Branch Pond

Myths are public dreams , dreams are private myths.

Joseph Campbell

Kelly Stand Rd.

I felt like I been looking for this place my whole life.

-their eyes were watching God.



In all of Vermont I find no other place that allows me the creative freedom and peace of mind as Kelly Stand Road. When Irene stormed New York and Vermont it wiped out KSR and it was closed for a few years. so I left here at 4am to take a drive up and check to see what they had done with the repairs.

I was a little disappointed that the camp sites for the first couple of miles were gone with large boulders placed along the road to keep cars from parking in the woods. also that they let the road up to Branch pond become over grown leaving it much narrower then it used to be.

But that is the small stuff , some how there seems to be more room to park and explore then there was before ,except at Beebe Pond were they was never more then enough room to park one , maybe two cars.

And of course the great bonus are the side roads off of Kelly Stand road such as FS 71 that runs all the ways back to rte 9.  Which may be more beautiful then the main road.  That will be the next trip.

So with camera in hand it was time to play .


Tree pan from Roaring Brook

 Branch Pond

A Season for Vermont

Vermont is a small state that makes an enormous difference.

Fred Rogers

Follow the Light

What good is the lighthouse if you never leave the shore? 

Reflections

The older you get, the more your realize the way you look is a reflection of how you treat yourself. 

Hope Davis. 

Sunset In The City

One belongs to New York instantly , one belongs to it in much as five minutes as in five years.

Tom Wolfe

Beach Walk

To go out with the setting sun on an empty beach is to truly embrace your solitude. 

Jeanne Moreau

Rensselaer County Supreme Court

I'm for truth , no matter who tells it. I'm for justice , no matter who it is for or against. 

Malcolm X 

Downtown Troy

My inspiration is my hometown.

Thomas Jones


I grew up in downtown Troy. Troy is a historical , rich city of art , music , architecture , education and once a major power of industry that at it's peak had 90,000 people.there's half that much today.it has even boasted it's own major league baseball team , the Troy Haymmakers , which gave birth to the present day San Francisco Giants. to this day Troy is an honorary member of the National League. 

while my memories of my childhood has faded , it is not because I got to an age that I can't remember but much of what was there is gone forever. The buildings , shops , bars and restaurants along Congress street were torn down and replaced with other buildings or parking lots. 

The shopping district was always crowded and an exciting place for kids like myself to spend time , there was always so much to do. then along came the age of the " Malls ". the city politicians , planners and business people all panicked , and decided to place a mall in the middle of downtown and that project due to total stupidity stalled. my last memory before I left for boot camp was a giant crater in the middle of downtown surrounded with orange plastic construction fence that sat there for years. 

Gone were the stores , jobs , along with two more city blocks located at River and 4th street ,as well as many of the people from my generation looking for a better future , I myself left for almost 15 years.  

today as I walk around downtown I see the mall that has turned into state offices , another block that is now a parking lot and hotel and the last one a city park and imagine what the city could of looked like if downtown was kept , repaired and still apart of the landscape. on the same token i have been impressed with the way downtown has made a comeback with wonderful shops and restaurants thanks to the people that stayed and those that have migrated and made Troy their home.I now call it the ' Glass city ' which anyone walking the streets would understand. 

Troy still has it problems and will never be the city it was but there is hope that Troy can always be special.

Safe Places

It's ok to have a safe place where one can be alone and feel safe from all the dangers in the world , as long as you understand that it is an illusion. Even within my own safe place I keep in mind what " Teddy" once said.

Speak softly and carry a big stick.