Year's End

                          


                         Normanskill Ravines Preserve
Reflections

Thursday 12/29. Back to some activity during this odd week between Christmas and the New Year. The temperatures have returned to normal so its back outside for me. This preserve is full of vines wrapped around trees which just fascinated me today. I'd love to cut some sections down and fashion them into yard or garden art installations. I'm guessing that would be frowned upon though. 


4 Miles w/ Hiking Mates, lunch at Window Box Cafe.

The ravines only had a little water, but the ice on the sides show that they were about full during last week's storms and froze solid.




Many bridges to cross.

My fellow hikers seemed concerned that I insisted on climbing onto this fallen tree over the ravine.






Friday - Saratoga Spa State Park with Ginny and Peggy. We set out to do the 5 Mile Trail but my phone tracker only gave me 4.2 miles. It is possible we missed part of it, as none of us were familiar with the trail. It was both icy and muddy depending on where we walked, but we managed it without microspikes. At one point we bushwacked up a steep wooded slope to avoid what would have been a certain slide into the river as the path was a sheet of sloping ice. 

Avenue of the Pines on the way into the park.

Peggy, Ginny, me.

The orange dome on the left is one of the natural mineral springs. The path between it and the river was an ice sheet, so we had to climb a steep slope to avoid a winter plunge in the river.

Another spring with its sulphury smell.

The hike weather was dull and grey with a sprinkle or two. The sky opened up blue and sunny on the way home.



The twin bridges which I'm usually biking underneath.

Today is New Years Eve and it's a bit sad for me. I just dropped Glenn at the airport and I'm going to miss her. I know she's happy in Los Angeles, and upstate NY is kind of miserable in winter, but she's a sweetie and I just wish I could visit with her more than twice a year. 
Anyway, a new year beckons with all of its possibilities... 🎉🍷

Comments

  1. MargaretDecember 31, 2022 at 6:32 PM

    It's hard to be across the country, I know! When my older one lived in New York, I hated when my visits came to an end because it would be such a long time before we would be face to face. FaceTime isn't the same! Love those trees! It looks like big snakes are encircling them. I'm a fair weather hiker and the snow and ice would discourage me. Happy New Year, Maureen!

    ReplyDelete

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