Frozen Ocean State Forest (Solo)

The lack of a functioning mountain bike and brilliant weather on Saturday was making me a bit stir crazy. I've been out in the evenings this past week and remarked to myself how incredibly perfect the conditions were for a night under the stars. So I decided Saturday, at 6pm or so, that I wasn't going to let a great evening be spent indoors. After some quick research, I settled on Frozen Ocean State Forest in Cayuga County for my night out of the city.

Being my first solo night in the woods, admittedly I had some trepidation. I arrived, after some searching, at what I figured to be the trailhead to the pond. It was late and well beyond dusk by the time I arrived and nothing ever looks quite right in the dark but I figured it was the most promising point of entry I'd seen yet. After double checking everything, I locked the car and headed down the trail. Hiking in the dark always heightens my senses - hiking by yourself in the dark, well, let's just say mine were at a level not previously experienced.

According to the DEC website, the pond was only a quarter mile along the trail. As the cacophony of spring peepers grew louder, I anticipated I was getting close. The trail split... I continued down until I crossed a stream, which I figured meant I'd gone to far. So I turned around and took the other trail as far as I could because of a downed tree. I could see, in the very faint moonlight being allowed to pass through the clouds, there was a small body of water through the trees. I was in a bit of a clearing so I figured "close enough" and set up camp. I could still hear the road but so it goes. At first I didn't want to set up the fly but the clouds and predicted rain made me forego the middle-of-the-night rain fly dance and I set it up from the outset.

Let me pause here to share a wonder of mine - bedtime bathroom respite. When I am at home, before I go to bed, I use the bathroom once and I am ready for a complete night of sleep without having to get up again. In the woods, when it is much more difficult to answer nature's call in the middle of the night, this once and done scenario is not the case - ever. Such a hassle. So after multiple answers, I finally got to sleep.

At some point I awoke to rain, which I heard along with the peepers through the ear plugs I've taken to sleeping with whenever in the woods. In the morning, I awoke to continued rain and much cooler temps. I discovered on this outing my 20 degree back is more like a 50 degree. I packed up in the rain and decided to wander around more of the forest and see what there was to see. One of the ponds on the property appears to be man made and potentially maintained by beavers. Both ponds are low, judging by the mudline around them and the visible stumps.

Not being someone who lives easily in the present, unless I am on a bike, I was eventually drawn back to the car, and the city, and the commitments I'd made for the day. The 12+ hours in a place less touched by the hands of humans was refreshing and it is likely I'll be back to the Frozen Ocean, or a place like it, over the course of the summer for a natural recharge.

Sure, blame it on the pedal

A couple of weeks ago, I went for a ride at Bear Swamp. Everything was going along great when I unclipped my left foot and, well, I was left with only the spindle in the crank. I thought I'd lost the bolt that held everything together but when I got back home and investigated, I discovered seven years of mud and water works wonders on bearings. This happened just about the half way point in the ride and at the base of a long, fairly steep climb. I warned my friend I might possibly not make it to the top of said climb in one go due to the pedal situation. "Sure, blame it on the pedal" was just the challenge I needed to complete the climb in one go. Turns out it was the downhills that presented the problem. I couldn't keep enough pressure on the pedal to hold it on the spindle securely. We finished the ride without incident (at least pedal related) and I began my quest to find a rebuild kit.

After calling a couple of the Syracuse area shops most likely to carry the kit, which, big surprise, they didn't, I went right to the source. Jim at the Geneva Bicycle Center set aside one of the kits they had and Mom picked it up for me. Have I mentioned Jim runs the greatest bike shop I know of?

Three bearings in various conditions...

Yesterday I took apart the remaining pieces and put the pedals back together with new bearings and bushings. The only piece I am missing is the rubber dust end cap (the pedals I have are so old they don't make rebuild kits for them). I am hoping to rig something up but if all else fails, there's always duct tape.

I needed this cool tool, which Dad had, in order to remove the clip holding the bearing in place.

A long way to go

This just came across my radar. Maybe something to strive for this year, a way to get Seneca Lake in the bag, although 100 miles with less than 2 months to prepare might not be feasible.

On a different note, people are always looking for interesting, new ways to locomote, even if it is a modern twist on an old design. Not sure I'd spend $4,500 on one of these but I'd try one soon than I'd try a Segway.

The Fading Aroma of Time

I understand Death is accompanied by a distinct aroma

I've been around those recently visited,

Death's cold grip just beginning to thaw,

but an odor, this smell, I cannot recall.

The smell I know precedes Death's touch

Something that mingles attic mustiness

with dank basement earthiness.

Places where the discarded or seldom used

are sent to await fate.

Will I, as time draws to an end, emit this same stink?

Will visitors humor me during their stay

Outwardly feigning their happiness for my presence

While internally decrying the experience?

When I go, I wonder how it will be?

A quick implosion?

A slow and steady grind?

Will it be from years of apathy fueled neglect?

Will those who've passed me by finally stop,

scratching their heads, saying what a shame?

Will they wrinkle their nose at the fading aroma of time?

Mt-Rd-Mt

80 degrees in April - need I say more? I took advantage of the summer-like weather to get out on the bikes as much as my early season stamina would allow these past three days. Friday I took part of the afternoon off and did some mountain biking at Bear Swamp with a friend and coworker. The trails were a bit wet, but not as bad as they could have been - there was still snow on the ground in some spots. The skunk cabbage was pushing through in some spots and there puddles were alive with early rising amphibians. I just hope it stays warm and we don't get a cold snap that will could lead to killing off those that woke up to enjoy the warm weather.

Spring time at Bear Swamp

Skunk cabbage

Saturday was another stellar day. I rode to the farmers market (no bike racks - have to talk with Ben about that...) and stocked up on local cheese, eggs, and apples. I then visited the site of the now demolished brewery that I've been photo documenting. I will get more pictures up of that soon, I hope. In the afternoon, I completed another bike ride around one of the Finger Lakes - Otisco this time. I rode clockwise around the lake after parking at the Marietta post office. There was a strong wind blowing from the south, south west that was certainly a challenge. There were a few times it pushed me out into the travel lane but fortunately there were no cars coming. After crossing the southern end of the lake, I encountered the aptly named Church Hill Road, steepest grade I've ever climbed on a road bike. I managed to make it to the top without stopping but it wasn't pretty - I was moving at a blistering 3 mph, barely enough to keep me upright. A few cars came down the hill as I was going up and I can only imagine what they were thinking. The uphill was rewarded with a nice decent on which I hit 43, the fastest I've ever gone on a bike. It was wind aided but fast enough for me. I briefly toyed with the foolish idea of trying to loop Skaneateles as well but poor nutrition, time, and the headwind made me throw in the towel after only a few miles. I made it back to the post office parking lot just as two other roadies were packing their bikes onto a MINI Clubman.

Otisco Lake looking south

As steep as it looks, or steeper

Today wasn't as warm as the past two but I am not complaining as the sun was out and it was in the 60s. I went to Fairport for Easter dinner with the family and afterward rode at Dryer Road. I've forgotten how many fun trails there are and how dry they stay. I looped some of the usual suspects but decided to try Juicy Bacon, a black diamond that I've only riden with Michael. For this early in the season - not at my sharpest of technical abilities - everything went so well I went back for seconds,,, and then thirds. I don't usually like bacon but today I couldn't get enough. Eventually I had to call it a day because the sun was setting and my drive train was screaming for some lube.

So good, I had to go back for seconds and thirds

I am pretty sore but managed just over 40 miles these past three day, split 1/3 mountain, 2/3 road. I've bested last year's April total and it is only the 4th. Could be a sign of good things to come.