Archive for the ‘Gary’s Picks’ Category

Bunco Birthday Weekend


01 Aug
Judy & Anthony

Judy & Anthony

Friday night the SNL group (extended to include Diane, Theresa and some friends) had another Bunco gathering.  Hosted by Nancy, we were invited out to her camp at Otisco Lake.  It was a beautiful setting Friday night as the sun below the trees. Tables were set up out on the porch, a lot of food and a lot laughing.  “Team Czaja” did alright on the prizes as well.  Lori’s cheese cake was the talk of the evening.

Grampa & Joshua

Grampa & Joshua

I have to come clean, the sounds of fishing jumping all night in the lake, more than perked my interests —  However, the watching the water at night for durations of time can start to play tricks with your mind.  For example, Steven seeing boats and planes that weren’t there — ok, maybe the boat.

Just in case you’re wondering, I didn’t take any pictures at the camp  —  I didn’t want people think I was casing out the place or something.  Plus, you know how it is, everyone thinks they look bad in pictures, etc. etec.  I could see that the camp would lend itself to some really great photos though.

Saturday the family gathered at my parents house to celebrate Judy’s 40th birthday.  I have to admit, looking back on 40 years of her life, she’s well accomplished and seems very happy.  Kudos to her.

A couple of kids seem to wear out several adults by the end of a nice sunny day.  Of course this week they’re preparing for the garage sale of garage sales.  Steven and Diane brought some “treasures out” — all at rock bottom pricing.

More great food and a little friendly card game to round out the night.  The pineapple cake, scampi, shrimp and chicken wings were all good.  Even Theresa’s min corn dog appetizers were pretty good.  Of course the batch Diane pulled out of the tins didn’t look quite as appetizing as the ones Theresa brought to the table —- just saying.

Dave, Judy & AJ

Dave, Judy & AJ

Sterling Reduex …


17 Jul
Sterling Nature Center - Trail flooding

Sterling Nature Center - Trail flooding

Sterling Nature Center - Vernal Pool Trail

Sterling Nature Center - Vernal Pool Trail

Shannon and I had decided to head back to Sterling Nature Center today.  We were both so impressed with the rookery on our last visit, we wanted to hike a couple of the back trails in hopes of some closer views of heron nesting area.

Unfortunately, the tail ends of the Vernal Pool Trail and the “scenic vista” at the end of Two-Tail Trail was flooded.  Almost all of the trail access points on the back side of the observation area yielded little visibility to the water.

It was hot today.  By time we had finished hiking, about 4.2 miles, we had both looked like we had been caught in the rain.  Our shirts and shorts were soaked through.  Having anticipated this, we headed for the lake.

Words can not describe how good it felt to get into the water!  There were a few good size waves coming in and many families spread out along the shoreline.  If you are willing to walk a little ways, you can have a lot of seclusion.

I think this is a great place to hang out for the day — although I would be pretty careful about little kids in the lake.  There was a pretty decent under current today.  Additional information and trail pictures on Trails, Tails & Tents.

Phillips Park - Fair Haven

Phillips Park - Fair Haven

Fair Weather Haven


10 Jul
Sterling Nature Center - Heron Trail

Sterling Nature Center - Heron Trail

Some days, nothing seems to go right.  On other days, everything seems to work out without a plan.  Today in Sterling we had the later.  Blue skies and a break in the extreme heat got us into the car and heading to Sterling.  Nope, not for the Renaissance Fair, but for the Sterling Nature Center just down the road .

This area features a blue heron observation area that is very cool.  The pictures don’t do it justice at all.  These birds and their nests are pretty big.  Mixed in with the heron are owl nests.  I could definitely spend some more time here but with binoculars.

Blue Heron #2

Blue Heron #2

According to the brochure we picked up at the sign in:

“Woodlands, meadows, beaver created wetland, man-made wetland, vernal pools, streams and Lake Ontario are a few of the habitats along this trail in which you may see a heron.  A short spur leads to the 80-acre beaver wetland that in 2005 contained a 60-nest great blue heron rookery.” — Cayuga County Parks & Trails

Nesting area

Nesting area

Blue Heron #3

Blue Heron #3

We hit up a geocache along the way.  This was the only section of trail that was “too buggy” to hang out.  For this reason, we didn’t stop to sign the log ….

Geocache - GCZ5M7

Geocache - GCZ5M7

Duck, duck, duck ....

A chorus line ...

I have additional details about the hike posted on my Trails, Tails & Tents blog.

After the hike, Shannon and I grabbed a few drinks, our suits, a blanket and lunch on the way to the lake (located at the end of the Lake Trail).  This was really a nicely secluded area with plenty of space and few people.

Sterling Nature Center - Lake Ontario Shoreline

Sterling Nature Center - Lake Ontario Shoreline

Cooling Off - McIntyre's Bluff Background

Cooling Off - McIntyre's Bluff Background

The picture above shows McIntyre’s Bluff in the background.  From the parking lot to McIntyre’s bluff is a little under half a mile.  The first .2 miles is a well traveled path to the lake and the remaining distance is on small rocks or via the Lake.

Sterling Nature Center - McIntyre's Bluff

Sterling Nature Center - McIntyre's Bluff

After fueling up we had a couple of sandwiches at Chinook Marina before heading over to Fair Haven Beach State Park.  I have to say that this park is awesome.  It’s huge.  They had a really nice beach which was sectioned off for swimmers and n0n-swimmers, fishing access, boating access, camping that ranges from primitive tent camping to cabins right on the Lake.  It was enough for Shannon and I both to agree on a return visit this summer.

We were able to catch up with the Piper clan at Fair Haven just long enough to say hello to the kids before heading back to Syracuse.  Below was the last shot of the day ….

Fair Haven Beach - Pier

Fair Haven Beach - Pier

And So It Goes

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