Turning Point Park

Total for this ride: 13.3 miles
Total for this year: 1456.0 miles

Seems like it's been forever since I did a ride with either of my RIT groups.  What with schedule conflicts and vacation, I'm sure it's been at least a few weeks.

Today's ride is traditionally a favorite among those who roll with the groups.  It's short, it's scenic, and there's an Abbott's ice cream shop at the turn around point.  The only down side for some is the fact that there's a little bit of climbing.  But not enough to deter anyone from making the ride.

Historically we start at a parking lot just outside the Seneca Park Zoo.  Cross the street, and a path takes you down to a footbridge across the Genesee River Gorge.  A short climb out of the gorge takes you to Kodak Park, which was at one point in time the hub for Kodak manufacturing operations (much of which has now moved overseas...).  In fact, George Eastman himself is buried just off the street outside one of the manufacturing buildings.  Although we didn't stop there this trip, I know I have some pics of it somewhere.  If I can find them, I'll add them to the post at a later date.  Anyway, the route follows Lake Ave north past a cemetery, then heads down into the gorge on the Genesee Riverway Trail.  The trail meets the river at Turning Point Park, apparently a wide spot in the river where large boats had enough room to turn around before heading back out into Lake Ontario.  The cool feature of Turning Point Park is the boardwalk that runs all through the marshes along the river.  It's pretty neat.  After leaving the boardwalk, the route follows the river through the Port of Rochester to the town of Charlotte, where a large concrete pier extends out from Ontario Beach Park into the lake.  It really is a fun ride.

After we worked our way back to the zoo, Bob, Roger and I went out to dinner at Famous Dave's BBQ.  Jill was upset that she couldn't make it.