Hiking North Country Trail (Allegheny Reservoir)

6:40

Kinzua Dam 

I was up at 6:40, surprised again by how dark it was.  I better get used to it, especially as the winter months approach.  We are not as fog bound this morning, as I can see across the lake to Long Point as the rising steam slowly moves up the lake.  It's now 7:45 and the sun has just appeared, fairly high in the eastern sky, just above the fog bank, forcing me to move to another chair.  The lake is still a slate like gray, no color yet,  the water glistening, from the sun's rays.

We were just about ready yesterday morning to take a paddle when I had the bright idea of driving to the Kinzua Dam and Reservoir Area for another hike.  So, we gathered all our gear, back packs, Nano, cameras, water, bananas, compasses, bear bell, and pepper spray, like the good boy scouts, be prepared. It was 35 miles on #86 to the exit for the Kinzua Dam area, another 14 miles to the Willow Bay campground, the beginning of the North Ridge Trail.  It took us 55 minutes to get there.  We parked the car in a turn off, along with a couple of other cars, crossed the road, stepped over the rail, and started our hike along the trail.  Most of the trail was through wooded areas, the first half in the shade of the many pine trees, till we reached an area where the pines seemed to end, and it became more sunny and warm.  Much of the going was an uphill, though not rigorous, and we crossed many dry beds.  We were both surprised by the number of leaves that had fallen though the forests are just beginning to change colors.  After about forty five minutes, we had had enough, never getting far enough to see the Reservoir, and we were a bit bored with the sameness of the trail, perhaps because we knew we would have to return on the same trail.  We were out for just under two hours, walking over 3 miles.  By the way, the trail also winds its way east, through the heart of the Allegheny Forest so next time we may head that way.  On the way back, we stopped in Steamboat to get cheap gas (no taxes because its in Seneca territory), and arrived home around 1:30.

Old Man In The Woods

North Country Trail

Spider Web

We quickly made lunch, veggie soup and pizza, and took it out on the dock to enjoy the warm afternoon sun.  We stayed out their reading and napping, a beautiful afternoon, with almost no breeze, the lake silent and calm. It was so inviting that Evie could not resist jumping in for a brief swim. Around 3:30, we decided to kayak it was so inviting, got our life jackets, fishing rods and paddles, and by the time we got out on the lake, the wind had picked up appreciably, so that it made our paddle difficult.  We stayed out about a half hour before heading home discouraged by the winds and waves.

Bemus Point at Night With The Mc Clures

Around 6:15, Mc Clures picked us up for another final beer of the summer (or first beer of the fall), on the porch of the Lenhart Hotel  It was open  because of a wedding this weekend.  The porch was full and the waiting line for a drink at the bar was long as everyone wanted to enjoy the final sunset on the Lenhart's porch.  We then went to the Seezurh House for our Friday night fish fry.  It was packed, making it fun but difficult to hear because of the noise.  Still, we like it that way.  Two nights dining out in a row!  Wow! We are getting to like it, especially Evie, who has the night off from cooking.  When we returned home, we watched the first episode of the new season of Parenthood; it was strange to be back in the world of this family after a hiatus of five months.