Category Archives: East

Willa on the Appalachian Trail

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Today is the day, we hit the trail with Willa. It is a perfect bright, sunny, cool morning so we pack up and head for the trailhead. At 2 miles spanning about 2 ½ hours this adventure is a hit with our newest hiker. There is a fair amount of Grandpa shoulder time and our pace is not impressive but there is exploring, relaxing in the sun, and even a picnic lunch. We collect seeds, climb on “really big” rocks, peak through the boardwalk to watch water flow by, toss leaves and sticks into the creek, and spot birds and a cool frog (with the help of another hiker who pointed it out to all of us). The photo gallery for today even includes documentation of fresh air potty time. We trek back to the car tired but happy. Just wonderful.

Trail – take two

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We get a sunny Friday and head out to try a boardwalk section of the Appalachian Trail that runs along the Swamp River and its wetland. This is a trail that was just too busy back on Mother’s Day. The boardwalk winds through tall cat tails with red winged black birds, orioles and sparrows chattering everywhere. Once across the river we enter a woodland area just alive with birdsong. It is a mostly level walk the first mile then climbs to a meadow. It is relaxing and pretty good birding plus it looks like we have found a great trail to introduce Willa to hiking with us. We are pleasantly surprised to find a food truck in the trailhead lot when we emerge. A pastrami Rueben and philly steak provide considerably more calories than we burned today but they are delicious.

Birthday coming up

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Willa will soon be two. I have been given the honor of baking birthday cake so I am trying recipes for taste testing by all interested parties. There are cookies involved too for the zoom party (crumby Covid-19) so I am working on those recipes and decorating too. I think we have found winners for them all but the decision isn’t final until the tasting is done!
Grandpa is working on a present too. Shhh, it is a secret.

Woohoo, another sleep over

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This Grandpa and Nana thing is alright. It looks like overnights might be the best fit for everyone’s schedules right now and it is great fun for all of us. It is 7:30AM and we scoop up Willa and the requisite plunder for another sleepover. There is lots of walking and coloring and Willa really gets into finger painting and makes her Mommy a Mother’s Day card. Mike and Tracy join us for one night to celebrate Mother’s Day…yeah I get two celebrations and two fantastic breakfasts. Mike prepared delicious pumpkin spice waffles and they bring a lovely Cosmos plant – hope I can keep it alive! The kids head home mid day leaving Willa to spend one more night with us. Perfect

It is a birder thing

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It is Mother’s Day and we are out for a swamp walk. Conservation areas and refuges dot a long, wet section of the Hudson Valley and provide perfect habitat for all sorts of birds. Cool air and a warm sun make for perfect trekking weather. We find a short meadow trail with nearly no foot traffic and a nice smattering of birds. The day is young so we try two other wooded areas but parking lots are full and there is way too much foot traffic. We are still supposed to be social distancing after all. We head back home with the plan to try the other trails on a weekday hoping to have a little more peaceful stroll.
The Day includes calls from both boys and breakfast by Kent. Actually, breakfast and dinner by Kent. We discover a local Greek place and check out the menu. We know exactly what we want. It is to be carry out of course. Except, they are closed! Kent gets roped into another meal.

Ack, snow!

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A bit of a setback for Spring. It is to be some 25 degrees below average the next few days and nights. Add to that high winds and some snow. Looks like we won’t be getting out on any more trails for a few days. We might not even get out of the house!

Hitting the trails again

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We return to Fahnestock Park but this time along the Taconic Parkway side. Beach and pavilions are closed so there is little visitation in the area right now. It is overcast and rain forecast by early afternoon so we are looking for a little shorter walk today. We encounter a ranger and he recommends a loop hike that incorporates a section of the Appalachian Trail and “the best view in the whole park”. OK, lets do it. It is another great walk this time about 3 ½ miles and 550 feet elevation change. The view from the cliffs above Canopus Lake is great just as promised as are long views up the valley from the ridge. Rocky seeps and springs are lined with moss and bright yellow buttercups mark early signs of spring. The last section is a little too close to the Taconic and traffic noise a bit of a distraction but I definitely recommend this walk in the Spring.

Fahnestock State Park trails are open

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New York stay at home orders allow for state park trails to be open for day use. It is cool but brilliantly sunny this morning so we decide to go exploring. We pick a trail along 9 near Hubbard Lodge in Clarence Fahnestock Park. When we reach the trailhead around 9:45 there are only a couple cars so it looks like we will have the walk mostly to ourselves. Nice. The walk starts creek side, climbs to the top of the ridge, runs the ridge, then descends to return along another babbling brook. It feels great to get out. Birds must think so too as we see lots of warblers and forest ground birds. There are great views from the ridgeline and the streams bounce down moss covered rock. There are even sections along the way where we completely escape traffic noise and find ourselves wrapped in silence. Awesome! This is classic east coast mountain terrain; rock strewn treed ridges and cuts. The canopy and forest floor are just washed with the green of spring and dotted with wild flowers. 5 ½ miles and 940 feet change in elevation, it is a perfect walk. We might just do it again.

A sleepover

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I am so excited. We are off to pick up Willa for an overnight stay. We gather all the essentials; potty chair, night-night kit (blankie, fav book and can’t be without bedtime friends), and snacks plus adequate clothes for lots of outside time. The ride back to our place is uneventful and since Willa loves to be outdoors, we have lots of exploring to do once we arrive. We walk, throw rocks in the lake, balance on logs, pick dandelions and watch for ducks, swans and puppies. All in all, it is a great afternoon that amazingly includes a good nap. There is sidewalk chalk time and more exploring. A big bright red bounce ball is a hit too. When it is time for bed Willa is down in just minutes. It has been a busy day.
The kids sent a schedule and we manage to sort of follow it even including some learning time. One day we do shapes. It starts with first recognizing, coloring and sorting then with a game based on colorful shapes drawn with sidewalk chalk and lots of movement. Willa has circles, squares and triangles down. I have fun! Right and left learning time is fun too since we wind it up with the hokey pokey. Grandpa even plays that one! Fun stuff. Nap time day two is in her new “Created by Nana” sleeping bag. It is a hit. Willa is back with Mom and Dad in time for Grammy time. We are already looking forward to our next get together.
We start slowly
The kids bring Willa up to see us and she and Dad even spend the night. Overnight in a strange place works out ok. Nana breaks some rules as Willa ends up in our bed a few hours but everyone awakes rested and happy. Nap goes pretty smoothly (well, you can imagine how 2-year-old naps go) and we find plenty of things to do outdoors to keep her entertained. It is a great first visit. We look forward to many more. We close out the day with a lovely meal shared with more doting grandparents, Pop-pop and Grammy.

Back to the blog….June has been family month

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With the rig safely tucked away in Reno we headed back East for a couple special events and some plain ole family time.

First: Willa’s 1st birthday.  No way Grandpa and Nana could have missed that.  The party was perfect.  We got to enjoy some outdoor time with beautiful weather and lots of the kids’ friends.  Guests came bearing all manner of yummy food (including cupcakes and the smash cake even if I say so myself).  Willa had fun as did all the guests.  Year one flew by…we know each upcoming will go by even faster.

Second: The baby shower for our niece who is due in July.  That was a fun event too and a chance to catch up with some extended family we don’t often see.  We are anxious for our role as great aunt and uncle and excited for brother Bob and Lou Ann for their beginnings in grandparenting.  It will be a blast.

We sprinkled in a Fathers’ Day BBQ and a birthday wish for Tracy so there was plenty of party time.  There was time to just hang out too, which there never seems to be enough of.  Thanks to my sister Carol for letting us crash at her place much of the time.        

Family time.  Love it!