Write-up: Jim Wasielewski

Leader: Bobbie Scarpino

Co-Leader: Lu Blanchard

A rather interesting day, first of all, as we’re going down River Road we saw this guy, rather disheveled carrying a backpack and bicycle wheel.  I normally don’t pick up strangers, but somebody carrying a bike tire, he had to be OK. So stopped and he was surprised that I wanted to give him a ride as he wasn’t hitch-hiking. Asked how he was and he said it was a good week, his girlfriend had left  with his best friend and he only had the clothes in his backpack.. Then his car got a flat tire and he slept out last night under a bush, the bugs were bad. I thought if this was a good week what were his bad weeks like. We were going to drop him off at his car but he couldn’t remember exactly where it was, only next to the 4-lane highway. Took him to the Rt 49 West ramp, no car, try the ramp to the East. There it was with a tire flatter than a pancake. He was happy with the lift. I never made the connection between the bicycle wheel he was carrying and the flat tire. Some things are better left alone. He said people were really good to him. Lorrie asked me if I noticed his painted fingernails. I think  some almighty power was testing me, wonder how I did.

Now about the hike, 9 of us hiked 2.5 miles on a very overcast and cool day. Nice to have some cool weather. Unfortunately the only view we had was of the clouds. No Indian Lake, no Snowy Mt.

However it was very enjoyable. A fellow from Saudi Arabia whose daughter was attending Syracuse University was one of our group. He found us on Google. A very nice person, as we all can appreciate nature and fellowship.