by Gary Lee
If you didn’t get outside to enjoy the fall leaves all you had to do was look out your window…they were spectacular. I watched the leaves change while making all my trips back and forth to Utica.
The days are getting shorter and there have been some super sunrises and sunsets.
The one over Utica Saturday night (October10) was breathtaking with all the reds, blues and yellows.
It almost looked like a rainbow in the western sky.
It was a beautiful weekend for everyone to get out and see the leaves. Some had fallen but there was still lots of color no matter where you looked.
I know the mountain trailhead parking lots were crammed with cars and the town was bursting at the seams.
I met the traffic coming north as I was traveling to Utica and then met them going home as I was coming back at night.
Here is an update on Karen. As of yesterday they are still trying to get her blood thinners up a little higher before she can be moved to rehab at Sunset. She is stronger each day and her headaches are getting less each day.
They are going to take out her fifty or so staples today (10/12) which probably won’t be much fun. Thanks for all the cards, calls and dropped off food, they have all been encouraging.
I got home just at dark last night and put up the nets to catch saw whet owls.
According to internet reports they have been catching them both north and south of here. I caught three last night—all females—one of them the largest saw whet owl I’ve ever caught.
I knew just as I put her in-hand that she was a bigger bird, probably three years old or more.
Last year my biggest nights were on October 14 and the 19, with eight caught one night and 11 the other.
If anyone wants to stop over some night and watch they are welcome, just give me a call.
Nets go up at dark unless it’s raining. Come over about 10 or 11 p.m. depending on how they are biting.
Members of the Old Forge Camera Club have an exhibit at the Old Forge Library with an opening reception on Friday, October 16th.
A couple weeks ago the club went to Nicks Lake to shoot after dark using different lighting effects. It was very interesting and some of the photos may be in the show.
Michele deCamp was the first fire-breathing lady on the beach and then I took a turn. I got a few sparks down my neck but that just made me move faster.
Each camera shooter got different shots depending on their settings.
When comparing all you had to do was change your settings to get the same results. We tried a few different things, some worked and others, not so much.
Writing in the sky was a bust because no one could write backwards, but we had fun trying.
The Camera Club meets the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Old Forge Library at 7 p.m. The deer are on the move so be more aware when traveling as these newer vehicles don’t do too well when they hit one.
When I’m picking up litter along the highway I can always tell where there was a deer car collision as there are broken car parts in the area.
In my travels the last couple weeks I’ve seen ten dead deer along the highway and lots of car parts.
Speaking of picking litter up, there was a group picking up along the four-lane just up the hill outside Utica.
I don’t know who they were but they did a great job and it sure looks a lot better.
A couple weeks ago we traveled to Ballston Spa via the Northway. What a mess it was from Lake George to Saratoga.
You would think you were traveling through a landfill along each side of the highway.
Take your trash home or to the next drop-off spot. Don’t just toss it along the highway.
Lots of hunting seasons are open. Check the internet to be sure… but that’s another story. See ya.