Join us on Sunday at the Finger Lakes Boat Museum. In 1996 a small group of dedicated antique boating enthusiasts, motivated in part by a common concern over the rapidly dwindling population of locally-built wooden boats, committed to establishing a museum that would preserve the boating heritage of the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. The museum founders, all active in the “antique boat world,” felt that a museum focusing on the impact that recreational and commercial boating had on the development of the lakes and tourism in the Finger Lakes Region would increase appreciation and awareness as well as help preserve these vintage craft.

The Museum Collection has now grown to more than 200 boats built by many of the 40+ commercial builders identified to date as having built boats throughout the Finger Lakes Region during the last century.

The museum currently has three floors of the historic former Taylor Wine Company’s main building to explore with several exhibit spaces and a new wing renovated in 2015.  Visitors can see canoes, rowboats, row outboards, outboard runabouts, inboards, hydroplanes, and sailboats. Many related artifacts and ephemera are also on display, including a 130′ x 10′ lake and nature mural and replica lake cottage. A 60′ x 10′ lake mural was also recently completed in the Inboard Motor Boat exhibit room. Our main building also contains an active boat shop where visitors are able to see restoration projects underway.

We all plan to meet at the museum at 3:00 for an hour or so to check out the boats. You should feel free to come earlier if you expect to spend more time. If the museum is not of interest, join us for a hike to start promply at 4:30.

After exploring the Boat Museum, head south on Pleasant Valley Road (County Road 88) about .8 miles to the Urbana Town Hall at 8014 Pleasant Valley Road (  42.389558, -77.260007 ). We will gather between 4:15 and 4:30 for a 4:30 start. The trail will take us through a vineyard, over a bridge, along a former rail line, and up along the south rim of Mitchellsville Creek, a very pleasant climb through a hemlock and pine forest with frequent views to the deep gully below. Mushrooms and tiny toads abound. The full hike (Climbers) is 4.8 miles (total out and back) and about 2 hours; Tourists and Naturalists can head back to the start whenever so inclined. The path is well marked and cleared, though on the steep side in a few places.

After the hike, please join us for the social at the Pleasant Valley Inn, just a few hundred feet south from the Town Hall parking lot. Bear right at the intersection onto Fish Hatchery Road and then enter the first driveway on the left, between two white posts – this is the back way into the Inn, which is pink and white. The main entrance is at 7979 Route 54. Please let us know ASAP if you plan to join us at the Pub, so we can let the Inn know we are coming.

This Sunday we will be kayaking and hiking  Canadice lake. Kayakers and hikers will meet at the south kayak launch . Kayakers should plan on arriving 15-20 minutes early for a timely launch at 4:00pm. hikers can walk from here to the south trail entrance  and enter the west lake hiking trail. The west lake hiking trail starts at the south end of the lake and continues along the lake for four miles arriving at the north gate. Hikers can hike as long as they wish before turning back enjoying the wild flowers and lake views along the way. Kayakers will head in a direction favorable to wind direction determined at the time of launch.

We will meet back at the south kayak launch for a “after hike” social. Bring a sandwich or dish to pass and something to drink.

Directions:

From Rochester: Take Rt 15A ((East Henrietta Rd) south toward Hemlock. Continue through Hemlock on 15 A south four about 4 miles and turn left on to  Parselle  Road. Drive for a mile and turn right on Canadice Road. Drive south on Canadice Road for about 3 miles. Don’t stop at the first boat launch. Continue down the lake to the kayak launch. There is a Kiosk on the right hand side. Park along the road and walk down the trail (100ft) to the lake.  Unload your kayak at the kiosk and find a place to park along the road.

From Naples, Wayland and points south, Head to Wayland and turn on to Rt 15 north. Continue  straight  through Springwater on Rt 15A for 1.5 miles and turn right on Wheaton hill Rd. Continue up the hill for 1 mile and turn left on to Canadice Rd. Continue on Canadice Rd. for about 2-3 miles. you should see Canadice lake on your left. the Kiosk will be on your left along the Rd. unload your kayak at the kiosk and find a place to park along the side of the road.

Sorry all, but the weather really isn’t cooperating. We are going to cancel today. Please come down to the Community days if it is drier after noon and stay out of the lightning. 

This coming Sunday is Springwater Community Day at Canute Park off School St in Springwater NY. Festivities start early with an egg and pancake breakfast. Events will include an antique Car Show, and the Tractor Pull. You are all invited to stop by the park and enjoy the festivities.  Be sure to stop by the Floyd Ingraham’s Springwater book launch between 9 and 3 and meet the author Julie Manwarren. She will be able to tell you the history of the photos by Springwater resident Floyd Ingraham taken in the first decades of the 20th century, and how the original negatives were processed to create some of the best pictures you will find of rural life at that time.  She may even personally sign a book for you.

One other event on that day is a rummage sale at the Springwater/Webster Crossing Historical Society Museum, 8130 Route 15, Springwater, NY 14560. The museum will be open and all proceeds from the rummage sale will benefit the Historical Society.

Following the Community Day festivities, Springwater Trails will lead a hike on the Wheaton Hill trails.  All hikers will start on the Pine Trail where we will walk through woods to one of the typical gullies of the Finger Lakes. After this loop we will cross the road to the Spruce Trail through a spruce plantation likely planted 50 or more years ago. The Climbers will break off to check out the Redbud Trail for additional exercise.

Following the hike, if the weather holds, hang around for our post hike social. You can share your copy of Julie’s book and enjoy the outdoors. Bring a chair so you can relax. Also, if you haven’t eaten too much at the Community Day festivities, bring a sandwich and beverage and maybe a small snack to share with the group.