother passed away. I completely missed it. I think about him everyday. I was even talking about him with coworkers today. But I missed it.

I don't feel guilty. Sometimes life (or snow) just gets in the way.

Kevin

Anyway, we miss you Kevin!

(Kevin didn't really like snow, but he loved a good snowstorm!)

It Ain't Over Yet!

2011-03-07T14:17:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to fly down to Philadelphia for work today. But Nature decided to do her thing, and my trip was cancelled.

We have blowing snow, with accumulations near 2 feet. The city plows came by, but got stuck in front of our place. They had to send a bucket loader over to pull the plow out!

We had to shovel the snow from around our cars. It had drifted up over the hoods and trunks!

It still looks like it will be several weeks before I can get out and paddle. The rivers and bays are still ice choked.

Luckily, its warm inside.

Stay Safe!

Motivation

2011-03-06T15:07:00.000-05:00

They say March comes in like a lion, but goes out like a lamb. Well, today March is roaring. It was 45 degF yesterday. Now it is below freezing with sleet and heavy, wet snow. We are expecting another 8 to 12 inches.

At this time of year, some people browse seed catalogs, or peruse the shelves of sporting good shops looking at fishing tackle. I decided to watch some cycling videos. They help to motivate me, and keep me inspired. I came across 2 excellent videos about the Paris-Roubaix race (also known as the Hell of the North).

They are The Road to Roubaix and A Sunday in Hell.

This year's Paris-Roubaix is on Sunday, April 10th.

If you are a fan of bicycle racing, you will enjoy them. If you don't follow cycling, you might find them very interesting.

Enjoy. Spring will be here soon.

My Aching Shoulders!

2011-02-28T20:10:00.001-05:00

We were out of town and got back Saturday. We had more snow. So far, we've had about 3 feet just in February.

When we pulled into the driveway, I was VERY disappointed. I had called someone to plow us on Friday, but it wasn't done. Our driveway is paved, but shoveling 1 foot of wet heavy snow was not something I wanted to do. The driveway is over 200 feet long, so I had a lot of work in front of me. I started on it, and at got a spot shoveled out to allow me to get the car off the street.

I looked at the roof over the back porch. There was now about 4 feet of snow on the porch roof, with another 4 feet on the deck! One of the bad things about the new metal roof on the house is that all the snow slides right off the roof, dumping itself onto whatever is below.

I dragged a ladder out from the garage and climbed unto the porch roof. It is a flat roof, so I wasn't too concerned with slipping (but you still have to be careful). I shoveled most the snow down onto the deck below. I then climbed down and shoveled the deck back down to 4 feet. I went to the front porch and shoveled it's roof. My clothes were soaked. The stove got a workout drying my gloves.

On Sunday I shoveled more of the driveway (I would have plowed it, but my yard tractor doesn't have the traction to move 1 foot of wet snow). I then heard a rumble, and the remaining snow on the main roof dumped itself on the porch roof. I climbed back onto the roof, and shoveled the 2 - 3 feet of snow onto the deck. I then climbed down to the deck and knocked it back to 4 feet.

Being a glutton for punishment, then went inside and jumped onto the rowing machine. I needed 17,000 meters to row to finish the 1 million meter goal I set for myself (I row 1 million meters between September and February). Boy, my shoulders and arms were tired. I am proud I did it!

I then took a break. The weather forecast showed it was going to warm up to over 40 degF on Monday, with up to 1 inch of rain. I then climbed back onto the porch roof to get right down to the thin ice layer to make sure that any runoff would not pool on the roof.

I went around the yard and checked out the scenery. It was very beautiful. I checked on the barn, and it was dry inside.

Snow was sliding off the barn.

There was quite a pile next to the old chicken coop (the largest I can remember).

It was quite beautiful outside.

It started to rain this morning. The water ran off the porch roof with no issues. We are expecting warmer weather most of the week. My shoulders need the break (I really don't want to be shoveling the snow off the deck)!

Just another week around the barn . . .

Winter - Part Deux

2011-02-24T20:00:00.000-05:00

Well . . .

We are expecting around 1 foot of snow tomorrow. Just 1 week ago I was cycling. Now I'll be shoveling snow for exercise!

March is nearly here. We can expect more storms over the next month. But I know spring won't be far behind. Stay Safe!

Got 'Em!

2011-02-20T20:25:00.000-05:00

Okay -

If you are faint of heart, read no further.

If you have been following my posts about those sneaky red squirrels, you know that I surmised they were getting into the house.

The wife and I have been spending some time in Vermont. We had set some traps recently. Today, my nephew was checking on the place, and found a red squirrel had been caught (yes, I am trying to keep the details to a minimum).

Still don't know how they were getting in, but I strongly suspect there is a gap under the crawlspace on the old addition. I'll have to find it once the snow is gone.

I ended up catching the red squirrel using a larger trap. What I still ponder where the other smaller traps I set are . . .

Vigilate semper!

Cabin Fever

2011-02-19T20:31:00.001-05:00

We've had warm weather the last few days . . .

... but it didn't last. I went bicycling the lasy two days. I even washed my car. Today we had highs of 20 degF with winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour. We decided to just go out and have a little road trip.

We drove down to the Vermont Country Store in Rockingham, VT. On the way, we stopped at one of our favorite taco places. It has some of the best overstuffed burritos (sorry I didn't take a picture of the food - I was too focused on eating!).

It was a pretty drive. The snow was just swirling around, though it would become a whiteout when the winds gusted very high. We visited the Vermont Country Store and looked at their various unique and unusual items.

The trip back was slower. The road conditions through the mountains were worse, but nothing too terrible. I actually like driving in the snow.

Based on the weather forecasts, I don't expect to be cycling any time soon. I guess we'll still have a few more weeks of winter.

I just wish it would stay warm and dry enough so I wouldn't have to wash the car again . . .

Flocks of Robins

2011-02-17T21:36:00.000-05:00

As I previously posted, I heard robins about. Over the weekend we saw a few robins by the side of the road.

I decided to go for a bicycle ride at lunch today. I went home, put on my riding clothes (and being only 40 degF I still had to wear several layers). I jumped on the road bike and went out. It was great.

One of the best things about the ride were the robins. There were literally dozens upon dozens on the sides of the roads. As I would ride up to them the would take flight and fly down the road. I was riding around 18 miles per hour, while the robins would fly about that speed. This went for miles - me following flocks of robins. I have never been in a situation like this. It was pretty magical!

I even saw some turkeys fly across the road. As I came by the river, there were ice fisherman on the ice. Pretty crazy - me cycling with a foot of snow on the ground, ice fishermen out on the rivers, flocks of robins. Mother Nature seems really confused.

Punxsutawney Phil Might be Right!

2011-02-10T18:59:00.000-05:00

I heard it yesterday.

The melodic "Peek, tut, tut, tut, tut, tut"

It was the call of the American Robin.

Even though we have 2 feet of snow on the ground, and the highs are only around 20 degF, they are here!

I haven't seen one yet, but I'll keep looking.

Are the robins out where you live?

. . . Wait 5 Minutes!

2011-02-06T09:03:00.001-05:00

You've heard the saying . . .

"If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes."

Yesterday was one of those days. It started out sunny. The highs were around 32 degF. We were going to go out, but then it started to snow like crazy (about 2 inches per hour). We stayed in. Then we could hear some rattling by the windows. It was sleet. We then had some rain. A few minutes later, we saw flashes if light, and then could hear thunder. It seemed the thunder just went for many minutes, rumbling through the sky. It turned back to snow.

This morning we have about another 6 inches of snow to clean up (we had around 1 foot earlier in the week). Last night's snow was wet and heavy.

I am glad we put a new metal roof on the house and barn. The snow slides off pretty easily.

I came across this picture yesterday about a barn in Vermont that collapsed due to the weight of snow!

Getting the roof on the house has been a real pain (contractor issues - ggrrrrr!). But it is done, and with all the snow we have had this year, timing was good!

Waiting

2011-01-30T18:45:00.000-05:00

The streams and most rivers are nearly frozen.

The lakes are fairly ice free, but the bays are mostly ice choked.

My kayak waits patiently in the barn.

I can't wait to be back on the water...

Brrrrrrrrrr!!!

2011-01-24T19:02:00.001-05:00

Don't get me wrong. I like the winter. I like being outside, enjoying the snow, skiing, snowshoeing. Heck, I even bicycle in the winter.

But when it get below 10 degF, it is too cold.

Yesterday at 4:30 PM (6 degF)

Yesterday at 9:30 PM (-2 degF)

Today at 7:30 AM (-18 degF ... YIKES!)

Today at 6:00 PM (-2 degF)

When I got home from work, the wife told me the cold water line in the kitchen had frozen. The maintenance man was over and had it going after 30 minutes. We probably need to let the water trickle all night! Luckily, it will only get to -3 degF tonight!

Please stay warm and safe. Watch out for those who might need our help.

Happy Birthday Mom

2011-01-22T18:09:00.000-05:00

It's been over 8 years since you and Dad passed away.

We still think about you all the time.

I'd love to get a great, big hug from you again.

Happy Birthday!

My Morning X-Country Skiing

2011-01-09T11:18:00.000-05:00

Step step step kick glide step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide step  step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide step stumble step kick glide kick glide kick glide . . .

. . .  kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide stumble fall oomph! step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick . . .

. . .  kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide stumble fall oomph! step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick . . .

. . . step step kick glide wheee! wheee!  kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide step step step whoo.

Dirty, Dirty, Dirty

2011-01-02T21:36:00.001-05:00

Can you believe it. It is January 2nd and I was out for a bike ride. For more southern readers, you might not think this is a big deal. But here in the northeast, our typical high is around 28 degF. Kinda cold for cycling (though I will do it if the roads are dry). But today, it was around 40 degF. I just had to get out and enjoy the day.

The roads were wet. It rained yesterday, and the snow was melting. The roads were also covered in sand and mud. The sky was grey. I rode by the river. It was still ice-covered. The farm fields were mostly snow-free. The snow-melt was flowing in the drainage ditches and gullies. It is expected to cool off again, and the water will soon freeze. It may be a while before we see water in its liquid form!

When I got back, I had to clean my bike. It was very dirty. I wiped it down and rinsed it off.

I look forward to my next ride. Just waiting for the weather to cooperate.

Resolutions - How Silly!

2010-12-31T20:39:00.000-05:00

I find it somewhat strange . . .

We go through our lives, doing what we do, forgetting to do what we should, doing things we shouldn't, and then . . .

It's New Year's Eve. We Celebrate. We Reflect. We Resolve.

For 24 hours (or 1440 minutes or 86400 seconds) we stop and think about where we are, where we are going, why, how, who . . .

You read the articles essays from the experts about how most resolutions fail. We suddenly expect to much of ourselves, and then don't seem to find the time to follow through. Our resolutions fail.

1440 minutes of reflection (or drinking, or talking, or sleeping, or . . .)

That works out to roughly 4 minutes a day.

Maybe . . .

Instead of waiting around until the end of the year to reflect, we should spend 4 minutes a day to focus.on what we need to do.

Just a thought. What do you think?

Happy New Years . . .

I Told You So...

2010-12-30T22:10:00.001-05:00

We have been traveling a lot lately. At our daughters for Thanksgiving, traveling for work, Christmas in Vermont. We keep moving. We found ourselves back at the farm in NY. We had to plow the driveway, check the fridge, etc. The farmhouse got a new roof (more about that later). The barn and outbuildings were fine. All was good. I went down the cellar to check on some mousetraps I had set a few weeks ago. As soon as I started to go down the steps, I felt a crunch.

I won't keep you guessing (and no it wasn't an animal) - it was a pine cone.

Yep - they are back. I sense the red squirrels are repeating their invasion like they did 2 years ago.

I knew this would happen. A few weeks ago I posted about a lot of spruce boughs collecting in the yard. I figured that the red squirrels were up to something. Some of my readers thought I should just leave the poor rodents alone. Now I have found cones in the cellar, and the mousetraps got roughed-up! They were knocked around, chewed up, and even moved 20 feet. Not the work of harmless little field mice. The red squirrels are up to something.

For any red squirrels that follow this blog - consider yourself warned! I am for gunning you. The traps will be coming out. Non capimus!

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-26T16:58:00.000-05:00

I went snowshoeing again today. It was very cold - around 10 degF. It wasn't too windy, but there was a steady wind from the east. The day was overcast. We expect some snow tonight.

I decided to venture out to the Green Mountain National Forest again. The Robert Frost parking area was open, so I started there. I decided to go south and follow the Widow's Clearing trail. It would be around 5 miles in total.

The woods were quiet. Because of the grey sky it was somewhat somber. The woods were cloaked in white, and the trees seemed to have grey bark.

That being said, it was still beautiful. I came across a small tree that seemed to put any man-made Christmas tree to shame.

Though it was very cold outside, there were still places were the ground was exposed due to melting water. There were little patches of snow in the clear areas. Beautiful ice crystals had formed on the snow patches. They looked like ice flowers.

The rivers are starting to ice up. In places, the ice was thick and almost blue-green.

After a few hours, I returned to my car. I pulled by windproof layer off, and found I had ice crystals between the windproof layer and my outer fleece layer. It was good to get home and enjoy a warm drink.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T19:21:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd share a few pictures of our tree. As you may know, my wife and I love glass ornaments. Here's what our tree looks like. Enjoy!

The wife and I wish all the world a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season. Peace.

Happiness is a Pair of Tired Legs and A Pair of Wet Gloves

2010-12-19T19:00:00.004-05:00

Some of us are 'indoor dogs', while others are 'outdoor dogs'. I'm an outdoor dog - I need to get outside, even in the winter. I need the sun on my face, the feel of changing terrain underfoot, the smell of the water and the woods.

As I posted yesterday, we've been real busy with work and the holidays. Today, I took some time to go snowshoeing. It was great!

I was planning on starting at the Robert Frost trailhead (part of the Green Mountain National Forest). It's been a while since I've been to that trailhead. Unfortunately, this area was closed. As I was going to snowshoe to the Chatfield trailhead, I drove to it instead and then would hike to the Robert Frost trailhead by way of the Water Tower trails..

I got to the Chatfield trailhead, put on my snowshoes and gear, and started out. It was a beautiful morning. All the woods had a light dusting of snow, the temperatures were around 20 degF, and there was no wind. The sky was a clear blue. Beautiful.

I headed down Widow's Clearing Trail. At first, the trail was bordered by conifers, but as the trail rose, the trees turned to yellow and white birches. There were some x-country tracks, but the conditions were marginal for skiing (2 inches of snow over 2 inches of ice). It warmed up yesterday, and tiny streams of water crossed the trail. I had to make sure I didn't step in any (not because it would make my feet wet, but the water causes ice chucks to form under your snowshoes - very uncomfortable). Once as I stopped to take in the scenery, my presence must have unnerved a thrush - it bolted by after I was standing in the trail.

As I climbed up the trail, you could see the snow-covered mountains off in the distance. I got to the junction for the North Star trail, and then headed down the trail.

I got to the trail junction for the Robert Frost trail, and then headed down to it. As the access was closed, the trails were untouched. My tracks were the only ones around.

Periodically, I would stop and just listen. All was quiet. You would hear an occasional chickadee chirping. I circled around the Robert Frost area, then proceeded back to the Water Tower trails.

I followed the trails back, but then turned off onto the Afternoon Delight trail. Like the North Star trail, there were a lot of areas where the snow cover was thin and there was wet, exposed ground. As I climbed back up the Water Tower mountain, the snow cover got better.

I got to the junction of the Trepidation trail. Trepidation is a short, but very steep trail. It has a grade around 25%. I just step-kicked my way to the top (only about a 150 foot ascent).

Once I got to the top (and caught my breath), I then had an easy descent back down the Widow's Clearing trail back to my car. I came across a bunch of feathers - looks like something caught a wild turkey).

In time, I found myself back at my car. My legs wee tired, and I was drenched with sweat. It was great. I can't wait for my next trek.

Maybe 'll see Santa out on the trails soon!

Finally!

2010-12-18T11:30:00.000-05:00

I have't been blogging much lately. Work and travel have been consuming me. With the holidays, we have decorating, shopping, mailing and cooking to do. And . . .

I also row 200K meters every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It isn't hard because of the distance (works out to about 7K meters every day), but because time is so precious this time of year.

But I finished it today. I typically row 10K to 15K a sitting. Today I just worked through it and did 20K meters.

Now I can devote some exercise time doing other things. We have snow on the ground at our places in NY and VT. Maybe I can get some snowshoeing in tomorrow!

Remember, "You rest, you rot!"

My Bucket List

2010-12-09T19:51:00.000-05:00

Laura at Simplifying in the South asked me and others to post our Bucket Lists. A bucket list is the list of things you want to do before you 'kick the bucket'. Some things were obvious, but I did have to think about this a little.

Here's my list:

See the Northern Lights

Travel to the Mediterranean with my wife

Dance with my grand-daughter at her wedding

Retire early and spend some years doing what I want when I want

Publish something non-technical

See the Grand Canyon and the desert southwest

Revisit all the places I lived

See Yellowstone

See mankind set foot on another planet again

Leave this world a better place . . .

What's your list?

Found It!

2010-11-29T22:01:00.000-05:00

As you may know, we split our time between our home in the Finger Lakes area of NY and Vermont. Recently, work brought me to Vermont. I went to the local library in town and rediscovered a favorite book of mine, "The Soul of Lambs - a Fable". It is a book by a local shepherd / writer / teacher named Don Mitchell. Don is noted for his Upcountry books, following his life moving to Vermont and raising sheep and his family. This book is a piece of fiction which explores a widowed shepherds life raising sheep. It brings out themes about stewardship and the cycles of life. It really resonated with me. My daughter worked on the Mitchell farm one spring during lambing season. While working there one cold night she helped bring a lamb into the world. What a great experience for her - and a great memory for me and Mrs. Tractor! I will need to find a copy for my library. If you get a chance to read it, let me know what you think!

Enjoy!