Black Diamond rail trail, from Perry City Road to Willow Creek Road, Ulysses
It took me a long time to warm up to this trail. When it opened a few years back, Tiger and I checked it out by getting on it at the south end, in Cass Park. I hated the huge electric transmission line poles and the highway running right next to the walkway. Later we tried out the trail from its upper end, at Taughannock Park. No ugly infrastructure, but I thought it was boring.More recently, we’ve had occasion to walk on the central portion of the trail. I’ve been very surprised at how different this stretch is, and how pleasant. The scenery along the way is extremely good, fields and clumps of woods and distant viewsAlways a high point of our walks — a strange-dog meet-and-greet. The dogs clearly enjoy it, and it always produces a sense of subdued high spiritsThere was a big rainstorm rapidly approaching us from the south, and the air had a lovely damp sultry quality to it. Really nice morning to be outside.
Official head count: 15H, six D
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Sat Oct 19
Connecticut Hill WMA with Dave G — Carter Creek Loop
Dave said a lot of leaves had come down since earlier in the week thanks to the wind and rain — it really opened up the woods and we had great views into the neighboring hills — I’d say late October on a sunny day with plenty of colored leaves still up makes for a gorgeous hike hereOur nature photographer Annie, with her sister Margaret
