Archive for ◊ August, 2009 ◊

Author: Mike
• Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

To cyclists in Ithaca, Elmira, and surrounding areas:

With the recent discussions on the FLCC and BHV listservs about lane positioning and how cyclists should ride, and minimizing car-bicycle conflicts, I wanted to let you know that these issues are at the core of two bicycle traffic skills courses that are being offered locally in September and are open to all cyclists. The courses incorporate the latest information from the League of American Bicyclists, and the lead instructor is Lois Chaplin, Bicycle and Pedestrian Specialist at Cornell University, and a nationally recognized expert in cycling safety education.

The courses consist of classroom instruction, bike rides on local streets, and parking lot drills where bike handling and emergency evasive maneuvers will be taught and practiced by everyone. In addition, there is a bonus class on bicycle maintenance. The courses meet in the evenings, and the cost is $25.

Full details and registration information can be found at the following website:

http://www.bike.cornell.edu/cyclingclass.html

Questions? Contact Lois Chaplin lec4@cornell.edu

–Steve Powell

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Author: Mike
• Thursday, August 20th, 2009

ITHACA NY — Cayuga Ho’e – Cauyga Outrigger Canoe Paddlers endeavor to paddle the length of Cayuga Lake, with a Hawai’ian Lu’au celebration by the Kiwanis Club of Ithaca-Cayuga at Stewart Park on Sat., Aug 29th to raise funds, awareness.

Members of the Cayuga Outrigger Canoe Club will be paddling the length of Cayuga Lake on Saturday August 29th.  The event will culminate that afternoon at 4pm with a Hawai’ian Lu’au at Stewart Park Main Pavilion sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ithaca-Cayuga.  The Lu’au and celebration are open to the public, tickets for the Lu’au dinner are available online at http://www.cayugaoutrigger.com and from Cayuga OCC and Kiwanis members.

In celebration of the Cayuga Outrigger Canoe Club’s first anniversary, members will paddle a six-person Polynesian Outrigger Canoe from Cayuga Lake State Park in Seneca Falls to Stewart Park in Ithaca, a distance of just under 40 miles.  This endeavor, the “Cayuga Ho’e” (pronounced HOay — the Hawai’ian word for paddle) will take approximately 7 hours and is being undertaken to raise both awareness for the sport of outrigger canoe paddling and funds for the Cayuga Outrigger Canoe Club and development of the Ithaca Youth Bureau’s paddling programs.  The Kiwanis Club of Ithaca-Cayuga is sponsoring a Hawai’ian Lu’au Dinner in celebration of the event, with ! traditional Hawai’ian food and music.  Lu’au dinner tickets are $15/adult and $10/child.

The Cayuga Outrigger Canoe Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the sport of outrigger canoe paddling and bringing the spirit of aloha to Ithaca.   In existence since August 2008 and located at East Shore Marina, our members paddle a six person Hawai’ian outrigger canoe (wa’a) from May to October and compete with other outrigger teams in races throughout the East coast.

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Author: Mike
• Monday, August 10th, 2009
Tuesday Night - MID-LAKE METEOR SHOWER PADDLE OUTING - http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1438#1438 (rain/cloud date is Wed night)

METEOR SHOWER — Earth is entering a stream of dusty debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, the source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Although the shower won’t peak until August 11th and 12th, the show is already getting underway. http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1430#1430

How do things work in this group? Read this! :-) http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/ reply to this email anytime if you have more questions. -m :-)

HIKE Tuesday  Aug 11 6:30 pm
BIKE Thursday Aug 13 6:30 pm
BIKE Sunday   Aug 16 11:00 am

UNICYCLING & JUGGLING — Every Monday Night! all summer long 5-7 pm at the basketball courts at North Campus corner of Jessup and Pleasant Grove Rds. Megan and Raylene and I are there most every Monday - we usually have a couple extra uni’s to share. FLOW - Web Page http://www.fl1w.org/ Mike’s Forum Thread http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1356#1356 Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55104515903

Marilyn’s Thur hill hikes http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1310#1310

Brenda’s Tue women’s mt biking http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1330#1330

Live on a Farm: 2RM/1BR apartment in 1860’s farmhouse on 120-acre sheep and horse farm in Freeville/W. Dryden, 15 minutes to Cornell Univ. $400/month plus utilities. Horse boarding also available, MORE INFO http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?t=428

Exhibition of Botanical Illustrations by milly acharya July 1 through August 31, 2009 Six Mile Creek Vineyard 1551 Slaterville Rd., Ithaca NY You are invited to a reception with the artist Thursday, August 6th, from 5-8 pm at Six Mile Creek Vineyard

Juried art exhibition - Finger Lakes Native Plant Society - Submit your art! See the show! http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1425#1425

Giant Hogweed in Dryden http://www.lansingstar.com/content/view/5099/67/

Bears in the Adirondacks Defeat BearVault Food-Protection Container — http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25bear.html

Volunteers needed - 7th Annual Cayuga Lake Triathlon Sunday, August 2, 2009 Taughannock Falls State Park - DETAILS http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1414#1414 and http://www.mochah.com/ithacatriathlonclub/Volunteer_reg.php

What the “FRACK” ?? http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1423#1423

Safety Boating for Women Swimmin’ and Cayuga Lake Triathalon http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1398#1398

MOWING SCHEDULED FOR HAMMOND HILL http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1381#1381

Bike Registration Law - City of Ithaca http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1366#1366

Gas Drilling in NYS - New Facebook group to raise awareness http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=86529971126

Cayuga Nature Center Events Schedule http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1388#1388

The Cayuga Windsurf Club http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1361#1361

Kayak — Summer Sea Kayaking Thursdays - A loose group of folks meeting every Thursday evening, 6:30 pm, at East Shore Park to work on kayak skills, improve kayak related teaching skills, do a little touring, and enjoy the summer and Cayuga Lake. DETAILS GEAR REQUIREMENTS RENTALS ETC http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1360#1360

For Sale - Used Johnny G group cycling bike by Schwinn, which sets the standard for indoor training bikes — http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1359#1359

Ithaca Festival Parade pics from Ludgate Farms: http://www.ludgatefarms.com/2009_IthacaFestivalParade/index.html and Ted Crane http://photos.tedcrane.com/IthFest/20090528/

Courtney’s friend, Chad, who is a local school teacher is hiking the Appalachian Trail http://trailteacher.blogspot.com/ Learning America on the Appalachian Trail - a project of Groton Central Schools. Courtney will be joining Chad for a stretch on the trail starting Memorial Day weekend! She will post her stuff here http://coffeyscorner.blogspot.com/ and some on Facebook …

Not everyone is on Facebook (almost everyone) … so I do stash the group pics in other places http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.ludgate/BikeSkiOutings?authkey=Gv1sRgCLzb75PL-JqHrAE#5326128593292087826

2009 Edition Hiking Trail guide available at Ludgate’s on Hanshaw Rd - This is the NEW 2009 yellow colored trail guide! See http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/?p=699

The Shindagin Hollow Association of Trailbuilders has regular trail work sessions — DETAILS!! http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1322#1322

Speaking of dogs … I may not have specifically mentioned this, but dogs are welcome on these hikes. It is a great way to exercise you and your dog and have some company too! Our only request, since we have CHICKENS, is if you can keep the doggy on a leash until we get across the creek and away from the chicken shed. Hope to see some folks tonight. -Mike

Hemlock-killing adelgids invade Tompkins | theithacajournal.com | The Ithaca Journal — http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20090312/NEWS01/903120321/0/NEWSFRONT2 MORE http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1289#1289

COMMENT on BLOG posts — You can comment on existing articles without a pre-assigned user name - try it! Or ask me for a username and password if you want to write … RSS FEED FOR COMMENTS - subscribe! http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/?feed=comments-rss2

I am always looking for BLOG authors. I have one for music http://canaaninstitute.org/mikesmusicblog/ and one for outdoor http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/ wanna write? :-)

SUBSCRIBE — Please forward this email to a new person in town! …. Hi, new folks! Email me to subscribe: mailto:michael@canaaninstitute.org -Mike :-)

CAYUGA TRAILS CLUB — Scheduled Hikes — http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1191#1191

FACEBOOK MYSPACE — SOCIAL WEB NETWORKING — If you are on this list and also on MySpace or Facebook, add me: MySpace http://www.myspace.com/michael_ludgate or Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=510688550 :-)

CAR POOLING — If you RSVP to me, that will aid in possible car pooling: I may be able to connect you if you need a ride or can offer a ride!

NEWS TO PASS ON — Getting the word out: This is more of a newsletter than a list serve. But there are a few hundred outdoorsy folks who stay subscribed. So, please, if you have an outdoor item of interest, I would be happy to post it. What I do to keep the volume down is post the verbose portion to the Forum http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/index.php and then I link to the post in this newsletter which goes out about 4-5 times per week …

SKY WATCH — http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=902#902 — astronomy and light pollution

COED EXCERCISE GROUP — Reminder: This is a co-ed and beginner friendly group. I have been leading outings for 10+ years and have always made an effort to keep it beginner friendly with mixed ages and sexes. We always wait at each intersection and try and keep it fun. I really don’t like groups that are all boys (or all girls) … my experience as a group leader tells me mixed groups make for the most enjoyable experience for all involved. I also have lots of new folks on the list who said they want to mountain bike or ski or hike, but I haven’t met them yet … so what are you waiting for? Come on out and join us on the trails! :-)

BRING A FRIEND! — Recruiting for BikeSki: Do you like our group? Tell your friends! Bring a new person. Forward this email. Especially thinking of all the new folks in town any time of year, please forward this to a friend or a new-to-the-area  person! Mike :-)

KAYAK CLUB NEWS — http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=748#748 also a new web space http://www.ithacakayakclub.blogspot.com/

BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL — news thread — http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=865#865

WEATHER — Ithaca forecast:  http://printer.wunderground.com/US/NY/Ithaca.html

PHOTOS — BikeSki photo album - Here are photos from previos seasons http://www.ludgatefarms.com/bikeski_photos/imagepages/image206.htm I update this less often than Picassa and Facebook, but it gets the pics all in one spot on my own server spaces. I update this album avery couple months - there are some nice historical pics here from the pre-blogging and pre-face book days! Newer pics here http://picasaweb.google.com/michael.ludgate/BikeSkiOutings?authkey=Gv1sRgCLzb75PL-JqHrAE# and on the BLOG and Facebook :-)

MAPS — Trail map of Hammond Hill - GPS data collected by BikeSki and Cayuga Nordic Ski groups and submitted to NYS DEC for this map 1.01 MB http://www.ludgatefarms.com/HH_trailmapv1_150_HiRes.pdf Other State Forests: for example Jenksville and Shindagin: directions to these on BikeSki home left column http://www.ludgatefarms.com/bikeski.htm this link is at the end of EVERY BikeSki email - it is automatically attached. Also maps at Cycle CNY and Cayuga Nordic Ski web sites

FORUM — shortcut tip - If you are a registered user (email me to get registered) and visiting a popular thread with dozens of messages and multiple pages, you can go directly to the most recent post from the home page by clicking on the little paper logo icon over to the far right next to the poster’s name - try it!! http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/index.php - also if you are registered, you can tell the forum to email you when a reply is posted to a topic of interest.

LOCAL FOOD PLUG — Ludgate Farms http://ludgatefarms.com/ is my family’s farm market and natural food store. We have been selling local, organic and specialty food items for 36 years. We are open 7 days a week from 9 am - 9 pm, have easy free parking and a bike rack for cyclists! Support our community projects like this list-serve and web space by supporting our store! Even small purchases make a difference to small retailers like us! Thanks in advance for your patronage! -Mike :-)

DISCLAIMER: These outings are just for fun and we start from our home. Please use caution. Come join us at your own risk. We are safety conscience but cannot be responsible for random acts of nature (like ice and tree branches etc!) nor can we be responsible for folks skiing, hiking, biking etc way beyond their skill level. That aside: get out and excercise and play!

OUTDOOR BLOG with RSS feed http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/
OUTDOOR FORUM http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/index.php

Mike on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/michael_ludgate
Mike on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/michael.ludgate

Web and server space for “BikeSki” donated by www.ludgatefarms.com, www.canaaninstitute.org and www.icycle.org

Thanks for reading this far down the page :-)

Mike

==============//==============


We have NYS Homegrown SWEET CORN also NYS and PA PEACHES now! http://www.ludgatefarms.com/

We also have NYS homegrown ORGANIC blueberries!! :-)

Michael J Ludgate
Email michael.ludgate@gmail.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/michael.ludgate

Ludgate Farms http://www.ludgatefarms.com/
Selling local and organic food for 36 years!
1552 Hanshaw Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
OPEN 9 am - 9 pm; 7 days per week
Telephone 607-257-1765

Think “out of the big box”. Just say “NO” — break the BIG BOX HABIT! Support your LOCAL independent retailers and farm markets! :-)

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Author: Mike
• Sunday, August 02nd, 2009

I just upgraded to WP 2.7 and the RSS feed for comments has disappeared. Any pointers out there? -m

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