Mishmash

 These pictures have nothing in common except I want to share them.

Gail got wild with my birthday cake this year.  Three layers of chocolate, peanut butter- cream cheese frosting, and glazed with more chocolate.  Dialysis starts in a few days.

 In addition to my birthday, several siblings, nieces and nephews and in-laws have retired/had a birthday/gotten their first Social Security check/had an anniversary, so Jim threw a party.  This is all of the family, excluding cousins, who came.

On our way to Jim's Social Security party, where we saw lots of siblings, nieces/nephews and cousins, we stopped in Naples to explore Hi-Tor Wildlife Management Area and Grimes Glen Park.  Cool spots that we plan to get back to when we're prepared to walk up the streams and see more of the many waterfalls at both places.

Susan and Brian sent their regards from a cherry blossom festival somewhere in NJ.

Dakhabrakh made a return to the area.  They've played GrassRoots a couple times, this was for a sold-out show at the State Theater.  They're from Ukraine and put on a powerful show while helping the cause to maintain their country's sovereignty. 

 Also at the State, and equally as stunning in performance, appearance and vibe, was Valerie June.  I'm thinking of going with her hairstyle, it would make people smile.

Montreal

 Gail and I left the country for the first time in several years.  We went to Montreal for a long weekend, long enough to walk over 30 miles.

Marsha joined us for the ride.  She used to live there and visited friends.

We tried to get breakfast the first morning at the cafe near Leonard Cohen's house, but since they got written up in the NY Times, they make a point of turning away the first customers.  We did eat there the second day by returning after being turned away.  If you go, they open for the second customers who ask to get in after 7:30 am.

Leonard got a cool mural after his death.  He's looking up at the overlook at Mount Royal Park, and his heart is still glowing.

We went to the botanical gardens, the second largest in the world!  The gardens are next to the Olympic Stadium.  I thought about taking in an Expos game if they were in town.  Then I was reminded they moved away in 2004.

Alpine zone in the botanical garden.

Easter Sunday at the cross on Mount Royal.  The first cross was put up in the 1600's by some desperate French traders.  I don't think the original had lights.

Elvis-themed furniture and appliance store.  Dylan is the doorman. 

We hit up the gluten-free bakery a couple times.  My first eclair in over a decade. 

There was a Nick Cave exhibit in town which we really enjoyed.  We just saw a wonderful movie that he and Warren Ellis did the soundtrack for.  I wasn't much into punk back in the day, but he's an interesting guy and saved everything.

Happy Trails

 Trail work isn't as satisfying when it's not for skiing, but it keeps me busy.

Had to enlist Connie and Andy for tree removal in Caroline.  State regs require someone with 1st aid certification if there's a chainsaw involved.  I couldn't have done it without them anyway.

Back to the steps in the Wildflower Preserve.  It won't be the last time.

A cheap saw carrier.  It didn't work for rocks, so I either have to make adjustments or buy an actual external frame pack with straps.

The reroute we did in Shindagin got some use last summer.  It was wet last summer.  There was mud this spring.  Improvements have been made with more to come.

Kari has some steep slopes, and work that takes place on the steep slopes.  I gave her two platforms.

 

Cornell Botanical Gardens and the Cayuga Trails Club teamed up for some trail replacement on the Monkey Run Cayuga Trail.  It took a big hit when an ice dam flooded the area above Flat Rock.  The old folks got things set up and in place in the morning, and slowly the scholars woke up and trickled in to contribute.  They had at least 10 wheelbarrows moving gravel for much of the morning and all afternoon.

Both Gary and Jack helped out with the boardwalk built long ago.  Hopefully the replacement and expanded walkway will last as long.  It's going to have to withstand more flooding though.

This bridge is slated to be rebuilt next summer and David is glad he won't have to be in charge.
 

I purposefully walked the three-mile trip home so I could get some ice cream at the Dairy Store.  Due to several events on the athletic fields, that plan didn't pan out.

We lobbied for a alteration in the design, but it was rejected and a few of the guys were enlisted in lowering a root.  Good thing there were a few experienced geezers to demonstrate the use of the tools.  Only the tree was hurt in the process.

Another day, another trail project.  To assure the Cayuga Trails Club status with Treman State Park, a few of us from the club did maintenance in the Finger Lakes Trail in the park on Love Your Parks Day.  None of the other volunteers joined us, but we got a long section cleared and improved.  The dozens of people did quite a bit around the park to get it ready for the summer season.

Lost Dog

 We lost Nina to kidney failure.  She was only with us for 18 months, and while we knew she was elderly when we got her, we really would have liked to have her longer than we did.  I'll let the pictures say the rest.

 

Winter Camping

 

Went to Pharaoh with my two dads.  Such progressive guys, and great to hang out with.

I climbed Pharaoh Mountain solo this time, it was going to be so hot and sunny, I almost got up there before the sun came up.  A bit of haze didn't hurt, I just didn't have the spectacular High Peaks view this year and took more time to appreciate Pharaoh Lake.

The lake ice was ideal for hitting the golf balls around again.  No lost balls and a few shots within 10' of the target by all three of us.  Though Glenn's target was to keep it within view.

Roy brought along some classic literature.

Melting snow up high fills the creeks down low.

Sunset next to Pharaoh Mtn.

OK, Glenn was aiming for the dark spot behind him and the ball is in its resting spot in front of him.  That was from at least 75 yards away.  Retired guys can keep their golf game sharp.

Excitement on the Commute

 How exciting is my commute?  Get a look at these pics:

I'm no fan of people throwing stuff down the banks of the gorges, but if they do it, they should hit the landing like this sign that stuck upright.  But eventually, go down and get it. 

There is one day a year that this street doesn't have garbage in it.  The street sweeper passed five minutes before I got there.  The next day a plastic cup and two beer cans were on display.

The Chapter House is still missed since it burned.  The building has been replaced and we expected a new establishment, but this is as far as they got on the inside.  Those items haven't moved in four or five years.

End of Winter

  The last snowstorm in the lower elevations.  I just realized this section of the woods is owned by the city. 

Cornell owns this walkway, and they rightly keep it closed even after it warms up.

Caroline still had lots of snow on the way, but the creeks couldn't contain the first melt-off.

Another new ski route.

This is the before picture.  It wasn't as bad as it looks to clear it because the Town Parks crew went through last year and cut all the invasive species.  I just had to untangle them and get them out of the way.

Good thing I got the toe of these boots patched again, or that twig would have gone much farther than between my toes.