This was a short week. On Wednesday, we did a canoe paddle up the Genesee River from Charlotte towards the city. We planned to go all the way to the Lower Falls at Driving Park but were taking our time so didn't get there when we had to turn around and head back to the van. We paddled past all the nice boats docked along the side of the river in Charlotte, under the Col. Partick O'Rorke bridge, and up the river past a big party ship and a large barge. We arrived at Turning Point where the big cement ships can turn around to go back down the river. The long pedestrian/bicycle bridge that curves along the outside of the bay was busy with people. Swans and geese were evident in the area. We saw a kingisher fly past us heading south. We continued up river into the gorge until we came to the pedestrian bridge that crosses from Maplewood Park to Seneca Park high over our heads. From there we could see the Veterans Memorial Bridge with its big arches. We stopped for a drink and lunch near a chute on the west side that had water racing down from high above. The turned back towards Lake Ontario and returned to the van.
On Thursday we went for a 15 mile bike ride, taking advantage of some of the great bike trails that the city has been building in recent years. We started at Culver Rd. on the bike path that heads down the hill and across the bridge to Durand Eastman beach. We followed along the lake to Summerville, had a snack and headed across the Genesee River to catch the bike path that runs south along the river. Soon we found ourselves on the walkway that we had seen the day before from Turning Point. Of course, the boys had their cell phones out and we were watching for Pokemon along the route, stopping frequently to capture some. After a steep hill and some more riding we came to Maplewood Park near the playground and turned to race down the pathway that would take us across the river to Seneca Park on the east side. After another snack and drink stop, we made our way using mostly side streets to Culver Rd. where we turned north again to return to the van. There was still plenty of time left so we went to Ellison Park to play a round of Disc golf on the hilly course there. Later we went hiking and exploring down through the woods to the creek and back.
Friday promised to be warm with temps reaching into the 90s so I suggested that we go down to Stony Brook State Park to get wet. They agreed and we set out to play in the creek all day.
