Film: Bridge Music

John Burroughs

" I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see." ~ John Burroughs


"I do not think I exaggerate the importance or the charms of
pedestrianism, or our need as a people to cultivate the art. I think it would tend to soften the national manners, to teach us the meaning of leisure, to acquaint us with the charms of the open air." ~ John Burroughs


Burroughs was born in the Catskills and although he traveled far and wide to go on nature expeditions, hike and camp and talk nature with men like Theodore Roosevelt, Luther Burbank, John Muir, Henry Ford, and Thomas Edison, he was always overjoyed to get back to the Catskill ~ Hudson Valley region.

Mysteries

Today I took a walk around Old Mystery Point.

Walked down to the Manitou Metro North Station and found a Kennedy half dollar that had been quite flattened by a train. I wondered who put it on the tracks, and supposed they didn't find it afterwards because it flew off to the side. I'm always looking for interesting stones, so the coin caught my eye.






Wandered on various trails through the cool woodlands to the marsh where I saw so many turtles and frogs. The walk was a little over three hours, a mix of sunshine and cool shade.


The trails were all pretty narrow and wild, with plenty of fallen trees to climb over, or in this case, go under.

The Tulip trees were dropping flowers on the path.

Found these "devil" pods.

Catskills Region

Heading up to The Catskills region this weekend. Looking forward to a break in the work schedule and taking some seriously long walks.

Hiking Update

I just liked this tree on the side of a very interesting path.

A heavy work schedule and some thunderstorms have kept me from hiking as much as I'd like to. But I was lucky to be able to hike when I could. One hike was a sweet unplanned ramble lasting nearly eight hours. There is a lot to be said for having meals outdoors and wandering aimlessly, just exploring. Rain today but that's okay.

It is no use to grumble and complain;
It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice;
When God sorts out the weather and sends rain -
Why, rain's my choice.
~James Whitcomb Riley

Bridge Thoughts

On the Popolopen Trail, going under the Bear Mountain Bridge.


Bridges ... The Bear Mountain, a rail bridge and the footbridge. (snapshot taken from the 9W highway bridge.)


Admiring the Bear Mtn. Bridge from a ridge on Bear Mountain.


The Bear Mountain Bridge from the footbridge down in the gorge.


The bridge has been an excellent symbol for me lately, since I have work deadlines. Hiking helps me think more clearly and I'm more productive. I have my eye on a spot that would be a perfect outdoor "office" for a few hours every week, and I can see part of the bridge from it. You may see me sitting there on a yoga mat with pencil and notebook.

"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment."
~ Jim Rohn

Trees

You can learn a lot from trees.


They can rebel against things they don't like.


Living is important to them, even if the going is tough.


They're flexible.


They get along well with others.

(that's the NYC skyline in the gap.)