Steam Rising On A Cold Tuesday Morning (Eastside Overland Trail Hike)

7:00

7:32

Both Evie and I are up at 7:00, another picturesque morning sky, clouds, clear sky, reflections on the lake, as it gradually gets lighter.  I am always shocked at how late the sunrises this time of the year, how early it sets. 7:47 AM, 6:15 PM.  And before I know it, the sun is rising way over towards Tom's Point as it continues its fall journey south and I never tire of watching it.

Yesterday we got a late start but

Another Forest To Hike That We Have Never Heard Of

we stayed focused and drove off to Sinclairville, twenty miles away to walk another leg of the Eastside Overland Trail.  We drove east from Sinclairville, to RT. 62 and looked for trail heads P or Q but could find neither, perhaps because the trail seems to be on the road.  We finally drove to O, parked at a parking lot for the Boutwell Hill State Forest.  The trail head was poorly marked but we started on it, and immediately, we were climbing hills, trudging through muddy paths, what looked like runs for water coming off the hills.  It was wooded, however, since we were in the Boutwell Forest most of the time.  We had intended on walking all the way from O to M but the hiking was slow, because of the mud and uphill climb, so after an hour we finally made it to N, on Sanford Road.  It looks as though we would have had to walk along the road for a mile before getting to M.  So, we headed back and the going, for some reason, was much easier, at least for me, as I let Evie lead and I just meandered, with camera in hand, looking at things to photograph.  It makes me much more aware of the surroundings, more 'present' in yoga terms and I don't pay much attention to arriving, to a goal, which I tend to do when I lead.  Strange.  Anyways, we walked over 3 1/2 miles, just under two hours and it was another great hike, through woods still green in some parts, leafless in others, as we followed well marked paths, no bridges as I recall, despite the wetness.  It felt good to get to the trail head marked N, a goal no doubt, but also a sense of accomplishment.  We both like to tick off another leg of the trail.

Which Way?

The Leaves Have Fallen Here

Lots of Leaves Still

Our Goal Accomplished

We stopped at the Sinclairville Superette, bought some kidney beans for beans and potato soup, a submarine sandwich, and Evie found her favorite fudge sauce, Mrs. Richardson's, so  that too went in the bag.  We did not get home till around 2:00, late for us when we hike.  We ate the sub, watched some TV, then relaxed and read before Evie worked on the geraniums, trimming them, adding plastic trays to catch the water and I lugged them upstairs to the back bedroom, where they will spend the winter, watered as needed.  We have had some of the plants for three or four years.

For dinner, we had a traditional Slovenia dinner, beans and potato soup, with Slovenia sausage, from Azman's Meats in Euclid, Ohio.  Other butchers make Slovenia sausage but we have been eating Azmans since the 1950's and for us they are the best around.  We have started watching the new series on Showtime called Masters of Sex, at my sister Linda's recommendation.  It's based on a novel about the famous sexologists, Bill Masters and Virginia Johnson, who wrote the definitive study on Sexuality.  It's a compelling story, of his ambition, hang ups, with parents, women, and yes sex.  In between the narrative, we are presented with lots of naked bodies, with electrodes fastened to their bodies, as Masters and his aid, measured the bodies and brains responses through the various phases of coitus.  It seems like a strange story to tell on TV but we both like it enough to continue watching, like reading Playboy for the articles!!!!  That's a joke.  The sex in the film is never prurient, more clinical though Master's does seem to leer as he watches couples enjoying sex.