Week Seventeen: Sheepherding Competition at the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, Chatham, New York

I’ve been a slacker when it comes to writing blog posts, but I haven’t slacked on doing free things.  A couple weeks ago, Mr. Free Albany and I headed down to Chatham to see the sheepherding competition hosted by the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company.  It was amazing!

I love dogs.  My dog Jackson is a border collie mix, and I’ve always admired how smart and intelligent the breed is.  All of the dogs that I watched compete were border collies, although any kind of dog is allowed to participate in the sport.

The event lasted two days and nearly 70 dogs competed.  I was blown away by the athleticism and expertise each dog exhibited.

There was a commentator explaining the rules which definitely helped me better understand what was going on.  Here are the basics as I understood them:

The field where the competition was held was very large.  The dogs start at one end and the sheep they must herd are at the other.  The dogs have nine and a half minutes to complete the course.  At the start, the dogs sprint toward the sheep, making sure they come up behind them without being seen.  When they get close, they slow down and get the sheep’s attention.  They then start moving the sheep back toward the finishing pen.

I know I’ve said it already, but it was amazing to watch.  As the dogs brought the sheep back to the finish, the handler gave commands either through whistles or yells.  The dogs immediately responded, moving the sheep to where the handlers indicated.  

Once the sheep are brought back to the handler, they had to perform what they call splitting.  This is an attempt by both dog and handler to split the sheep into two parts.  Once the splitting was complete, the dog then had to herd the sheep back together.  The last maneuver was to get the sheep into the pen.  All this  in such a short period of time!

This is what splitting looks like

One of my favorite parts of the competition were what I called the “staff dogs.”  These dogs kept the sheep together before the competition began and sprinted onto the field after the nine and a half minutes were up.  I think they needed black t-shirts with Staff written in white letters across their backs.

If you can’t make one of the competitions, visiting the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company [http://www.blacksheepcheese.com/] which is the largest sheep dairy farm in the U.S., is a great free thing to do.  The farm is open to visitors daily and there is a store where you can by their homemade cheese and yogurt made from sheep’s milk.  Mr. Free Albany and I stopped at the farm after the competition and I definitely recommend a visit.  The barns are pristine and the countryside beautiful.

The sheep are in!

Week Sixteen: Tulips in Washington Park, Albany, New York

I love the tulips in Washington Park.  They’re like old friends that you can count on seeing every year.  Over 100,000 bulbs bloom in the park; all of them unique and beautiful.  In May, Tulip Fest (which I plan on going to) celebrates these beautiful blooms but I also like to visit the tulips without all of the crowds.  

Located by the Moses statue, the tulips attract thousands of visitors a year.  My favorite tulip kept changing.  There are brightly colored ones, furry looking ones, and even tulips that look more like a tropical plant than an actual tulip.  There were quite a few visitors taking pictures of the blooms but it wasn’t too crowded.  Tulip Fest isn’t until May 12^th and 13^th and I’m not sure how many tulips will still be blooming by then.  I suggest going now before it’s too late!

Week Fifteen: Running, Albany, New York

Okay, so those of you who know me know that running is something that I do every week.  But with this week’s schedule completely booked, I was unable to venture out, so I thought I’d write about a free thing I do every week.

I like to run but I didn’t always like it.  In high school I played three sports and although I exercised then, I never ran on my own.  In college, I didn’t exercise, gained some weight, and was pretty out of shape.  After studying abroad in London and losing a lot of weight (13pounds!) I decided to start running.  This was around the same time that I started dating Mr. Free Albany, and running became something we did together.  We made it a goal to run a 10k and successfully completed one a few months later.

The past few years my running pattern has been to start running in the spring and to stop once the weather gets cold.  Every spring was always really tough and I scolded myself for hibernating all winter.  I could barely run a mile and was sore for days.

Last spring I decided I wanted to run a half marathon.  The farthest I’d ever gone before was a 10k, so I knew it was going to be a challenge.  And it was.  But it was definitely worth it.

If you’re intimidated by running (like I was), just know that the most important thing is to just start doing it.  Don’t be discouraged if you can’t go far at first, running is hard!  But if you keep at it you’ll see progress in a relatively short time.  In November, I completed my first ever half marathon.  I’ve managed to run through the entire winter (sooooooo happy it was a warm winter) and now that it’s spring again, I’m running in this warm weather and really enjoying it!

There are a lot of great places to run in Albany.  You may want to check out: Buckingham Lake, Hackett Blvd, Washington Park, and the Corning Preserve.  I’ve run all over Albany and learn something new about this city every time. 

Not into running?  There are a lot of other free exercises you can try!  Now, I’m not a personal trainer or a fitness expert but these are just some ideas I know of.

Try doing arm dips with a chair.  Push-ups and sit-ups are also good.  Want to be more flexible?  I used to work with a woman who was a professional ballerina.  I expressed an interest in being able to do a split.  To become flexible enough to do this, spread your legs against a flat surface (a wall works).  Sit so you feel a pull in your hamstrings but not enough to cause you any pain.  Sit like this for ten minutes.  While sitting, your muscles will loosen and you may be able to push yourself forward and closer to the wall (it’s okay if you can’t do this in the beginning).  This really works and your legs will feel amazing!  I like to read for my ten minute stretch although it’s also a great time to listen to music or just sit in silence and meditate.

So there you have it!  This warm weather is a great time to get in shape.  Start slow and just know, if I can run a half marathon, anyone can.

Week Thirteen: Buckingham Lake, Albany, New York

Today wasn’t super warm but it was still nice enough for a walk.  Mr. Free Albany and I decided to have lunch at Buckingham Lake.  It’s within walking distance from our house and we saw a lot of pretty flowers along the way.

Buckingham Lake isn’t very large for a lake but pretty large for being in the middle of the city.  There is a nice trail around the entire lake which totals .72 miles.  There were a lot of runners and walkers out enjoying the scenery.

In case you don’t know, Buckingham Lake is located between New Scotland Ave and Western Ave near Berkshire Boulevard.  It is surrounded by a freshwater wetland and supports a lot of wildlife that you usually don’t encounter in a city.  While we were there, we saw several ducks and geese swimming in the water.  There are picnic tables and benches and Mr. Free Albany and I enjoyed lunch looking at the water.  A small playground is also nearby.

If you haven’t been to Buckingham Lake yet and you live in Albany, it’s definitely worth a stop.  It’s a quiet and peaceful section of the city.  

Week Eleven: Corning Preserve Trail Bike Ride, Albany & Watervliet, New York

 The weather was so beautiful this weekend and I wanted to do something to enjoy this unseasonably warm March.  I’ve been to the Corning Trail before but never on a bike.  I have a bike but rarely ride it.  To me, there’s something terrifying about riding my bike around lots of cars and people.  When I suggested a bike ride, I was afraid Mr. Free Albany would want to ride our bike through the city of Albany and to the Corning Trail.  I would have been scared but I probably would have done it.  Luckily, he knows me well enough, he didn’t even mention it.  When I walked outside to get my bike, he was loading the bikes on the car.  It’s nice being married to someone so thoughtful!

In case you don’t know, the Corning Trail goes along the Hudson River from Albany to Watervliet.  We started at Albany’s Riverfront Park.  The sky was overcast and cloudy at first but the sun soon came out and the day got warm.  We went at a leisurely pace and I was surprised at how good I felt on a bike.  I’m not bad at riding but since I rarely do, I’m a little wobbly when I get nervous.

It started out hazy but the sun soon came out

We weren’t the only ones who thought of spending the day on the Corning Trail.  Runners, walkers, and fellow bikers were out in full force.  Although there were a lot of people, the trail never seemed crowded and we mostly rode alone.  The March sun felt good on my deprived skin.

Along the trail there are several benches and grassy areas that would be great for a picnic.  There is also an area with picnic tables and outdoor grills.  Mr. Free Albany mentioned a Burger King in Watervliet and since there are free French fries this weekend, we decided to ride all the way there.  Two free things in one day?  It’s too good to be true!

And indeed it was…

We got off the trail in Watervliet and I was under the impression that the Burger King was right around the corner.  After following Mr. Free Albany for what felt like forever, I started to doubt him.  We rode on a major road which terrified me, but I was doing okay until my wheel hit the curb and I almost crashed.  I then started to panic and was convinced that every car that passed me was going to hit me.  Luckily, there was a sidewalk close by, and I quickly pedaled to more comfortable ground.

We pedaled and pedaled some more through Watervliet.  When we came upon the Price Chopper plaza, Mr. Free Albany looked at me with that face I know all too well.  The Burger King he was thinking of was actually a McDonald’s.

I was starving and since there was a Subway in the plaza, we stopped there.  We had a Subway gift card that had some money on it, so we used that for lunch.  Then, tempted by the alluring image of the Shamrock Shake, we stopped and bought one.  It wasn’t free but it was really, really good.  I’ve never had a Shamrock Shake before but now I’m a fan.  Unfortunately, I’ll have to wait until next year to get another one.

Our ride back was fast and pretty uneventful.  I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty impressed with how I held up on such a long ride.  The longest I’ve ever biked before this was 6 miles, and that was 4 years ago.  I know my butt will be sore tomorrow, but I’ll deal with that then.

The Corning Trail is a great way to get outside and appreciate the beautiful Hudson River.  My advice is to stay on the trail though, and not go randomly riding around Watervliet.  Unless you’re into that kind of stuff.

Albany skyline on the way home

Week Three: Ice Skating at the Empire State Plaza-Albany, New York

When the high temperature is only in the teens, I like to stay inside.  But today, I went ice skating at the Empire State Plaza skating rink.  Since I’ve lived in Albany, the ice skating rink has been closed.  I will soon be moving out of Center Square and wanted to go ice skating when all I had to do was walk down the street and put on my skates.  That meant that I had to go skating today.  I just wish it hadn’t been so cold.

This is how cold I was

Mr. Free Albany and I used to go ice skating all the time at SUNY Oswego when we were undergrads.  There was an ice rink in the center of campus and we used to meet between classes and skate to some sweet tunes.  There, I mastered skating backwards and the hockey stop.  I hadn’t been skating since then and was a little nervous about going again.

We arrived at the skating rink at a little after 11:00am so the ice was still fresh.  It wasn’t too crowded, which was probably because it was so cold outside.  At first I felt a little tentative but was amazed that my feet remembered how to move across the ice.  I didn’t crash into any children trying to master the art or hit the wall plastered with advertisements.  In fact, I didn’t fall at all, and once I was comfortable enough, I even skated backwards and tried the hockey stop (granted, not very well). 

The rink is small but there is enough room to skate without feeling cramped.  There is a skater’s lounge with vending machines, restrooms, lockers (25 cents to store your belongings), and skate rentals.  Rentals are$4 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.  Mr. Free Albany and I had our own skates, so it was free for us.  If you’re looking to get your skates sharpened, you can have it done for $7.  There was also a sign indicating that there was reasonably priced grilled food, although we did not try any. The rink is open daily from 11:00am-3:00pm and 4:00pm-8:00pm.  I would suggest getting there around 11 when the ice is fresh or at 4 when the rink reopens and the ice is once again smooth.  If you live in the area this is definitely something you need to try (even if you don’t know how to skate!).  The rink will be open until early March and I plan on going several times this year.  I’ll just make sure I go when it’s a bit warmer.

Week One: First Day Guided Hike Minekill State Park-North Blenheim, New York

To get the new year off to a healthy start, many New York State parks held guided walks today.  Mr. Free Albany and I decided to participate in Minekill State Park’s First Walk.  Minekill State Park is about an hour from Albany in Schoharie County and as a Schoharie County native, I have been to Minekill countless times.  I went to soccer camp there as a kid, swam in the pool, and taught sixth graders about nature as a Sunship Earth counselor.  Since we’re in the area visiting my parents, it made sense to stay in the county for my first free excursion.

The drive to Minekill provides picturesque views of the Schoharie Creek and valley.  Although Hurricane Irene was months ago, residents along the Schoharie Creek are still recovering from the “500 year flood.”  There were no signs of the Blenheim Covered Bridge (a favorite spot of mine) and houses and businesses were completely destroyed.  Debris still hung in the trees along the creek—remnants of people’s lives washed away.  I know this post is about my hike but if you would like to help the relief effort, go here.

Okay, so now on to the hike.  It was actually supposed to be a snowshoe walk but it was 50 degrees with no snow.  We parked at the main entrance office and were greeted by Ashley, our guide.  She provided us with energy bars and we signed photo releases before leaving.  Six hikers including Mr. Free Albany and I showed up. 

We started on part of the Long Trail, which runs from New York City to the Adirondacks.  We walked at a leisurely pace, often stopping and observing the native plants and trees.  Ashley had a lot of plant knowledge and I learned a lot of interesting facts.  Did you know that Queen Anne’s Lace is a wild carrot?  We also examined golden rod plants and the large bumps in the stems.  These bumps (called galls) are actually parasites.  Ashley cracked one open and inside was a small worm.  Luckily for the golden rod, these parasites don’t harm the plant.

We left the Long Trail and walked along the reservoir.  The New York Power Authority is on the same land as the park and there are two reservoirs used for power.  We walked along the lower reservoir, which is stocked with an assortment of fish.  Further south is the Gilboa Dam and the New York City water supply.  We stopped and looked at the ducks, learned about different kinds of moss, and examined fungi.  We then headed uphill and stopped at the park’s rain garden.  A rain garden allows rainwater runoff to be absorbed.  This helps prevent erosion and flooding.

Our hike lasted two and a half hours.  It was a beautiful and warm sunny day and our hike provided spectacular views of the lower reservoir and the Schoharie Valley.  Minekill also has a beautiful waterfall that’s worth checking out, although we didn’t see it on our hike.  Parking was free, but during the warmer months it’s $3 a car (however, I’ve never paid for parking in the summer).  There’s a pool, visitor's center, manor home, and events going on all year.  January 28^th and 29^th is Snow Fest with activities such as a star party, moonlit cross-country ski, winter camping demo, and ice skating.  Minekill State Park is a great getaway during any season and today’s hike was a great way to begin 2012.