Trail? What trail?

So my husband has decided that he likes hiking with me!  Yay!!!!  He has a great sense of direction when I get turned around and he makes funny faces to keep me happy!  That is all you need in a great hiking partner, right?

Last weekend we ventured out to the good ole’ Joe Panza Trail.  It’s where my training for the Appalachian Trail began way back on July 20, 2015.  I’ve been back there a few times since because it is so close to home.  When we started out I asked him how far he wanted to go.  I braced myself for his answer of one mile, but he surprised me when he said two miles!  I was giddy!  I set my app on my phone to measure our distance.

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It’s nearly winter and we were bundled up, but it wasn’t raining.  The trail is very flat and since I’ve been on it so many times, a little boring.  Well, not today.  I seem to always go a certain way on the trail.  Today my husband turned left instead of right and right instead of left and low and behold we were OFF the trail!  Where did the trail go?  With all the leaves on the ground we somehow missed a turn and it was obvious we were no longer on the trail.  We were walking along the creek and of course I knew we weren’t “lost” just not on a trail.  I remembered that there was a geocache near where I thought we were so I opened the geocache app on my phone and checked.  Nope.  Not where I thought we were.  At least now I had an idea of where we were since I could see the other geocaches that I have found in the park.

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My husband checked the app and together we decided to hike next to the creek until we came to “something.”  We slowly made our way along the creek. I found a green mossy tree that reminded me of a dinosaur foot and we found some litter.  I didn’t have my backpack so I didn’t have a garbage bag, but we took turns carrying the trash. Which reminds me, I still have a yucky bottle cap in my puffy jacket pocket!  About this time my app said we had hiked one mile!

We kept walking through the woods not positive where we were going to end up and then BAM!  There was a trail!  Well, I hope you weren’t worried!  Jumping back on the trail dear husband again took a left instead of a right and the trail ended at an open field that was behind the high school.  This time we knew the main trail was only about 200 feet to the right so we carefully made our way through the brush to the trail.  At this point we were on the main trail so there was a garbage can where we unloaded the trash we found.

The Joe Panza trail has identification on some of the trees.  We stopped to read a few and I hugged and loved on them.  The red maple did not want to let me go and snagged my scarf.

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I freed myself from the amorous maple and hubby and I then decided to play on some tree stumps!  My husband tried to impersonate The Thinker pose.  I think he looks a little constipated.  When I showed my sister the picture of me posing on the tree stump she said I reminded her of a twirling ballerina inside a little girl’s jewelry box.  Awe!  I wasn’t even trying!

While heading back to the car my app said we had hiked 1.97 miles.  It looked like we would make my husband’s goal of two miles by the time we reach the car. The last time we hiked we went about a mile. If we keep doubling our distance and if my husband could retire early, we could hike the Appalachian Trail together in 2020!  I think I’ll start playing the Lotto!

Disclaimer:  I try to make it a rule to not venture off trail.  I understand it could harm the plant life and I could get really lost.

Hiking with a Spouse, Rain or Shine!

My husband and I met on a blind date.  We spoke a few times on the phone before our first date, but that was WAY before cell phones and the internet.  It was actually even an accident that we met at all.  Loooong story.  One thing I told him was that if he didn’t like camping in the rain, he wasn’t the right guy for me.  I think I could feel him cringe through the phone.  He asked me to marry him six weeks later.  Apparently, there are many other things we love about each other and here we are twenty years later, through rain and shine!

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My supportive husband has hiked and camped with me in the rain.  He does it because he loves me and I love him for it!  Now that I am training for my big Appalachian Trail thru hike I would like to hike longer and more miles.  Husband, on the other hand, likes to keep it short and sweet.  I compromise usually.  This past Black Friday we “opted outside” instead of fighting through the crowds and shopping to save $5.  Unfortunately, when we put on our hiking boots that morning it was raining.  Not a hard rain, just an annoying sprinkle.  I needed to get every moment outside that I could, rain or shine!  My husband was excited to test out his new Merrell hiking boots in the rain.  He wanted to be sure that his feet would be warm and dry the next day while tailgating before the Buffalo Bills game. (They were great!)

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I packed my backpack and he packed two umbrellas.  Hahahaha!  He said he was going to use one and the other was for me.  Now, I have heard of hikers using umbrellas on the trail, I just won’t be one of them.  Fact, on the trail you’re going to get wet if it is raining.  Just deal.  The umbrellas went into the trunk anyway.  I love that he was trying to take care of me!

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We settled on hiking the Boy Scout trail in a local park.  It’s only 3/4 mile long.  Enough for my husband; a tease for me.   My husband was going to use one of my hiking poles.  He twisted and pulled it out too far and oops.  I had to push and twist to get the darn thing back together!  He said that my poles were shot and I should get new ones so he could have my old ones!  Sounds good to me! (Please comment with recommendations!)   Before I closed my trunk I asked him if he wanted his umbrella. He declined.  Hardy soul that he is!  He also likes to make funny faces when I take his picture!

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We each had winter hats on and the sprinkle wasn’t even noticeable once we were on the trail.  The Boy Scout Trail meanders along a creek.  The water was really moving since it was raining.  The trail is very flat although there is a little tiny hill at the end.  We stopped to take some pictures near a tree. One side had horrible orange graffiti.  I hate it when I see graffiti on trees!!!  What is wrong with people?  It makes me so angry and sad.  On a different trail recently I even saw “Will you marry me?” each word spray painted on four separate trees!  On other trees around it, they painted hearts. The vandal probably thought it was romantic and cute.  NOT!  If I were that unlucky girl I would say NO! and break up with the vandal then and there!

When my husband took the first graffiti filled picture, he didn’t say anything about it.  I don’t know if he thought it was “normal” or if he thought it added to the artistic value of the photo or more likely he just didn’t “see” it.  I was so disappointed and sad when I saw the photo on my phone with me smiling next to a graffiti covered tree.  I asked him to retake the photo from the other side of the tree.  I didn’t lose the meaning of the fact that the side of the tree with the graffiti was the side of the tree getting rained on.  Like Mother Nature trying to wash it off by crying on it!

 

I didn’t let the graffiti spoil our hike.  As we neared the last curve of the loop heading back to the car, my husband tried to sneak a short cut through the grass!  I gently guided him to the tree line where the trail was.  I needed every step available!

Later on that day we were driving somewhere and it was so sunny!  Isn’t that how it works sometimes!

Reflecting back to our recent hike and our twenty year marriage I noticed that frequently we have different views, ideas and beliefs.  We “see” things differently.  We have learned to listen to each other and respect those differences.  Opposites do indeed attract!  I like to think we compliment each other.  I’m horrible at math, he is a certified public accountant.  He can program a computer, I can type on a computer.  I’m good at planning things, he is a procrastinator.  I run on emotion and he is very logical.  It all works out.

Rain or shine, besides my shadow, my husband is my favorite hiking partner, on the trail and through life!

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Letchworth State Park

A few weeks ago I celebrated my birthday.  My bff, Linda aka MsBirder, knows I love hiking and so does she, so we set out on a birthday adventure of geocaching and hiking in Letchworth State Park.  The park is in Livingston and Wyoming counties, New York and is about 14,500 acres.  WOW!  It has numerous waterfalls and it known as the Grand Canyon of the East.  The gorge is about 600 feet deep in places and the Genesee River flows through it. The views are amazing!

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Usually when I go to Letchworth State Park I end up at the same end of the park, seeing the same things.  This time we went to the opposite end to see the Mount Morris Dam.  The dam is not exactly in the park, but right next to it.  It was built between 1948 and 1952 by the US Army Corps of Engineers.  My bucket list includes the Hoover Dam, it must be massive compared to this little dam!  It’s still a modern marvel how man can build something like this!

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At this time we were losing our minds and just having a great time!

Linda was not trying to choke me, she was taking a funny selfie and I had to capture it!

 

Linda and I continued on to do some hiking.  We weren’t exactly sure where we were going, but we had some coordinates for geocaches. The trail we took had a yellow blaze with the number 20 on it. I looked it up once at home and it is the #20 Highbanks Trail which is almost 5 miles.  It follows the west rim on the northern part of the state park.  The trail starts at the Mt. Morris Entrance and ends at cabin area C.  We didn’t get that far, maybe 2 or 3 miles because I was hungry!   There was a small ravine we had to carefully make our way down.  Unfortunately for Linda, and fortunately for me and your viewing pleasure, Linda slid down on her butt.  Here’s a very short video that she will have to forgive me for sharing.  Love you, Linda!

It’s not poop!  LOL!

We found a geocache and a little lean-to that was being re-built.

The face on the tree wasn’t the geocache, I forgot to take a picture of that!  But, isn’t the face cool!

We hiked about 2 miles or so, maybe 3 and I got hungry! There is a restaurant in Letchworth called Glen Iris Inn.  We had a great lunch there and visited the Middle Falls.

We made our way out of the park and headed home with the geocache app on.  We made a quick stop in a cemetery for a cache and then a Christmas tree farm.  I couldn’t believe how beautiful the Christmas tree farm was!

As we continued on we were stopped in traffic on the road.  Apparently a horse had gotten loose.  It was captured and thankfully no one was hurt, not even the horse.

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It was a great way to start my birthday weekend!

Griffis Sculpture Park

Okay, okay.  I know I skipped a month of blogging.  Recuperating my eyeball and life gets in the way.  When I scanned my pictures recently I found photos of the fabulous time I had Griffis Sculpture Park and I never wrote about it!

This will be short and sweet as I have another adventure I want to write about!  (Sneak peek- Guess where this picture was taken!)

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My day hikes group took a NIGHT hike to Griffis Sculpture Park in East Otto, NY.  It is 450 acres and has over 250 large scale sculptures made of metal throughout the property.  It is open from May through October.  This year, for a few weeks during the Fall, they decorated a small portion of the park with lights and allowed people entry after dusk.

It was so much fun hiking in the dark with my headlamp on.  I wasn’t afraid at all because I was with a large group and my good friend, Richelle (who is in Central America right now having the time of her life)!  The moon was full or nearly full that night and I didn’t need to use my headlamp at times.

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Some of the metal sculptures were made so you could climb them, get in them or sit on them.  It was a little freaky walking the path in the complete dark with only a headlamp and BOOM! – come across a naked lady sculpture rising out of the ground!

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Or you come across a naked man sculpture!  Couldn’t resist this one!  Yes, my hand is on his butt.  You can see the forest lit up in the background!

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The lights made the forest surreal and like we were on another planet.

It was magical!

 

Mono-vision = Mind Blown

A few months ago I bought a pair of glasses.  I love getting new glasses, everything is so clear without all the scratches that somehow accumulate no matter how careful I am.  This time was no different.  I bought new, pretty frames and new lenses.  I wear bifocals, so the price was almost $500.  YIKES!  But, I’ve worn glasses for 40 years so the price was, well, the price I pay to be able to see!

Just a few short weeks after getting my pretty new glasses a terrible tragedy occurred.  I scratched them.  Not just a little scratch in the corner, but a big enough dent, smack dab in the middle of my line of sight.  This was not good!  I was so upset with myself.  I didn’t want to fork over another $500!  Nothing could be done to fix them.

I had HAD IT!  I picked up the phone and called Lasik Vision Institute.  Maybe they can fix my eyes, instead of me buying new glasses every year.  I didn’t think I was a candidate for eye surgery.  I wore glasses for 40 years, I wore bifocals, I had an astigmatism.  I made an appointment anyway.  Of course, I was prepared for them to tell me my eyes were too bad for this procedure, but I had to try!

I wasn’t even excited about the appointment.  I just knew they would say it wouldn’t work on me.  I went through the tests, one by one.  They kept putting me in the next room.  Another test, next room.  Another test, next room.  What’s going on?  Why aren’t they just giving me the bad news?

The only bad news they had for me was that my corneas were too thin for Lasik surgery, so they had to do the PRK surgery instead.  It had a longer recovery time, but it would have the same results.  I was SHOCKED! AND TERRIFIED!

Fast forward to the day of my surgery.  Saturday, September 24.  I was very emotional.  My mind kept racing imagining the worst outcome.  I could go blind if that laser slipped!  I was a nervous wreck.  Thankfully, I had the support of my friends and family that encouraged me to always be the best I can be.

Then, upon further exam by the doctor he informed me that my distance vision was such a small prescription that they recommended that it does not require surgery. WAIT, WHAT?  Yes, you read that right.  I had been wearing glasses for 40 years thinking I had horrible vision, when in fact, I was just shy of 20/20.  WHAT???  Of course, wearing my glasses gave me 20/15 or so in vision, but, WHAT?????

So, I practiced walking around the office wearing the big goggles with no prescription in my left eye and with my right eye corrected for near (because otherwise I would need “readers”).  I LOVED IT!  Not everyone tolerates “mono-vision.”  Some people get nauseous or vertigo.  I took to it right away!  It made me feel like Wonder Woman!

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Yes, the name tag is on upside down on purpose.  So the Dr. can read the information from above my head during surgery!

Knowing that my distance vision was going to be untouched was a HUGE relief to me. The view I have of the stars, moon, sky, etc will remain the same!  Only one eye needed surgery, so the recovery would be easier.

My husband loves to take photos of me in unflattering moments, so I amused him.

Kissing my glasses good bye!
I didn’t really throw them out! I’m donating them!

 

I was still nervous about the pain, but the only real pain I had was when I put the steroid drops in the first 3 or 4 times.  It felt like little razor blades were on my eyeball.  That pain only lasted a minute or two each time.

Here I am typing this article just a mere three days after surgery!  I can see!!  I’m cleared to drive!!  My vision is not exactly perfect, but I know it will be better in time.  The doctor says it may take up to three months to be completely acclimated to the mono-vision and for my eye to heal. And, I do look like the Terminator.  My right eye is blood shot and creepy looking!  I still have a contact lens bandage on my eye.

Now if I can just retrain myself to not keep trying to push up my non-existent glasses or look for them on the bedside table every morning, it would be all good!

I’m imagining myself hiking the Appalachian Trail in the rain and not worrying about how in the world I would dry my glasses when everything I own is soaking wet!  I don’t have to worry about losing my expensive glasses and oh yeah, my $500 prescription sunglasses!

After wearing glasses for over 40 years, I felt it was only fitting to have a proper memorial service at our local bar.  I made a cross out of a twist-tie I found in my pocket and we had a couple shots.  RIP, glasses!

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I feel so FREE!!!!

If you would like to learn more about the eye surgery I had here is the link to their website.

This click will change your life!

I AM NOT AFRAID! I AM NOT AFRAID!

Fabulous!  Excited!  Amazing!  ALIVE!

I have a Bucket List.  Do you?  If not, you should!  A Bucket List details things that you would like to accomplish during your lifetime.  Recently, I was able to check off a couple things on my Bucket List.

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Well, I’m trying to step outside my comfort zone in baby steps.  It’s not easy for me to do things that I feel intimidated by.  I know, I know, I want to thru hike the Appalachian Trail…pretty intimidating.  So I have to start putting myself out there NOW.

One really fun thing I did off my Bucket List was participate in the Color Run.  A Color Run is a 5K non race.  Just my thing!  During the run/walk/skipping along the course there are “Color Zones” where a bunch of people throw different colored powder at you.  There’s an orange zone, pink zone, blue zone, purple zone, you get the drift.  By the end of the course you are covered head to toe in different colors.

Participating in the Color Run was a little intimidating for me.  I was afraid you had RUN or JOG the whole thing.  Heaven forbid!!  NOT TRUE!!!  The more I read other people’s experiences I was satisfied that I could just walk or skip or jog a tiny bit.  Unfortunately, the night before the race I was anxious.  I didn’t want to go alone.  I was ready to back out.  My registration was paid, I had my t-shirt and polka-dot socks, but I was NERVOUS!  My husband came to my rescue, like he often does, and when I asked him if he would join me on the course, he said he would.  He is such a trooper.  We both got thoroughly covered in different colors and we walked pretty much the entire way, but at the end we still got shiny silver medals and we weren’t the last ones across the finish line!

Another thing I really had to do was sleep outside in the woods all by myself. Since I was a little girl I’ve been afraid of the dark.  Now, I’ve outgrown being afraid while in the darkness of my house.  Mostly…but especially when my dogs or others are around.  When I am with others outside in the dark, easy; I’m not scared really at all.  If I am alone outside, with only a tent, how will I do?  Well, I survived!

I started out with a baby step.  I slept in my backyard!  Now, I have a very woodsy backyard.  Where I slept, I couldn’t see my house, but I could see my shed.  It was pitch black out.

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I know I heard something weird…

I knew my dogs and husband were only a few hundred feet away.  I knew I could easily walk back to my house in the dark.  I also had a headlamp and my phone so I had light.  Like I said, baby steps.  It was also a baby step for my husband.  He loves to worry!  He was pretty freaked out about me sleeping outside by myself.  It was good for both of us.  I slept okay and managed to not freak out more than twice from the weird noises.  When I woke up at 6 am, I walked to the house and slept another couple hours in my bed.

Just this past weekend I decided it was now or never to actually camp out in the woods away from home.  I convinced my husband to drop me off at a nearby trail head where I knew about 2 miles down the trail was a lean to.  We left late in the day so I wouldn’t be at the lean to bored out of my mind for too long before bed.

There was one car in the parking lot and as any worry wart would, my husband took a picture of their license plate.  As I hiked, the woods became darker and darker.  I forgot how it gets darker in the woods more quickly.

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Whew.  I made it to the lean to and unpacked my gear.  I started a small fire in the fire ring, and I mean small.   

While settling in I realized the mosquitoes were going to kill me.  Even with repellent on.  There were mouse droppings in the lean to.  I felt exposed. And scared. And nervous. And worried. And And And!

So, in the dusk, I rapidly set up my tent.  I’m so glad it’s so easy! In less than 15 minutes I was snug as a bug inside my tent watching the fire die out.

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I love looking at my little home away from home.

Somehow during my rush I butt dialed my mother.  When I realized it and put the phone to my ear and heard her beautiful voice it was like magic!  It was like I was cheating a little though.  I was supposed to be outside in the woods overnight by myself.  Well, my mother couldn’t do anything to protect me when she is just on the other end of the phone so we chatted for 10 minutes and she encouraged me and I felt so much more brave!

Inside my tent that night I could hear the nearby amusement park roller coaster and what I thought were the screams of the riders!  It’s crazy how sound travels.  Then I heard their fireworks at 9pm and then again at 10pm.  Then it was eerily silent.  Just the sounds of the forest around me.  The call of a barred owl, the miscellaneous insects and some weird licking sound?  Seriously??!!??  I heard a raccoon and YELLED at it!  It must have run off because I never heard it’s chittering sound again.  I kept hearing the “licking” sound, though.  Like my dog licking his paw over and over and over…ugh.  I have no idea what that was, and I don’t care.  I just turned Adele Radio on and drowned it out for 20 minutes.  It worked.  I fell asleep and dreamed.  I posted a 4 minute video at the end of this article if you want to know really how my night was and what my dream was about.  Just be kind; it was a no makeup kind of day.

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I’m the green lantern.

My body clock finally woke me at my usual time just before the sunrise and gradually I could hear the forest waking up all around me.  The birds began their morning songs and I debated whether to hike for awhile or just head back to the trail head and have my husband pick me up.  I started my little stove and ate hot granola with blueberries.

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This was delicious.

As I walked around the trees while eating and breathing in the sweet morning air I felt exhilarated!  I made it through the night!  But, I wanted to go home.  I packed up and headed back.

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Baby steps.

Next time I will hike longer in, camp out and hike longer out.  All by myself.  Sigh.  Now to just do it.

A couple other small things I have checked off my Bucket List is making a little gnome home.  I did that at the base of one of the largest red oak trees in Erie County, which happens to be in my front yard.

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The other thing checked off was that I had wanted my picture taken with Shark Girl.  She is a lot like me!  Quite a resemblance.  Especially the teeth!

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Also at Canalside in Buffalo was the world’s largest rubber duck. I didn’t realize that seeing it was on my bucket list until I heard about it.  But, how could you NOT go see the world’s LARGEST rubber ducky!  It was 6 stories tall and weighs about one ton!

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Next week on my bucket list is:  I get to meet Alison Arngrim.  She is the actress that played Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie.  Can’t wait!

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The week after that I have PRK eye surgery scheduled.  That will cross off another thing on my Bucket List!  No glasses for me on my thru hike!

Whew…that’s quite enough for now!

As promised here is the scary video!  Sorry about the vertical video.  I’m learning!

Checked off another one on the bucket list!  Add video to my blog!

Sunbeams, Berries and Shaggy Bark

Hubby was napping after work.  Shhhhh!!!!  Don’t wake him!  I quickly and quietly slipped on my new Keen sandals and threw my backpack into the car and zipped over to one of my favorite trails – Creation Walk Nature Trail.  I knew with the drought we’ve been experiencing that the creek would be low and wanted to try out my sandals with a little creek walking.

The parking lot was empty and I had the whole park to myself!  The sunshine was bouncing rays and sunbeams through the branches of the trees onto the path in front of me.

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It looked just magical!  When I entered the creek I noticed that there appeared to be a circle of light in the creek.  Can you see it in the next picture?  Is this where Scotty will “Beam me up?”  I stood in the light for a few minutes, but the only thing that happened was that I started to sweat! Oh, well!

The water was cold and my sandals kept me upright easily.  They have a sturdy bottom.  I’m glad, because I had left my hiking poles in my car.  I splashed my way along the creek bed until I was satisfied my sandals were thoroughly soaked!

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My Keen sandals were keeping my feet very happy, in, and out of the water!

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After my little creek walk my stomach was growling because I had skipped dinner.  That’s when I noticed that along the trail were BERRY BUSHES!!!

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I’m not a berry expert, but they looked like black raspberry bushes.  They were so sweet and delicious!  I laughed out loud when I took the picture of the berries in my mouth (top photo – How could you miss it?) and one flew out of my mouth and landed on the trail!  Five second rule.  I ate it.

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I was having WAY too much fun picking and eating berries!  I picked up the pace a little bit and nearly ran smack into a little green worm making its way down from the leaves above.  Little stinker!  Can you see him?

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How about now? Right in the center.

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I tried to put my hand behind him to give it some background, but it stuck right to me!  Yuck!!  Luckily, it was easily removed and I didn’t have to kill it!  What an adventure this has been!

This path is ingrained in my soul and I knew my favorite tree was coming up!  The Shagbark hickory!  Like the name implies, the bark of the mature tree is shaggy! (The young ones have smooth bark.) The nut of the Shagbark hickory is edible and sweet.  I haven’t tried one yet.  You know I will eventually.

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Me and my love!

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For some reason after hugging my Shagbark hickory, I became very romantic and took a few photos of the flowers I noticed on the way back to my car.

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Shelly, what is this???? Didn’t we learn this one on the nature walk we took when we first met. I think I remember the name, do you?

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There was an amazing perfume drifting from this group!
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Not a flower, but beautiful, just the same!

This was one of my favorite hikes on this trail yet!  Every time I visit here there is something new to see and experience!  It wasn’t physically challenging, but it was good for my soul!

Take care and hike on!

**The Keen sandals are a keeper!  I just wish they weren’t so doggone heavy!

Peace Bridge Sidewalk

I almost missed this!

Once in a while I have to push myself to do something I just don’t feel like doing. Our day hiker meet-up was going downtown to a little park and I didn’t feel like going. I almost called to cancel, but I didn’t.  My bff, Linda, wouldn’t have let me anyway.

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Driving down the thruway, I would see people walking on this strip of cement in the middle of the Niagara River and wonder about it.  I thought it would be cool to walk “in” the middle of the Niagara River on that strip of cement.  I didn’t even know it was a park!  You see, there is a long cement pier that splits the Niagara River and separates the Black Rock Canal and the Niagara River.   The pier is very narrow and runs about a mile and a half.  It goes under the Peace Bridge that connects the United States and Canada.  Now that I made up my mind to actually go on this walk, I was really excited to check it out!

History lesson time!  The Native Americans had their own name for this island, but back in 1812 the English called this island Squaw Island.  That was the name that was used until last year when a Native American woman petitioned the Courts to change the name because members of the Seneca Nation of New York felt the name was racist and derogatory to Native American women. It is now called Unity Park.  The island is home to two parks – Broderick Park and Bird Island Pier – and you get to it by crossing a drawbridge.  Bird Island Pier was built in 1860 and there are a lot of people that fish here.  Apparently, you can catch some really big fish!  I only saw a dead one on the sidewalk, sorry no pictures of that!

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Broderick Park was the location of the former Black Rock ferry.  It linked Buffalo and Fort Erie, Ontario until the mid 20th century.  The ferry’s dock was used as an Underground Railroad station.  Escaped slaves would take the ferry or other boats across the Niagara River to Canada to their freedom.

This is also a great place to watch the sunset.  From my last post, you know I love the sunset on the water!  The evening walk began with a little geocaching, of course!  I was with Linda and when Linda is around, there’s a cache to be found!  The cache was in dire need of maintenance!  Which reminds me, I still need to log that!

We walked through Broderick Park and approached the narrow entry of the Bird Island Pier and looking to my left I could see the concrete thruway that Buffalo thought would be so smart to put right on the water. How beautiful.  NOT.  But, in the canal were crew boats.  The men rowers were grunting and rowing so fast!  The lady rowers were almost as fast, but not quite!  It was quite a sight.  We also saw the Edward Cotter Fire Boat.  This fire boat was built in 1900 and is still in use by the Buffalo Fire Department.

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I glanced up and noticed the Peace Bridge looming large above me.  I was going to walk right underneath it!  How cool is that!

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There are many birds that hang out along the rocks on either side of the pier.  Some even managed to leave their feet print on wet cement, leaving their permanent mark on Bird Island Pier!  Walking on the pier you had better watch where you plant YOUR feet!  The bird poop was everywhere! Although we noticed that they liked to poop on the left side more than right!

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At the tip of Bird Island Pier stands the glorious United States Flag.

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It was a gorgeous evening for a walk on the pier.  This wasn’t my favorite hiking destination; as I like my trails without cement.  But, it was fun to finally experience a place I’ve only looked at from a car window traveling down the thruway.

Now, back to the woods for me!

 

Sand Between My Toes!

Well, traveling in Southern Florida is nothing like Western New York or the Appalachian Trail.  The only thing similar is maybe how hot it can get! Florida is very flat and there are a lot of paved paths!

Sanibel Island is on the Gulf Coast of Florida near Fort Myers.  The Island is about 12 miles long and you get there by crossing a long bridge from Ft. Myers.  The main attractions (for me) on Sanibel Island are the (1) BEACH and (2) Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

The Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge comprises more than half the Island.  There is a Wildlife Drive that you can drive your car through, walk, or bike.  There are other trails that I didn’t get a chance to do mainly because it was very hot and also, I was on vacation and slept in or went to the beach!

At the Refuge you can see a lot of different kinds of birds like the Roseate Spoonbill (many people think they are flamingos, nope!), Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Ibis, Green Headed Night Heron, and many, many others.  Just naming a few.  Years ago I was avid birdwatcher, now, not so much.  I needed my Peterson Guide to help me identify them.  There is other wildlife on the Refuge like Alligators! (Remember, you can click on a picture to make it bigger!)

We looked and looked for Alligators, but had no luck here.

One early morning, I took a leisurely drive along Wildlife Drive.  I would drive a little, get out and walk and look and drive a little further.  It was so quiet, only fishermen were around.  I had the place pretty much to myself. Just me and a couple thousand birds!    It was very peaceful and calm and I enjoyed my walk about the Refuge very much.

We stayed at the Blind Pass Condos.  It was located on the Western end of the Island away from the restaurants, shopping and touristy things.  That was good and bad.  Good that it was quiet on our beach, bad that we had to drive to restaurants, shopping and touristy things!  That being said though, we were on Bowman’s Beach!  The sand was soft, the shelling was super and it was never crowded.  We rented bikes for the week for the kids and that seemed to help with their desire to explore.  Our condo was set up with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  The owner thought of everything you might need for a beach vacation: beach towels, hats, beach toys, shelling tools, buckets, pool noodles, boogie boards, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, beach cart to lug it all, a cooler, even tennis rackets and balls if you wanted to sweat it out on the court.  It was nice to have a kitchen to keep food cost down; we only ate out for dinners mostly.

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The condo owner provided the big yellow sun hat for the big yellow sun day that I wore on Sunday and every day!

Back to the outside!  On our condo property there was a bridge that led to the beach.

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The bridge went over a murky lagoon that we could kayak or canoe in.  NO THANKS.  That’s where we saw our Alligator!!  In our entire week stay we didn’t see anyone kayaking or canoeing in that lagoon!  We also saw the Manatees here.  I think there were two big ones and a small one.  The pictures didn’t come out well.  My son’s girlfriend, Amanda, took the nice photo of the Alligator!  I shamelessly stole a few of these photos in this article from her Facebook!  Thanks, Amanda!

On the other side of the bridge was the BEACH!

I just realized I didn’t take many pictures of the beach during the day!

The fabulous thing about Sanibel Island is the amount of sea shells you can find and collect!  I think I brought home 10 pounds worth of sea shells!  I must have walked miles on that beach with my back hunched over scanning the waves.  The Islander’s call it “The Sanibel Stoop.”  It’s amazing I didn’t need a Chiropractic adjustment when I came home!  On the beach you will see taped off areas that are nesting grounds for sea turtles.   The little babies hatch and come out after dusk and follow the moonlight into the ocean, and if they see the lights in our homes they might be drawn the wrong way, so we had to close our blinds in our condo by 9:oo pm so the baby sea turtles would not be confused!

One of my most favorite times of day is sunset.  The beach seems to always have an incredible view of the sun disappearing.

And the sunset from the lagoon was stunning, as well.  Amanda took an amazing photo!

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At the Eastern end of the Island is the Sanibel Lighthouse.  We visited the grounds there and the beach.  The beach seemed rockier on this end of the Island and had more seaweed (yuck!).

Of course, I did a little geocaching!  I was close to finding 100 geocaches so I decided I would find my 100th geocache on the Island!  Dave and I went bike riding on the bike path, which is LOADED with caches.  Then I got the fever and we found a few more with the kids.

We also visited the Sanibel Island Historic Village.  It’s a group of original and replica homes and businesses from the beginnings of residency on the Island.  It was Carl and Amanda’s idea to visit and Dave and I tagged along.  We were glad we did, it was really interesting to learn about the hardships the Island pioneers dealt with.  There was no bridge back then and everything was brought to the Island by ferry.  The hurricanes that hit the Island would often completely demolish all the buildings and they would have to start from scratch.

On our way to the airport we stopped by the Henry Ford and Thomas Edison Museum in Fort Myers.  We walked about the gardens and were amazed by the banyan tree.  It was planted in 1925 and is believed to be one of the biggest banyan trees in the United States.  This is ALL ONE TREE!  Its limbs drop down to make it appear it is multiple trees, but is actually ONE TREE!  It is 400 feet tall and spreads nearly an acre!  These pictures just do not do it justice.  We all wished we could play in the limbs and climb through it, but it was all roped off.

In Tampa we checked out the Museum of Science and Industry.  With my Life Membership at the Buffalo Museum of Science we got in FREE!  Carl rode a bike that was on a tightrope high up in the air!  Carl also finally found a brain (see photo) and we studied all about the human body.

There was a really beautiful trail outside near where we parked.  Too bad we had a plane to catch; I didn’t have to time to do more than take a picture of the enticing trail head.

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I wanted to hike on this trail so much! Wish I had more time!

After a two hour plane delay, we were glad to be home.  I will miss the beach, the relaxing, and the important quality time spent with my son and his girlfriend and of course, my husband!

Until next time Sanibel Island!

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Alone to Explore!

Ah, alone time.  As much as I love to hike with others, I love much more to hike alone.  There is something about the quiet solitude and keeping my own pace that I find very peaceful.

After leaving a detailed note for my napping hubby on where I would be I set off for Darien Lakes State Park.  My plan was to hike the Conservation Trail that runs through the park, turn around and hike back to the car.

It was windy, warm and a great day for being outside.  When I parked my car there were two other cars in the small lot at the trail head.  I didn’t anticipate seeing anyone though as this is a big park!  The trail started at the top of a gully and I could look down and see the creek that looked pretty dry. Don’t worry, I stayed away from the edge!

The Conservation Trail runs from Pennsylvania to Canada for about 177 miles.  The trail was built and is maintained by Foothills Trail Club of Western New York. The Conservation Trail is part of the Finger Lakes Trail System which extends eastward across New York State to the Catskills. I’ve hiked other sections of this trail in Hunter’s Creek Park and Akron Falls Park and others.  I was impressed by the trail markings here. You really can’t get lost on this trail!

This trail looked like a lot of people used it.  Or, so I thought.

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Yes, there is a trail here.   Or there usually is!  The grass is growing so fast the trail is almost obscured, but I could just barely make out the orange blaze on the tree at the far end of the picture!

Don’t worry I sprayed myself with Deet and checked myself for ticks after this hike!  I found one on my shirt sleeve.  Killed that sucker!

 

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Not long after that crazy overgrown section, a perfectly new, beautiful boardwalk appeared.  The dragonflies were bouncing off the ground ahead of me enjoying the sunshine even more than me!

Some of the trail was mucky and trail maintainers or other hikers had used large sticks and logs to try to cover the mud in the path.  It worked for the most part.  I don’t mind getting my boots muddy anyway.

 

After hiking a while I saw a blue trail blaze.  On the Appalachian Trail a “blue blaze” will take you to a shelter, water, vista, or other point of interest off of the “white blazed” Appalachian Trail.  Here, the Conservation Trail is “orange blazed” and this “blue blaze” led to a lean-to!

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Of course, I just had to check it out!  I figured it would add an extra mile to my hike, so I would do it on my way back.  I nearly sprinted to finish up getting to the trail head at the other end of the park because I wanted to go back to see this darn lean-to!

Here is a pretty photo of the trail at the opposite end from where I started.

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Doesn’t this look so incredibly inviting?  It pulls me in like a magnet.  

Those rocks lining the trail’s entrance are perfect. I imagine it could have been easy to just create the trail by clearing the way, but to add the rocks at the entrance to welcome you and make it beautiful just brightens my day.  Thank you to those people that lugged those rocks and put them in place for me to enjoy!

 

Okay, enough of that.  I hiked back to the blue blaze trail head to go to the lean-to and then for a horrified moment realized I left a note that explained I would be only on the Conservation Trail, not on a side trail.  In case something happened to me I would want someone to know where to find me.  I checked my cell service and realized I had service and could call for help if needed.  I was fine.  I should have sent my husband a text so he knew, but I didn’t.  I guess I figured the bloodhounds would find me.  Ugh, the things solo hikers worry about.

The half-mile blue blazed trail was not as well maintained as the Conservation Trail.  Probably not as well used, either.  It was mucky, but fun!  Here is what I found at the end!!! (Hint: I think if you click on a picture it will get bigger so you can see it better!)

Now I wish I had packed my overnight pack!  I could have been right at home here!  This lean-to was Justin Yaw’s Eagle Scout project on May 24, 2003, Troop 67, Corfu, NY!  How awesome is that!  This Eagle Scout is a man now, moved on to bigger and more important things I’m sure.  He has no idea that a crazy hiker lady just fell in love with his little lean-to he built back in 2003!

The wind was picking up and the sun was getting lower and I was getting hungry for dinner!  So, I picked up the pace and headed back to the car, but not before I heard a wild turkey, saw a chipmunk, squirrel and a bear.  Oh wait, no, there wasn’t a bear.  It was my imagination.  When you’re hiking alone, sometimes your head plays tricks on you!

It’s all good, keeps the heart pumping!

Until next time!  Hike on!