From the Rockefeller Preserve to Rockwood Hall – Overview

I recently went on a, for me, quite a long walk. I got a ride to the visitor center at the Rockefeller Preserve. From there I walked down the Sleepy Hollow Trail, crossed Sleepy Hollow Road and continued down to the Pocantico River. I didn’t take any pictures here because I’d already covered this part of the walk in a “story” on my website (actually the very first one): “A Long Walk Home“. I crossed the Pocantico River and then turned right along the Pocantico River trail so I could take some pictures of Pocantico Falls. After taking a few pictures, I turned around and walked along the Pocantico River trail to the intersection with the Thirteen Bridges loop where I turned right and followed the loop to the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail. At a certain point the trail divides and I was faced with a decision. Should I turn left and go to Rockwood Hall, or should I go straight on and consider walking all the way back home. I chose the former i.e. Rockwood Hall and after spending some time there I got a ride back home. All told I walked for about four hours.

Taken with a Sony A77II and Minolta 35-105 f3.5-4.5.

Blue Mountain Reservation

Blue Mountain Reservation in Peekskill, NY is a 1,538-acre park in the northwest section of Westchester County. It was acquired in 1926. It features miles of trails for mountain biking, strolling and nature study, and offers challenging hikes to the tops of two large peaks, Mt. Spitzenberg and Blue Mountain. The Sportsman Center at Blue Mountain Reservation is a recreation facility offering target ranges.










Taken with a Sony RX10IV

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas

December 21 was a snowy day in Briarcliff Manor. Now that was a surprise! I knew that we would have some snow, but the weather forecasts were predicting around one inch. It turned out that 3 inches was closer to the mark. Still, that’s not enough to cause much fuss around here. The 22nd brought maybe another inch of snow. Since it was cold and unlikely to get much warmer before Christmas, it looked likely that we’d have a White Christmas! This was, indeed, the case.












Taken with a Sony A7IV and Viltrox AF 20mm f2.8 STM ASPH ED IF

Some of my favorite pictures of 2024 – Color


Vermeeresque. Briarcliff Manor, February 17, 2024


Creepy hot dog man. Ossining, February 24, 2024


Benny Benack III at Django. NY, NY, August 8, 2024


Black Vulture on my roof. Briarcliff Manor, September 22, 2024.


Stone Bridge with Fall leaves. Briarcliff Manor, November 10, 2024


Red-winged Blackbird. Briarcliff Manor, June 17, 2024.


Rockefeller State Park. Pleasantville, NY, May 20, 2024.


Ice cream eaters. Peekskill, NY, July 28, 2024.


Pigeons. NY, NY, August 18, 2024


Paper Bird in a bookstore. Ossining, NY. November 17, 2024.


Clouds. Briarcliff Manor, NY. November 4, 2024.


Juno. West Rutland, Vermont. August 26, 2024.

Taken with a variety of cameras and lenses