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!
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.
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.
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.
Who can blame me? It has been 4 months since I have hugged our grand-daughter. We look forward to seeing her Mom and Dad too but video chats and pictures just aren’t enough to keep up with the huge changes in a nearly 2-year-old. I can hardly wait! We settle in at our next new home, Sylvan Lake Beach Park in Hopewell Junction New York. More stay at home orders restrict lots of activities but the park is green and quiet with a little lake to stroll the shore. There are lots of birds including hawks, osprey and bald eagles to watch. The kids are a few miles south but it is an easy drive so we hope to see everyone often. This should make a great home base for more family time.
1550 miles in 26 hours across three days, whew. To avoid being part of the problem in this Covid-19 age, we minimize contact as we travel stopping only for fuel and overnighting in Walmart parking lots. It is a tedious trip but worth it as we make it to PA for some family time. Here as in Texas, stay at home orders have brought work-from-home for nearly everyone and dinner out is not going to happen. As a result, we have some great times cooking and hanging out safe and cozy at home with family. The slightly slower pace helps remind us just how nice that kind of together time can be. A special shout out to our grandniece who is growing up so fast. Coming up on a year old. You are an amazing little girl!
We are in day three of 70s, sunny and low humidity. It is beautiful. Plus, now that we are out of self- isolation we have been to dinner at the kid’s actually in their house. Hooray. We have grocery shopped for ourselves, done laundry, and have run a bunch of pent up errands. It is not all exciting but it does make life feel a bit more normal. In less than a week we take off for New York to visit Mike, Tracy and nearly 2-year-old granddaughter, Willa. It has been nearly 4 months since we saw them last and she has grown up so much – thank goodness for video chat and posted videos so we can watch from afar. I am counting the days til we see them in person.
Check out these masks
. I have had a bit of time on my hands and rules/recommendations seem to be changing all the time. Now we have some for everyone if masks turn out to be required or just prudent. What a weird thing to be thinking.
The house is pretty much back to normal with all the vacation generated plunder sorted and put away – with the exception of a fare sized pile of laundry. I have identified probably 80% of the new birds we saw in Australia. Kent is ticking off projects on the ever-present honey do list. Week one of our self-quarantine has been fairly productive. There is plenty more to do around the house in week two but not a tremendous amount of enthusiasm to actually do it! We shall see!
Huge thanks to Brian and Johnna for shopping for us and keeping us connected. We look forward to more normal interaction soon.
Most wonderous – the Great Barrier Reef
Most spectacular – Wallaman Falls
Most un-appreciated – Vegemite
Most unique taste (delicious too but very unique) – wattle seed ice cream
Most remarkable – tropical rainforest-the place feels alive
Most fun – the ongoing search for the rare cassowary
Most awesome – cassowary in the wild
Most bizarre – platypus
Most exciting – curly, narrow, mountain drives
Most annoying – the coronavirus mess
Most appreciated – generous help of locals along our journey