Posts

Showing posts from October, 2021

Kayak week

Image
 September 20, 2021 I am once again a month behind on my journaling, so this week I'll get caught up as best I can. Saratoga Lake kayak and cocktails started things off. I wasn't very excited to kayak Saratoga as it is so built up and uninteresting in terms of wildlife and views. We began at the southern end of the lake at Doc Brown's beach and got underway to travel up the west side in search of Ann Marie's childhood memory of sandy beach. The wind was low, the sun shining so we happily paddled north taking note of the beautiful homes on the west shore.  After more than an hour we questioned the existence of this beach and finally asked some boaters about it. Turns out we were almost there, although they warned up that is more sandbar than beach. True enough. We were able to attach the kayaks to a volleyball net in the water and enjoy a wading lunch and laughter.  One White Claw later after AJ nearly sank her kayak and dumped her food into the lake, we set off across t

Garden Stories and Biking and more

Image
 September 14, 2021 One of the best things about summer is coffee in the garden every possible day. I like to see what happens overnight; what bloomed, what got eaten, little changes that bring joy.  September 16, 2021 There are always places for bike rides. This one was from Lions Park in Niskayuna to Cohoes Falls with Amyjean. September 19, 2021 And always back to the garden... Delicata squash, roasted

Loon Quest

Image
 September 13, 2021 The weather was good and I was being pulled to the north as I had been promising myself to kayak with loons all summer. I honestly just wanted to go at my own pace, so I set off on my own for Thirteenth Lake as I knew loons lived there. After a nearly 2 hour drive, there was a sign that the road was closed. Well, that certainly couldn't apply to me, could it? So I began the drive to the lake 2.3 miles away. The road was indeed closed at the 2 mile point. I was not pleased.  There are other lakes, so I began driving towards Indian Lake. It was already 2 pm and my sandwich was calling to me. Then I passed Lake Abanakee with a very accessible put in. So I pulled in, unloaded the kayak and set out. I paddled for half an hour before I heard the loon, then headed off in the direction I thought it was coming from. I came up to the dam and realized I went the wrong way, so headed to the other side. As I was eating my sandwich between paddling I saw the loon. It let me

Another Week of Fun

Image
 September 7, 2021 Another bike ride on a late summer day. Ann Marie and I started at Indian Ladder Farms and enjoyed an 18 mile ride on country roads with some ups and downs to get the heart pumping.  Matching riders! The Helderberg Escarpment in the background: A fun caterpillar I almost ran over. We had hoped to have lunch there afterwards, but the pandemic has shut down the cafe. Instead we had a tasty lunch on the porch at Emma Clary's which is always nice. I keep saying it, but the weather was perfect for riding! September 11, 2021 Gardening bounty! I managed to grow 3 small butternut squash and a load of basil. The freezer has a decent supply of pesto and it looks like I'll get one more picking of Asian eggplant. Add coffee with Janice and more country bike rides and the days pass into fall. September 12, 2021 Off to Dyken Pond for a morning hike and an afternoon paddle around the lake. We stopped for laughter,  lunch, and a cocktail on the little island. The weather thr