Thanksgiving at Buckhorn Island State Park

Thanksgiving Day was warm and sunny, a good day to take a walk before settling down to the Big Job at hand (eating lots of food with family). I chose to walk down Grand Island's linear bike path and into Buckhorn Island State Park.
Buckhorn Island State Park is a restored wetland that is comprised of both swamps and marshes. It is also home to a variety of migratory birds and songbirds, as well as a few endangered species, such as the sedge wren and the least bittern. There are paths but few amenities in Buckhorn Island State Park. It is a wonderfully wild place for humans to experience what much of the Niagara Frontier was like before industry and housing developments took over and filled in much of the wetlands.

Bruce, Bentley, and their human dad.

The park was a delightful place, with people and dogs enjoying the warm air and the day off from their jobs, school, or from... um... doggie day care (?). I met dogs of all ages and a number of breeds, including golden retrievers, beagles, mixed breeds, etc. I walked for a short distance with a family that included a father, two daughters named Jolie and Jenna, and two golden retrievers named Bentley and Bruce. Everyone admired the two very friendly golden retrievers, including other dogs. In fact, these two dogs managed to develop quite a following as they happily ran around the park and introduced themselves to people and dogs. One of the dogs that they met was a large dog who was drooling with great gusto. He was happy to sniff Bruce and Bentley. This big dog was described as "juicy" by his owner, who looked as happy as the dog.
Later on in my walk, I met a man named Kevin and his very energetic dog who apparently was in need of a stint in obedience school. This dog, Koto, ran here, there, and everywhere as soon as he was let off of his leash. He walked to the water and splashed around in the river. He ran to ending point of the park, a spot where there are only two choices: turn around and walk back or swim to Niagara Falls. He ran in circles. He is a mixed breed dog. Kevin said that he is part lab and part something else... maybe pointer, but he wasn't sure. Eventually, Kevin caught the dog long enough to put his leash back on him. The two of them started jogging away and, before long, had disappeared.
I continued on my walk and, by the time that I returned to my sister's house, three happy hours had passed.

Bridge to Niagara Falls

Another view of the Niagara River

Niagara Falls industry

View of Niagara Falls from Buckhorn Island State Park

One view of the restored wetlands

A second view of the restored wetlands

The cycle of life in the woods

Beaver Island State Park

On the first of November, I decided to take a walking tour to Beaver Island State Park. Well, actually, my mother suggested it. I had been spending a lot of time at my Big Media Job. I've been writing the police blotter for both the Island Dispatch and the Niagara-Wheatfield Tribune, which is always very entertaining. Cops get called for the goofiest things: hit and run drivers vs. mailboxes, drunk guys in parking lots flinging shoes at vehicles, drunk guys pushing cars down the road (if you push the car, you don't get arrested for drunk driving), huge deer being spotted near the road (and then mysteriously vanishing), stray dogs who are obviously "in love" trotting down the bike path, spackling in the road (which the cop moved, leaving the cop car a mess that couldn't be cleaned), and more. I also had been busy on the politician beat... interviewing candidates for county legislature, attending and writing about the debate between the county legislature candidates and the town supervisor candidates. So, it had been a busy time, and my mom and I agreed that a good long walk would be the best way for me to relax.
November 1 was a beautiful autumn day, and I headed down the bike path toward Beaver Island State Park. Of course, as always, I had my trusty digital camera with me. I purchased that camera one year ago, and I am glad that I did. I have enjoyed taking pictures where ever I go, as a reminder of my adventures. The photographs tell a story, even without the accompanying words. When I was in prison, I truly missed that camera.
I walked all of the way through Beaver Island State Park, past the beach, the golf course, and the boat launches. I walked past River Lea, the summer home for President Grover Cleveland. That was a good place to take pictures, and they are below.
I am hoping for a few more good days, before the snow flies, when I can go out and take long walks and have some more adventures.
Until next time, here's Beaver Island State Park.

Late winter walk

On Tuesday, March 13, I walked down the bike path to Beaver Island State Park. It was the first time that I had been on the bike path since early in January, before the arctic air blew in for an extended stay.
I had been hoping that I would have one more chance to explore my outdoor world before I turned myself in at the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, to begin my six-month sentence for crossing the fence at Fort Benning.
The frozen wasteland that I viewed from the window had been saying no, you're not going to explore your outdoor world without risk of frostbite or hypothermia or both.
But, on Tuesday, the temperatures soared to close to 60 degrees.
Joy filled me as I started down the bike path. I walked under the bridges that link Grand Island to Tonawanda. The wind blew, but that didn't bother me. It was warm and I was outside.
I could see the damage that the "October surprise" storm had on the trees. It was apparent where the branches had been torn from the trees by the weight of the heavy snow that had fallen on October 12 and October 13, when the branches were already heavily laden by leaves. I saw the gaping holes where the branches had been. Other branches hung onto the tree trunks but just barely.
People and dogs walked and jogged past me. All seemed joyful that they were able to get outside and that they were able to enjoy the bike path again.