Coltsfoot are blooming, buds on the red maples are bursting, pussy willows are beyond, painted turtles are out sunning, and the skunk cabbage looks fully mature.  Spring is here!  It’s like once the snow melted Mother Nature is trying to catch up.

A trail cleanup crew discusses what seems to be part of the early “Clinton’s Ditch” north of the Clutes Dry Dock.

While participating in the Canal Clean Sweep event, a hardy group of Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway including Paul Olund, and neighbors Maryanne Mackey and Susan Lasker rediscovered a “back water” north of Clutes Dry Dock.  The waterbody is elongated in an east west direction complete with what seems like a distinct towpath on the south side.  Was this part of the original 1825 Erie Canal or and early excavation for a dry dock?

What is this water body? Is there a Byway story here?

This type of exploration would not be possible after the vegetation fully emerges, because of the buck thorn, honey suckle, multi floral rose, and other thick, emergent undergrowth.

Get out there and make your own discoveries along the Mohawk Towpath Byway as spring returns to the northeast.  A hardy thank you to all of those who were up and at it for explosion of Canal Clean Sweep events this weekend.

The Mohawk Towpath Byway in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Shenendehowa and Riverview Orchards will host a day of family fun at 660 Riverveiw Road, Rexford on Saturday, May 9. There will be nature hikes, cooking demonstrations with local ingredients, local food, a working model of a canal lock, hay rides, childrens games that were a part of our heritage, giant bubble blowing, ice cream eating contest, and much more.

The Apple Blossom Festival starts at 9 AM and wraps up at 4 PM.

The event is free and food will be available at reasonable prices.

There is a meeting of the Friends of the Mohawk Towpath Byway on Tuesday evening, April 14 at 7 PM at the historic Grooms Tavern, at the intersection of Grooms and Sugar Hill Roads in Clifton Park (Rexford mailing address).  The meeting is open to the public and you are invited!  

The agenda…  coming soon.