grayb

Today was another excellent day.



The weather forecast sounded just about perfect - 60 degrees (15.5 c), sunny, breezy and clear. The day turned out just as predicted - absolutely glorious. I got an early start and headed south to Westchester County and the North County Trailway. I parked near the Croton Reservoir, walked around 5 miles (8 km) and finished up, as always, on the old railroad trestle.



It was much too nice a day to head back home, so I decided to take another hike, but this time someplace that I'd never been before. The Croton Aqueduct Trail extends for 26.2 miles (42.2 km). It begins at the base of the New Croton Dam, runs south through Westchester County and ends at Van Cortlandt Park in New York City. I decided to walk the portion of the trail between Croton and Ossining.



I began my hike at Ossining's famed Double Arch Bridge. It was quite the engineering marvel when it was completed in 1892 and was designed to carry the aqueduct (arch number one) over a street (Broadway - arch number two) and to have the Kill Brook run under both of them. Too bad that there are no good vantage points from which you can see the whole thing.

I had thought (and I've said) that fall was pretty much over.



I guess not. Some of the remaining foliage along the trail was quite beautiful and there was much to see and enjoy. One of the more interesting sites along the way is this old ventilator tower.



They were built about a mile (1.6 km) apart along the entire length of the aqueduct and served to both equalize pressure and keep the water "sweet" by letting in fresh air. Many are gone but two remain along this section of the trail. I did a bit of triangulation and was able to determine that this one is a little under 20 ft (about 6 m) high.



Here's another one - this is located a bit closer to civilization. You can see that local "artists" have enhanced its appearance. Here's the deal on that... I strongly support personal freedon and artistic expression. However, these are fragile, valuable and beautiful relics of the past. LEAVE THEM THE HELL ALONE, ASSHAT(s). I'll tell you what - if I ever catch one of these damned botched abortions defacing one of these things I'll... Alright, hold on... I abhor violence and I am officially on the record as being against capital punishment. I guess I'd best not finish that thought.



I had originally planned to walk all the way to the dam but it was seemingly suddenly much later than I had planned and I was rapidly running out of daylight. I left the trail about a kilometer (less than half a mile) from the end and headed back towards the historic Quaker Bridge.



I discovered that the bridge, built in 1894, is currently closed for repairs. Luckily, the new decking was all in place and it was late enough in the day that the work crew had already gone home so I was able to use it. I crossed the Croton River and begin making my way towards the Hudson River and the Croton Harmon Railway Station. By the time that I walked to the station and caught a train back to Ossining, night had already fallen.



I know - you've seen enough photos of this damn dam already. But there was a nice little rainbow (which you can just barely see) above the waterfall this morning.

Movies! Here's what I've been watching. Some I've enjoyed before, some are new. I skipped this the last time, so there are quite a few. I'm happy to discuss any of them, as always.

The Shining (1980) Stanley Kubrick
Comedian Harmonists (1997) Joseph Vilsmaier
The Insider (1999) Michael Mann
49th Parallel (1941) Michael Powel
Jerome Bixby's The Man From Earth (2007) Richard Schenkman
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994) Stephan Elliot
The Third Man (1949) Carol Reed
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) Michael Powel and Emeric Pressburger
Whatever Works (2009) Woody Allen
The Searchers (1956) John Ford
Age of Consent (1969) Michael Powell
Jimmy and Judy (2006) Randall Rubin and Jim Schroder
Angela (1995) Rebecca Miller
Lord Jim (1965) Richard Brooks
A Zed & Two Noughts (1985) Peter Greenaway
Dead Man (1995) Jim Jarmusch
The Wicker Man (1973) Robin Hardy
Wings of Desire (1987) Wim Winders
Food, Inc. (2008) Robert Kenner
The Call of Cthulhu( 2005) Andrew Leman
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009) Rob Letterman and Conrad Vernon
Bad Lieutenant (1992) Abel Ferrara
Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead (2009) James Strong
The Quiet Earth (1985) Geoff Murphy
Innocence (2004) Lucile Hadzihalilovic
Up (2009) Pete Docter and Bob Peterson
The Draughtsman's Contract (1982) Peter Greenaway
Pauline at the Beach (1983) Eric Rohmer
The Counterfeiters (2007) Stefan Ruzowitzky
Angel-A (2007) Luc Besson



Here;s what I've been reading:

Chronic City - Jonathan Lethem
This is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper
Love and Summer - William Trevor
The Liar's Club - Mary Karr



I hope that all is well with you and yours.
All the best!