2020-04-04 42 -78

Location

In the woods at St. Bonaventure University

Participants

Pedalpusher
Simon the dog
Myka the dog

Friday Pre-Expedition

When the hashpoints were generated on Friday, I saw this as really the only option for the weekend and planned on taking the dogs to Allegany State Park (ASP) for a good long hike on Saturday. Then I checked the Toronto hashpoint because there's a couple people up there that are somewhat active. The border is closed to non-essential crossings, but hey, I'm nosey. As I zoomed in though, I realized this was on the American side of the Niagara river and furthermore, it was right on the edge of a residential road and was very reachable! Maybe I should check the surrounding Graticules for Friday too and maybe get a pretty good consecutive streak going. Looking at the Corning Graticule, the point for Friday was in a Publicly Accessible State forest. However, I would need an hour and a half to get there. Messaging my manager, I requested to get out of work an hour early (I had put in a couple extra hours the day before). Unfortunately, I was turned down due to the Bank's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent legislation that was just enacted and things were busy. I would have had to cancel anyway if given approval because right around 15:00, things got real busy for us. I could have still gone after work, but I would have been arriving pretty close to sunset and would have been late to a 'Friends Virtual Cocktail hour'.

Expedition

It was a busy day! I knew I wanted to hike in the Art Roscoe Ski area and knock another 2 trails off my list, and figured that would take about 3 hours. If I wanted to make an Official Saturday Meetup, I'd have to leave for Allegany a little after 11:00. Getting up, I had breakfast and then started making sauce to put on my pizza later. The sauce finished up around 10:45 and that gave me enough time to make the pizza dough and get ready to head out. We were out the door right on time. Getting to ASP, there were a LOT of people out and about trying to stave off Cabin Fever in the midst of the Social Distancing as we battle COVID-19. I wasn't too worried though as I was going to be hiking a longer trail.

Sure enough, when I got to the parking area, there was one couple that were walking up the road, but I didn't expect them to hit the trail too. Making our way past the old Ski Area, the dogs were having a blast and we practically had the whole place to ourselves. At the first trail juncture, I was looking at the map and heard someone coming up behind me. I figured they may have come out of the other trail just a little way back that met this trail. I took the longer trail up to the top and looking back, I saw the two trail-runners keep going straight.

Getting near the top, I saw a small family walking toward me on the trail so I put the dogs on their leashes. Glad I did because they had one of those little noisy dogs. Walking behind the adults was a 4 or 5 year old girl. With the child and tiny dog, I figured the trailhead wasn't too far away, but I think I walked another mile or so before seeing the Summit Parking lot and the trailhead. I hope that guy was strong, because I bet he ended up carrying the daughter AND the dog back.

Touching the gate at the trailhead, we turned around and headed back down the trail. Getting back to the Ski area, I had some time so I decided to walk up to the top before driving to St. Bonaventure. We had a really nice view as the sun had come out for about half the hike.

Getting to St. Bonaventure, I got a little turned around on the University streets but eventually made my way to the parking lot closest to the hash. I wasn't expecting Posted signs, but definitely didn't expect trails going through these woods. That'll sure make things easier! Entering "Bob's Woods", I made my way down the trail that was heading in the right direction. Getting to the hash area, I saw a Hemlock tree that had some Christmas decorations still on it. I did my GPS Dance around the trees that were cut down (they must have done some minor logging recently). Getting a decent reading, I got my pictures and then we continued to explore the trail. I knew as we got closer to the Allegany River, there was a bike path, and sure enough, we started to see walkers and bikes moving by.

I stopped where a creek met the Allegany, and let the dogs off the leash to play in the water for a few minutes and then we headed back. A dog that passed us looked jealous that Simon and Myka got to play in the water.

The drive home was uneventful but I finished off the day with homemade beer and pizza.

It was a GREAT day.

Tomorrow's expedition makes this the start of a Consecutive Streak. Hopefully something good is available on Monday to keep the streak going.

Photos

There isn't a lot of green yet in the woods, but the creek on the hike was feeding the early foliage.
Back from the hike, the view from the top of the old Ski hill.
After parking, we found this was Bob's Woods.
...and next to that was a happy Please don't litter sign.
Made it.
Accuracy.
Dogs sitting at the hash.
Standard Stupid Grin.
I felt I was missing a picture and on the way back, I realized I forgot to get a pic of the Hash.
For the Official Saturday Meetup
Walking down the bike path to the Allegany River.
Dogs enjoying a swim before heading home.