2020-02-29 43 -77

Location

Middle of the I-390 Northbound, right before Exit 13

Participants

Pedalpusher

Expedition

Finally! After a spectacular failure, and two missed leap seconds, A Leap Hash that can't be missed. Initially, I was looking at the hash in the Buffalo Graticule and thought it was reachable, but was thinking it may be posted. Additionally, I was volunteering at the YMCA in the morning, so if that failed, there would be no second chances. I then checked the surrounding areas and saw that the Rochester Hash was VERY Reachable.

This would take about the same amount of time/distance to get to as the Buffalo Hash, but was just about guaranteed. Plus, getting out of the event around 14:30, I should be able to time this pretty close to an Official Saturday Meetup!

Getting to the Y around 09:30, we set up, entertained kids and talked to the parents about Summer Camp. It wasn't a very crowded event, but got a few kids signed up to Camp for a successful time. The leadership at the Branch ordered pizza for all the volunteers at the end (since we worked through lunchtime) so I snagged a slice on the way out. Putting the coordinates into my phone, I used the GPS to guide me to Rochester.

With only 3 major turns, I was able to get to the Hash with no problems, despite some blowing snowfall here and there. Using the same technique from the previous hash attempt, I held my GPS and the steering wheel in one hand and took a video on my phone with the other as I just watched the road and hoped I would get clear shots of the GPS as I crossed over the Geohash. Since the road was pretty empty, I was able to set the Cruise Control to exactly the speed limit as well for a Speed Racer achievement. Even though I was 15 minutes early, I'm still going to call this an Official Saturday Meetup.

I'm really glad the GPS hit the way it did, because watching the video of the progression, it was at 92 feet, went to 2 feet on the next update and then jumped back up to 93 feet. Had I hit the hash in the middle of the updates, I may not have had a good reading. This makes me think that the previous expedition was actually successful. I wrote up this expedition first, but I'll need to review the satellite pictures and make a better determination than what the GPS gave me on 2020-02-24...

Since I didn't just want to drive all the way to Rochester and then back home, I know of a really good BBQ place that was just one exit further up the road. If you are ever in Rochester, I'd definitely recommend Sticky Lips BBQ! I didn't take any Stupid Grin pictures as I didn't want to fool around with that while driving and was going to after I parked, but totally forgot about it; I got distracted by BBQ smells. After having a late lunch/early dinner of Texas Brisket and Smoked Turkey, I was on my way back home on an unremarkable drive, but excited to finally nail down the elusive Leap Day Hash.

Photos

Perfect timing for the GPS to update right next to the hash.
Screengrab from the video for the SpeedRacer. Cruise Control set for 65 MPH.
Google Maps confirms the speed limit here is 65 MPH.
Even without the GPS, I'm in the correct lane right before Exit 13 to drive through the Hash.