Yes, a year has gone and I am another year older. It seems like a big change, although it is really just one more year. I celebrated by packing many fun activities into the weekend.
Saturday dawned cool and clear following a week of heavy rains. I waited until the sun had warmed the air, and hit the trail around 11am at Washington Valley Park, Gilbride Road trail head. Where all had been dry and dusty, now every creek was running and the banks of the reservoir were back where they had been before the dry summer. Grass, brush and even young trees were inundated or completely submerged.
A Painted Turtle (
Chrysemys picta) arises wet and glistening on a fallen log.
Further on, an another turtle stands quietly in the sun.
The rock crossing near the East Branch Reservoir was covered by clear flowing water. Water snails explored the newly submerged surfaces at their leisure.
I was pleased by the sunlight cutting through the fresh, crisp air. The high pressure system following the tropical conditions we experienced Thursday and Friday was a big change.
It is the beginning of the autumn season and fall is slowly but surely stealing over the trees.
I had a good moment sitting on some rocks overlooking the falls. I took off all my layers and soaked in the sun while listening to the music of the water falling over the rocks. Then it was noon and time to head home.
Later in the day, I visited Lambertville, NJ - New Hope, PA. The two interesting towns are connected by Bridge Street (above) which passes over the Raritan River.
I had desired to travel out on the river on one of the many ferry boats which provide tours, but due to the heavy flood waters all vessels were tied up, out of the main current. We took a ride on the excursion train (New Hope and Ivy Railroad) out of the small station in New Hope.
On Sunday, I strolled down the canal about 10am. I couldn't resist snapping a few shots of the early fall foliage. While most trees were still green, the changing leaves turned to jewel-like colors in the sunlight.
This shot reminds me a Tiffany window.
A final Green Frog (
Rana clamitans) peaks out of the duckweed. It was a good weekend, I hope to power through the additional rain this week to the next adventure Oct. 9th...
My boyfriend and I spent the wee hours of the morning next to the tracks which run through the Iona Island bird sanctuary.
Several trains rumble past - this is busy freight route on Saturday mornings.
Despite the fatigue I experiences later in the day, the morning light was beautiful as it flowed between the mountains. The first light of day was a green sky that flowed into blue, with golden light fading into pink after dawn.
On Friday night, we spent a pleasant evening at the Bear Mountain Inn. I highly recommend the beautiful lodge, which was decorated for the holidays. The spacious balcony in the evening is above.
A cheerful fire in the lobby is tended till late in the night by the inn staff. We needed it as temperatures hovered in upper 20's until late in the day, when the thermometer reached 40 degrees.
The view from the lobby balcony around midday. I look forward to visiting the lodge this summer. 
A common site at one drives around the park is the Bear Mountain bridge. The toll to cross is currently $1.00.
The area has long been under human use. However, here and there - between the bridges and tunnels and roads - nature reigns supreme, growing back year after year in every open space.
As we hiked around the park, the sky was clear for good part of the morning.
As we headed out of the park, clouds appeared as if from nowhere.
Here is another view of Iona Island. The buildings in the distance belong to the railroad.
The majority of the park is woods abutting rocks, which are the bones of the mountain poking through the soil.
Near the ferry landing along the river is a picnic area with 3 awesome fire pits. Each pit is heavy steel sculpture which holds the fire within it. Smoke escapes through the mouth or eyes. 
I understand that the flooding above is normal and occurs daily or at least monthly. The river is wide and close enough to the sea to reflect the pull of the tides.
A Common or Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri) surveys the shallows near the ferry dock.
Around 11 am, we reached the Historic Fort Montgomery parking area, and set out for another hour on the trail. The railroad tracks also run past the beautiful outcrop of land where a small museum and "historic enactment" area has been constructed.
There are many pleasant inlets right along the water in this area. We enjoyed the peace of the wide expanse of water that is the Hudson River while basking in the sun.
A Cormorant - perhaps a Great (Phalacrocorax carbo) or Double-crested (Phalacrocorax auritus) - caught a fish, then hopped up on the rocks to groom right in front of us.
I was surprised that this water bird was unfazed by both our presence and the loud blast of a train passing by.
Another common sight throughout the park are the spectacular views. While we enjoyed our by necessity heavily insulated December visit, and it was lovely to be outdoors despite the cold weather, I look forward to long walks in the warmer weather next season.
