It's been awhile!

I have been very active over the summer.I have traveled to the Adirondacks,and the the top of Michigan.I will write about these adventures soon.The biggest adventure and the most exciting was joining Toastmasters and learning how to get up and speak in public...wow what a rush.
Talk to you soon.

Take a trip to the Finger Lakes

 I took a short trip this weekend to the Finger Lakes area of New York.This time I went to Ithica NY and to Taughannock Falls State Park and across the road to the shore of
Cuyuga Lake. This is a very nice place to visit.The lake is super clean ,the water is great
.Take a walk along the shore ,picknic,have fun.The park across the street has great hiking trails.Find the steps that go up the North rim trail,they seem to climb endlessly
upward(They are not that high but get a warm up before you do it).The trail makes a horseshoe around the rim of the falls and there are many great overlooks.On the other side the trail works its way down and you find another great set of stone steps.
 On the bottom you can just walk up the wide stone streambed and trail up the middle to the base of the falls.This is a great day trip.
 After you enjoy this stop on your way back to Ithica at the Glenwood Pines and have a great fish sandwich.Sit in the back and look  out the windows at the great finger lake below.
 When you get back to Ithica find your way up to Cornell University and find the great stone bridges that cross the gorges.It is very nice.
 Have fune and get out there.

Spend time on the Delmarva

Take some time and go to the Delmarva.Sunday Kim and I headed for the Delmarva to spend a couple of days on the coast.Heading east on Rt 50 we came upon the Bay bridge.This is always exciting to me,knowing that on the other side is the Delmarva
Peninsula.There are so many things to see and do that it would take 200 blogs just to begin.So I will just blog about what I did Monday and Tuesday.
 We headed straight for Assateague Island.I think this might be the 22 time I have been here.We arrived at 10:30 in the morning and went the the State park campground.i prefer the State park to the National Seashore for camping because the showers are much better and you get less hassle from the state workers than the feds.We set up our tent on loop C 13 (right next to the beach) then went and layed on the beach all day.
 We walked up and down the beach.We walked way up to the northern end of the island and found the old whale bones(they are really getting hard to find because of the building sand).This area is relly remote if you like to get off by yourself.We swam in the surf,ran the beach,layed in the sun,and loved every min of it.
  About 4:00 we went took our showers(wow the showers at the campground are great)
got dressed up and went for seafood.When I'm here I always like to go to Watermans
Seafood.mmm It is right on Rt 50.
 When we got back to the campground we got on our bikes and peddled out the the end of the National Seashore to South Beach.If you are on your bike you can get in free
if you are in a car it will cost you $10.00 to get in.
 After riding back I built a good fire and we relaxed.Then went to the tent to sleep.
The wind and the sound of the surf was great.
 Tue we got up(thank god) had our breakfast walked on the beach .Then we put our camping stuff back in the van(we only camped one night)Loaded our bikes and drove to Ocean City and rode our bike up and down the boardwalk till about 10:00.Then headed back to the island.We ate a small lunch and layed on the beach most of the day.
Both days the Assategue ponies were out.Today two ponies came right up next to us as we layed there .I thought I was going to get stepped on.The one pony was trying to get one of my hiking boots so I had to shoo him away.We went into the ocean (the waves were building up).We walked up the beach.Two boys were surf fishing and caught a shark about 26 inchs long.Wow it was great.The young man held it and let me pet it
then he gently put it back into the surf.On the way back to our blanket the boy caught
another little shark and this time Kim petted it.This was a great day.
 About 2:30 we packed up our stuff took a shower in the beach house got ready and by 3:15 we left the island and started for home in Pa.
  But don't even think about leaving without stopping at the Smokers Pit BBQ. I has the
bbq pork sandwich with the red sauce and Kim had the Carrolina style pork sandwich.
  What a great way to end a great day at the beach.
Please get out there and start living,and go to the Delmarva and explore.

Southwick Beach

  When I get to upper New York north of Syracuse I always head straight for Southwick Beach on the western end of Lake Ontario.17 miles long ,great hiking trails,great camping right on the beach.This is a great getaway. You can be all by yourself.The lake is always fantastic. Sometimes the waves are huge.The sand in fine and white.You will love it here.Get out there and explore.On your way back to Syracuse
stop at Dinosaur Bones BBQ and have a great dinner.

Lake Ontario Whirl Around!

 I made a good trip of it yeserday.Just west of Rochester New York there is a great state park called
Hamrick Beach.This is a great beach if you find yourself out that way.A good place to have a picknik.
A paved path runs the whole length above the beach for bike riding or walking.The beach is nice and smooth
with a few areas of dunes.A wooded hill at the edge,and super clear Lake Ontario water rounds out a great place.There is a camping area.Plenty of restrooms.Go there.Have fun.
  Now when we left there we went west on the Lake Ontario Parkway.This is a super great ride along the edge of Lake Ontario with plenty of open lake views as you drive along.
  Then after a while I pulled in at the road that goes to Golden Hill state park.Here you will find camping,hiking great beach views and the prize view at the top of  30 Mile Point Light House.It cost a buck to get a guilded tour of the old lighthouse.The veiw of the Lake is fantastic!!!
  When we got done here we chugged down the Parkway toward Niagara Falls. Just before entering the city of Niagara Falls I pulled in the the Devils Hole parking lot.Me and my sweety hiked down the endless steps
all the way to the bottom of the Devils Hole (wow) make sure you don't miss this one.At the bottom turn left and hike about 100 yards and find a little trail that will take you to some big rocks next to the Niagara
River.Hiking back up will give you a great workout or kill you but I sure enjoyed it.
 Then we drove down to see the American Falls at the State Park.
   After we enjoyed the Falls(which I will write about in another blog) I then drove us to Buffalo NY
where we went to a great BBQ  called Fat Bob's Smokehouse. MMMMMMM what a day.
Please get out there and check out this stuff.

Little known steps in the Cuyahoga Valley

Down in the vally off Riverview Rd you can find the Covered bridge(Summit Cy's only) .There is a parking lot right off Everet rd.Park in the lot and walk down and check out the cool covered bridge.
When you get done there walk back down toward where you parked and cross the street.Now once you enter the woods you should see the trail that will take you to the endless steps.Take your time these are some fierce step for the weak.Along the trail you will see very large trees.At the top if you make it,veer right off the trail and find a good place to look out.Relax and catch your breath.
 When you have rested get back on the trail and head for the road.Cross the road and continue on the trail.There are plenty of Hickory trees along this side of the road.Hickory nuts are great eating if you know what you are looking for.At the bottom of the trail you can turn Left or Right I like to turn Right and get down by the little river and check things out.
 Unlike most hikers I tend to get off the beaten path and head out into to untamed woods,but thats just me.
 Follow the stream back towards the covered brige and you will have a well rounded hike.
          Have Fun Get out There!

On the way towards Orville

  Whenever I get out towards Wooster I turn Left off 585 on the road towards Orville and head for Johnsons Woods. Great Virgin Old growth forrest .Some of the last in this area of Ohio.Super big trees
The trail is a really nice slightly raised boadwalk.There are a few well placed benchs.Very quiet,very peaceful.Don't miss it.

When I get up by Huron Ohio.

 Whenever I'm lucky enough to get up by Huron Ohio I enjoy walking on NicklePlate Beach.A wide sandy beach great for walking.You can walk out a long rocky pier and look out across the river and see the Huron LightHouse.When you get tired of the beach(I never Do!) You can take a lil ride over to Old Womans Creek Park.Various hiking trails and wildlife lookouts. Take a relaxing hike and check out some birds.
  After you get done having fun look for the SandBar over close to the entrance of NicklePlate Beach.The Sand Bar is a great little place to get some good food.This is where the locals go.    Have Fun :-)

The Cliffs at Hinkley Ohio

A great place to go hiking,a great place to be alone. Climb rocks, hike the trail at the top,go in the little cliff cave.At the top you will find a  huge trees,and at the very end a peaceful farmers field.A great place to
hang out. Hinkley Ohio is Northwest of Akron and Southwest of Cleveland.There is the annual Buzzard Day
when the buzzards return every day.I used to go up 303 a lil past Hinkley to a little bar called the Buzzards Roost for some good chille. I spend a good afternoon up that way every once in a while.

Headland Beach

Whenever I get the chance I get in the car and head for Headland Beach.The ride up is great if you take Rt 43 thru Kent Ohio to Diagnal rd and take it to the end and turn R on 82 East go to the light at Rt 44 North
and stay on it till it ends into Headland Beach. Before I get there I stop at Scooters Dog house and get a great hot Dog and some fries mmmmmmmmm.Then I take the food to the park and sit at a table overlooking the beach.When I get to the park I take the right turn as you pull into the park.Then I follow the road all the way out and park 2 rows from the end (close to the bathhouse. After I have had my lunch I will get my beach blanket and walk to the right of the bathhouse till I get to the sign at the Headland Dunes nature area.Then I will head down a long wild area to the edge of the beach and will head down a lil ways to the right.This is a great beach.And all the way down is the Headlands LightHouse.This is an exciting walk over the rocks the get to the lighthouse. Halfway down turn around and look out across the bay and see the old lighthouse at Fairport Harbor.I will tell more of this adventure in the future,but this should be enough to get you going.

This is my first post!

I started this blog to share with people who like to get out there,the places that I like to go.And to share the things I like to do.I will talk about a different place(and all these are great places)every day or two.
I hope you enjoy my blog,and even more I hope you get out there and see some really great places.