RiverDogging

Thus closes River Dogging 2007

2007-12-31T11:42:00.000-08:00

Do not weep, my poppets.

If you simply must have more River Blogging, go here. Turn down the volume a bit, though. We are directly under the Walnut Street Bridge, in what's left of the Fishing Access Site after the flooding.

The end of safe hiking, 2007

2007-12-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

We caught the late afternoon sun on the southside levee. It is still way too cold for me, and I am glad I'm wearing a had and gloves. Glad, too, that I forced the HuggaMutt to wear a sweater. The warm sun is counteracted by a stiff breeze. Still, all is not bleak, even for early December.
Hunting is what it is all about with Ellie. She knows darned well that there are critters in those rocks...

Generally, I prefer to remain silent when hiking with Ellie. She is usually silent, and so am I. Besides, I think the sound captured here says it all. Great white noise for downtown!To me, the river smells fresh and clean, but dogs rely so much on their hearing and sense of smell. Perhaps the whole experience is a mishmash of sound and odor to her. Having her with me really enhances it all, especially while we are alone.
My VeggiGirl calls the HuggaMutt EllieButt, and here you can see why. There is no danger. Ellie is very very, wary of the cold water. And we are quite high on the bank. If she fell from here, it would be some cold fishing, but she would easily make shore below.

But the hiking path is not safe in the winter, not for an inquisitive doxie. This will be our last visit until after the next thaw. Two good snowstorms and sleet will render this part of the Chemung unvisitable in just a few day.

Time for the holidays, anyway.

pb
Little Pond

Chemung River. Elmira Southside

2007-11-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

As promised, a view of the Chemung River from the south levees and dikes. After three years, we are finally done mapping the river through pictures. Just in Elmira, of course. These are all places where a dog is certainly welcome and easily managed. I must confess, I am in love with this waterway.We are directly across from Foster Island and the Water Board. This is Southside. Sometimes we see people walk their pets over here, and we wanted to take a look.Peaceful. Canoeists can always find solitude on the Chemung. I wish I had a canoe, myself.We can see this rickety warf from the North side of the River, nearly every day. It's not safe.

This little guy doesn't under- stand that we are intruders. Ellie will murder any small mammal she can catch. As an earth dog, she willingly goes into any burrow that will take her girth.Let's walk along the dike that protects Elmira Southside. The paths are freshly mown and inviting. This is an excellent place to walk one's HuggaMutt. There is no need for a leash, but take one anyway. This city enforces a Leash Law not only for dogs, but also for cats!Someone wants to present our walk in the best light possible. This view of the City of Elmira is postcard perfect.The water is mirror smooth and almost clear looking. The water is deep here and the city is beautiful in the sunlight.Finally I spot a lone angler. He is wearing waders and is standing in the pool just under the dam. We move in for a better look.I was wrong. The fisherman is not alone. There are actually many fishermen along this portion of the Chemung. On other days, Ellie will be surprised to find people quietly sitting and fishing from the levees and dikes.It is heartening to see the young people casting over the water and mist. It is such a healthy thing for everyone concerned. This is not your usual urban experience.I can hardly describe the sounds and feeling. I see this spillover everyday as I pass over the Main Street Bridge, but this is so very close. We are surrounded by the sound of the water. Even though the Chemung is quite low, the scent of the River is fresh and invigorating.

The trip back will be a very long one for me. I am already lame and the fatigue made it take forever. But the trip is attractive and I looked forward to our next visit.

All these pictures can be viewed much larger by clicking on them. They were chosen for detail.

pb
Little Pond

September Morning Chemung Visit

2007-10-14T07:28:00.001-07:00

interrupted by the noisy construction
Sanitary Sewer Pipe Replacement
Chemung County $1,100,000
Federal Contribution $124,00
(Grit chamber at left?)

Closeup of the pile driver.

Ellie has personally inspected the pipe seen at left. She tentatively sniffed at the surveyor.

Water booms nearly cross the river.

Ellie was not as impressed as I. We walked the river bed further down.
click on photos for enlargements

pb
Little Pond

Misty September Morning on the Chemung

2007-09-18T07:34:00.001-07:00

The cold mornings have been raising a huge amount of fog over the valley, so we went down to the river to watch it rise. Huggamutt came along for the hike.She especially like the opening from Hoffman Creek outflow. The water here is clear and shallow. Some days we can cross the rocks over to the other side, without climbing the levee. This was not one of those days.
The mists kept us pleasantly out of sight and allowed closeups of the waterfowl, who apparently couldn't see the Mutt for all the fog.
The little fellow below refused to move more than a few feet at our approach, but he still managed to stay fairly hidden from view. But not from the dog's nose; Ellie finally flushed him out from the mouth of a drainer creek.
These fat fellows simply kept their distance, clucking and honking warily.
Below is a sunlit view through the woods of Foster Island.
This sweet, idyllic scene is one of the HuggaMutt's favorite haunts. Water Board in the background.
The other end of the same area, looking towards the river.
One misty morning. One lazy hour. Two tired hikers and a camera full of shots to cull. If anyone else tells me there is no place to run the dog, or no place pretty inside the City limits, I think I'll whap 'em one upside the head.

pb
Little Pond

Where Only the Intrepid Go

2007-09-03T08:14:00.001-07:00

(All the photos in these posts can be accessed by double-click. They are chosen for detail, so you might like to view them in full mode!)

I drove across town and pulled into the trailer-truck parking area, sneaking along a Department of Environmental Conservation roadway. Parked the Tracker right along the lane, with one side to the bushes; Route 352 was on the other side. We were well out of sight. Ellie and I climbed the levee and wandered into the woodland, moving towards the river. It took a bit of hiking, but we pretty much stuck to visible paths. Most were ultimately obscured by knotweed. We should have started way back in the spring, before the summer growth began to hide the human and deer paths.
Ahh. Here is what we need. There is a pathway through the woods right down to the creek. Only problem is the drop down is significant.

I hurt my back sliding down the opening, but it was worth it. This place is a gorgeous swimming hole! There is even a discarded pair of shorts and a backpack, just to illustrate that others have come and gone before us.

Totally hidden from view. Newtown Creek. It is just beautiful, and no one ever sees it. What a shame that only people willing to trespass on private property and restricted municipal areas will ever get to visit. I keep my dog and my phone handy, in case I am attacked by a vagrant. It will probably never happen, but is a possibility, since I am very much out of sight here. More likely, I will be arrested for trespassing. But it kills me to know there are places waiting to be filmed and recorded.

Yeah, I know I'm taking a chance, but there is so much to do that no one bothers to try anymore. We did more as kids. My only fear is that whoever was killing the street people a couple years back are probably still around. These are definitely the sort of place known to the homeless.

Elmira has had many incarnations, beginning with canal town, then becoming a much-criss-crossed railway stop. This sort of sight is common to the area. There are trestles, bridges, and rail lines everywhere, mostly in ruins. It must have been easy to go anywhere anyone wanted to go back then. Elmira, New York was once Queen City, a bustling little center for commerce and the arts. It was called the Little Apple by those on the vaudeville circuit, and still boasts some significant theatres from the old days.

Husband RJ warned me about this. It is a sewage output, a five foot-in-diameter pipe for runoff during river emergencies. Essentially it is what prevented the County from putting in Gateway Park. Ellie and I investigated and found the very top of the pipe and a lovely drop way down into some very nasty-looking water. We decided not to climb down, because I was already sore from our little trip down Newtowne Creek.

Here is what we were hoping to find this morning. A clean-cut access to the Chemung. And it belongs to the EFD!

So why would the Fire Department need access to the Chemung? My best guess would be that they need a pumping area, for the tanker trucks. In the hills there would probably not be enough fire hydrants or water pressure otherwise. There's even a little turn-around area right behind me.

Downriver, it was just lousy with fishermen. Labor Day, you know. While I had hoped to walk along the banks, it wouldn't be worth the pain. It wouldn't be nice to interrupt the holiday fishermen, and my back was already hurting from my little trip down into the water hole. Some other day, maybe not until the next spring, when the knotweed will be gone, Ellie and I will return to explore the area around Newtowne Creek. If we have a mild spring, then we should go before April 1, Opening Day.

Looking north towards the city bridges, we saw one fisherman, so I steered Ellie away from him. There would be no place to walk if we were having a wet summer. I could see a little path, but no sign of the sort of trails left by children or dog owners.

I've hidden the fisherman behind some hanging branches, and the view of the city bridges is quite nice.

Compare that last shot with two days ago. Taken from the other bank. That morning was very warm, while this morning was a little cooler.

This is Ellie's reward. She will not swim down this end, as she does upriver. The water is quite shallow and she simply wants to lap it up and move on.
What's a trip to the Chemung River without some geese to chase? It would be as empty as the skies without the screaming seagulls.

The obligatory heron. There will probably be no more pictures of herons, because the river is full of them. They are especially numerous and untroubled down here, where nearly every human is confined to the land or otherwise just fishing. Same as the herons. I am saving future shots for those elusive eagles that constantly tease me out of the corner of my sight.

It's easy to see that this is a well-worn trail that has simply been overgrown with the knot-weed. All the vines are stripped clean and the ground is stamped flat.

Definitely time to go home and assess our minor injuries: got a pulled back and slight migraine from the sun on the water.

Ellie and I will need a nap this afternoon. In the meantime, I am posting this through Blogger. So many nice features! Can't wait to post some video. Mental note: will need a tripod and some time away from the HuggaMutt.

Now to Original Italian Pizzeria. Gotta try the Charcoal Grilled Chicken Wings. Ellie hasn't had any yet.

pb
Little Pond

What Ellie Scared Up

2007-08-20T11:26:00.000-07:00

Giving us the baleful eye after being scared into the Chemung. There was another, too, not quite so bold as to remain visible. The HuggaMutt would not let go and jumped into the River after it. She returned to the spot when I wanted to leave, responding only to the whistle used loud and long.

Beaver or Muskrat? Your call.

Good Hunting, though.

Update: the local wildlife observers at Tanglewood Nature Center affirm its muskrat-teriness. She tells me they are not dangerous, but are locally called the "swamp bunny." Gotta love it!

pb
Little Pond

A Long Walk with a Short Dog

2007-08-11T08:30:00.001-07:00

This heron allowed me to take several photos from different angles, all the while turning to watch me.

11:20AM and I am already exhausted. Spoke a few moments ago to my older daughter.

"Did you girls ever take your bikes west of Town Hall along the woodland paths?"

"Yeah, but we couldn't go very far, back in the day."

Well, I am pleased to report that in this day one can go quite far along the woodland paths.

LINK TO GOOGLE MAP: We walked the wooded strand along the northern bank of the Chemung. You can toggle between satellite photo and road map to orient yourself. Keep in mind that there is no longer a road over the ruined bridge.

Took the HuggaMutt to the levee near Town Hall, West Elmira. They've cleared out many of the ruined foundations along the Chemung River. Seems they were an attractive nuisance that could easily become a fatal liability.

I guess. Kids have always played in them. But I digress.

We walked the paths beyond the excavations for about twenty minutes, and I began to hear something like a waterfall. We grabbed the next path toward the river, and found the water very low, babbling like crazy as it flowed over rocks.

I looked back downriver and could just barely see the remains of the Rorick's Glen bridge. It was a very, very long walk back, with me becoming more disabled as we went. Poor Ellie had to return for me again and again. Then I hitched her leash to her harness and made her pull me back up the levee, so we could find the car.

A lot of work for a little HuggaMutt. A very long walk on such little legs.

pb
Little Pond

A Very Long Shot

2007-07-23T05:25:00.001-07:00

A daddy and a daughter wading and fishing in the very shallow Chemung River middle of July 2007. These people were about a half mile away, so it's grainy and poorly focussed. Frankly I didn't think it would come out at all.

It would have been a shame to intrude on their little daddy-daughter duet, so I kept away completely.

The point is that they are wading where the river was entirely dry a few weeks ago. This day there are a few fishermen enjoying the water. It is 9AM, and the other, more solitary, fellows are finished and returning to their cars.

I came to find another place to walk my RiverDog.

More on that later.

pb
Little Pond

RiverFest2007

2007-07-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Has come and gone. It was the largest ever, and promises more and more each year.

The local interest has increased, if only through the festivities. This year they were able to sign on quite a number of volunteers for the local cleanup.
I avoid the cleanups because they are scheduled during my daily nap. Thus I've become a morning person against my will. I sleep even more on the weekends, probably to recover from the workweek. The price I pay to stay socially active despite the MS.

Coworker and buddy Roger Neumann wrote the article for the RiverFest this year.

And a very good article it is, too.

The photo gallery is the best ever, too. Good buddy Jason Whong is responsible for those pretties.

But, wait! The local interest has indeed increased. Email acquaintance Sam Draper, has a lovely site for Historic West Elmira, and it has expanded to include all of the city and environs.

Scroll down a little for the RiverFest photos.

But there's even more! We couldn't have a RiverFest post without linking to the River Muse, who has a lovely piece.

There's a lot more about some of my recent concerns about the river, but the dry season has left me with a ton of photos for sifting and processing. More later.

pb
Little Pond

The Grove Street Fishing Access

2007-07-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

What a great place to walk your dog. They even have baggies, should she decide to relieve herself in the public area.

They mow a few times each summer, but in between it becomes quite the challenge for our little River Dog.

A little jerky because MS makes holding a camera my big challenge.

I give you the River Dog.

pb
Little Pond

Wild About Harry

2007-07-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning, July 7, 2007, about 8:30, and we sought a little solitude on the banks of the Chemung. Except for the crows. The strand was very noisy with the constant calling, so I had hoped to see the ravens and vultures that usually accompany them. I stayed on the beaten paths and roadways behind the Water Board.We actually stayed mostly on Foster "Island" this morning. The geese were watching us from the other side of Hoffman Creek, just north of the boat launch.

I was musing over the shallowness of the Chemung. Pretty soon there will be the crayfish harvesters, although I will need to rise earlierto catch them.

Notice the reflection of the opposite bank on the surface of the river. Here it looks like a problem with my camera lens. At this very point the bird saw me and began to turn. Then he seemed to change his mind, and continued to fish.

The carp were roiling the water, making lots of noise.

People are the same everywhere. The local heron is always called Harry. I've seen them in pairs, so they can't all be Harry.

Today Harry let me photograph him.

pb
Little Pond

Overgrown 4th

2007-07-04T07:17:00.002-07:00

We thought we would trim our overgrown yard, including the chestnut tree, but the raininess laughs at us.

Plan B: The RiverDog and I went to the ramp behind Town Hall (Pirrozollo Park) in West Elmira.

It's Independence Day, middle morning, and, except for the tennis courts, it's deserted. We grabbed the opportunity to walk the westward trails.

It's a secret: The children know that the trails will take a walker or biker all the way out to the Point (0f rte. 352), near Fitch's Bridge. That would be all the way to Golden Glow. Before I was sick, the girls and I hiked all the way out to the Convenient by way of the trails.

The Chemung is very low right now, even though there has seemingly been plenty of rain. The trails are very overgrown. Ellie and I followed the trails right down to the river, then walked the riverbed right up to the ruined railroad bridge. We dug back into the knotweed, watching for the foot paths, some of which could simply be deer paths.

But the deer and the kids always know where the best woodsy walking is.

Happy Fourth of July.

pb
Little Pond

Didn't Stay

2007-06-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

So very different from last year. We found easy parking on the street. When we crested the levee, we saw why. Festival parking was right on the flood plain.

Thus chasing away all the water fowl we have come to expect on our visits to the Chemung.

I still think RiverFest is worthwhile, but I have come to a few unhappy conclusions.

1-Festival Goers don't care about the River: they just wanna have fun. 2-I am not a Festival Goer. All the activity is unpleasant for me and the crowds are stressful for Ellie, and thereby for me, also.

We sought out our other haunts, and found other entertainment. The Chemung is quite low, so we were able to follow along the shore for a greater distance than usual. If I had not brought my camera, I would have dared to try to walk it all the way up to West Elmira. It was squishy and buggy, and Ellie had a ball.We are getting closer, but this is not really it, just yet. Still, the wooded areas are peaceful and much cooler.

This is what I really came for. Not exactly a closeup. Can't get closeups when a dog is wandering around my feet.

But I 've been watching these little families. I think I mentioned below that on Chesapeake Bay we used to count the goslings each time we visited. Their numbers would drop from visit to visit. Not true here. Most of the babies survive.

Which is why the area has more geese than we need. But that's another story for another blog.

pb
Little Pond

Overmanagement!

2007-06-07T08:06:00.000-07:00

All right, all you "crunchies" can stop frowning. This mower is a very welcome sight. And not just because my Ellie has little short legs and a touch of allergies.

This is the very careful mower who is manicuring the floodplain in preparation for RIVERFEST2007!

It will be held Saturday (June 9, 2007) and promises to be bigger than ever.

Fish hunting, not the same as fishing.

2007-05-23T08:08:00.001-07:00

After spotting a few muskrats in the feeder creeks, it was clear that this was going to be a photo opportunity. No muskrats would pose, however:

Even at this distance, I can see that there is definitely some animal out there. The gulls are paying some attention, too.

Whatever it is, it's huge. These are fish, and they are schooling. The slapping and splashing noise is attention getting. Wednesday morning in May and not a fisherman in sight.

Now I'm getting very excited. It's the same feeling I got when I spotted deer while hunting. The very size of these fish is thrilling to see.

They are carp. Almost as big as Ellie. Some of the local people catch these to eat. I'm told they are best when covered in cornmeal and fried.

By the way, these bold fellows were not deterred by me or any other human on the bank. Fishing them would have been so very, very easy.

pb
Little Pond

Low River in West Elmira, NY, USA

2007-05-09T07:13:00.000-07:00

Remember the threat from flooding in West Elmira this past winter? This is why. The Chemung runs very shallow up here. We are walking near the Pirrozolo Park behind the Town Hall and Police Station. The levee ends here.

pb
Little Pond

The Pond Slayer

2007-05-08T07:56:00.000-07:00

I shot this from all different angles, some of which give a very good view of the complexity of this windfall.

This particular view, however, is perfect for showing the Pond Slayer. I took many photos, and trashed most of them. While I was reviewing them, because they look cool, I remembered a program I saw at Educational Images Ltd.

I worked there for thirteen years, during which time I absorbed a lot of biology and earth science.

So. I'm looking at the photos of the windfall, when it dawns on me that I was looking at the likely death of Foster Pond. If the Water Board doesn't interfere, the windfall will decompose and clog the inlet. Remember that the "pond" here is really a boggy branch of the Chemung River that surrounds Foster Island.

The clogged inlet will fill in with detritus from the island, the levee and the various litterbugs that inhabit the area, both human and otherwise. And the pond will eventually be no more.

Wonder if I'll live to see it?

pb
Little Pond

2007-04-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

My little dog loves to poke around these old foundations. And the local kids love to cover them with graffiti! Anyone who walks this area now must wonder that a person could have had enough time to build here. Currently this area floods at least every other year!

When men make plans, the gods giggle. These, I think, are either

fence posts or boundary markers. They delimit nothing now, except perhaps the imagination of someone who didn't think the river could ever come high enough to flood their home. If you come to the river this Spring, be sure to wear something that comes over your ankles. The water is high, the grassy areas are somewhat boggy, and tick season is on the way.

Art is a levee jogger. He is currently on his third career. He was city policeman, then a correction officer, and now retired, he works as a substitute teacher.

We first met this last year. It turns out we remember each other from Elmira College, over thirty years ago. We both took a Continuing Education class at night. He's kind enough to say he remembers me, and I do recall a young police officer in uniform in some of the classes!

Baby Dog
inspects

Water

Gate #13.

Never saw

this one

open in 20

years.

Comforting
to know
there are
controls we

haven't even needed for a while.

There:

Now, please don't tell me there is no place to walk your dog in the City of Elmira. This is just one spot on the north side only, and there are miles to work with. Remember to wear sturdy shoes, galoshes in the winter and wet season, and especially to have your dog regularly dosed for parasites and a protected from the fleas, ticks and mosquitoes you WILL find in this area. Goose poop and guano is everywhere.

Coming down to the River in the Spring has shown me a world of birds I wouldn't otherwise see. The Chemung is a minor waterway for migrants. In just the last two days I've seen a male Kingfisher, families of Hooded Mergansers, an American Coot and a Green Heron. That's on top of the Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures and the bold, beautiful blue tree swallows we see every time.

Little Pond

Crisp Spring Morning Finds Ellie on Foster Island

2007-04-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

This is one of our favorite spots. We are standing on Foster Island, looking out over the flood plain. The Chemung River is to our left, just barely visible between the trunks in the upper left. We own the place this morning, and Ellie disappears out of sight until I use the whistle.

Ellie sniffing the Spring air. Foster Island in front of the Watergate. We are alone, at 9:00 AM, Saturday, April 14, 2007. There is a severe weather alert for the entire Northeastern US, but we have chosen to enjoy the cool, fresh morning, rather than shop for supplies. I suspect Husband RJ will do that while we are out.

The HuggaMuck!

The first kayak we've seen this year. I know he can't go much further downstream, because the water is low and the dams will stop him. He landed at the Access Site.

It didn't seem like such a difficult winter, but these chews are everywhere on Foster Island. New chews everywhere. The totally frozen river must have created a lot of hardship for the wildlife.

This is a wonderful tangle of a thicket! I love this stuff, because when the greenery comes in, the watergate in the background will be invisible. Also, when we approach we will flush out the ducks and herons and frogs. Every walk will be as if we were miles from the city. But the greenery is well into the future, and snow is on the way this weekend.

High Waters and Goose Poop

2007-03-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

Very high water and rushing rapids bring all sorts of things downstream. We often find engine parts and washing machines after a rough winter. The tree lying flat above center is just such an example. The shining water is very fast moving. I keep Ellie away from the edge at this time of year. She's much more interested in the burrows along the levee, anyway.

No closeups of the waterfowl today. They were creating a cacophany of bird calls, almost drowning out the traffic on the bridge. We kept our distance, because, well, frankly, they are very dirty. Goose poop is easier to take when its aged a bit.

This is just plain ugly. It will be years before soil on the boat ramp settles, leaving the bare stones. But the waterfowl don't care. We walked over to the other side of the drainage creek, to allow the birds their space. They watch us warily. A little while later, a car will unload a dog and its owner, and they will chase away the wildlife.

Across the drainage creek the waterfowl are fidgety. They crab and crank, making quick honking noises that are echoed in the squawks and screeching of the gulls. Ducks can't get in a word, edgewise.

Very much a city shot. Rapids alongside the Walnut Street Bridge. The ducks seem to enjoy riding them down to the wide island where the local high schools kids installed an osprey platform. While I haven't seen ospreys yet, there are plenty of sightings of bald eagles. We can always hope.

I won't go out on a limb.

2007-03-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

These are probably not the last we'll see of snow tracks. But wouldn't it be nice?

2007-03-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

The rapids are absolutely forbidding under the Walnut Street Bridge. They command respect for the power of the Chemung. A few lives are lost every year in this town. Where there are rapids, the water is shallow. The deeper water in the background has terrific undercurrents. The bodies almost always wash up much further down river.

To me, this is Elmira, New York, USA. The hills roll off into the distance, and the Chemung River cuts the town into distinct boroughs. It is very, very early Spring, and the trees are still bare, the hills still brown.

The drainage ditch in the foreground is actually an inlet right now. The highwaters make our excursion dangerous and difficult. My legs are very tired, so we edge toward the top of the levee, and head home.

Little Pond

20 degrees F, -7 degrees C

2007-02-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

And the warmest outdoor spot in Elmira, New York, USA, is right in the middle of the Chemung River.

Totally frozen now, it is possible to cross the river on foot. Safely. The only flowing water was coming from Hoffman Creek, under the city. The inlet was well frozen only a few feet from the culvert.

We skirted the river bank, looking for a good place to land. It was quite warm in the bright sunshine and the river was hard, hard, hard. Ellie ran here and there, looking to me for guidance.

Still and all, ice is very slippery, even, or especially on the Chemung. We moved slowly downriver until we found a good spot. Ellie easily climbed the bank, and I had little trouble. Then we crossed Foster Island and followed the levee to the Fishing Access Ramp. Lots of tracks on the river, human and otherwise.

Upstate New York is glorious on a bright, snow-covered morning!

pb
Little Pond

HuggaMutt hunts!

2007-01-30T07:37:00.000-08:00

What is this, she seems to ask? And you may very well ask. The Mutt is part dachs-hund and part Jack Russell terrier, so there's rather small, floppy ears and the tail points up, rather than the usual doxie's down.

The sweater and skirt are due to the frigid temps. At just about 12 degrees Fahrenheit, or 8-9 Celsius, it is very cold for a small dog tramping through the snow. I take no chances. If it were colder, or if there were a significant wind-chill, she would be wearing her scarf, too.

Incidentally, she hates the clothes, and thinks she looks ridiculous! Gramma has to know for certain that the little one is warm. So let's go hunting.

Ahhh, the follow-through!

2007-01-30T07:31:00.000-08:00

Guess she really did find something. There are burrows everywhere underfoot. Ellie's nose knows. We may not see the animals, but she absolutely knows they are there. See the feeder creek in the background. It is frozen through and allows us to walk right across. Frozen through means no cracking whatsoever.

Inviting sight?

2007-01-30T07:29:00.000-08:00

Not a track anywhere. Except Ellie's in the fore-ground.

Now, repeat after me: WE WILL NOT CROSS THE RIVER, EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS FROZEN.

She walks on water.

2007-01-30T07:26:00.000-08:00

Only now can Ellie walk on the frozen Chemung River. Not a cracking sound to be heard. Personally, I will wait until I see the tell-tale tracks of the ATV's. Let those fools do the testing.

What people probably expect

2007-01-30T07:21:00.000-08:00

when one mentions a frozen river. Here the Chemung is not so ice-choked, as iced over. Very dangerous. See the grey line near the left middle? That is very, very thin, and the water flows very, very fast just under it. A person who falls through would be sucked downriver under the ice. Where he or she would surely die.

But enough happy thoughts. More river below.

Click on "Older Posts."

Frozen Morning, Noisy Crows

2007-01-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

Remember the "Morning Bark" and the "Evening Bark" in 101 Dalmations? All the dogs raised a ruckus that drove the owners nuts. At the same time, the dogs themselves were actually passing along vital news. Let's hope these noisy crows are having a "Morning Caw" and not just raising a ruckus. They're always screaming, every morning.

Frozen Morning, Fallen Tree

2007-01-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

This must have made quite a racket when it went down. Right now it creates a wonderful sort of apartment house for all sorts of creatures. Aquatic and land animals probably find shelter all through this. Glad the Water Board doesn't over-manage this area.

Frozen Morning, Deer Rub

2007-01-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

This looks normal enough. Until one realizes that we are in the middle of a city. But the deer really do travel right through the neighborhoods at night. They eat everything in their paths. It's worse in the summer, when they nip the tops off our flowers!

Frozen Morning, Chewed Tree

2007-01-28T08:44:00.000-08:00

This looks to be an abandoned effort by a gnawer. I would swear it was done by kids, but it is way too low to the ground.

Frozen Morning, Bad Dog

2007-01-28T08:41:00.000-08:00

No, they are not evidence of past piddles. I could live with that. These are where HuggaMutt sank into Foster Pond while trying to cross over to another dog on the levee. Fortunately, my whistle called her back right away. She just wants to visit with everyone. But the other dog is viciously barking, and not at all inviting.

Frozen Morning, Joint Effort

2007-01-28T08:37:00.000-08:00

This almost certainly is a marriage of human and wild animal efforts.

There is no fallen tree nearby. Of course, it could have been dragged elsewhere, even by a good sized animal.

Frozen Morning, Rub or Chew?

2007-01-28T08:32:00.000-08:00

Can't tell. But it is close to the ground. I can't emphasize enough that this is a busy island during the day. It's almost a sort of dog park.

Frozen Morning, Chewed Views

2007-01-28T08:29:00.000-08:00

I'm guessing from the height of these chews, it must be a muskrat. Can't be a beaver, not in the middle of the City of Elmira, New York!

Frozen Morning, Clogged River

2007-01-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

You got me, girl. The Chemung is clogged with blocks of jagged ice, but there are also pools of open water. Ellie is staring at a rapidly flowing channel. It's time to haul it home, Babydog.

Slow, Cold River

2007-01-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

Sunday, January 21, 2007 and the Chemung is flowing slowly with lots of ice on top. It's bleak and very, very cold, although there's no windchill.

I knew the photos would be gray and colorless. Takes a lot of sun to infuse varied tones, and there is some sun, but not enough.

Crunchy ice underfoot makes me nervous. Maybe one more photo before I go.

Seen Enough!

2007-01-21T08:38:00.000-08:00

Nasty and cold. The sun is a cold, winter sun and the river is running slowly. Peaceful enough and boring.

It's much better to bring Ellie, because she keeps me busy.

In fact, just before this shot, I fell into a burrow that she surely would have detected and shown to me.

The walk back was bitter, because the sky clouded over and the day turned nothing but gray.

Dogless River Blogging

2007-01-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

The HuggaMutt is in Golden Glow with MammaDog and PoppaDog, but a beautifully clear Sunday morning begs a walk. I waddled (without walking stick!) down to the river by myself, to take pictures.

I had hoped to photograph the woodsy part of the strand, but a row of cars were parked near the levee. And sure enough, the cracking sound of paint-ball guns were coming in short, grouped reports.

But it was still a nice walk. Enjoy.

pb
Little Pond

Foster Island, Sort of a Dog Park

2007-01-07T08:25:00.000-08:00

This is a wonderful place to bring your dogs. It is early morning, and the corvids (crows, ravens and even vultures) are screaming up a storm. Except for the narrow, short causeway, it is an island with plenty of trees, brush and various animal burrows to explore.

Training Area

2007-01-07T08:22:00.000-08:00

Looking down river towards the boat ramp. Notice the culvert. Not a water gate, but a free-flowing creek, usually of clean water. This is where I trained Ellie to the whistle, in the first post below.

That's the Walnut Street Bridge in the distance.

Foster Pond. Not.

2007-01-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

No, it's not really a pond. And Foster Island is no longer an island. The pond is really water surrounding the island, an inlet from the river. This is an excellent place to slap frogs and hunt for Herons. Ellie loves this area, and so do I.

Very Fast River

2007-01-07T08:14:00.000-08:00

See the sparkly water towards the middle? The Chemung is running very fast right now. Given that we've had no rain lately, that would mean that the dam upriver is releasing water, to help prevent a flood. The water is also very muddy, another clue. Glad I don't have Ellie, because I would need to leash her, so I wouldn't lose her downriver if she slips.

Down River to the Walnut Street Bridge

2007-01-07T08:11:00.000-08:00

Got a good look at all the bare trees? Hope so, because I will take no more winter photos until the weather becomes a bit more appropriate to the time of year. Bare trees and scruffy grass go only so far as entertainment!

Backside of Water Board

2007-01-07T08:03:00.000-08:00

I am heading home and have my back to the Chemung. If you want to visit this "island," you need to find the front of the Water Board, at the foot of Hoffmann Street. Go around the cyclone fence, and say a pleasant hello to the very old doggies in the little enclosure next door. Climb the levee. If you are disabled, go to the foot of Grove Street, where the road to the Access Ramp will take you to the top of the levee. In a way, that makes it handicap-accessible!

A Woman, A Whistle and A Wienerdog

2007-01-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

That's how we started 2007. My good friend Rachel (a photographer in Ithaca, NY) sent me a training whistle for Christmas, and I wondered if I should teach Ellie to answer it.

See, I have Multiple Sclerosis, and my wee doggie Ellie is the reason I can walk without a cane. She was supposed to be a mini-dachshund, but she's a good bit larger than that, due to her Jack Russell mother and two doting human GrandOwners who like to share with her.

The Owner, MamaDog, lives in Golden Glow, a village just outside the town of Elmira, NY. Out there, Ellie lives with a real Dachshund and an American Foxhound. She gets plenty of exericise with them in their fenced in yard.

Husband RJ and I live in the City of Elmira, a country sort of town, but our yard is small. We do have sidewalks for Ellie and the Chemung River is four blocks south. I began by walking with Ellie, allowing her to keep the leash tense. This balanced me rather well. But Ellie became very aggressive with people, because I wasn't well, and she was protecting me.

Cesar Millan changed that. Now Ellie walks at my side, and I am well enough to walk slowly, and sometimes briskly, with her there. We had some near disasters, and I fell on her once, but we manage. We even walked to the Chemung and enjoyed the strand of trees and floodplain. Our travels are here and here.

This year is a new chapter. Our first trip with the whistle took us to the Grove Street Fishing Access and Boat Launch site. We were alone--not even the waterfowl--and I unhooked the leash and let her run. Every once in a while I tooted for her, and rewarded her return with Greenies or just an ear-rub.

It was a howling success. She ran, and I simply walked in the direction I wanted to go, over to the little island behind the Water Board. I whistled when I needed her to tow me up the levee, and when anyone else approached.

She loves her new game. So do I. If you enjoy that sort of thing, welcome to Riverdogging.

pb
Little Pond