Another Last Waltz

 

  The MacGillicuddies had another farewell show at Bike Bar.  This one was extra-special as Richie Stearns opened for them and then sat in with the band.

  

  Amy and Jason held down the beat on bass and drums, and their son made a guest appearance on flute for "Low Rider."

Friends and Family

 

 

The ENL team is back together.  A setback is keeping us apart, but we persist.

  

  Connie turned 70.  I was doing a radio show and they sent video of her reaction when I wished her a happy birthday, it was priceless.

 

  Many McMahons and spouses got together in Chris and Darryl's garage on a cold, blustery Easter Sunday.  Good food and good company.

  A request for a picture of our family dog, Jumper, turned up this shot by Colby from a dog judging show at Welch Field.  That's Pat on the left, Jumper in the middle, and Jim with his back to the camera doing the measurement.

  Pat and Jinny listening to the radio by the crick.

Not Winter Camping

  The regularly scheduled camping trip to Pharaoh Lake didn't come off as planned this year.  The warm-up just before it meant we couldn't get there unless willing to wade chest-deep water.  The guys overruled me so we spent the weekend at Glenn and Mary Ann's on Lake George.  It wasn't all sitting around by the fire time, we got out on a good hike too.

   Glenn was happy to put some toys to use to hook Roy up with a new exhaust pipe for his generator.

   The best hiking was to be done on and across the lake.  I just needed a cheater to get over the open water.

 

At least the Lake George and the Tongue Range offered a final taste of winter.

I decided to see how much of the Tongue I could cover in a couple hours before having to head back to Ithaca.  I made it past the higher hump in the middle, but not quite to the little one to the left beyond it.

Sunrise from up on the Tongue.

 Looking back to Bolton Landing.  That white line is Up Yonda Farm just up from their house.

   Maybe next year we'll get back out in the woods for a couple days.

Out on the Trails

 I took Bailey's dog, Lola for a walk out in Caroline where there's always some snow hanging on even after several days reaching the upper 70s.

On the section of the FLT I maintain, there was a stretch that was 100% puddle.

 

I got the go-ahead to cut back the vegetation off one side where the ground is almost a foot higher.  This is a long term project, but improving significantly after two years of effort.

 Hey!  That's no trail.  But Bailey's driveway needed some brush cut back as well so people could have enough room to turn around when getting in and out.  Lopper Man doesn't just provide services for pedestrians, though it often seems that way.

  The Coddington Valley Trail is another step closer to being passable.  A workday with about 20 people cleared half the section between Middaugh and Beaver Creek Rd.  Another effort this spring should have it completely passable.

   How have I managed to cross this state highway for over 20 years and remained alive?  The traffic light a block away is only slightly more absurd. 

 

Spring Time

 The ice and snow let go, but some persistent overnight cold created dramatic scenery around town.

  Once it switched to all rain and stayed above freezing, we got some intense downpours.  This one happened on an evening I was heading to the radio station to do a show.  I had to delay my departure for the lightning to let up, and then it, and the rain returned when I successfully crossed the raging streams coming down East Hill streets.

 

  This is the worst effect I encountered the next morning.  It has benefits though, as this is a good source for stones to use in steps on a trail along this stream and some nice ones turned up.

 

 Just downstream from the culvert.

Six Mile Creek took in all the feeder streams, and then some.

   The creekside trail in the wildflower preserve lost a little more ground.

  

Gail and I made a quick stop at Taughannock on our way to Buffalo for Easter.
 

   Just a reminder of one of the many reasons dogs are supposed to be on leash in the wildflower preserve.  But sure, tell me again how it doesn't affect anyone.

Goodbye Agility, Hello Dance Classes

 

  

  Gail and Roxy had their last, and most successful, League event at Paws for Thought in Groton.  I'm not sure where their team ended up in the rankings, but everyone was a winner and it was good for them to finish on a strong note.  Surely, you remember this post.

   Agility starts back up after a brief pause, but I think they've moved on to Doggy Dancing.

   With my new gig as a DJ, I've been on the hunt for more material to play on the radio.  With my score at Ithaca ReUse this weekend, I should be able to keep them cutting the rug for quite awhile. 

Clearing Coddington Valley

 

  The next phase of the Coddington Valley Rail Trail is progressing from Ridgeway Rd in Caroline.  A work party was scheduled, and if turned out to be like the previous ones, about 20 people would show up.  Getting off the road was going to create a serious bottleneck, so I suggested to a few people we get it set up to get the most out of a big group.  I started by taking a picture of the entrance.

  Then I walked around on the ice and snow and approached it from the other side.  That honeysuckle bush was blocking the only solid ground once the path reached the beginning of the pond.  I stepped around it and my foot dropped into water without reaching the bottom.  It was deep enough to go over the top of my boot.  
 

  

  In the other direction, I was able to walk over this snow a couple times, but it was apparent that would be as many trips it would hold up to before stepping through to the water running under it.

  The idea was to take all the brush from the entrance and pile it on the unstable snow and ice to make a bridge.  It worked splendidly, even if the footing was a bit tricky.  Steve showed up soon after I got started and began working on the elevated rail bed.  Our goal was to the get to the outlet so the big group coming in a few days could spread out.

 

   Let's just say progress was slow.  We didn't quite make it to the outlet.  I estimated we were halfway there.

   A couple days later, Kari and I returned to see if we could get the outlet bridged with brush.  We accomplished that, and I was able to cut all the trunks of the honeysuckle leading up to it.  Enough room and tasks to keep dozens of people active.

   And the masses arrived Saturday as planned.  Lewis had some foot-wide planks that we set on top of the brush for better footing, a few people had chainsaws, and everyone had loppers.

  

I continued on cutting trunks and Eric followed clearing the brush.  That's his hat, about 30' behind me.

   Katy, Andy and someone else felt the outlet crossing needed fortification.  Eventually, it had a pallet in the middle with planks extending to both sides.  Other people were still willing to trust the ice for a flat walkway.  It was sufficiently thick to hold a person, but the edge to get back onto the rail bed was dicey.

   We kept optimistically proclaiming that when we reached the larger trees to the north, the underbrush would thin out.  By the time I left just before the group called it quits, there was no thinning in sight.  But what an accomplishment by lots of hands.  

  Come join us April 25th when there will be a celebration of the trail extension and hopefully a work party that will connect it (except for two washouts in need of bridges) from Ithaca to the county line on White Church Rd.