Charcoal Burners Trail

Bridgie was going out with her book club for lunch, so I decided to take another walk with the dog. I finished my chores and should have been out the door at 10 am, but I needed to free up some space on my phone. This turned into a small nightmare and I didn't get on the road till noon. Bad Omen!

I had passed this trailhead many times but never hiked this corner of Clarence Fahnestock State Park. The first 2.1 miles was a nice easy walk an took me past mountain laurel and bucolic Jordan Pond.

My Route

Jordan Pond

My problems started after I passed the Therapeutic Equestrian Center.

 The trail was following open fields and the markers abruptly stopped. I followed the road down hill towards another farm, but it was obvious that the trail must have taken a sharp left. Bailey and I took a drink and pondered the situation. At this point I realized that my phone was out of memory! This is the last photo I took.

I found a marker on the dirt road to Bailey's left.

Now things got interesting. The trail took me through fields and open forest and continued downhill. I knew where I was from the electronic mapping program. I realized that I had no option to bail out of the hike and must continue forward. One section of the trail parralelled a lovely rock strewn stream where Bailey splashed a bit.

I came to a private road and knew I would be late to pick up T. I called her and discussed the situation. I passed another long lake when disaster hit. I was looking over my shoulder at the lake when my boot caught a rock. I did a windmill run that must have looked hysterical! I just missed the dog when I finally hit the ground in a lump. Ouch. Knee hurt and I still had almost 3 miles to go.

Both of us were running out of steam, but we finally hit the red trail that we started on. We passed one more pond and arrived at the car.....exhausted. It started to drizzle as I drove home. (7.6 miles)

Today my knee is really aching. I've been icing it all day.....time for a hiking break.

Taconic Hereford 909

We were dropping off clothing for Lefty at work in Millbrook, so Irish and I decided to take a walk in the area. The Taconic Hereford Multiple Use Area is directly adjacent to the Taconic between Route 55 and 44. Given it close proximity to our house, its odd that we visit infrequently. It's referred to as the 909 by the Fats in the Cats Mountain Bike Club that helps care for the trails. (There are 909 Acres in the preserve.)

We parked at the Tyrrell Road trailhead and did a 3.3 mile loop. (The light blue track, the red pin is our start and finish location.) I'm trying out a new mapping program called Maprika.

 

The trails are a combination of wood roads and single track. There is some evidence of ATV activity on the roads, but the single track trails were quite beautiful. One area of the trail looks to have had major storm damage. The small saplings growing up created a tunnel of green.

Tree Tunnel

It's always great walking with my buddy Bailey! There are some huge trees along the main dirt road that leads out to the Taconic Parkway.

Dad and his Bailey

We remembered taking the kids to this chimney on a Fall hike many years ago. Unfortunately vandals with spray paint have defaced the ruins. I plan on coming back with a broom and clean up the piles of broken glass in the fireplace. Bummer!!

Chimney 

Family Portraits

We gave my parents a family photoshoot for a Christmas present.  It was difficult getting a time when everyone was available to get together, but we finally arranged it for a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We met the photographer at the Samuel Morse Estate in Poughkeepsie. Now we have a ton of images to sort through, but these are two of my favorites.

The Whole Clan

Wow, I have two great looking kids!!

Therese and Manny

Food Truck Festival

A while back I read an article on "food trucks" in Hudson Valley Magazine. Apparently they provide a cornucopia of fast and often unusual fare. In particular I was interested in trying Flammkuchen. What the heck is Flammkuchen you ask? Wikipedia describes it as a "tarte flambee" (accent on the first e.) It's basically a thin crust pizza that originates in the Alsace region of France and the adjoining areas of Germany.

For some reason I remembered the article and looked on-line for the Black Forest Flammkuchen Food Truck. It must have been some kind of Karma because they were at the Hyde Park Truck Festival that Day! Bridget called our old Neighbors and asked if they would like to join us on a culinary expedition.

Now imagine fromage blanc, Berkshire bacon lardon, thinly sliced onions and scallions on a thin wood fired crust.....heaven!!!

Thumbs up on a traditional flammkuchen.

We enjoyed a "buffalo chicken" and a "teriyaki" meatball at Enjoy-A-Ball.  Both were surprisingly good, a real departure from traditional meatballs and red sauce.

The Ruffians enjoying a couple of balls.

I can't remember the name of the barbecue truck, but the brisket was like butter. The ribs were insane!!

Barbecue!!

After the girls purchased some delicacies from "Awesome Country" we decided to wash everything down with some quality suds at the Hyde Park Brewing Company. In the last couple of years small brew pubs have been springing up all over New York and especially the Hudson Valley. The Hyde Park Brewing Company was one of the first to set up shop and we've had many stops there.

Dan and I sucked down several "Rough Rider Red Ales", while the girls enjoyed the summer Hefeweizen with a slice of orange. What a perfect way to end to our food experience.

July 4th at Princeton Battlefield

We had an unusual guest for the annual 4th of July Celebration at the Princeton Battlefield. Joe Rohde, a Disney Imagineer, was on hand to make this sketch of the gun crew doing a demonstration for the public. I was acting as a matross and am pictured carrying the musket and cheese box canteen.

Joe Rohde also posted a shot of us on Instagram.  I'm the matross in whites firing a musket.

Besides the cannon and musket drill we talk to the public about the life of a typical continental soldier. My display had the typical equipment and personal effects carried during the Revolution. Steve is busy mending his westkit, while I talk to a young lad.

After a long ride home I found my daughter and her friends having a party on the patio. Most of them jumped at the chance to fire my Brown Bess. I guess their AP American History teacher did a pretty good job!

T showing how it is done!

Wappinger's Greenway

It was such a beautiful Summer day we decided to forgo yard work and take a hike. The girls didn't want to do anything too strenuous, so we decided to try the Wappinger's Greenway. I've recently explored parts of this trail as a possible Boy Scout hike. The first couple of miles follows Wappingers Creek as it heads towards the falls.

We originally wanted to hike a loop trip through Bowdoin Park, but T lost her sunglasses and we backtracked to find them. They were on the trail where we had to duck under a small tree.

Girls Taking a Break

I knew I must have missed the trail junction to our car when we reached the pre-civil war Reese Cemetary. Bridget and T were not amused at my mistake.

Reese Cemetary

Fortunately the South facing Hudson River View made up for the extra quarter mile of hiking. (Note the loop at the end of the map.)

Hudson River View

I think the visit to the Village Creamery made for a perfect ending to our little adventure. Yum!!

Village Creamery, Wappinger's Falls

Summer Baseball Season

Mom D was in town to see friends and her doctor. We went to Hopewell Junction to cheer on Manny's team the Putnam Athletics. Manny wasn't playing today, but we know many of his teammates from previous years of travel baseball. There is nothing like a cool summer night and baseball!

Manny's Fan Club

Mill Norrie State Park Hike

It's time to get into hiking shape so I took one of my favorite "easy" hikes. Mills Norrie State Park has a small trail network that takes you along the Hudson River. It's a special property because the railroad runs inland leaving a natural shoreline. I chose to take the blue (inland) trail first and return on the white (river) trail.

The Route

The highlight of the property is the Victorian era Mills mansion with it's lawn stretching out to the river.

Mill's Mansion

The park has many outbuildings that are in a state of decay. On this partly cloudy day, they seemed very eerie indeed. To add to the gloomy quality of the run down buildings was this monument to the memory of Gordon Lewis Norrie. Norrie was a Princeton Polo and Hockey champion when he met his death in a late night auto accident near Asbury Park New Jersey.

What happened in that merry all night party that brought almost instant death to Norrie, the Princeton Polo Star, and nearly killed Multi-millionaire Ryan's Young Granddaughter.

Gordon Lewis Norrie Memorial

A lot of work has been done in the park since my last hike here. I was especially impressed to see that the Environmental Center at the south end of the park had been painted and the boardwalk around the building restored.

View from Environmental Center

The white trail had also received a facelift. Erosion control, stone steps and benches had been installed in many locations. The trail had been relocated to go around the old pump house, but I took a peak inside to see the remaining machinery.

Pump House

Overall this is a great hike with a combination of history, ruins and great Hudson Views. My GPS recorded 5.5 miles for the round trip, but I didn't start it until I reached the boat house below the Mill Mansion. I would add a couple tenths of a mile to the total. The elevation gain and decent is minimal. Mills Norrie State Park is a Dutchess County gem!

Northern View

Retirements, Biking and Birthdays

It's been a busy couple of days. Sharon's Retirement Party on the Hudson River was a blast. The weather was awesome. It was fun chatting and taking in the river views. We were treated to an amazing sunset as we came back into Poughkeepsie.

Afterwards we met the Anderson's for beer and nachos at the P.C.'s Paddock in LaGrange. We're making plans to take a family hike with them.

Hyde Park Train Station in background.

Amazing Sunset

The next morning I dragged my self out of bed to take Troop 41 on a 16 mile bike ride on the Dutchess Rail Trail. We arrived back at the Hopewell Junction Station just as the rain started to fall. I was too busy to take photos. We had a  mix of ability levels, but fun was had by all.

LWood Rox!

Sunday we helped celebrate Larry Wood's 60th birthday. Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. We still had a great time. It's hard to believe that Lars is 60! I'm making it my goal to help him get back in better physical shape. I really miss hiking with him.

The Start of Summer 2015

I'm Back!! I'm on my second cup of coffee and preparing to walk the dog. Let's see what adventures this summer will bring!

On line for today:

1. Make the bed
2. Food Shopping
3. Cutting the grass.
4. Pick some weeds
5. Bleach fabric for a knapsack project.
6. Dinner Cruise on Hudson River to help celebrate a colleague's retirement. 

I'm so happy it's Summer!!!