Sept 22, Letchworth State Park

Sunday, September 22

Day 2 at Letchworth State Park.   We sleep in a bit and it is 65 degrees this morning.  We head out about 9:00 to visit or revisit parts of the park.  Another clear, sunny day!

Gardeau Overlook is the first stop.  Gardeau is the Seneca Indian word for “bank in front”.  Lots of this part of New York has Indian names -  Tonowanda,  Canandaigua, Oswego, etc.

Lots of vultures riding the wind currents.

  Wolf Creek is next, where a deep ravine drops 225 ft to reach the Genesee River.  There used to be timber wolves in this area.

The whole length of the park follows the Genessee River.  We have decided to spend a relaxing day here and another night at the campground.  Brief stop at the uninspiring Visitor’s Center and a few other spots. A little color beginning to show in some areas.

 At the Middle Falls parking area there is a lovely park, so we have a picnic lunch there.  The park is really well maintained with many green grassy areas throughout.   Lots of the infrastructure was constructed by the CCC – civilian conservation corps, back in the 1930’s.  It is one of the growing number of parks that don't provide trash receptacles, instead touting "carry in, carry out".  From what we've seen this seems to be working - not a lot of trash around and I'm sure it saves the parks a ton of money.

Middle Falls again.

Upper Falls again.

A brief stop at the Humphrey Nature Center, which is cool and quiet.  The park is an oasis for many animals as well as people.  Over 150 bird species, beavers, muskrats, ducks, fish, white-tailed deer, fox, wild turkey, a few snakes and an occasional coyote or black bear.  I’m sure they are much more evident when the human population drops.

  We’ve only seen vultures, hawks, and geese, a few deer and raccoons, along with squirrels and chipmunks.

We take a walk in the woods on the trout pond trail and stop by an old school house and a pioneer cemetery with dates back to 1817.

Back at the campground, we have to move to a different site since last night’s is reserved for tonight.  However, half or more of the campers have departed so we have no neighbors nearby site 421.   What a difference a day makes!  

Showers again, and Greg gets some good coals in the campfire so we make silver turtles for diner.  (Foil wrapped packets cooked on the coals.  Chicken in one packet,  potatoes, carrots and onions in another).

We both relax with some reading and writing.  We do have cell signal here, though we haven’t seen wi-fi for the computer on this trip.