2020-05-06 42 -78

Location

Just outside the boundary of Reinstein Woods (Nature Preserve), near Como Park Blvd

Participants

Pedalpusher

Expedition

Because Reinstein Woods is a Nature Preserve (and a suburban park), dogs aren't allowed so I figured I'd take a drive out after work and explore this area a bit on my own (sorry, Simon). With the dogs fed, I set the directions on my phone and was off on a short but uneventful drive to Cheektowaga. I found the place without any difficulty, but was surprised to see the number of cars in the parking lot. I was hoping most people would be eating dinner when I got there.

Wandering down the trails, I saw the Visitor center and all the pavilions/shelters cordoned off with caution tape since everyone is supposed to be keeping distant from others. Walking down the path toward the hash, I found a large swampy area where the path turned to go more into the park. I couldn't go straight through the water; well, I could, but would have to climb on logs and possibly unstable small grassy 'islands'. Being a Nature Preserve, this would most likely be frowned upon.

Across the water looked like firm ground behind the houses and walking back a little on the trail took me to one of the back doors of the Visitor Center (I think). This area also had caution tape blocking the way, but if I stepped around in the narrow area where there wasn't tape, I could get back there and possibly walk behind the houses. That seemed a bit too close and could be Trespassing anyway. With what looked like an impassable way, I decided to just walk down the trails and explore, just about giving up.

To both sides of me were ponds but as I continued, the pond on the left (and toward the hash) was smaller and eventually ended. What's this? Another branch of the path heading to another pond further away but in the right direction? Better investigate. I may be able to get by that initial pond that was blocking my way. Getting to this other pond, I saw what was sort of a trail going along the shore and decided to follow it since that was also the direction of the hash. Maybe I could get a little bit closer.

As I continued, it was no longer a path, but a deer trail. I was probably breaking the Nature Preserve rules, but there was no vegetation growing yet and I could still stay on the deer trails. I was not encountering standing water and very shortly, I could see the houses that the hash was near. Getting the HashDroid ready again, I made my way through the thinning trees. This was going to be really close to being on someone's property...

Getting to the edge of the trees, I still had about 30 feet/10 meters to go, but it was clearly on the lawn near the shed at the back of the property. Even without signs prohibiting access, this would definitely be Trespassing so I called it there and got a couple pictures just shy of the hash.

Returning the way I came, I made my way back to the trails and continued exploring the Park on the very wide, flat and easy trails. Going through the forest, it was very open, but I found a few areas with very high fences around. They are demonstrating what happens when the Whitetail deer are kept out of an area and how different that bit of forest will be in a couple years.

Almost back to the car, I saw some ripples in the water of the large pond and was thinking it was a Muskrat because it looked small. It was coming my way, so I decided to pause and watch it. As it got close, I was able to snap a picture, and then suddenly it noticed me. Doing the distinctive Beaver-Tail-Water-Slap, it dove under. That was neat, a baby beaver!

Getting back to the car, I drove home a different way to attack some Resistance Portals in the Ingress World and broke a couple massive fields.

Photos

As close as I could initially get.
Looking North, the pond is impassable, but there's definitely firm ground on the other side.
Looking more toward the hash, I could walk over that log...jump 'island' to 'island' and possibly make it, but better not.
Walking back on the path a bit, a view of the Visitor Center and where the Caution tape ends, but there's a gap between there and the woods to the right.
Finding an alternative path, I was able to get quite close but found it was on someone's property.
A view of the hash, probably between the close trees and the Blue tarp by the shed.
At the end of the walk, a shot of the baby beaver towing a lilly-pad.