Chinese Fold Out Print

Ithaca NY is famous for the plentiful and eccentric used book and clothing stores found on the Ithaca Commons and elsewhere scattered throughout Tompkins County. I personally frequent Autumn Leaves myself and often am surprised at what I find. Being a pseudo local, I have had the opportunity to collect a good portion of graphic novels, science fiction, records (from the now dubbed Angry Mom records), odd old magazine clippings (a friend and me sat through laughing at how sexist, racist, and obnoxious our society used to be, imagine when future generations look back at us!), and numerous, numerous books. One of my most recent finds was a Chinese Print. When outstretched, the image is about twenty feet long and depicts an average day in the life of local Chinese residents along a river. Overall, an awesome find. If you ever are interested in finding unique items, look up a local used bookshop in your neighborhood and stop by. You never know what you may find...

Godspeed is Reuniting!

In case you haven't heard, the great experimental band "Godspeed You Black Emperor" (put the ! wherever you see most appropriate)!!!

Ithaca Gun Hill

  

My goal this afternoon was to hike part of Fall Creek here in Ithaca, NY. A good way to spend a hot and humid Fourth of July. It is also part of my overarching goal to hike the four major gorges that are in Ithaca before I relocate to somewhere new. However, today was met with frustration.

Fall Creek is the longer of the creeks that flow that cuts through the Ithaca area.  The watershed cuts through the Fall Creek Neighborhood downtown (aptly named) and continues eastward through Cornell's main campus, Dryden, McClean, and stretches all the way to Cortland, NY.  During heavy rainstorms, the marquee waterfall here, Ithaca Falls, becomes a spectacular to watch.  A great location to view the natural wonder is right across from the local Townie bar the Creeker.


However, Ithaca Falls and the Creeker share an uncharacteristic neighbor, especially for Ithaca.  The noisy neighbor is the old Ithaca Gun Hazardous Waste Site.  I happened to stumble into it while looking for a path to continue my gorge trek and I must say, it is a mess.

  

The empty shells are contributing heavy metal contamination to the local area. So, the next time you are thinking about enjoying a quick stroll or swim through the Fall Creek/Ithaca Falls area, just remember the mess that sits on top of that hill. Maybe one say it will be cleaned...

Woods Hole - Cape Cod

Sometimes you get to escape. Sometimes you get to escape, learn about metagenomics, hangout with friends, and see whales for the first time in your life. Sometimes you just can't complain about anything.

Ithaca Tuesday Market

Ithaca, New York is centrally located in a very agricultural region.  Therefore, the community has the advantage of maintaining a vibrant Crop Share community and multiple Farmer's Markets.  The Farmer's Market run on Tuesday/Thursday in DeWitt Park by the Ithaca Commons and Saturday/Sunday at the permanent location near Lake Cayuga.

The Tuesday/Thursday Market is extremely handy if you live in a neighborhood near to the Commons.  You can pick up your lunch or some fresh veggies for dinner.  It is a quick way to get farm fresh foods that are locally grown and harvested.  If you are considering moving to the Ithaca area, this is one of the main advantages of living in the Fall Creek neighborhood or downtown in general, the Commons serves as a meeting place in general and contains many of these activities.




In addition to the food and fresh goodies, there are activities such as story telling or small bands that occur for the local children.  In a way, the Farmer's Market is not only a celebration of the Ithaca farming community, but a celebration of the overall community in general.  If you have a chance, you should definitely stop by and support the local vendors, farmers, and community as a whole.  Besides, you'll get something tasty or beautiful out of the deal anyways!

Oil Drop

In celebration of BP, a new art series is cropping up around Ithaca.  I'll keep you posted.

Six Mile Creek Hike

If you are looking for something to do in Ithaca, New York, all you really have to do is walk to one of the gorges and go for a hike. A very long hike if you are trying to avoid work and want to feel like you have something accomplished. The first full hike I have gone on independently in Ithaca so far is trying to walk from the mouth of Six Mile Creek near Lake Cayuga to its source in Brooktondale, NY. See the map below.


View Larger Map

I went off trail and got lost around Burns Road which is just past the halfway point, so I will have to go back and do it again. However, some of the items you can see on the lower leg of the Creek are amazing. There are three dams along Six Mile Creek, lovingly called First, Second, and Third Dam depending on how close you are to Lake Cayuga.

First Dam:


Second Dam:


Third Dam:


Bring mud/water shoes if you go. Also, this is not a great hike for little children or amateurs because between Dam #2 and Dam #3 the trail becomes very rugged. After Dam #3 the trail disapears on the north side so you end up following deer and other animal trails. Additionally, there are many plants out there whose lone purpose is to cut you. Anyway possible. The trail on the north side also ends and leaves you in a very beautiful but challenging marsh below.

You do see some beautiful sights along the way. Several of the trails take you hundreds of feet above the creek bed itself.  Make sure to bring water and possibly a snack on hotter days.  You will really want it right about here.  This is overlooking the reservoir to Dam #2.  Dam #1 and #2 is also where illegal swimming and diving is fairly commonplace.  Folklore has it that Dam #3 is where the nudists go.  However, I have only seen one naked man in the Dams, and that was at Dam #2.  I did catch two skinny dippers way early in my journey...




The reservoir above Dam #3 is where the City of Ithaca draws their water from.  Therefore, it is fairly pristine.  However, because of this fact, it is technically illegal to hike on the North Side I found out midway through via a sign posting.  The sign is posted near to where any semblance of a trail ends.  Be careful here, you are now following animal tracks if you follow my way.  Additionally, the terrain will get rough and will force you to tredge through the lake itself.  The shore is full of decaying muck, so bring appropriate shoes and be prepared to sink to your shins.

Now, after you made it through the marshes, you will hear cars going by.  This is not Rt. 79 but Burns Road.  This is where I got turned around, primarily I blame NYSEG for this.  A power line runs along Burns Road so NYSEG recently clear cut the entire forest beneath it, making the path out nearly impossible.  I followed along a deer trail and was able to find a path through the debri.  However, I stepped on a fawn.  No, literally, the deers I were following made a thicket in the clear cut wood and as I crossed I stepped through it.  The fawn seemed okay because it darted off into the woods, hopefully it will be reunited with its clan.

So, long story short, I nearly made it half way before getting confused.  I will have to start again really early in the morning and I might take the lazy mans way out and start from Brooktondale to Cayuga.

Several notes, this trail is not safe.  There are many places where one can slip and fall hundreds of feet.  Use caution when exploring any of the gorges in Ithaca.  Pack water, food, an extra shirt, and an emergency phone.  Additionally, notify someone of where you are going and what time you expect to get back.  In essence, use common sense.