July 2015
Places Visited
This month I got to spend a couple of weeks in "my" country home in Knox, New York.
The first day, Derek and I took a 2.6 mile hike at the Albany Pin Bush Discovery Center. The weather was beautiful and it was hard to believe we were minutes away from New York's capital buildings. We had dinner with Jon and Rachel a the Home Front Cafe in Altamont, New York.
The second day began with a trip to the Albany International Airport with Rachel and Jon. The day turned out to be very rainy but I drove to John Boyd Thacher State Park anyway. The views from the overlooks were amazing! I didn't take the guided geology walk because it was raining so hard but I was able to see the limestone cliffs. I would like to go back and take the half-mile Indian Ladder Trail even without the guide.
On the third day, I took the guided Blue Karner Butterfly walk at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. It was a hot day but the walk was only about a mile in length and, because of stopping took about an hour and a half. The highlight for me was that the first Blue Karner Butterfly saw landed on my shoe! We didn't know we would see more but in the end we saw five more Blue Karner Butterflies. They are very small and a protected species.
On the fourth day, I went back to John Boyd Thacher State Park and walked the Indian Ladder Trail. It was a challenge for me because of the steep sections but I'm proud I did it and the views were amazing. I got to walk under two waterfalls. The day was hot but most of the trail was shaded.
One day, Derek and I took a walk in downtown Albany. We ate at the C. H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station. It was a delicious meal and very filling!
The next day we went to a craft fair at Albany's first Shaker settlement near the Albany Airport. The craft fair items were mainly made by local people and their were many booths. We enjoyed looking at them and also the garden that was on the grounds.
Another day I went to the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. There was a small exhibit inside and a few short walks. Of the two longer walks, one was closed when I was there and the staff at the visitor's center said the other one was pretty muddy. I decided to take the short walks which were interesting. They were labeled for elementary aged children class trips and campers, although I saw people of all ages on the paths.
Near the end of my stay in Knox, I went to the Saddlemire Homestead. It is where the Knox Historical Society meets. I talked to the people there about the house and Knox. Knox was the only place in the United States where pill boxes were made in the early 1800s through the early 1900s. The historical society members, including the authors of the book I had just read, Images of America: The Helderberg Hilltowns, also told me about a book walk in the town park behind the Saddlemire Homestead. I had not heard of one before and really enjoyed it. The pages of a children's book, In a Nutshell by Joseph Anthony, were each displayed on wooden plaques a few feet apart so they could be read by or to children. Many of the plaques also had suggested short activities to do. This is a great idea, I thought!
On my last day in Knox, Derek and I walked on the path in Crescent Park in Halfmoon, New York. It is one of our favorite walks along the Mohawk River.
In July, I also visited the Trolley Museum of New York in Kingston, New York. I was able to ride a trolley along the Hudson River which was spectacular!
Books Read
Images of America: The Helderberg Hilltowns by John K. Elberfeld and Jane B. McLean
Hook's Revenge: The Pirate Code by Heidi Schulz
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
VIP: I'm With the Band by Jen Calonita
World War II in 500 Photographs edited by Eileen Daspin & Michael Solomon
This month I got to spend a couple of weeks in "my" country home in Knox, New York.
The first day, Derek and I took a 2.6 mile hike at the Albany Pin Bush Discovery Center. The weather was beautiful and it was hard to believe we were minutes away from New York's capital buildings. We had dinner with Jon and Rachel a the Home Front Cafe in Altamont, New York.
The second day began with a trip to the Albany International Airport with Rachel and Jon. The day turned out to be very rainy but I drove to John Boyd Thacher State Park anyway. The views from the overlooks were amazing! I didn't take the guided geology walk because it was raining so hard but I was able to see the limestone cliffs. I would like to go back and take the half-mile Indian Ladder Trail even without the guide.
On the third day, I took the guided Blue Karner Butterfly walk at the Albany Pine Bush Discovery Center. It was a hot day but the walk was only about a mile in length and, because of stopping took about an hour and a half. The highlight for me was that the first Blue Karner Butterfly saw landed on my shoe! We didn't know we would see more but in the end we saw five more Blue Karner Butterflies. They are very small and a protected species.
On the fourth day, I went back to John Boyd Thacher State Park and walked the Indian Ladder Trail. It was a challenge for me because of the steep sections but I'm proud I did it and the views were amazing. I got to walk under two waterfalls. The day was hot but most of the trail was shaded.
One day, Derek and I took a walk in downtown Albany. We ate at the C. H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station. It was a delicious meal and very filling!
The next day we went to a craft fair at Albany's first Shaker settlement near the Albany Airport. The craft fair items were mainly made by local people and their were many booths. We enjoyed looking at them and also the garden that was on the grounds.
Another day I went to the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. There was a small exhibit inside and a few short walks. Of the two longer walks, one was closed when I was there and the staff at the visitor's center said the other one was pretty muddy. I decided to take the short walks which were interesting. They were labeled for elementary aged children class trips and campers, although I saw people of all ages on the paths.
Near the end of my stay in Knox, I went to the Saddlemire Homestead. It is where the Knox Historical Society meets. I talked to the people there about the house and Knox. Knox was the only place in the United States where pill boxes were made in the early 1800s through the early 1900s. The historical society members, including the authors of the book I had just read, Images of America: The Helderberg Hilltowns, also told me about a book walk in the town park behind the Saddlemire Homestead. I had not heard of one before and really enjoyed it. The pages of a children's book, In a Nutshell by Joseph Anthony, were each displayed on wooden plaques a few feet apart so they could be read by or to children. Many of the plaques also had suggested short activities to do. This is a great idea, I thought!
On my last day in Knox, Derek and I walked on the path in Crescent Park in Halfmoon, New York. It is one of our favorite walks along the Mohawk River.
In July, I also visited the Trolley Museum of New York in Kingston, New York. I was able to ride a trolley along the Hudson River which was spectacular!
Books Read
Images of America: The Helderberg Hilltowns by John K. Elberfeld and Jane B. McLean
Hook's Revenge: The Pirate Code by Heidi Schulz
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
VIP: I'm With the Band by Jen Calonita
World War II in 500 Photographs edited by Eileen Daspin & Michael Solomon
