The Years To Remember

 Sunday A new section of the Mohawk - Hudson bike trail was explored and what a find. I rode 30 miles (out and back) from Schenectady to Amsterdam along the Mohawk River and passed many old abandoned locks from the early Erie Canal days. The weather has been picture perfect even if a little warm, but there is always a breeze if you are on a bike. I was happy to find another trail to ride that is only 30 minutes away. An abandoned lock (#25). We passed several more that have been replaced with the more modern Lock 8 right on the river. I guess the whole Erie canal has been abandoned since  trains and cars took over. History was never my subject. The lock control shed perhaps? I wear a brimmed cap under my bike helmet to keep the sun off my face - a major concern for me. Another green heron. The Amsterdam Castle was one of 100 armories built in NYS at the turn of the century, 1895. It is the only one that is now a personal residence and Bed and Breakfast. The Mohawk River - a co...

Friday As I predicted, I did not get much outside time today. The rain started before I got out of bed in the morning. It was not a steady rain, but a series of thunderstorms that marched through fairly regularly. I did some yoga, put on Spotify and had a solo dance party as I cleaned the house, and did some banking.  One storm produced a lightning strike so close to the house that my smoke alarm went off, I screamed, and involuntarily flung my phone across the room. I could smell the ozone in the air and my nerves were on edge, but no visible damage to the house or trees. That was so close the lightning and thunder were simultaneous!  The sky was very pretty at the end of the day so I sent up the drone to take a look. The clouds were roiling! A thunderstorm in town. I was well aware that the drone might get zapped out of the sky, but I was willing to risk it. Looking west towards Albany - the downtown buildings are visible. Sunset over the Capital District. Saturday I have re...

A hot summer day on the shady Kaydeross Creek.  I made the best pizza yesterday by combining some of my favorite ingredients. I took a StoneHearth flatbread, spread it with lemon ricotta cheese, thinly sliced cantaloupe,  prosciutto, arugula, caramelized onions, shredded goat cheese, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. Oh My Delicious! Today, 7/19, was our day to celebrate Susan's milestone birthday, and my ho hum birthday. We went kayaking on the Kaydeross Creek. It requires some tough open water paddling on Saratoga lake before reaching the quiet creek. I got a full upper body workout. A snapping turtle splooting on a log. An otter? A green heron Heading back out onto the lake. It looks serene, but the wind really kicks up the waves getting around the point on the lake. The day was rounded out with dinner at Doc Brown's on Saratoga Lake. We were seated outside at a blistering hot table, and they forgot my dinner, but we had fun and had cake beside the lake after. Loveliest ...

 I picked up my daughter Glenn and her friend from the train station at 5 pm on Weds. and dropped them off at the Hartford CT airport about the same time on Saturday. It was a lovely visit, but very short, and I had to share her time with her father. I've forgotten how very weary I've grown of that necessity. I did manage to get a picture of my girl and her friend in the garden with me. That was a win as she hates pictures. My drone helped me out there. She spent a few days in Virginia as a bridesmaid at her best friend from High School's wedding. Then she and Candace spent a few days in NYC visiting with college friends. I got the tail end of the visit and plans were made for another visit soon. Me, Glenn, and Candace. The black shirt theme was a coincidence. I enjoyed lots of chatting time with her though, which is always delightful. She even threw in some unsolicited hugs for me and told me how much she misses me. My heart melted. The nonstop rain showers and thunderstor...

My new red coneflower next to the coreopsis. The campanula (balloon flower) is especially hardy this year. I slept for a very long time Friday morning and spent the day just unpacking, doing laundry, and relaxing. The garden is a bit of a nightmare as it rained quite a bit and things grew! Not to be idle for too long, I headed up to SPAC with a group of friends to see the Tedeshi Trucks concert. I had never heard of them before, but enjoying music on the lawn with friends is growing to be a favorite activity of mine. They surprised me with cupcakes for my birthday which was so sweet. The crew - mostly hiking friends. Happy birthday to me! Ziggy Marley was the opening act. His music was much preferred to Tedeshi Trucks which gave me a headache and I had to leave a bit early. Two days later, I headed off to Corning to visit with Mom and family. I didn't get to see the fireworks on the 4th because I was just too tired. Many games of Scrabble, walks with my sister, shopping and chores ...

6/25/23 to 6/29/23 Our last hike was an easy one, and yet I still hung back with Justin at the end. My legs are not used to so much hiking. We took the cable car up to the Brevent Pass then another over to the highest point. We had our first good look at Mont Blanc as it was usually obscured by the other summits or clouds. We rode up with a group of Belgian soldiers who were training in the mountains - it was a lovely view. 😉 We did the touristy thing of climbing to the summit and taking lots of pictures, ogling Mont Blanc. Then we took a short hike - 8.5  miles - watched para-gliders, rock climbers, and a mountain rescue while we ate our picnic lunch. Ann Marie opted to hike back to town, but Susan and I and a few others took the gondola down.  Looking south with Mont Blanc behind me. And looking north to the sedimentary mountain range. Our last hike. Dozens of tandem para-gliders giving rides. I just love a compass rose. We all met up for drinks and to say goodbye to Bene' ...

 Today's hike caused me the most concern - 3500 ft of elevation gain which is probably the most I've ever done before. We started from the hotel and walked across the village and up the mountain to the Mer De Glace glacier. After weeks of fretting over this hike, it wasn't bad at all, until we descended 500 steps into the ice caves at the end and had to ascend the same 500 steps. Yikes! Needless to say, we sprang for the train ride down, which was about $30, but I'd have willingly paid $100. 3/4 the way up the mountain, looking across to where we were hiking yesterday. The Green Needle and the train we'd be taking down. A lovely cafe perched on the trail - we stopped for a drink. Three hikers in the ice caves. They carve out a few rooms in the glacier each summer. This glacier is melting and receding very quickly due to climate change. The train ride down was uneventful and we found our own way back to the hotel. Shower, drinks, dinner, and a short walk about town. ...