Gardening, Camping, and Mountain Biking-It’s Been a Great Summer So Far

Who Said That Life Slows Down When You Retire?

View While Mountain Biking in the Pharsalia Woods NY State Forest/Author Photo

Welcome back. It’s been a while since my last article. On June 30, 2026, I wrote about the progress of my garden. I also included a podcast episode in that article, giving more details on the garden:

[embed]As Summer Begins, My Garden is Thriving (Podcast Included) The Trusty Gardener-So Far I Have Harvested Lettuce and Kalemedium.com

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Garden Update

The downsized garden continues to do well in July. Over the last few weeks, I have continued harvesting lettuce, although the Romaine bolted during the extremely hot weather over the 4th of July. The varieties I grew (Sunland and Winter Density) were supposed to be bolt-resistant, and I really think they were slower to bolt than previous Romaine varieties I have grown. I missed picking the heads in time because we were busy with camping and the grandkids. Lesson learned.

The July Garden/Author Photo

The other lettuces (looseleaf) and kale are still doing well. In the meantime, I have replanted some to keep some available to enjoy throughout the gardening season. I already have some more that is growing (2 to 3 inches high), and yesterday I planted some more. Succession planting is a good technique if you have the time and garden space to do so.

The snap peas are doing very well, as I have been enjoying them over the last several weeks. The variety I planted was Oregon Sugarpod II, which I purchased at the local garden store. They are a popular variety that I have grown before. They grow only about 30 inches tall and are very prolific. They are also delicious. Since they are shorter than traditional peas, it is easier to fence them.

The Snap Peas are Thriving/Autor Photos

I am looking forward to fresh cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini squash soon. I will probably have to be more patient with the tomatoes, although I do have one cherry tomato (Honey Bee) already turning red.

The pumpkin vines are thriving in the manure pile garden, and I am hoping for a good crop. As the summer progresses, I have also been doing some weeding around the bases of the raised beds and the potato grow bags.

Speaking of the potatoes, both the Yukon Gold and Sweet potatoes are thriving in the grow bags. It will be interesting to see how the yield is later this summer.

Yukon Gold (Left) and Sweet Potatoes/Author Photos

0For more details on the garden progress, my latest podcast episode is featured at the end of the article.

Camping

So far this year, we have camped 3 times at Bowman Lake State Park (once in May, once in June, and over the 4th of July), about 15 miles from our home. It has become our go-to spot, as being close to home makes it convenient. Over the 4th of July weekend, we enjoyed the company of our son, daughter-in-law, and the grandkids as they camped in the site next to us (tenting). It was one of the first camping experiences for the grandkids, and they seemed to cherish it. My son is an experienced camper as he is an Eagle Scout.

A Campfire is a Must/Author Photo

The 4th of July weekend presented weather challenges, but we persevered. When we arrived on July 2nd, the heat index was about 110 at least. We slowly worked at setting up, taking frequent breaks. Thankfully, it didn’t rain that night. It did cool down somewhat that night since being in the woods at a higher elevation (around 1900 feet) made it quite comfortable.

Our Camping Setup/Athor Photo

Over the next 2 days, it remained warm but a little bit more tolerable. Friday featured a quick thunderstorm around 4 PM, but the rest of the evening was fine. Around 5 PM on Saturday, a strong thunderstorm came through, and it poured for almost an hour. Afterwards, we shared dinner, and it was a pleasant evening. We had purchased a new gazebo room to cover the picnic table, similar to the one we used last year (which my son used), but with attachable sides to prevent rain from coming in. That kept the table and dining area dry.

Kopac Pond Near Bowman Lake/Author Photo

We plan to do more camping this summer, with trips planned to Vermont and the Adirondacks of New York.

Mountain Biking

So far, this Spring/Summer has been good for biking as well. To date, I have ridden about 90 miles. Even though I am busy this time of year with gardens, lawn, pool, yard, and more, I have found time for biking as well. One advantage of us going camping is that it gives me time for bike rides. Part of the magic of camping is that it takes you away from your everyday life, and it seems like you have more time.

Biking at Bowman Lake Campground/Author Photo

I enjoy biking at Bowman Lake, as there are numerous seasonal roads to explore in the nearby McDonough NY State Forest. Also, just riding around the campground itself is fun, as it encompasses about 965 acres and has nearly 200 campsites.

Give Camping a Try

Don’t get me wrong, camping is work. But it's different from everyday chores. Even though we were close to home, it still felt like getting away. I highly recommend camping to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.

Just Relax and Breathe/Author Photo

The following is my latest podcast episode of Leaf, Wing, and Sun. It’s hard to believe that this is episode #19! I appreciate your support.

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Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for updates.