Geocaching and Nature walk with Feehan Clan

We have had so much fun hiking, and Nica and I had fun geocaching with the Powell's earlier this year, that when our friends, the Feehan's invited us to go on "hike" and geocaching with them, we jumped at the chance! I still have a "dumb" phone and no GPS (yep, almost in the stone age), so we haven't tried geocaching on our own- but I think we are hooked!

Before we went hiking, however, we stopped to buy supplies for a food pantry. The Feehan's and our girls had sold some of their donated toys to raise funds for this service project. We then took them, with a list of needed items, to the store and let them shop for the pantry. It was a great experience, and all 7 girls and 1 boy had fun.

We then headed to the Erie-Attica Trail in Avon. There were four geocaches in this short 1.5-mile stretch of road. There were also probably 1.5 million active mosquitoes, too! Ahhhh! We were all eaten alive, despite having been showered with bug spray (before and during the hike!). But, we had success and found all four of the geocaches we looked for!

Gathered and starting our geocache hunt. We were trying to find the first on the trail, but since it seemed it was off the trail, we headed for the next cache.

I love this bridge! The kids quickly spread out across the length of it.

We called them back so we could get a group shot.

Olivia, Connor, Mya, Megan, Ava, Miranda, Veronica, and Zoë

All of us!
(I used the timer)

 I was busy looking at the wildflower guide to try and figure out what flower we found when I heard an exultant shout. Zoë and Mya had found the first geocache! It had been hidden down the side of the trail near a fallen log. The only down side was that heading off the trail stirred up a cloud of mosquitoes! It was the first of a number of swarming blood-sucking bites. Ahhh!

Connor found the second geocache.

It was the second one we found, and it was really small! We didn't have anything to leave, so other than our names recorded on the paper, we didn't leave or take anything.

Ava was a trouper, but she did get tired. It was really hot, so we tried to stay hydrated.

I love this picture! It captures both of their personalities.

I was lucky enough to drop my sunglasses near the location of the third geocache! Nica got to open the container and leave the little wooden doll. Megan picked out a little figurine.

I really loved the view from this bridge!
We ran most of the way back to the van because of all the mosquitoes, but I stopped to get this shot.

Hot, sweaty, sticky, and tired.

Oh, and itchy from mosquito bites. We needed something to rejuvenate us.

We were so hot and itchy that we decided we needed a water break. So we drove a short way to Papermill Rd  (toward Geneseo) and stopped at Conesus Creek.

The stone bridge is Papermill Rd (on the right). The other side is a cement footbridge where we crossed and descended to Conesus Creek and the waterfall.

Nica and Ava were out front on the trail.

Miranda had footwear issues (again!) and she and Stephanie brought up the rear.

we saw lots of little fish swimming in the shallow, slower parts of the creek.

Stephanie even caught a crayfish!

Ava got to hold the crayfish, and did so despite her nervousness at having been recently pinched by one.

Holding it so carefully!

Walking upstream towards the falls was a little tricky. Quite a few sharp rocks, and those that weren't happened to be slippery- I think each of us slipped into the water at least once!

Some tried crawling, but that wasn't much more helpful.

Stephanie, who had the right shoes on, was the best prepared for this trek across the creek. She carried Ava to the waterfall rather quickly.

The rest of us hobbled our way across.

But we did make it!

Miranda wanted to stand on the edge of the waterfall.

Friends and First-graders!

The water was cool and perfect! I wish we had brought swimsocks and swimsuits...

It didn't take Miranda long to get completely soaked- this was seconds after she'd slipped and went in up to her neck.

Nica was glad she had shorts on, and was loving the water swirling around her legs.

Mya's slip.

LOVE this expression on her face! Ooops!

Connor was the first to get completely soaked, long before we reached the waterfall. He was quick to explore all areas.

Ava slipped off this big rock, and then her mom helped her "swim" in the water.

Of course, having been completely soaked, Miranda decided to jut start swimming.

My water baby! (or one of them)

Splash!

"I thought you didn't want to be slashed"
"Who, me?"

We spotted slightly larger fish in the deeper water.

Ava is using a compass to guide us back to the parking lot.
"10 more miles"... a few steps later "40 more miles!"

Such beautiful girls!

Nica found this shell fossile in the water as we were walking from the waterfall to where we had left our shoes. There were quite a few fossils around.

We are so grateful to the Feehan's for letting us spend the day with them! We had a great time, and look forward to more service projects, hikes, geocaching, or just playing in the neighborhood!