On Wednesday, we arrived at Ontario County Park
before all of our NY working friends. Charlie had time to kick back and relax
for a bit! We are spending the next 5 days here, camping with friends! Most of
what goes on while we are camping can’t be shared … because what happens at the
campsite, stays at the campsite … unless it is too funny not to be shared!
Some call it, Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill, because
of its location. It is one of the highest points in Ontario County and located
in the scenic Bristol Hills. At an elevation of 2,256 feet above sea level,
there are expansive views to the east; view portions of Ontario County and the
hills behind Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. The park includes 410 acres of woods and
open lands, rental cabins, tent and RV camping sites. There are outdoor
activities like a playground, basketball court, and fields for games, pavilions
and 13 miles of hiking and biking trails including a portion of the Bristol
Hills branch of the Finger Lakes Trail system. There is also a fishing pond.
No matter how many campers are here from our group,
we have to have a nightly fire! Thanks to Karen & Royce for hosting!
Nothing beats sitting around in the morning at the
campsite in your jammies with a cup of coffee and good friends!
For the 4th of July we had the
traditional all American burgers and dogs, with beans and salads.
An all American dinner on the 4th of July
would not be complete without apple pie with ice cream! Thanks to Karen for
saving the ice cream for a month and thanks to Jackie for giving it to use to
use on the cherry pie she made for Hops in Hemlock. We enjoyed the cherry pie,
but never got the ice cream!
Karen has almost everything in her camper … even
games some of us have never played. Well around the fire tonight, we played
Cards Against Humanity. For those that have never heard of it, I can’t describe
it and I can’t recommend playing it … unless you are really, really drunk! Owen
came camping with Randy and Sheila, this weekend. Owen had played the game
before … he even shared that he has played it with his mother. Every time there
was a questionable answer given, Randy looked at Owen and said “You played this
before?” If Randy asked that question once, he asked it 75 times!
Charlie and I took a walk on the trails, to the “must
see spot” in the park. It includes a spectacular panorama, changing with every
season.
The locals call this vantage point "The
Jump-Off" and you get an amazing view of the Bristol Hills.
The trails are the Bristol Hills branch of the
Finger Lakes Trail system. The Bristol Hills Trail is a branch trail of the
900+ mile Finger Lakes Trail System. The trail is marked and passes through
three state forests, High Tor WMA as well as numerous private lands. This 12 mile section of the Bristol Hills
Trail begins just off the county park road at the small parking area for the “jump
off.” From here the trail winds near the
summit of Gannett Hill and reaches its highest point along the trail at 2,247
feet.
Once you leave the county park, you enter private
property. After 2 miles of hiking there is a side trail that travels to the
Beaver Pond Lean To. The trail descends toward County Route 33 and Camp Warren
Cutler BSA. The trail ascends Cleveland
Hill and has a few views along the hill before descending again toward Clement
Road. Now there is a 2 mile road walk before leaving the roads and entering
West Hill Nature Preserve. As the trail
descends toward Naples, there is a blue blazed side trail that leads to another
view point along this section of trail.
On Friday night some of us headed down the hill
into South Bristol to Brews and Brats, which is the “food and beer” side of
Arbor Hill Winery. Both Arbor Hill and Brews & Brats were at our Hops in
Hemlock Event the 1st of June.
Nothing is more refreshing than a fruity beer on a
hot day!
We (Dana,
Dawn, Sheila, Rob, Royce, Charlie and myself) came for the beer and brats, but
on Friday nights they have a $49 per couple steak dinner.
We watched the grill master, generously measure,
hand trim, season and cook some spectacular looking steaks! I would recommend
that meal, but remember it is only on Friday in the summer in South Bristol NY.
We had a quick shower to try and break the heat
too. But all that did was make it more humid, but it did produce a nice
rainbow!
The last drinks of the evening, Dana and Sheila ordered
a Raspberry Wisp Buzz. Oh, man it was so good! We asked if we could fill a
growler with this verses a craft beer. Our waitress was accommodating, but the
answer was still no. She did however, allow us to purchase the Raspberry Wisp
Ice Tea Concentrate and we had the ginger ale and vodka back at the camp! We
were in business to make them back at the top of the hill! Our only problem
was, she did not give us measurements! Oh, well experiments sometimes turn out
the best!
Dana is a pretty good fire maker, but Royce had
some pretty exceptional wood this trip! He had a hollow center on this log and
it created a fire chimney effect! Pretty cool!
On Saturday morning, we had Donny & Donna visit
as well as Freddy & Diane, from our Florida community. They reside very
close to Ontario County Park in the summer. Can you believe I did not get any
pictures! Their visits were cut short by a rain storm! Hoping it is fast
moving, we have big plans for tonight!
After the rain, a few girls made a run into Naples
for a few staples … ice and liquor. When we got back, this is what Sheila and I
found! Charlie and Rob napping, while Marley stood guard!
Our afternoon visitors, were Dana & Dawn’s
daughter, Julie and her two children. Once again, while the adults visited …
Karen had a set of unique bubble blowing mitts and kept the kids entertained
for hours! It truly is amazing what Karen has in that camper! Considering her
kids are grown and she has no grandchildren, yet!
Our planned dinner was a low country boil … once
again, I don’t think we have enough food!
This happens every time we go camping … what are we
going to do! Ha, ha, ha
After dinner around the campfire, we played another
game that Karen had … it was not as bad as Cards Against Humanity, but it still
was a bit on the raw side. Here are high fives being given and received for an
answer to the question … I wish I could remember the name …
Can you tell how much we like our campfires?
Sunday morning, we watched the resident black
squirrel make his rounds as everyone picked up.
Sunday morning breakfast was a mostly left over
breakfast made up of items from our low-country boil. We had spicy potatoes,
sausage and eggs. Not to mention toast from all that “extra” bread Karen
brought! She was told … “one loaf” … but she just had to bring two!
Looks like everyone is just about ready … I don’t
know how I got confused, but Charlie and I are booked in here for 1 more night.
It will be a quiet night for us. As everyone is dumping
and getting ready to leave a group of cycler’s stopped for a bathroom break and
to give their legs a rest … that 2,000 plus foot climb up the hill takes it’s
toll!
The weekend ended, just like it started! Ahhhhh,
life is good!
As always, awesome story telling.
ReplyDelete