Saying Goodbye to Winter
So what do you do when you know the winter is coming to an end? Soon the grass will reappear and the residents of the Stockade will come back to life. I have always found a pleasing solitude during the winter. It is a time that nature re-takes control of everyday life and shows you the beauty of the season. So take a little walk with me along the Mohawk river and see what mother nature has painted for us one last time before spring.
The temperature today was near 20 degrees and the wind was blowing just enough to make you shiver. I walk along the shore line and watch the ice flow down the river. With no noise coming from the city I listen to the seagulls that are persistent enough to fly around in this freeze.
This old tree has seen so much as time flowed with the river. These shores were routes for shipping and transporting people along the Erie Canal.
I passed by one of the streets that lead back into the stockade with its old houses and vivid history of Indians and battles from the past. Sometimes when the spring runoff is fast the banks of the Mohawk with overflow. If you look at the wall on the house to the right you can see the waterline from that flooding. There have been times when this street was traveled only by small rowboats rescuing residents along the river.
It is only a matter of weeks that all this will become a bright green and blue path with people walking their dogs and jogging in the early morning sun. But for now I look across the water at the stark colours of the mountains in the distance and wonder what the river will see this year.
The cold is biting with the wind on my ears and face. Above me fly two crows chasing a seagull that has dared to violate their territory. The noise breaks into my thoughts and I know it is time to go home and get out of the cold. For many people the winter is just survived. For others it becomes time to grab their skis and all their winter sporting equipment and make the winter a giant playground.
But just for a few of us the winter inspires us to enjoy what we have. As I walk up my stairs I know that there is a warm pot of tea or some homemade soup for lunch. Maybe this day will inspire me to play music or just sit and watch out my window at the little details nature paints outside.
Winter is a beautiful time of year that often has a bad reputation in the northeast. However, it all depends on your perspective on how you spend it.
I hope you enjoyed this little walk around. Revisit this site to see more.