Day 26, East Coast trip, Sat/Oct. 14, 2023

Day 26, East Coast Trip, Oct. 14, 2023, last day at Glenville, NY

The threat today was for some rain later in the morning and afternoon .  (It never came!!!) We thought it best to try to get in some outdoor wandering before any rain set in. So we did that and headed for the Black Swamp WMA. It was about 25 miles from the camp ground.

Interestingly this area was settled by the Dutch along with a British in the 1600s.  As early as 1920) Hence, many names of towns and  streets have Dutch names. We are surrounded on both sides by two towns  named Amsterdam and Rotterdam. The street names follow the same theme, like Gilder, Voorsman, Van Buren and so on. The journey to this NWA takes us through the heart of Rotterdam and on the city streets that are just residences and no commercial building. Then again out into the country where we found the NWA.

(See sign following) A cemetery for the first Methodist church

Sign near cemetery

One of a number of Chipping Sparrows seen today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              Even on the map before taking this trip today, I noticed there were parking lots and no roads into the wildlife area. But I did see a paved road that actually went through some of the properties as it is split into parcels. That was what we aimed for. I saw a road named Hennessey and it seemed to go right through the swamp. That was a good movement, as it did exactly that about halfway on that road we were in the middle of the Swamp, and a huge, wide cleared area where the high-powered Electric lines when through.

Black Swamp in Albany County NY

Looking through Black Swamp to the Ridges NY

Black Swamp was quiet and peaceful.

 

By parking on the side of the road gave us tie to look for  a few birds including a Northern Harrier that came gliding by, of course the Blue Jays, some  Savanna Sparrow in asmall flock under a bush Black huckle berry, and some cowbirds. on the high tension poles. I think for the day we counted 10 birds. I am sure that in the  migration time in the early summer in this area would be Birders paradise. But because it's mid October that is not the case. Beside's the ducks the Mohawk River by the waterfall, we have not seen any ducks for a few weeks.

Berries of the Virginia Creeper

Those ever present Cattails.

Seldom seen Black Huckleberries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ate our lunch by a large gate that entered the transmission line.. It definitely was a "no trespassing" zone. That was the end of our watching for the day and we did see a few skeletons and Halloween decorations along the way

That was a brief excursion for us, then we were back to the trailer by 1:30 and had a few chores to do to wrap up the afternoon.

 Last night at just after midnight it gets quite cold in the trailer and that usually means one of the tanks has run out.  It was 61F in the trailer. I got dressed and went out and switched it  over and stayed up until it heated back up again. The middle of the night is a good time to download any photos, or make  any additinal comments to my blog, so I did that and they all went on very quickly. When no one is using the Internet the strength of signal is always much better, particularly in a campground. Speaking of which this is the last night of camping for the season here at arrowhead RV and Marina. We thought we might stay another night  but Cherie, the owner said it was definite that they would close tomorrow.

So the chores that we had; to sort out the pills for two weeks that Ruth does faithfully, secondly, fill up  the second tank of propane, (Citco had a station), third, to pick up a few groceries such as orange juice and some cheese.  (Gabriel's supermarket) Both sites were near one another, so it was handy in the town of Rotterdam. (Hey, we are in the Netherlands, (faux)).  At the propane fill a young college student did the fill. I usually ask them if this is their full time job. He was from Burma,  in college, learning the skills of computer science. Good luck, Phong.

That was it and we arrived home in time for a short rest and  supper prep. It was hamburgers on the grill with my new approach to Ruth's huge hampurgers. I told her I wanted only 1/2 of what she usually makes for me. With those wondelful croissant buns , (hamburger style) it was just enough for me with a slice of onion, two slices of tomato, some mustard and mayo and I was good. I topped it off with a Dove bar  after supper that I had been saving for three days. (Yes there is Tillamook Ice cream in the freezer, but it will wait.)

Central Michigan Chippewas, played poorly on offense today, but managed to eke out a 17-10 win over Akron (away). They seemed not to play offense very well  but defense held the day.

Tomrrow we head for the Lake Ontario area (Upper NY) with an interim stop (one night) at a KOA just a half hour from that Lake Ontario site. (Could not get in on Sunday so has to "short hop" it.

Thanks for reading--Jim