2020-10-15 42 -78

Location

On the edge of Rt. 417, just North of Allentown, NY

Participants

Pedalpusher

Expedition

When the hashpoints were published today, I didn't think much of it, but then I realized that I don't have an expedition to the 00 Centicule. It would be an hour and a half drive, but I could easily check this box off the list, so I decided to go. It was a dreary, rainy afternoon/evening anyway, so what else was there to do?

After I signed off from work, I fed the dogs, grabbed a few things to snack on for the drive and headed out. With a few other expeditions out this way, I'm getting more familiar with this route through Arcade and down Rt 98. It was a mostly uneventful drive until I got to Allegany County. Since it was becoming dusk, the deer were becoming more active and I could see a lot of them out and about in the fields and near the road. Since I was being extra careful, I didn't have any close calls, but did have a couple cross the road in front of me.

Navigating safely to Rt. 417, I found the hashpoint, but because there was a massive ditch and cars behind me, I continued on and found a side street to pull off and turn around. I was then able to get back to the hashpoint on the other side of the road, but with houses/buildings on that side, there were plenty of flat spots to pull safely off the road. Waiting for the traffic to clear, I walked across the street and got a decent reading off the GPS right away. Wanting a closer reading, I stepped into the steep ditch on the side, but near the bottom, the ground got really mushy. While I did get a better reading (and a picture), I got some mucky water in my sneakers and had to drive home with damp feet...not really sure it was worth it for a better reading just 3 feet closer. I tried to get pictures of the surrounding area, but because the sun had set and it was turning dark, they aren't great. Still, an adventurous way to spend the evening.

On the way home, I celebrated by eating the leftover Chocolate Chip cookies my girlfriend made/brought camping earlier in the week. I also stopped in Arcade to blow up a couple enemy fields in Ingress. That was interesting, because there was a State Trooper sitting in the parking lot near the Portal watching for speeders. I'm sure I peaked his curiosity when I pulled around him and parked in front of the sign for a few minutes, but he didn't bother me. (I didn't block the exit of the parking area between him and me or anything.)

I made it safely home and successfully avoided meeting a lot of furry creatures along the way: A ton of deer, couple raccoons and an opossum.

After a year, I think it's safe to call this a Last Man Standing Expedition.

Photos

Made it.
Accuracy.
View NorthEast from the Hash.
View SouthWest from the Hash.
Walking back to the car, a bad view of the houses across the road.
With little light, I took the Stupid Grin in the car.
Before driving home, I used the Night Sight on the Camera to try to get a view of the Hash but couldn't get it to focus correctly.