August 25, 2012 Franny Reese State Park

     Great attendance of 15 people!  It was a sunny day and less humid than most of our Saturdays.  We walked first to the overlook and enjoyed the view and then continued down the white trail past the ruins of Cedar Glen, the estate of Dr. Charles Roberts.  There were three"buildings" the largest being his home.
      We traveled back to the parking area in three separate groups.  One group of four didn't continue on the white trail after seeing the ruins.  Another four [my group] went down the white trail to the short cut and then turned back.  We misread the trail markers and turned off the trail before we should have, ending up in the back yards of some residences. We had to retrace our steps and ended up connecting with the seven who had taken the full white trail loop.  We met friend, Alan VandeBogart, and his dog along the way. 

we're on our way

Mid Hudson Bridge from the overlook

the walkway on far left

enjoying the view

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appears to be some sort of well

interesting cover

ruin number 1

closeup

this apparently was Dr. Roberts' home

the river is way down below

view of the trail

       Seven of us had brunch at the Gateway in Highland.

August 18, 2012 Clarence Fahnestock State Park

Pelton Pond

there is no outlet at end of lake...this is apparently a drain that feeds stream below

the stream is below the 1st level [lighter] of growth

       CJ is back!!  It was great to see her and have her riding with me again.  The weather was iffy and apparently discouraged people from walking.  The only other person to show up was Lila.  The three of us waited at the park office parking area until 9:30 and then crossed the road to Pelton Pond and walked around the lake.
       We had sun and the humidity, for a change, was low.  There were some "damp" spots along the way but it was a pleasant trip around the lake...only about 1.5 miles.  It took us a little less than hour.  We saw several tents and campers plus some "joggers" along the way.
        After the walk, CJ and I met Alice and Eileen at the Red Line for brunch.  They have a great oriental salad.

July 11, 2012 Shaupeneak Ridge

    Surprise!  Another hot and humid Saturday walk.  When will the humidity end???  There were seven of us.  None of us had been here before and the directions, taken from their web site, were a bit confusing.  We were to follow Old Post Road and then take Poppletown Road which splits off to the right.  Old Post Road bears right at one point making us unsure we were going the right direction.  According to the directions, it was only 2.5 miles from 9W to parking lot [I checked it on way back down and it apparently was] but it seemed like at least 4 miles and all uphill. 
     It's actually a nice trail but it was humid to begin with and then we got rained on; and, even tho we were protected by the trees, we got wet.  There was quite a bit of uphill climbing which made it difficult for me to breathe and necessitating several "rest stops."  The trail promised a Catskill Mountain overlook.  We think we could identify where it was but it's apparently only visible when the trees don't have leaves.  We were able to see the Hudson River at the promised overlook. 
     There were only two of us from our regular lunch group on the walk and  hot, wet and tired we decided to go straight home.

I was early and stopped at Esopus Lighthouse park

Louisa Pond

a nice place to sit and ponder

some mushrooms

some "wildlife," a slug

the trail and pretty ferns

a very blurry picture of one of the many salamanders we saw on trail-adult to baby

more mushrooms

Hudson River overlook

the Hudson River again

just missed getting pic of doe and her fawn ..... note the rainwater on the leaves

     It's actually a nice trail and I'd like to do it again but maybe in autumn and definitely in better weather.