May 18, 2013 Tymor Park in Union Vale

      We are fortunate that our member, Fran, is a resident of the Town cuz this is a private park for residents only and it's a really nice place.  There were 10 of us and it was unanimous that this was an excellent walk.  There were a few kinda steep climbs but the trail and scenery were wonderful.  As you'll see cuz I took a LOT of pix.
       After the walk, three of us enjoyed an excellent brunch at one of our favorite places, McKinney & Doyle in Pawling.
       NOTE:  As far as I know no one walked at Poughkeepsie last week.  I did post it on the blog before 8 and I also called the cemetery in case anyone showed up.
       I do this blog on my laptop and fix the exposures so that they look good to me.  However, with the laptop, as I move the screen back and forth the lightness/darkness changes so I hope what you get is good.  Also, I put the pix in in order but the blog seems to have a mind of its own and so in some cases, including this blog, the pictures end up not being presented in the same order they were taken.  I am unable to fix this problem with my present blog abilities.  It may be time for a new class.  In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy them even if they are out of order.

1st of 2 views of the pretty waterfall as we began our walk

a little closer

we walked along the brook to the lake

a view of the trail

we started at brook level and climbed..it's barely visible way down below

the lake...we walked around its perimeter

columbine [thanks John]

don't know what this pretty yellow flower is

pink honeysuckle [there was white too but pic was way out of focus] .. smelled very good and I learned it has a sweet nectar

the boat house we saw on opposite side of lake...we saw evidence it's used by local youth as a party place

see below

view of the dam falls [this should be below the next pic]

bar b que anyone?

trail and stone wall

4 of group took route by this house with great view [Pat says John is going to buy it for her] and 6 of us walked thru the woods...they said the view was excellent

looking down at lake from wooded trail

fern "forest"

we've climbed up and down hill and are back by the lake

brook view

"artistic" stump [should be back by ferns view]

this one is for you Beth [should be by ferns also]

downed tree and view of boulders in the stream

crossing the brook on the way back

the buildings and playground

we saw a swan as we neared the parking lot [this & next 2 should be very last]

this is way out of place [we've crossed the dam at end of lake]

this is right after crossing dam and should be before furnace pic

I can't resist the flower pix

May 4, 2013 Wallkill Rail Trail at Gardiner

     It was a beautiful day and it's was a nice walk.  This time nine of us walked toward New Paltz on the gravel trail and figured we walked about four miles.  After walking, six of us enjoyed brunch at the Market where we'd eaten last year...another very good breakfast/lunch.

this trail seems more  "woodsy" than the macadam ones

it's hard to see but there was quite a steep drop-off in some areas



violets



there was a lake and housing in one area



wild strawberry?




gazebo and apparently there is boating in the not-that-large lake

beaver residence

on my way home I took a couple of pix of the Wallkill River just outside Gardiner

April 27, 2013 Roosevelt Farm

     What a beautiful day!!  There was sun, blue sky and it was warm...a perfect day to be outside.

      After the walk list was published, we learned that the entrance for this walk had been moved to the old Hyde Park drive in parking lot.  The directions said to park at the Hyde Park Steakhouse & Brewing and look for the trail head.  I assumed that the entrance from the Steakhouse was no longer open and people would be forced to look for the new entrance [it never occurred to me that there might be two entrances]...a real duh - NEVER ASSUME.  We should have checked to see if anyone had parked there because at least two people chose the.  My humble apology to Fran and Carol who we encountered on the trail and to anyone else who may have used that lot.  I'm really sorry we didn't get to walk with you.

     There were 13 of us who walked from the drive in parking lot.  The trail has been renovated and is macadam and wide making for a very nice walk.  There are also several newly built bridges.  Although I know I've walked this site previously, I didn't remember any of it but the new one is excellent.

this pic doesn't show it well but there were many downed trees in this area

swamp grass

our slower group met the faster group on their way back from the end of the trail

     Seven of us had brunch at Table Talk.  After, CJ and I decided to scout a future walk at Slabsides.  Here's a preview:

there's a really nice lake

you can walk out on a peninsula