Kudos to Dena on an exhilarating climb, full of adventure. Her review of the hike was very colorful. She is quite a good reporter. Congrats to all who braved the journey.
Author Archives: Melissa
Hike Recap Ontario Pathways
Beautiful biking weather last Sunday. Not bad for hiking either. Mark and Pati took to the trail on foot with the Westies. The rest of us greased up our chains and pumped up our tires(except for Dena) for a leisurely trip down the rail trail from Orleans to Flint. Lots of flora a fauna were viewed along the route. Pam pointed out Tansy, a flowering plant sown by farmers to keep away flies.
Pam plays with railroad spikes
Too bad it did not work on mosquitoes. We were also on the lookout for poison sumac. The trail was lovely and shaded in many areas, with a steep drop to the creek. Fortunately we did not veer off into any of the ravines. The trip south took us just under an hour, but the return trip was much faster. Bikers seemed to get their legs on the return journey. Had we known that, we could have made it all the way to Stanley in the allotted time.
About a mile from the finish we encountered some of our hikers who had arrived late: Katherine, Gene, and Georgia were meandering the trail observing the plants and fending off insects. All returned to the parking area in plenty of time to head out to our social.
Social at the Green Front 8/17/14
Thanks to John, we landed at a perfect spot for hungry hikers, the Green Front, in Canandaigua. Beer was great, several varieties on tap, and food was most delicious, especially the free pizza enjoyed by Melissa and John. Hats off to the crew at the Green Front.
Hope to see you all on the trail next week.
Ontario Pathways Rail Trail Sunday August 17
Are you ready for something new and different this Sunday? Dust off your bike and prepare to explore a section of the Ontario Pathways Trail. Hikers can enjoy the same path as riders at a slower pace.
Our journey will begin at he parking area on County Road 23 in the Hamlet of Orleans, approximately 4 miles north of Flint. Bikers and hikers will head south on the Pathway traversing fields and forests, following Flint Creek. The trail is flat with a surface of cinder, dirt, and grass. There are numerous “speed bumps” created by gnarly roots poking through the surface. Mountain bikes are recommended due to the rough surface, but hybrid bikes will do as well. For safety sake, please wear a helmet. Bikers will ride 7 miles to the Stanley terminus and return on the same route for a total of about 14 miles. Hikers will walk southward as far as time allows, then return to the parking area via the same trail. For more information and a map of the trail, visit their website www.ontariopathways.org.
Directions: From Canandaigua head north on Route 21. North of the city bear right on Route 488, heading east. Follow this route for 6.3 miles to the point where Route 488 turns to the left to head north. Turn right at the cross roads (Waddell Rd and Railroad Rd). The gravel parking area is on the left before the intersection with CR 23. You will see an old wooden mill to the north of the parking area.
Social: After the bike/hike let’s gather at the Wegman’s Market Café on Route 5/20 in Canandaigua. So many yummy choices and tons of seating. From the trail head, head west on CR23. Turn left on CR 20. Take the first right on CR4. After 6.5 miles, turn left onto CR10. Then right on US-20. Wegmans is on the left after a half mile.
Recap of Hi tor Hike
Kudos to the hearty souls who braved the wet and steep conditions at HI tor yesterday. Due to the recent heavy rains/flooding we revised the plan to have groups hike along by Naples Creek and up the West side of the hill.
Sixteen hikers (more or less) departed from the Parrish Hill Road access on what was a perfect Spring afternoon, breezy and cool. After a short “up” they descended to what proved to be a challenging creek crossing. Ann and Gerri led some of the group on a scenic off trail trek. . Duffy got a free ride but then wanted to swim back across. Mark is truly a devoted parent.
After the water hazard, it was all uphill, but our hikers endured to the beautiful overlook of Canandaigua Lake. There were several vistas of the gorge and waterfalls. All remarked on the beauty of the trail.
Who should we meet on the top but Katherine. She had hiked up from the other side of Hi tor alone to meet us after having a fuel crisis. After several minutes on top we regrouped and descended. The creek crossing seemed easier on the return trip.
Naples Community Park was ours for a congenial gathering after the hike. As always, the food was stellar, so many fine salads as well as hots on the grill courtesy of Pam. We marked the occasion of Mark’s birthday with a fabulous cobbler from Char’s kitchen.
Who could ask for a better Sunday afternoon?