Old Keenan Road, Brasher State Forest, Part 2

I'd gotten my car mired in a deep mud hole on the logging road called Old Keenan Road on the state map (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). I'd already contacted AAA and kept walking back toward the camping and picnic area even though I knew no one was there:

We kept walking, and by this time the dogs had also begun to slow down:

There is one small private property along the road, but no one was home:

We finally arrived at the camping area, and I still had enough energy to call the dogs into the forest to explore the stream from the overflow of the CCC reservoir:

It was cool and beautiful back there, with a new beaver dam under construction:

White Pines dominate this forest and much of the walking was free from brush:

We continued on along the stream, headed for the picnic area and reservoir:

When we got to a place with easy water access, Daphne went in to cool herself off:

Then Fergus and Clover joined her:

I had walked for several miles with my painful ankles and new leg braces, all the way to the camping area because the guy at AAA said that's where I'd meet the tow truck. But when I talked on the phone to the local operator, I explained that I was old, crippled and with five muddy dogs, so he might prefer me to head back to my car. He agreed, so I started walking again, this time back to where my car was stuck:


The tow truck arrived at my mired car before I did, but not by much, and my car was out of the mud by the time I got there. I made it a point to turn around on that narrow dirt road so I wouldn't have to back through any more mud holes. That, after all, is how I got stuck in the first place. But I had been rescued and was on my way back to civilization and decent roads:

Old Keenan Road, Brasher State Forest, Part 1

I took the dogs to nearby Brasher State Forest, the place we go so often, but this time followed the state map to get to a hiking trail we'd never tried before. I turned onto what the state map said was a road. Alas, it had deep ruts and mud holes which I was able to avoid until I came to where the entire road was covered with water. There didn't look to be enough room to turn around safely, so I backed up - but wound up stuck permanently in a deep mud puddle.

The dogs and I were able to get out on the passenger's side, avoiding the two feet of muddy water on the other side. Then we started walking. As you can see, the dogs thought it was just a happy, fun hike:

I tried repeatedly to call AAA but without success. They put me on eternal hold, promised to return the call but only left a voice mail (which I was able to return only by calling the main "emergency" number and going through the whole process again). We kept walking:

It was a happy walk in the woods for the dogs and I enjoyed the scenery:

I took my time because of my lameness and new, uncomfortable leg braces. The dogs wanted to run, and I had to keep calling them back:

But at least the "road" was level and made of soft sand:

I stopped to check on local wildflowers, including this Yellow Loosestrife:

And there was deep forest on both sides of the "road:"

Logging operations had obliterated any intersections with hiking trails, but they'd finished logging and moved elsewhere, so there was no one to assist me:

So we kept walking, and I kept trying to reach AAA:


I finally called the Albany area office where I originally got my AAA membership. They were helpful, and a local tow service owner said he'd come out and check to see if he could pull me out of the mire. He was not happy to be called to what he called "a trail, not a road," but he said he'd come take a look. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

West Parishville State Forest - Part 2

The dogs and I were hiking the Red Pine Trail in the West Parishville State Forest (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). They were happy dogs:

The scenery was as lovely as I'd remembered it - except that the last time we were here, everything was covered in deep snow and ice:

Even when I couldn't see the tree tops or upper bark, it was obvious which type of pine we were walking through by looking at the pine cones on the ground. These are the long, thin cones of White Pines:

And the shorter, stouter cones of Red Pines:


But we soon came to Private Property signs and had to turn around. There was a logging operation going on there, but no one was working at the time, so I snapped a photo of the loader:

And the skidder. I used to drive skidder for a logging crew, and it brought back memories - mostly good ones:

So we headed back toward the car. The sun was now at our back, so I found the view of the forest to be even more beautiful than before:

Also, the dogs had slowed down more than usual and I got to listen to the Blue Jays and Wood Thrushes off in the trees instead of hollering, "Clover, get back here! Jack, stop! Daphne? Where's Daphne?"

It was a very pleasant, relaxing walk back to the car:

I noticed Seamus' unusual stance in this photo and took note that it's getting more awkward for him to walk. I hope he never becomes unable to go with us into the woods. He'd be heartbroken to be left behind:

We stopped for a moment in a sunny opening and even walked a short distance on a side trail - but not for long. Soon, we were again on our way back to the car:

The car was just up ahead when I snapped this shot. It had been a short but lovely walk in the forest. We are blessed to live in such a place with so many options for quiet, contemplative strolls in nature:

County Reforestation Land, Sheldon Road, Fort Jackson NY

Normally I take a few scenery photos while hiking with the dogs, but then weed them out while editing photos. But I took so many of them while hiking with the dogs in the Fort Jackson State Forest (see previous two posts) that I decided to present them as a separate post. I began with these Pileated Woodpecker holes in a White Pine:

Technically, we were walking along County Reforestation land, though I think of it as Fort Jackson State Forest because this is the road which leads us there:

The forest was a mixture of Red Pine, White Pine, Red Maple, Sugar Maple, Beech and Aspen. I'm sure there were lots of other trees also, but these were the main forest denizens:

There was a snowy ridge along the road to our right (on private land), which I decided must be an old stone wall. I'll try to remember to look the next time we're there when there's no snow:

A forest troll:

The road took us through both tall timber and scrubby woods:

When we came to an old logging header, I snapped a picture and turned back toward our parked car:

It was obvious that this section had been logged, but how long ago I could not tell. I also didn't know if it was logged before or after being designated as County Reforestation land. I would think that "reforestation" means no more logging, but I realize "it ain't necessarily so:"

Beech trees and White Pines:

We would have ventured off into the forest if hadn't been for the snow. Maybe we'll do so this summer:

I am always inclined to wander off into the trees, just to see what mystery and beauty lies therein, but the time I got lost in the forest a few years ago has made me much more cautious. I am, after all, a crippled old codger:

More forest beauty:

We were soon back at our car and this excursion came to an end. I hope that you enjoyed the wintry loveliness along the way:

County Route 44, Between Madrid and Waddington, NY - Part 1

I left the village of Waddington, NY and headed southeast on county Route 44 toward home. Stopping to take pictures made getting home slow, but the rural scenery was too nice for me to do otherwise:

The homes quickly became more rural as I left Waddington:

This farm was rather far off the road and I had to use my zoom lens - but the trees, snow, weathered wood and old barn made it look beautiful to me:

A lovely home, set behind trees and with a barn in the back:

This appeared to be a brick home, currently unoccupied:

A logging operation. Many of the logs were too small to be for lumber, so I assumed they were for firewood:

A silo, barn, farm house and garage, set back behind a snowy field:

A brick farm house:

This farm appeared to be large and successful:

A cluster of silos, though the tree blocked my view so I couldn't count them:

Another brick farm house. This is country living at its finest:

Miscellaneous farm equipment, spread out between a fence line and a woodlot. But there was more to see yet, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: