Blackberry picking

Ashley and I went up back on the hill looking for blackberries; we found some and filled our buckets.

On the way back down the hill, Ashley noticed two big piles of cat poop; they were old. I wonder what kind of critter's been hanging out back there. One of them was right back of mom's trailer. I'm not surprised; after all, Panther Mountain is only two hills away to the south.

During yesterday's trip to the Wildlife Center at Tupper Lake, there was a short film that confirmed that panthers are on the rebound in the Adirondacks. The DEC says not; they are either not admitting it or need to get out in the woods more often. The plaster of paris mold that I saw was about the same size as the fresh tracks I saw a few years ago back of the Banner House mine.

After a brief lunch to recharge, and encouraged by the thought of more berries, we went across the lake up the Blair Kilns road. We cleaned up on the old Atkinson farm, where I saw my own big pile of bear poop. Enormous! And fresh. Kirby Cook drove by on his way into hunting camp.

Then we went a little further back towards the kilns, taking a side road that led to an old logging landing. I parked the RV, and we quickly found the mother lode. The black bears have been in there something wicked; there were huge paths where they've been working the berry patch. We quickly filled our buckets, but will have to return next weekend, as there were lots of red ones "big as your thumb" and I anticipate some pie soon.

We drove down to Chateaugay; on the way back we stopped at Harrigan's and bought a quart of vanilla soft ice cream to have with the berries. I think I've been slated to cook shish kebabs this evening.

Then we drove over to the Eddie farm, where we found a few apples, though not enough for a pie. We'll have to return tomorrow for the rest!

While we were out, Nellie Lamb called, looking for Soulia Mountain. I'm unsure how she missed it, but I gave her directions. She said there's an old cemetery in there; I'm not surprised at this revelation.

The beginning of fall has been great but I hear cold temps will be here in no time.