In 2010 the Mohawk Towpath Byway will celebrate 5 years of growth since being designated one of America’s Byways^®. We have retained Bartel Communications of Waterford for a proposal for a comprehensive plan for publicity and events to celebrate our 5th anniversary.  That proposal will be considered at the January 21, 2010 board meeting.

There are three questions that need answers before we go much further:

• What do we wish to achieve by celebrating our anniversary?

1. Tell the stories of the Byway- Pauline Bartell
2. Raise public awareness and acceptance of the Byway – Eric Hamilton
3. Foster an appreciation of our local history - Larry Syzdek

• Which stakeholders do we wish influence with information about the anniversary?

1. Volunteers - Eric Hamilton
2. Local Governments - Henrietta O’Grady
3. General Public – Pauline Bartel
4. Tourism bureaus - Larry Syzdek
   
5. Business Community - Nelson Ronsvalle
6. Other layers of Jurisdiction (Canal Corp, Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, MVHC, etc) – Eric Hamilton

• What messages do we wish to communicate to these stakeholders?

1. Communities are reconnecting to the Canal and Mohawk River - Henrietta O’Grady
2. New things to do along the waterway will make people aware of local history - Pauline Bartel
3. Discovering our local heritage and recreational resources is fun - Eric Hamilton
4. The stories of the power of water – Henrietta O’Grady
   

You must have additional ideas and answers. Jot down your thoughts in a response below and submit.  We will edit this as we approach the meeting.

Get out on the Mohawk Towpath Byway.

The foliage is off the trees and the leaves are matted down from fall precipitation.  This is a great time to make some unique discoveries among the natural and man-made features.  There are no insects to make your visit miserable.  In fact you will have to go hunting in leaf litter or under the remaining bark of an old elm to find a bug.  Take a picture of one of your kids as he discovers an insect.  Old canal structures constructed over a century and a half ago await your camera.  Historic foundation walls which have been covered with foliage for the past six months now stand out in the bare landscape.  Sand dunes that have grown over with forest regrowth are now quite visible.  Creeks and drainage ways are also more noticeable and provide a reflection for a unique photograph.

Anytime of day will work.  Frost in the pre-dawn light can provide unique discoveries.  Are deer out and about, yet?    Sunrise is at 7:06 AM.  A great time to take a dramatic photograph or watch that wisp of steam of that early cup of caffeinated beverage.  The low angle of the sun even mid-day can provide an interesting perspective to the half-dozen leaves still holding on and rattling in the crisp gentle breeze.  Sunset is at 4:23 PM.  This is another great time to take a picture.  Catch a flock of geese looking for a spot on the water to overnight.

Wear an extra layer as you venture out.  If you are in the more remote areas remember to wear highly visible colors so you can be seen by your family members, by other enthusiasts and an occasional hunter.  Get out there and enjoy the autumn quiet and discover something new along the Byway.

Today was another beautiful fall day on the Byway.  Today was the annual running of the 15 k Stockade-athon that starts in Schenectady’s Central Park and runs down across the Byway into the historic Stockade neighborhood and back by the western Byway terminus, the cultural center of Schenectady, picturesque Vale Cemetery and back to Central Park.

As a middle of the pack runner I would like to thank the City of Schenectady and the hundreds of volunteers for making this an annual event we all look forward to.  To all those Byway travelers who were inconvenienced by the interrupted traffic: Thank you for your patience.

I like the course, including the thrill of the run down Union Street hill into the Stockade, the run by all the historically significant areas, the cheering neighbors, the drummer that quickens the pace near Union College, even the encouragement of fellow runners as we all struggle to get up State Street hill, and the magnificent “feed” at the end of the race.

Next year put the Stockade-athon on your “to do” list.  If you don’t run, come on out to cheer on the field from the fast elite runners to the walkers out just to finish.

As you pass along the Mohawk Towpath Byway you go through at least 13 different fire protection jurisdictions.  Three of these have paid fire departments.  The remainder are volunteer fire companies manned by men and women like you and me who in addition to their 40 hour per week job put in 2 to 20 hours a week as volunteer firefighters.  The majority of this time is spent in training and readiness activities honing their skills for when someone needs help in an emergency situation: fire, EMS, search and rescue to name a few.

Right in the middle of the Byway (actually covering 1/4 of the Byway) is the Vischer Ferry Fire District.  This District celebrated and dedicated a new engine/tanker fire truck, ETA625.

Fire Truck Dedication as it Goes In Service

It’s custom to have a “wet down” to put a major new piece of equipment into service.  The District and the Vischer Ferry Fire Company invited the community to this dedication.  Neighboring fire companies bring their best and newest fire equipment to provide a suitable solute to the District and volunteers in the form of a deluge of thousands of gallons of water over the new equipment.  In a stretch of otherwise gloomy weather this morning provided perfect fall conditions for such an event as you can see in the accompanying photographs.

If you missed this event or the fabulous lunch that followed, you can experience great breakfast fare most Sunday mornings.  Whatever weekend you visit the Byway chances are that you can find one of the Fire Companies putting on a pancake breakfast as a fund raiser.  Try it!

It is my hope that as you experience the Byway whether for a pleasant drive exploring our heritage, history, and many recreational assets that you will not need emergency services.  But if you should, dial 9.1.1 and the Vischer Ferry Fire or one of our fine neighboring Fire Departments will be there.

The Vischer Ferry Fire Company with ETA625 in service.

Anybody have a squeegee?

Discovery Guide Attracts Interest

In anticipation of the fifth anniversary of designation of the Mohawk Towpath Byway as one of America’s Byways® the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition, Inc. has published a full color 64 page Discovery Guide to the Byway.
The Discovery Guide includes a brief version of the Byway story, what to see along the 26.2 mile Byway route, suggestions for activities, where to shop for conveniences, where to dine or grab a bite, and, for those who want to explore a second day, where to stay.  To obtain your free copy look in brochure racks or ask at the following locations:
Albany Convention and Visitors Center in downtown Albany;
Albany/Colonie Chamber;
Clifton Park Town Hall, Parks and Recreation Department;
Colonie Town Hall, Historian’s Office;
Cohoes City Hall, Economic Development;
Halfmoon Town Hall, several locations;
Niskayuna Town Hall, Planning Department;
Riverview Orchards, Rexford;
Schenectady City Hall, Historic Preservation;
Schenectady County Chamber;
Southern Saratoga County Chamber;
Waterford Harbor Visitor Center;
Waterford Village Offices;
and a growing number of business along the Byway and within the Byway corridor.

Five youth race finishers with their cookie medals and smiles.

The seventh annual Mohawk Towpath Byway Duathlon went off without a hitch.  The weather was cold and cloudy with temperatures below 40 degrees for most of the morning.  There were 85 participants that participated in the Duathlon, a 2.2 mile run; 16 mile bike; and 2.2mile run to the finish.  Five youth did a much shorter fun kids race.  The kids race before the event seems to be the way to do it.  Parents were supportive and our older athletes seemed to enjoy the enthusiasm before their race.

There are two basic reasons that we host the Duathlon: to raise some money for the not-for-profit Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition, Inc.  We use these funds as a local match to grants from the Federal Highway Administration.  The grants multiply this local match four times to apply toward Byway implementation.  The second reason is to introduce the Byway to a group (or demographic) who would not otherwise appreciate one of America’s Byways.

I found it curious that no one dropped out of the race!  Every other year in more pleasant weather we have had one or two drop out of the competition.  Apparently those that started were prepared for cold and miserable and stuck to it.  Personally my hat is off to everyone who finished.  Frankly, I didn’t get out for a bike ride until Tuesday when the temperatures were 20 degrees warmer.

Maryanne Mackey caught this picture of finish line volunteer John Scherer sharing a light moment with a finisher.

We also had a record number of volunteers assisting with the event.  This included 11 volunteers from the ham radio operators group and 16 Byway volunteers and 3 chefs/cooks from Krause’s crew.  This type of personal commitment results in a multitude of positive feedback from our participants who appreciate our attention to details and our hospitality.  So far 12 participants have responded to an on-line survey in a very positive way.  The best way to summarize the survey results is that of the 12 responses, 11 said they would be back next year and only 1 said maybe.  That’s an excellent thank you to all of our volunteers.

Larry Sydek and I at Sunrise in Schenectady

For the most in depth experience on the Mohawk Towpath Byway, you have to slow down and take “it” one step at a time.  I have long advocated that the best way to see the Byway is on a bicycle.  Well, that’s close.  But to really see the detail I now suggest you get off your bike and discover some of the real beauty, charming nooks, bits of history, and capricious nature. There’s over 26 miles to the Byway that pass through more than a dozen communities, several geologies, and innumerable stories.

No, I’m not suggesting that you do it all at once, but you can.  On September 19, 2009, Larry Syzdek and I started at sunrise in Schenectady to hike the Byway.  A dozen hardy souls joined up in their favorite community and did just a couple of miles or like Larry  Syzdek and Ruth Olmsted did: half the Byway.  The purpose of the trip is to bring attention to the Byway and to mark the Quadricentennial of the Henry Hudson exploration of this area.

I was surprised to see at least half dozen trail users on the Mohawk-Hudson Bikeway in Schenectady on a cool, early Saturday morning!  There were a couple of commuters, a dog walker and a couple out for an early morning run.  There were more on the trail as we traveled through Niskayuna.  This section of the Byway is steeped in history.  I want to return to the remote part of Niskayuna when the foliage is down to find the canal channel which lies between the Bikeway and the Mohawk River.

Welcoming the warmth of the sun in Rexford

John Scherer and Richard Welkley joined us in Rexford.  At this point we were about 30 minutes behind our planned itinerary, but we were making steady progress.  The cup of tea from Stewart’s and the direct sun began to warm us to a comfortable existence.  The views along the escarpment were excellent and we had much more time to appreciate them than we usually have in a vehicle.

Riverview Orchards was where we had our first break for additional carbohydrates and water.  Stopping at a spot where you can purchase local produce and local fare should be a part of any trip on the Mohawk Towpath Byway.  Even though about 40 minutes behind our itinerary we still were ahead of the busy weekend crowd of patrons.    Temperatures were still cool, but ideal for walking.

At the Vischer Ferry Preserve with the Interact roadside cleanup crew.

When we arrived in Vischer Ferry three members of the Southern Saratoga Interact Club Emma Huneck, Kerry McDermott, and Jackie Suarez joined us.  They did their semi-annual roadside cleanup on Riverview Road between the firehouse and the entrance to the Vischer Ferry Preserve.  The club has adopted this mile and a half segment of the Byway.  It is encouraging to see these young leaders taking an interest in their community.  More over, there is a noticeable difference in the roadside along this segment compared to the adjacent segments.  We really need to encourage more groups to do this.

Shephard’s Hey Farm is very near the halfway point along our walk.  Here Larry tagged off to his wife Ruth Olmsted to continue.  We crossed the town line and entered Halfmoon a short distance further east.  The absence of traffic in the relatively rural Clifton Park and Halfmoon segments make this part of the Byway attractive to cyclists and pedestrian traffic.  In addition the two towns have garnered a substantial Federal Highway Administration grant to connect the two towns by reconstructing the 1842 Erie Canal Towpath.  This should provide an attractive alternative for bike and pedestrian traffic.

When we stopped for lunch at Crescent Park we were over an hour behind our planned itinerary. A light lunch was welcome, but there seemed to be an undercurrent of fear about sitting down, lest we not be able to get back afoot.

The Cohoes Crescent Road is the most challenging for pedestrians to negotiate.  Lack of shoulders, vegetation over hanging the guide-rail, and high traffic counts at mid day are most noticeable.  The newly resurfaced treatment near the route 9 intersection is encouraging.  The working landscape is no deterrent to the opportunistic succession vegetation and wildlife that control the wetlands and historic canal wide waters and both sides of the highway here.

The Hamiltons with restored Harmony Mill #3 in background

Ruth Olmsted and I were pleasantly surprised when my wife, Barb, joined us as we entered the City of Cohoes.  This segment of the Byway is one of the more historically significant along the Byway.  Many stories and cultures are interwoven in the fabric of this community.  The city has taken great pride in maintaining and showing off its heritage.

As we turned north into Waterford we picked up the Lakes to Locks Passage, an All American Road.  The two Byways overlap each other for a short distance here in Waterford.  We chose the historic Champlain Canal Towpath Trail rather than the sidewalks along Saratoga Avenue.  This section of the historic Champlain Canal is now a feeder canal that helps maintain the water level between Locks 2 and 3 on the present canal.  The northern end of the trail emerges on Lock 2’s south side.  Crossing over the catwalk atop the lock gates brings you to the Waterford Harbor Trail leading right to the promenade in front of the Visitor Center.  Merle Doud a long time Byway advocate and the Village’s representative welcomed us three travelers when we arrived at the harbor and noted the significance of the Quadricentennial of the Henry Hudson Exploration.

With the Hudson in the background we fulfilled our Quadricentennial objective.

With a mere 5 miles left to our day’s walk we were eager to be on our way.  We were at least maintaining the pace set out in our itinerary, even though we remained an hour behind our plan.  The walk up the hill on Fonda Road was not as difficult on foot as it was on bicycle in a recent outing.  The deep lawns of the neighboring residences welcomed us to the Town of Waterford.  But going west we missed the glimpses of the hills that mark the distant eastern edge of the Hudson Valley.   The Church Hill Historic District made a welcome finale to our trek.  The Crescent Park Trail may be a few steps out of the way, but it provides a less intimidating, safe crossing of the busy intersection on the north end of the Route 9 Bridge.  Once again Crescent Park was a welcome destination.

I want to thank all those who made the trek possible.  And particularly Ed Brown who documented the event in photographs.  The pictures here came from Larry Syzdek’s camera, but more pictures, those by Ed Brown are posted on Flickr.  I never thought the trek would take 11 hours.  I am starting to grasp the challenges faced by those adventuresome characters who settled the West.  And we didn’t experience any hostile natives, inclement or unpredictable weather, insufferable terrain, and we didn’t have to swim across the river.  We had bridges.

I am reminded of a proverb supposedly of African origin, “To go fast, go alone.  To go far, go together.”  Thank you for joining me as we Walk the Byway.

The Mohawk Towpath Byway is one of several of America’s Byways that are participating in a beta test of a tool to assess the economic impact of the Byway on our local economy. Please help us out with our homework. Would you take ten minutes to answer the survey based on your last visit to the Byway.  Even if you live on the Byway or within the corridor, we would like your perspective.  Locals have even an easier time at this, since you will automatically skip several questions in the middle.  Click here to begin.

The Byway team in Denver

Five members of the Mohawk Towpath Byway team have spent three days in Denver and the surrounding area representing our local communities at the National Scenic Byway Conference.  This provided an excellent opportunity in training and networking with other grass routes byway officials across the country including those from other America’s Byways, from federal government agencies, and a handful of state Byway officials, and the America’s Byways Resource Center.

The Mohawk Towpath Byway took center stage early in the program with a kick off session discussing the Byway organization’s visioning and planning process.  “Our program was touted as one of the Best Practices workshop sessions,” commented Eric Hamilton, Director of the Mohawk Towpath Scenic Byway Coalition.  “Feedback from participants and follow up discussion convinced our Byway that the presentation was very well received.”

“The Byway organization has been through two planning cycles that refine the organization’s objectives and evaluate progress in implementing the Byway’s Corridor Management Plan,” stated Ray Patterson, of Capital Consulting Group.  This process is of great interest to the National Byway community.

The National Conference provided training opportunities and ideas for improving the Byway experience along the 26 miles of our local Mohawk Towpath Byway.  Some of the ideas that evolved included more interpretive opportunities along the Byway.  John Scherer and Larry Syzdek will be following up with this initiative.  Another idea was to foster a broader appreciation of scenic and historic preservation.  Henrietta O’Grady and Eric Hamilton will be following up on this initiative.  Ray Patterson will be facilitating a third round of brainstorming and planning for the implementation of the Corridor Management Plan for the coming year. All our stakeholders will share in that process.

The trip was a real learning experience both for the Byway as well as for me… I could not get acclimated to the altitude and a run on the third day there proved to me that I just cannot get enough oxygen to run more than a mile in the mile high city.  Man am I glad to be back and running at home.

At Independence Pass

A group of Byway volunteers discussing a vision.

Five volunteers from the Mohawk Towpath Byway will be attending the National Scenic Byway Conference in Denver, CO August 23 to 26th, 2009.  In fact, Ray Patterson and I will be presenting our Byway’s visioning and planning process as a kick-off session at the Conference.  Ours is considered one of the ‘best practices’ among those submitted by others of America’s Byways… there are 125 of them in all.