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!!!

Twin Mountain Catskills

As part of our warm up for our hike up Mt. Mansfield, we decided to tackle Twin Mountain in the Catskills. Twin is purported to have one of the very best views in the region, and we were not disappointed. Six years ago I tried to climb Twin from the Western side, but a fall on some ice ended the hike. This time we climbed from the east, and after 3.1 miles and a lot of rocky ledges made it to the top!

View from East Summit

Therese snapping pics.

The Old Man on the East Summit

Herrick Trail

Knowing that we were going to tackle Mt. Mansfield, we decided to take a warm up hike near home. The Herrick Trail is a "blue" trail that leads into the AT. The highlight of the hike was the confluence of the Housatonic and Ten Mile Rivers. The Ned Anderson Bridge is named after the man who spearheaded the creation of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut.

We enjoyed a simple lunch as Bailey splashed in the water. Wanting to cut my apple, I realized it was missing from my pocket (big hole). We prayed to St. Anthony and looked carefully for it on the 2.5 return trip. I placed my pack on the hood of the car and looked down to find it.Thank you St Anthony!

Dad and Bailey on the Bridge

Bridge eating lunch on the Ten Mile River

Mt. Mansfield

After dropping off at Plattsburg State we headed to the Green Mountains of Vermont to tackle Mt. Mansfield. I've been trying to knock off all the high points in the Northeast, so Mansfield was the next destination. We camped a small Vermont State campground called, appropriately, Underhill. The climb up the old CCC road and the Sunset Ridge Trail is 3.3 miles with an elevation gain of 2500 feet. What makes this trail so special, is the amount of time spent above treeline. The views start to open up after the first two miles and get better and better! Next up, Mt. Katahdin!

Bridgie and Manny on the Summit

Climbing the Sunset Ridge Trail

Therese's awesome Summit Photo

The Team with the West Chin in the background.