7/15/2024 - Two Nation Tour, Alexandria Bay, NY

The next place we decided to take our friend was to Alexandria Bay, commonly called Alex Bay.  The main purpose was to see Boldt Castle because she showed us the really cool Gillette Castle.  Because the castle is on an island and I don't have a boat, you have to be shuttled over.  Since it doesn't cost a significant amount more to take a boat tour, we decided to do that as it's a beautiful area.

Parking Location: https://w3w.co/unfocused.optical.chariots
Site Notes: Getting on the boat for the tour is fully accessible though you may need to ask the staff for assistance.

Time: 11:33; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: For some reason, every photo I've seen for Alex Bay suggests the small building at the east end of the island (the right side of this picture) is the castle.  That is the powerhouse.  The actual castle is in the center of this picture.

Time: 11:47; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:50; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:57; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:26; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:31; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

7/14/2024 - Taughannoock Falls

We had a wonderful visitor who'd never been to this waterfall.  For anyone who hasn't been, this is the largest single-drop waterfall east of the Rockies (around 250 feet if I recall correctly).  The flow on this beautiful day was a little lower than normal, but it is still a wonderful sight.

Gorge Parking Location: https://w3w.co/docking.pausing.releasing
Site Notes: Fully accessible, well maintained path along the gorge right to the base of the falls.

Overview Parking Location: https://w3w.co/tadpoles.preset.gently
Site Notes: The view is accessible though it is a little better after descending some stairs.

Time: 11:00; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:03; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:07; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:08; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:18; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:22; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:24; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:31; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:33; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:39; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:41; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:42; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:30; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:32; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:32; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:33; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:34; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

7/13/2024 - Surprise Flowers

With the very wet year we've had, we have several flowers bloom that haven't bloomed in several years.  Pleasant surprise for sure...

Time: 09:15; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 90:15; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: It didn't come out as well as I anticipated.  The purple was just too strong.

Time: 09:17; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: Though huge, this hasn't bloomed in 4 or 5 years.

Time: 09:18; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 09:19; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 09:19; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 09:19; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note, this one came out a bit better...

Time: 09:21; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 09:21; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: We've been here for 10 years, I think this is only the second time this one has bloomed...

7/7/2024 - Holley Canal Falls

An extremely bright day made for a very difficult time photographing a waterfall.  It didn't help that this waterfall is facing south with not a cloud in the sky.  Very nice little park though with some hiking and fishing available.  Believe it or not, this is actually a man-made waterfall created by an overflow from a portion of the old Erie Canal system.  My understanding is that the section of the canal is filled every spring for recreation such as swimming and kayaking.  It doesn't get fully drained in the fall, but the levels are reduced enough that recreational use is very limited.

Parking Location: https://w3w.co/celebration.treaty.flukes
Site Notes: There is some accessibility to picnic areas and viewing the falls.

Time: 10:13; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 10:16; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 10:19; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 10:20; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

6/29/2024 - Around Oswego

We decided to head up to Oswego to Lakeside Park because we hadn't been in a while.  I do still like the park since it was made into an actual park, but the solitude seems to have gone away.  The other thing that seems to have vanished is the sea glass, there used to be a ton of it!  We also decided to check out the newest park, Cahill Pier.  I can see this becoming something very popular.  There was an Osprey circling searching for it's next meal.  The photos below aren't as good as what my wife got because my lens is only 70mm at the long end so they are highly cropped.  We had to cut the shoot short though as rain began to move in...

Parking Location (Lakeside Park): https://w3w.co/fumble.table.latest
Parking Location (Cahill Pier): https://w3w.co/bugs.feast.bounce
Site Notes: Both parks offer wonderful views of the lake and lighthouse that are fully accessible.

Lakeside Park

Time: 10:35; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 10:38; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 10:41; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 10:43; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 10:43; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S
Note: I thought the contrasts within this made for a nice black & white...

Cahill Pier

Time: 11:03; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:04; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:05; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 11:06; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

6/19/2024 - Agers Falls

My second stop for the day was only about 10 minutes from the first (Singing Waters).  This was more than I anticipated it to be.  I expected it to be just a waterfall but instead found an area that is used for a beach.  Folks were swimming all over and riding tubes down the smaller cascades.  An interesting place for sure.

Parking Location: https://w3w.co/frock.waxers.adopts
Site Notes: Views are accessible but that's really about it.

Time: 12:39; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:41; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:44; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:50; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:51; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:53; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:55; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S

Time: 12:59; Camera: Nikon Z7 II; Lens: Nikon NIKOR Z 24-70mm f4 S