The Spectacular Autumnal Colors on Full Display this Year in the Northeast

While the political world in our nation's capital is very dysfunctional these days, we're having a wonderful season here in the northeast. The weather has been great, with warm days and cool nights, but the most important aspect is the beautiful autumnal colors. It's shaping to be a great Fall this year.

I've been taking day trips in the surrounding areas, but I'm hoping this coming weekend I can drive up to the Berkshires in Massachusetts if the weather holds.  These pictures are from last weekend as I rode my motorcycle in Harriman Park, NY. The Seven Lakes Drive goes through some of the most gorgeous landscapes.

The Foliage Network has frequent reports on the leaf/color situation. As of Oct. 11th, we're in "high color" which is a tad below "peak color".  Depending on the weather, dramatic changes can take place within a couple days. So get out and enjoy, especially if you live in an area that offer such a spectacular natural display. The northeast US is great for this. We're so lucky, for the most part, because there have been several years that the display isn't as magnificent due to weather conditions. Sometimes the leaves fall before they go through much of color change, or that the colors aren't as bright and diverse.

Glorious Autumn 2012

Yeah, good colors this autumn in the northeast, with several weeks of stunning natural beauty! Plus a reasonably good weather as a bonus, especially on the weekends when most people can get out to leaf peep!

The Hudson north of Bear Mountain bridge

I've done several road trips around the glorious Hudson valley and even parts of the Delaware river by Port Jervis and Pennsylvania. Work has been heavy for me with 12-hour work days often the norm. Various commitments and, of course, the elections are demanding the bulk of my time. Yet, taking personal time off is (should be) a priority. Haven't taken as many pictures as I'd have liked though. Here are a few:

Countryside

Croton dam

 

Found Gold in Cape Cod

There's gold if you know where to look for it; it's true in Cape Cod and many other wonderful places. It's also having the right attitude towards life and those around us. Obviously, experiencing moments of awe are best with the right company, don't you agree?

Rock Harbor "beach" at low tide, which every time I've there is around sunset (summer).

RH is not technically a beach (hence it's a no-fee place). During the day there's sufficient water (depending on the tides) for swimming but as you can see from these two pictures you can walk for a mile out during low tide.

This area, inside the cape is far away enough from the mainland (MA) that sunsets over water are possible on the eastern coast. Also, there is a long stretch of many miles called "the flats" because there isn't much depth. On this general location there's the First Encounter beach--which is where the Mayflower Pilgrims encountered the natives in 1620. Most people don't know that the Mayflower hit Cape Cod first and anchored in Provincetown for 50 days before moving to the mainland and establishing the colony at Plymouth.

Changed the camera settings a bit, from "program" to "scenes/sunset" to get a slightly different pictures, but both are golden in my book.

Rock Harbor at high tide, around 11 am when the boats can finally leave the pier and go fishing.

South of the pictured old Coast Guard station

I took this picture above after hiking for a couple miles under a very hot sun to Indian Rock. This rock was used by the natives to sharpen tools and polish stuff. Those grooves and shiny surfaces are evident of that. This modern human used it to dry his soaking t-shirt--which was accomplished in a couple minutes given the high heat.  [Disclaimer: this rock is exposed to the elements and laying a wet cotton shirt on it didn't damage it, so please no complaints, thank you.]

Chatham beach, at the eastern part of the cape, looking at the Atlantic ocean

Chatham is at the easternmost Cape Cod; seems more upscale with expensive country clubs and estates. But, the best deal is at the Fish Market Pier where I had the best fish & chips ever--a big chunk of very fresh cod cooked to perfection! Twin lobster (steamed free) for $9/lb!

Nice seafood can be found in Wellfleet too whose oysters are world-famous. Nice little town with galleries and stuff.

A Day Trip to the Gunks and New Paltz

It felt on top of the world

The Mohonk gatehouse.

On the top of the Awosting Falls. Usually there's lots more water.

Tree roots from a local artist's collection.

The explanation of the origins and early use of tree roots (click on pix for larger size)

Unauthorized swimming in Lake Minnewaska

4th of July 2012 Fireworks from the Skyway & Mid-Hudson Bridge

Through local activism and good leadership an old rail bridge was restored into walkaway that connects the towns of Poughkeepsie and Highland in Dutchess county, NY.  [NYS Parks link]


You can click on the images below to make them bigger...(at least it works in my IE & Firefox browsers).

The Mid-Hudson bridge around 9pm, looking south.

Standing on the walkaway (an old refurbished rail bridge which is higher than the pictured Mid-Hudson bridge) watching the fireworks on July 4th, 2012. There was a question whether people would be allowed on this because of the moving lightning storm in the area.

Lots of fireworks, on the Hudson river and on the banks near Poughkeepsie, NY.

There was a big lightning storm to the south that was going on throughout the late evening.

This is a great experience for those who want to walk at 212 feet (70 meters) high over the Hudson river. It's about 1.6 miles long but you don't have to do the whole thing. I've done it a few times and it's great. I found the best is to leave the car on the Highland side and walk towards Poughkeepsie, and then back.

At dusk in June near Highland, NY

Depending on the time of day and season, the views are different and of course fantastic.

The First Snowfall of this Winter, 2012

We just had our first snow of this season. I had begun to wonder whether we'd see snow, because we've had decent weather so far. It's a pain to shovel but this wasn't the wet & heavy snow, and a few inches of powdery stuff isn't so bad. 

It hasn't been that cold and we hadn't large amounts of snowfall, but I've seen ice forming even at this spillway, where water from the reservoir is rushing down the gorge.

This bridge is some 100 years old. Closed to vehicular traffic, it's a very nice walkaway now.

The bridge in at the end of the dame, where the spillway is located

Of course, after clearing the driveway and getting the car out, I took a drive and shot some pictures at the nearby reservoir and dam. All within a few miles of where I live. The daylight was getting short, so I didn't take that many pictures. I hope that I have many other opportunities this season. By Monday, it'll warm up (into the 50s) so this snow will melt away.

The park bellow the dam is nice, though on occasion it gets too crowded for my taste. But, I've taken some great pictures there throughout the year.

December 2010 and January 2011 in "Lower" New York State

It's a while since I posted here, actually since (gasp) last year! I've been preoccupied with house stuff and, of course, the other occupation--the one that pays the bills.

Anyway, it's been very cold and very snowy here in the northeastern US. You might say that we could use some ..global warming. More extreme weather is caused by changes in the composition of our atmosphere and in the acidity of the oceans. I wish I had been out there more often with my camera, nevertheless, I managed to shoot a few cool pictures. Here are some from December and January.

Along 5th Avenue, NYC

Festive Fifth

Rock Center with tree

Our pasture

Hmmm..

Frozen people

Frozen Hudson by Peekskill

Croton Dam in January 2010

Frozen Croton reservoir

 By clicking on the pictures, you can enlarge them.

Exploring the Finger Lakes Region in New York

These pictures don't do justice to the real experience and the size of these these gorges/canyons. The Watkins Glen park, by Seneca Lake, NY, has one of the most interesting hikes along the gorge. It's 1.5 miles long, about a thousand steps up, plus walking on paths along the cascading river.

One of the many waterfalls at Watkins Glen Park

Taughannock Falls, near Ithaca, NY

Rainbow Falls and bridge

Deep gorge(ous) canyon

Randomly in January of 2010

A view of Sandy Hook, with frozen patches of the inlet. In the far distance, New York City and the boroughs. During the summer this spot is very popular as Sandy Hook has many nice beaches and the surrounding area has lots of bars and restaurants. there was always a big traffic problem with the old drawbridge when it opened to allow boats to pass.
The new bridge that connects mainland NJ to the barrier island. Sandy Hook on the left, Seabright on the right. The old bridge (to the left of the new) has been dismantled.
All these pictures above were taken from the top of the Twin Lights--a New Jersey historic site.

...
The Max Fish bar in the Lower East Side was a place I'd go for a cheap beer and great atmosphere. Things have changed since I was in college.. The coffee shop next door seems nice too.



I don't yet know what to make of this month. I had some leisure time without being particularly productive. Some days go fast some others very slowly. The way we perceive time is rather relevant. Overall, I think, the trick is to have many distinct memories--as many as possible. Some days, indeed weeks go by and I couldn't tell you what I did during that time.

Have you thought how different of a person you'd be if your memories were expunged? You'd be a totally different person. Our brains have great capacities for storing memories; those neuron connections that constitute what we remember. I read somewhere that emotions play a very important role in remembering stuff.

I'm tired of the cold
Here I'm standing on a pier on the frozen Hudson river by Peekskill, NYBeacon, NY where I go to see new exhibits in art galleries.

Another Glorious Atumn in the Northeast

Ah, glorious autumn in the Northeast! I wish I had more time this season to go out. I was planning to go up to the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts to also visit the Normal Rockwell museum, but work has intervened. Local drives within a 50 mile radius from home base this Fall only. As a result, I've gotten fewer pictures.


I'm so fortunate to experience such surroundings as part of my workplace! Yummy.


The two pictures below are from my favorite place New Paltz-Lake Minnewaska.

Below, a farmer and his ..machine. Did you know "George" means "person of the land" or a farmer?



This covered bridge is in West Cornwell, CT [see link]. I've seen many, some dating back to the 1800s.