Last Sunday, 10 hardy souls discovered something many active outdoor groups are doing, all across the country, converting former railroad beds into hiking trails.  The Ontario Pathways Organization has created such a 23 mile trail throughout Ontario County and Springwater Trails member, Georgia Binder, significantly contributed to this project.

We hiked a small portion of the western part of this trail.  Starting at the Ontario County Fairgrounds, and going east from there, one group hiked about 2 miles, the other, close to 4.  Mother Nature can be a sweetheart, if you don’t try to fool her with margarine.  The night before, she gave us a couple of inches of snow, which gave us just enough traction so we didn’t have to try to keep our balance, walking on the bumpy ice beneath.  Also, although the temperature, at hike time, was about 15, she held the wind down, making a most pleasant winter hike.  Among the observations was a groundhog burrow, woodpecker nest holes in trees and last summer’s polypore mushrooms.

After the hike, most of us went to the Beehive Bar & Grill in Canandaigua where many enjoyed a sample from the wide selection of beers, and their nice dining menu.

Around Halloween, those of you with young grandkids, might think about taking them on the great pumpkin walk, on the trail portion between Routes 10 and 46.  Members of OP carve real neat original jack-o-lanterns, and place them at intervals along this section of the trail.  The small admission charge you pay is used to maintain the trail.

Remember your little job next Sunday, or you’ll be an hour late for the hike.