Hiking - Buck Mountain, Lake George, NY

What a beautiful day! You just couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day: temperatures in the mid 60’s and slightly overcast. The previous week we encountered a lot of mosquitoes hiking Moreau State Park, but this time a limited number. Buck Mountain is the tallest mountain around the Lake at 2330 feet. It is a moderate hike with accent around 1600 feet, but when you get there it is well worth the effort.

Jenny at the Trailhead

Jenny signing in at the Trailhead.

View from the top, with a couple of hikers blocking the view!

A better view without the hikers!

Another view: this one looking south toward the Lake George Village.

Munson Williams and Proctor Museum - Utica, NY

The front entrance to the Museum

Inside the Museum; there are galleries around the outside. This open area is unique, but it seems like a lot of wasted space!

One of the galleries; this one happens to show two of the Voyage of Life paintings by Thomas Cole

Jenny standing in front of Number 2, 1949 by Jackson Pollack.

This is Fountain Elms, the home of the families the Museum is named and also contained the decorative collection of the Museum

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On August 18th after we left the Arkell Museum in Canajoharie, we went to Utica, about a half hour west, to the Munson, Williams & Proctor Museum (MWP), which is much larger than the Arkell Museum with about 25,000 art works. MWP also has an art school, performing arts and Pratt/MWP art school, which by its name has an association with the famous Pratt Art Institute Brooklyn Campus.

The highlight of this museum is its many works by the Hudson River Art School, which I am a very big fan. The the four paintings entitled, Voyage of Life, by Thomas Cole was the most interesting to me. I’m not going into the history of this famous work, but suffice it to say that their are two sets of, Voyage of Life; the original just happens to be in MWP, while the copy is in the National Galley of Arts, Washington, DC. If you want to know the amazing history of this painting (set of four), go to Voyage of Life Chronology written by Dr. Paul D. Schweizer, Chief Curator of the MWP Museum.

So if you like American artists: Thomas Cole, William M. Chase, Frederic E. Church, William Harnett, Winslow Homer and many others do plan to make a trip to MWP.

Arkell Museum - Canajoharie, NY

Before one start some serious review of art, he must have a good breakfast. As you can see from the photo above, this is a serious breakfast: country ham, eggs, grits (for you not so informed grits is a thick corn porridge), fried apples, gravy, apple butter and of course biscuits (also for you Hong Kongers this biscuits is bread not a cookie!)

Arkell Museum is in the town of Canajoharie, NY which is situated on the old Erie Canal and now the Mohawk River. It has a population of about 3000 people and is the home of Beech-Nut Corporation. Today after going through many mergers the company only makes Baby Food products. Anyway the Arkell Family who started a company that became Beech-Nut was into art big-time. The family eventually gave over 300 works to start a Museum that was named after the Founder Mr. Bartlett Arkell.

This Day in History - August 18

1550 John White, the governor of the Colony of Roanoke, returns from a supply-trip to England and finds his settlement deserted.

1587 Virginia Dare became the first child of English parents born in America

1774 Meriweather Lewis was born

1834 Mount Vesuvius erupts again

1909 Tokyo mayor Yukio Ozaki presents USA with 2,000 cherry trees; President Taft decides to plant near the Potomac River

1920 19th Amendment to Constitution passed guaranteeing women's suffage

1930 Eastern Airlines begins passenger service

1937 Robert Redford born.

1938 DOW Industrial Average closed 152

1938 FDR dedicates the Thousand Island Bridge connecting Canada and USA.

1938 Bobby H Braswell born.

1947 Hewitt-Packard is incorporated

1961 The building of the concrete Berlin Wall is started.

1964 South Africa banned from Olympic Games because of apartheid policies

1973 Hank Aaron record 1378 extra base hit surpasses Stan Musical

1982 Pete Rose sets record with his 13,941st plate appearance

Moreau Park - Southwest Trails

We went hiking again and this time it was a little bit easier for the old man. We decided to try Moreau State Park again since it is so close to our home and because the trails are well marked and fairly easy. This trip we hiked for about three hours and the accent was about 1400 feet in the Southwest section of the park, whereas last week we were in the Northern section of the Park. Next trip we are going into the Adirondacks and try a 2000+ peak.

Same hiking partner leading the way in her "gear". She was wise to wear insect protector clothing because the mosquitoes were out in force. A couple carried me several yards when I stopped for a water break.

As I said the last time; I really appreciate the trails being marked so clearly. It makes it much harder for me to get lost, but even so we did get off the trail for a short while. Too busy talking maybe?

This is the Hudson River although it looks like a lake. It is however at the bend where after passing Glens Falls, it turns north again.

Another shot of the Hudson River with my hiking "Leader". She really blazes a fast trail! It is getting harder to keep up with her, but clearly that has nothing to do with my age!

Hiking Moreau - State Park

It was so good to be out on the hiking trail today. This is our first hike this summer; normally we would have been out many times but it has been so rainy.

Today we went to Moreau State Park, about fifteen minutes south of our home and right on the Hudson River. This is a great park for swimming, boating, fishing, camping and hiking. Over the years we have been there many times to canoe and fish, but have only hiked there once and that was just around the lake. Most downstaters go there for camping and in the summer it is difficult to get reservations.

One of the beautiful advantage, among many, living in upstate NY is all the outdoor activities we can enjoy and most are well within a hour or so from our home.

Anyway it was a great hike and look forward to many more in the coming months.

Not sure what the look is all about!

View overlooking the lake although we couldn't see the lake clearly because of so much growth.

Don't you like the name of this trail!

My hiking partner; she led the way

It was nice to have these trail markers since we had not been on these trails before and our map wasn't the best.

New York College Baseball League (NYCBL)

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I went to see our Glens Falls Golden Eagles play on August 5 in the final round of the NYCBL Eastern League Playoffs. Unfortunately our team lost to Amsterdam Mohawks 6-4 which means the Eagles are finished for the season.

I really enjoyed the game and am sorry I haven’t been before. These kids are pretty good and are from colleges all around the country. They love the game and just want someone to notice them in hopes of playing professionally after graduating.

The league operates of a shoestring budget. It’s funny to see a replacement go into the game and he will use the glove of the player he replaces. Also there are few bats around; one player bats and then the next player uses the same bat. And, if you catch a foul ball, you have to throw it back. Oh, and this league uses wooden bats!

But after saying all of the above, it was a good game. There have been a number of players going to the “Big Show” over the years and today there are several playing AAA Ball who are waiting to be called up to the Majors.

I know next year I will take in more games!

New York City - Though Peggy’s Eyes or Camera

So my daughter Peggy is an Award Winning Designer and Art Director in LA and as such she sees things a lot differently than I do: a retired financial type! Anyway

we met her in NYC a couple months ago, a place she knows well since she lived there for several years after she graduated from college.

I’m attaching some pictures she took on the NYC trip that I like. I hope you like them also:

This was taken in The Modern Restaurant at MOMA. She loves everything to be neat and clean.

Also taken in The Modern. I love this shot, but I would have never seen it! This deserves to be in a fashion magazine.

The Modern is a great place to eat. This is only the desert; think about how good the rest of the meal was!

This was taken in Central Park. She saw this cup and had to take the picture. She remarked as to how she misses "Dean & Deluca" coffee.

This is 21 Club on West 52nd street. I have passed this site so many times I cannot count, but with Peggy she stops and takes pictures. This is just one of the many she took. Great shot!

This is looking up in the elevator at the Apple Retail Store on Fifth Avenue. Who would think of looking up to take a picture?

This a light and sign on The Arsenal Building in Central Park.

I think this was taken looking out one of the windows in the NY City Museum. I told you she likes it nice and clean!

A van passing but not missed by Peggy!

Photographer and Mother

You get the idea. Her design work is also great. I suggest you go to her web site and blog and check her work out!