This Sunday, We’re going back to the Bristol Branch of the Finger Lakes Trail, continuing from where we left off, well, almost.  We’ll skip the dull road walk on Clement and Seman Roads and hike the Nature Conservancy’s West Hill Preserve, to Naples.

We’ll meet, at 3:45, at Naples Community Park.  From Naples, go north on SR 21 and turn right on SR 245.  The park entrance is about 1/2 mile, the first right turn after a DEC service garage.  There’s a big brown sign on the left, just after the entrance.  Follow the entrance road around to the left to the parking lot by the athletic field.

Climbers and Tourists will get together and form car pools.  First decide whether you want to end your hike at the park by Bob and Ruth’s (about 4 miles), or walk down 245 to the meeting place (about 5 miles), and organize car spotting and pooling.  To get to the starting point, go north on SR21 and left on CR12.  Take the first left, Rhine St., to the 4 way  intersection.  Go left onto Seman Rd.  Trailhead is about 1/2 mile, by a big sign on the left.

The trail is well marked and easy to follow.  If you go to a Wegman’s before Sunday, pick up a Nature Conservancy passport.  There’s a rubbing spot down the trail.  About 1/2 mile later, you’ll come to a fork.  Here, the tourists will go right, staying on the main trail.  The climbers will go left, on a side trail, that isn’t marked, but looks like it’s easy to follow, eventually rejoins the main trail, and adds about another mile to the hike.  Warblers and bluebirds have often been observed on this trail.  There is a game fence on the main trail, which is electric so, be aware of it, especially with your metal hiking poles.  There are some raspberry bushes on the trail, with ripe berries, for your snacking pleasure.  The trail has mud, poison ivy and probably ticks.  Pants and gaiters offer some protection from all of these.  Good luck, if you do this hike in shorts, even though some of you chicks have nice looking legs.  Bob and Ruth’s has a good ice cream window.  If you have any fresh raspberries, they might taste good on a dish of vanilla ice cream.

Any old pokies, I mean Naturalists, who don’t want to do this hike, can enjoy the trails at our meeting park.  This park will be loaded with ripe raspberries and I can show you where they are, so bring something to collect them in.  We also have a boating option on Canandaigua Lake, for those who would prefer that.  There should be a place in Woodville, where you can put your boat in.  Just be back to the park by 6, for the social.

After hike social will be a picnic at the park where we met.  2 portapotties there can provide welcome relief, if needed.  There are picnic tables, some of which are under cover, in case it’s raining.  Bring a dish to pass or make a donation.  Wouldn’t hurt to pack lawn chairs, if needed.

Finally, this message is for Duffy.  Your daddy can read it to you.  Sorry, little buddy, but Nature Conservancy rules don’t allow you, or your kind, on their properties.  If your daddy would like, I can take you for a walk on a leash, in the village park.