August 20, 2012

Dimensions of Procrastination

As I sit here...
I am thinking about what type of original thought I could express in writing.
In the photograph below, it is on the side of what will probably be named Interstate Highway 99.
The numerical assignment is not accurate as it violates the grid, that being:

Odd numbers run from south to north, lower odd numbers start in the west and the higher odd numbers end in the east. 
I-5 is in California through Washington state, I -95 is in Florida through Maine.

Even numbers run from west to east, lower even numbers start in the west and the higher even numbers end in the east.
I-10 is in California through Florida, I-90 Is in Washington state through Massachusetts.

Interstate Highway 99 violates the grid as it is situated between I-79 and I-81.
I would like to re-assign I-99 to I-67 at Morgantown, West Virginia at Interstate Highway 79.
Currently, Interstate Highway 68 is posted there.
I would piggyback I-67 onto I-68, There would be some notation in the posted distance suggesting that the actual starting mile of I-67 is in Indiana (although not constructed at this time).
Regardless, we need a developed Interstate Highway corridor from Morgantown, West Virginia to Plattsburgh, New York.
This would include, State College, PA, Williamsport, PA, Corning, NY, Ithaca, NY, Cortland, NY, Rome, NY and, Plattsburgh, NY.
In the recent years, we have seen a severe decline in transportation infrastructure development.
There is a need to develop transportation corridors to support economic development in non-developed regions.
In regions such as the Adirondack Mountains, there would be a minimal amount of  adjacent construction, this would enable significantly improved access to the popular region.




recorded by the Blue Öyster Cult in 1975 and 1976





-original thought I could express in writing-

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Two Days and A Love Song

It is now a Monday morning, I am tired and will soon fall asleep.
I wanted to post several blog entries however, I cannot function well enough at this time.
The two days depicted here were pleasant for different reasons, all of which were centered around good weather.




'Love Song' recorded by Tesla in 1989



No-one ever wants to read about sugar alcohol.
I am some-one that never again will eat the better part of one-half gallon of 'no sugar added' ice cream and engage in excersice.
The intestinal bloating bordered on a phenomenon; one of which I had no practical idea as how to alleviate. 
I made it home and, I didn't set too of a high priority on walking for the next several days. 



-I had no practical idea-


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August 18, 2012

The Annual Walk to Greenwood Park

Just about every year, there is a picnic at Greenwood Park. On this day of Saturday August 11th 2012, I made another annual walk to Greenwood Park, Town of Nanticoke, Broome County, New York.



I started off at an early 07:30,
the walk was peaceful as I am in good health.
I carried a backpack with one gallon of water in it.




Although it was humid, I was comfortable as I took many photographs.
Throughout the later morning, there was a brisk amount of traffic on Nanticoke Road, I thought that perhaps it was heading to the park.
As I arrived at the park, I realized that there were probably no more than 200 people on the park grounds.




'Don't Say No' recorded by Can in 1977



I was at this park to meet my mother, her husband and, a entire family that are good friends of our family.
I was hours ahead of the 14:15 rendezvous. I decided to spend several hours swimming; after an seventeen mile walk it would be refreshing.
I continued to trod water and remained submersed up to my neck in soothing water for over two hours.
My leg mussels became partially stiff so, I changed motion in which I moved my legs to eliminate the potential cramping. Sometime during the second hour, both of my legs experienced debilitating cramping and, I was unable to alleviate it through any holding pattern or position of my legs.
Eventually after I had my feet pressed against the firm sandy bottom did the severe pain of the cramps stop.
I recognized this window as the opportunity to quickly exit from the water and sit on a bench with a towel wrapped around me. I was rather well chilled and, I really did feel quite good; I was waterlogged.




After about one-half hour of sitting on the park bench, I noticed that it was 15:10, Why had the others not approached me? Were they here? I decided to patrol the park on foot to see if I could find them
I did find them in the usual location, everything was set up, there was food on the grills.
They eagerly greeted me asking me how long it took me to walk to the park?
I explained that I had been submersed in water for the past two hours.
They explained that they went to the beach but, they did not see me.
I effectively spent at least one hour in the water while they were there.
I didn't mind too much, dinner was served and I believe that I ate about one pound of grilled chicken.
I was driven home afterward.


I was driven home afterward.

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Back Home


I am keeping pace with photography, video production and, some music composition.
I have more recorded tracks than ever to sort through and arrange.
I want to update my blog as much as possible.

These photographs are the 'at home' photographs after the Newton family reunion
and the trip to the Catskill Mountains.
I have twice been to Yosemite National Park with my dad, his wife and relatives.
The Catskill Mountains, much smaller as they are, size up rather nicely in terms of hiking and photography.




'Right on Time' recorded by Spirit in 1971








'I Got a Line on You' recorded by Spirit in 1968




I have more recorded tracks than ever to sort through and arrange.

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August 17, 2012

Kaaterskill Falls, The Upper Falls

The lure of the Kaaterskill Clove is the extreme contrast from the sea level elevation of the Hudson River to the mountain tops far above. The stunning reality is a 3,500 foot contrast.
The Catskill Mountains are the first significant mass of earth to accumulate moisture from the Atlantic Ocean as the clouds move inward. It is not uncommon to see afternoon rain showers in Haines Falls, Town of Hunter as the sun shines. As A result of the accumulated precipitation, there is usually an abundance of flowing water at the very eastern portion of the Catskill Mountains. This gracious precipitation does not go too far in terms of supplying much of central New York State with water; most runoff is diverted through the Shandaken Tunnel to Esopus Creek and ultimately into the Catskill Aqueduct.


'.....The Overall Thought In The First Place.....'
MPK
2012






(2012-08) Kaaterskill Falls, The Upper Falls


Looking north-east:
Kaaterskill Falls 
are in the background.





Looking north-east:
Kaaterskill Falls 
are in the background.



(2012-08) Kaaterskill Falls, The Upper Falls





Looking north-east:
Kaaterskill Falls 
are in the background.



A Misunderstanding of Soil Characteristics:

 I want to discuss my presence here in March of 2012.
I had not been here before other than driving on New York State Route 23A.
As I would drive up the mountain, I would marvel at the waterfall beside the highway.
On one day that was convenient, I decided to park the vehicle in the parking lot and walk over to the waterfall and photograph it.
I was impressed with the display of water as I photographed it; I decided to walk further up the trail until I saw Kaaterskill Falls for the first time. I recognized the image of the falls as it is iconic of the Catskill Mountains; I simply did not know that it was there.

  It was an unusually warm March in 2012, later that day, the temperature would be above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
As I approached the waterfall at the bottom, I wanted to see the upper level, I edged my foot into what I though was moist compacted top soil, it was easy to climb above the second level and look down at the upper waterfall.
The only characteristic that I thought negatively of the soil was that it was more slippery than I expected, it appeared to have something similar to talc in it.
At the very top of the slope there was a trail along the upper cliff that led over to the waterfall area, I was able to look down and photograph the upper waterfall.
I did slip on a patch of ice but, I was not terribly concerned because I assumed that the soil was sufficient to arrest my slide at a the steep angle that I would have traveled.
I was a bit concerned about the thought of climbing down but, my footwear was sufficient to maintain traction in the soil as I executed careful well planned steps to the trail.

'Change' recorded by Candlebox in 1993

 The encounter in the month of March was positive and I was excited to return to this location in August of 2012. I decided that I was going to climb to the second waterfall and photograph it as I looked up at the water as it was falling; in March, I was quite some distance above it as I looked down.
I eagerly started to climb the very steep slope toward the upper waterfall; a great difference was observed, the soil was hard compacted clay that didn't provide any traction.
I made it to the same level as the upper waterfall and started to walk toward it, I had difficulty with my footwear, I had to project my movements to coincide with stationary objects such as trees.
I really didn't have sufficient traction. 
As I approached the upper waterfall for the first time, I encountered the rope railing.
The trail is not level as the upper area is approached, it is a thin strip beside a high cliff that drops down to the bottom of the lower waterfall, there is a wall on the other side of the trail that restricts access to the upper waterfall from any other location except the uneven trail.
I wanted to stand at the bottom of the upper water fall so, I held the rope with a hand to guide me as I walked the otherwise deadly trail onto the spectacular ledge that is washed clean and flat at the base of the upper waterfall.
As I stood below the falling water, it was a spiritual occurrence as I felt nothing less than the thin moisture from the falling water as the wind would sometimes blow and shift the gentle stream by a few feet.
I had stood where countless others had striven to stand as I was at that moment.
I had the most vivid amphitheater providing a show of water that turned to mist on the long way down to me.
I was able to walk on the level floor and see myself as someone that could climb in the deep spirit of motivation toward a fulfilling an ambition. 

 
(2012-03) Kaaterskill Falls


 The climb down was not spiritual, it was of mortal concern for my well being.
The concrete that I once thought was topsoil was harsh and required me to step from stone to stone with the aid of the occasional tree to support me in my great descent.
The grade was so steep that I had to place my feet as I leaned far back and embraced a rock with my hands; I would appear to be sitting if observed from the bottom of the slope.
I took the necessary time to think every move through; I understand the consequences of a hasty movement in this environment.
People at the bottom could see me slowly working my way toward their location, I arrived safely at the official end of the trail.
I was the first person of the day to stand beneath the falling veil of water.



'Don't You' recorded by Candlebox in 1993


It is not topsoil, it is hard clay that requires significant traction; good footwear may need to be inclusive of cleats to achieve suitable traction. The soft clay in March was a fluke and should never be counted on to provide life sustaining support.



I over climbed and, it saved me of a difficult encounter with much ice that is perpetuated with mist from the upper falls. I am actually better off standing above the upper falls.



 
(2012-03) Kaaterskill Falls



'You' recorded by Candlebox in 1993


I had stood where countless others had striven to stand 
as I was at that moment.


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