Breakneck Ridge, White-Red-Yellow Loop

Paola and Tyler visited today. Paola lives in NY and Tyler is a PhD candidate at Lehigh. They came up for a hike, so we took them to Breakneck Ridge.

At the trailhead we were asked a few questions by some people trying to improve the infrastructure for hikers and visitors who enjoy the Hudson Highlands. We told them we'd love to see sidewalks or a trail along Rte. 9D to make it safer, among other things.

This is the route we took, starting at Breakneck Point, going up the white trail (W) to the red trail (R) and taking it it to the yellow (Y) and the yellow back to 9D where we parked. Some 2.5-3 miles all told, about three hours including breaks and waiting on me as I changed lenses and such.

The white trail up is a long scramble to several rewarding views of the Hudson. Don't look back or down, though.

Here we are on one of our first breaks. I am looking roughly northward from the trail.

On another break.

Shot of a tug and barge taken with a telefoto lens.

Paola is sneaking some shots of her boyfriend Tyler.

Paola loves to jump.

Pushing it back Sisyphus style. This was shortly before we left the white trail and turned onto the red.

Pollepel Island with Bannerman Castle at the point.

Jennifer's jump/shadow shot, her own thang.

Another jump by Paola at the highest point on the red trail.

We descended down the red trail shortly after this. Much easier than going backwards, but harsh on the knees.

Some cute chick who was on the trail checking me.

She took another jump shot nearby.

I took these photos from the highest point we reached on the red trail. They are 'stitched' together with software from Canon. Click on the image to see a larger view.

Wappinger Creek In the Fog

Panoramic Street Shots Of Beacon

Out walking to our favorite part of Beacon again today and took these. Click on the images to enlarge them!

Mt. Beacon Panorama

I did not even know I had the software to do this until recently. This was stitched together from three photos I took near the peak this morning. It was too foggy to shoot the valley, so I took these pictures of the scene at the top. Click on it to see it bigger.

Morning Hike Up Mount Beacon

Remnants of the Mt. Beacon funicular.

Triangles.

Future ax murderer?

The wheelhouse that drew the funicular to the top.

Ruined motor bushings.

Vanishing point.

Looks like a mission.

Markers for the trail we took.

Warm Late Winter Day

Means, "take pictures on way to work."

The tide is going out - you can tell because the mud is moving in lines toward me, and I have my back to the Hudson River. The Hudson is a tidal estuary. The effect of the tide goes all the way to Troy, NY, some 100 miles from NYC.

This is where I stand when I take pictures for my brother's blog.

Vaclav's Boulangerie

I was asked to contribute to a pot-luck dinner at work by making bread. Here we go.

Sunday afternoon I prepared seven batches of the dry ingredients (18oz of flour, 2tsp yeast, 2 tsp salt) and placed them in bags. Mise-en-place, if you will. One of the seven bags is missing because it's now combined with 12-13 fluid ounces of water. 

If you don't have one of these, you ought to. Yes, I said "ought." It is a moral imperative. I hate kneading by hand and I don't have the space anyway.  

The first batch is done. 6 more to mix and rise.  

Three batches are already rising. 

All seven rising.

Parchment paper and cookie sheets ready to go.

After about an hour, I can see the first batch is rising. How do I know it was the first? By the position of the bowl on the table. 

Now we shape each batch into some form. I am not very good at this part. 

Everyone is shaped, rising again. That's seven trays of 12 rolls each. 

Don't forget to do the dishes. A clean kitchen is a must for safety and smooth operation. No, I am not messing with you. This is why my wife calls me her favorite kitchen gadget. I think.

Bakin' away...

First batch is DONE. I wonder how good they are. 

After they all cool for a few hours I will bag them in a huge Zip-Loc bag (have you ever seen one? You can  fit a week's laundry in one!). Tomorrow they will be consumed by my colleagues at work.