I Love New York Travel

Taken at Oneida Lake, Lewis Point, NY. Just a few months ago, the lake was solid frozen. Snowmobile tracks were like zipper marks on the ice, and a few dark ice fishing shanties peppered the horizon. Now it’s just ice, and noisy geese in the melting areas. Too treacherous to venture out on the surface anymore.

The twigs on this scraggly box alder tree seem to be lifting its twining fingers upwards, to the bejeweled New York sky. I took this while seeing Oneida Lake. Box alder trees are plentiful in wet areas. They are considered junk trees, or weed trees, due to their rapid growth, messy hygiene, and inability to die (unless you dig ten feet down and yank out the stump; but even then, it may grow back). I have quite a few of these trees in my yard and they are my least favorite.

Still, in late winter, anything plant-like is a welcome sight.

This is a notable landmark on Route 31 in Verona, NY. I don’t know how long the bull has been there– decades, I think. I’ve lived in this area for over 20 years, and it’s always been.

This is another one of those places that I’ve never been, although I’d like to go. I’m not much of a steak eater (prefer fish), but once in a while I like one. The restaurant has no website, oddly enough. It’s got OK ratings at TripAdvisor, with one tantalizing review about some kind of carousel collection inside.

I’ll have to go sometime.