On Monday we launched our canoes and kayaks in Irondequoit Creek and paddled upstream into the wetlands to explore some of the area and look for swans, geese, turtles etc. We explored some very narrow side channels and saw some swans, some swallows and lots of water plants but no turtles or herons. Then we had lunch at a park on Empire Blvd before heading for the beach.
On Tuesday we did our 12 mile bicycle treasure hunt, stopping at a playground to find one of the clues, riding a bike path through Turning Point Park, and riding on the long boardwalk over the Genesee River at Turning Point. We found more clues at the Charlotte Lighthouse and down by the beach near Lake Ontario, We rode our bikes through some puddles left from the morning rains. We got to ride the historic Denzel Carousel at Charlotte Beach and played in the sand before returning home.
We began Wednesday's adventures with some disc golf. Some of us completed 9 holes while some left after a few holes to play on the playground. We drove over to Durand to have lunch and try the zipline. We eventually made it to the beach to find the swimming area was closed so we played in the sand, creating castles, pools, rivers and waterfalls. We also did a little metal detecting, finding a bottle cap some aluminum foil and 2 dimes. Then it was time to go home.
Thursday morning we made a menu for the overnight to Watkins Glen State Park, loaded all our stuff in the trailer and went shopping. On the long drive to the park, the kids got to finish watching the movie Hook. After many "Are we there yet" questions, we arrived at camp and made lunch and set up camp. Then we opted to go swimming in the awesome pool and save the gorge hike for the next morning. After dinner we made a campfire (with flint and steel and dryer lint) and toasted marshmallows and made smores. Harry played a little music on the guitar before bed.
Friday morning we packed everything into the trailer and hiked down into the glen to check ut the narrow gorge and the waterfalls. There are a lot of stairs in the gorge. We hiked down about a mile and then hiked back up to the van. On the way home, we stopped in town for a pizza lunch.
