Dam.
The New Croton Dam, to be precise. 2188 feet (667 m) in length and 297 feet (91 m) high, it was the tallest dam in the world when completed in 1906. The original Croton Dam, which was only about 1/6 as high, was part of a system constructed in the mid nineteenth century to supply water to New York City. It was submerged by the rising waters of the New Croton Reservoir. This reservoir and a new aqueduct currently supply the city with about a tenth of its modern needs.
I used to live in Ossining, just a few miles from here, and this was one of my favorite spots to come to read, write or just to think. You can also walk or bicycle down to the city along the path of the old aqueduct, if you are so inclined.
I'm not sure if it's the lengthening nights, the cooler temperatures or the sudden jump in airborne pollen levels but this time of the year always affects me in strange ways. My manic-depressive (I hate the term "bipolar") personality gets out of control and I can actually swing wildly from one extreme to the other several times a day. It's not a problem - I just try to avoid people during this time. It works out much better for everyone that way. I stay offline and don't answer my phone. I would have (should have) mentioned something but it all came on rather suddenly. Those who have known me for a while expect and are used to this.
That nonsense which occurred a couple of weeks back didn't trigger any of this but it certainly didn't help. I am still somewhat amazed and extremely annoyed.
The weather has been wonderful lately and I've been doing a lot of hiking in the immediate area. This old railroad bridge is now part of the North County Trailway in Westchester County. It actually crosses the reservoir, a few miles "upstream" from the dam. I first became aware of it back in the 70's when my first (and favorite) wife and I would drive up Route 100 on the way to our favorite bar. I always wanted to walk across it. Now I can.
The bar is still there and my friends and I go there for dinner once in a while. I lost track of wife number one several years ago. The last time that I saw her she was on husband number four. She told everyone in the bar, husband number four included, that I was still her favorite as well. She's probably moved on to husband number five by now.
It's been cool and rainy all weekend and it looks like more rain today. There were still plenty of wildflowers last week - this will probably finish them. This photo was taken along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, the one which begins up near the old Charcoal Kilns, just a few miles from my home. I've been mainly walking the southern end lately. I park at the trailhead in Amenia and walk down to the Wassaic station, where the trail begins and the rail line ends - or vice versa.
This train was pulling into the Wassaic station just as I was arriving. The locomotive pulls the train when they are traveling north, then control is switched to a cab in a special car at the other end and the locomotive pushes the train back the other way. By the way - if you saw the film Revolutionary Road - the railroad cars in the scene at the station were all period authentic, but it was a modern locomotive exactly like this one that was pulling the train. I'm probably the only person that noticed or cared...
The rail trail and tracks parallel each other in this area. A bit further north, beyond the boundaries of the rail yard, the trail runs for over twenty miles on the old track bed. I've turned around and am heading back to my starting point. The locomotive and train crew are just about ready to do the same.
I've had plenty of time for reading over the past month. Some books (Vonnegut, Bulgakov, Ballard and a couple more) are old favorites, the others were new to me. Here's the list:
The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
Far North - Marcel Theroux
Grendel - John Gardner
Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Crying of Lot 49 - Thomas Pynchon
The Dark River - John Twelve Hawks
Factotum - Charles Bukowski
Empire of the Sun - J.G. Ballard
Timequake - Kurt Vonnegut
Pandora's Star - Peter F. Hamilton
The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester
Concrete Island - J.G. Ballard
That Old Cape Magic - Richard Russo
The Golden City - John Twelve Hawks
La Bete Humaine - Emile Zola translated by Roger Pearson
Waiting to be read...
High Lonesome - Barry Hannah
This Is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper
The Year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood
Judas Unchained - Peter F. Hamilton
As I've mentioned before, I watch at least one DVD a day, often more. About a third of the ones in this particular list are favorites and have been viewed on multiple occasions. As with my reading, I put a great deal of thought and research into films before I buy or rent them. I generally enjoy whatever I decide to watch. I love getting recommendations. Thanks especially to DrewBeckett, stampedeofworms and Sjofn for giving me some very good ones over the past several months
Here's what I've been watching lately:
La Bete Humaine
Cashback
Kissed
Schultze Gets the Blues
Swimming Pool
Julia
8 Women
Human Nature
Sunshine Cleaning
La Petite Lilly
Love Affair
The Big Blue
True Blood: Season One
Water Drops On Burning Rocks
Reap the Wild Wind
Trouble the Water
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Match Point
The Last Metro
Doctor Who: The Rescue
Doctor Who: The Romans
Spun
Carmen
Bottle Shock
Surveillance
Walkabout
State of Play
Doctor Who: The Next Doctor
Respiro
The Nanny Diaries
Tori Amos - Fade to Red
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming
Coraline
The Man In the Moon
Green For Danger
Prisoner of the Mountains
It will take me a while to catch back up with everyone. I look forward to interacting again. Best wishes...
The New Croton Dam, to be precise. 2188 feet (667 m) in length and 297 feet (91 m) high, it was the tallest dam in the world when completed in 1906. The original Croton Dam, which was only about 1/6 as high, was part of a system constructed in the mid nineteenth century to supply water to New York City. It was submerged by the rising waters of the New Croton Reservoir. This reservoir and a new aqueduct currently supply the city with about a tenth of its modern needs.
I used to live in Ossining, just a few miles from here, and this was one of my favorite spots to come to read, write or just to think. You can also walk or bicycle down to the city along the path of the old aqueduct, if you are so inclined.
I'm not sure if it's the lengthening nights, the cooler temperatures or the sudden jump in airborne pollen levels but this time of the year always affects me in strange ways. My manic-depressive (I hate the term "bipolar") personality gets out of control and I can actually swing wildly from one extreme to the other several times a day. It's not a problem - I just try to avoid people during this time. It works out much better for everyone that way. I stay offline and don't answer my phone. I would have (should have) mentioned something but it all came on rather suddenly. Those who have known me for a while expect and are used to this.
That nonsense which occurred a couple of weeks back didn't trigger any of this but it certainly didn't help. I am still somewhat amazed and extremely annoyed.
The weather has been wonderful lately and I've been doing a lot of hiking in the immediate area. This old railroad bridge is now part of the North County Trailway in Westchester County. It actually crosses the reservoir, a few miles "upstream" from the dam. I first became aware of it back in the 70's when my first (and favorite) wife and I would drive up Route 100 on the way to our favorite bar. I always wanted to walk across it. Now I can.
The bar is still there and my friends and I go there for dinner once in a while. I lost track of wife number one several years ago. The last time that I saw her she was on husband number four. She told everyone in the bar, husband number four included, that I was still her favorite as well. She's probably moved on to husband number five by now.
It's been cool and rainy all weekend and it looks like more rain today. There were still plenty of wildflowers last week - this will probably finish them. This photo was taken along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, the one which begins up near the old Charcoal Kilns, just a few miles from my home. I've been mainly walking the southern end lately. I park at the trailhead in Amenia and walk down to the Wassaic station, where the trail begins and the rail line ends - or vice versa.
This train was pulling into the Wassaic station just as I was arriving. The locomotive pulls the train when they are traveling north, then control is switched to a cab in a special car at the other end and the locomotive pushes the train back the other way. By the way - if you saw the film Revolutionary Road - the railroad cars in the scene at the station were all period authentic, but it was a modern locomotive exactly like this one that was pulling the train. I'm probably the only person that noticed or cared...
The rail trail and tracks parallel each other in this area. A bit further north, beyond the boundaries of the rail yard, the trail runs for over twenty miles on the old track bed. I've turned around and am heading back to my starting point. The locomotive and train crew are just about ready to do the same.
I've had plenty of time for reading over the past month. Some books (Vonnegut, Bulgakov, Ballard and a couple more) are old favorites, the others were new to me. Here's the list:
The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov translated by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky
Far North - Marcel Theroux
Grendel - John Gardner
Tender is the Night - F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Crying of Lot 49 - Thomas Pynchon
The Dark River - John Twelve Hawks
Factotum - Charles Bukowski
Empire of the Sun - J.G. Ballard
Timequake - Kurt Vonnegut
Pandora's Star - Peter F. Hamilton
The Stars My Destination - Alfred Bester
Concrete Island - J.G. Ballard
That Old Cape Magic - Richard Russo
The Golden City - John Twelve Hawks
La Bete Humaine - Emile Zola translated by Roger Pearson
Waiting to be read...
High Lonesome - Barry Hannah
This Is Where I Leave You - Jonathan Tropper
The Year of the Flood - Margaret Atwood
Judas Unchained - Peter F. Hamilton
As I've mentioned before, I watch at least one DVD a day, often more. About a third of the ones in this particular list are favorites and have been viewed on multiple occasions. As with my reading, I put a great deal of thought and research into films before I buy or rent them. I generally enjoy whatever I decide to watch. I love getting recommendations. Thanks especially to DrewBeckett, stampedeofworms and Sjofn for giving me some very good ones over the past several months
Here's what I've been watching lately:
La Bete Humaine
Cashback
Kissed
Schultze Gets the Blues
Swimming Pool
Julia
8 Women
Human Nature
Sunshine Cleaning
La Petite Lilly
Love Affair
The Big Blue
True Blood: Season One
Water Drops On Burning Rocks
Reap the Wild Wind
Trouble the Water
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Match Point
The Last Metro
Doctor Who: The Rescue
Doctor Who: The Romans
Spun
Carmen
Bottle Shock
Surveillance
Walkabout
State of Play
Doctor Who: The Next Doctor
Respiro
The Nanny Diaries
Tori Amos - Fade to Red
The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming
Coraline
The Man In the Moon
Green For Danger
Prisoner of the Mountains
It will take me a while to catch back up with everyone. I look forward to interacting again. Best wishes...
VIEW 18 of 18 COMMENTS
:o)