There's a nice article in this morning's Utica Observer-Dispatch about the Clifford J. Fulmer Post 92's American Legion Riders and the benefit that they sponsored, yesterday, for Army Pvt. Steven Smith of Brookfield.
It's about 53 degrees, this morning, and drippy again! (Yes! We have had ALOT of rain, it seems, but how much better than a drought: all of the new grass along Route 12 looks so good!)
Not knowing what sort of weather we would have for our regular Sunday "Ride in the Country," we set out in a Northward direction fairly early yesterday morning. We began to see brilliant patches of red and gold maples a bit North of Remsen and during the rest of the ride I took about 100 pictures. But how many red maple trees can you really call uniquely stupendous? Not that many, and so I've been culling out alot of the less-spectacular. Here are some of the "keepers."
(As always, remember to click to enlarge.)
South Shore Road, Old Forge.
"Pixie cup" lichen.
More maples.
Moose River between McKeever and Boonville.
View from the bridge at Thendara.
Ostrich Fern 
Polypody Fern - my favorite - evergreen; almost alwaysgrowing on rocks and usually only 6" tall.
(Continued in a little while!)
