For our first day in New York we decided to check out a local (well, local to our campground) rail-trail that connects Watkins Glen and Montour Falls. We parked on Fairgrounds Ln at the south end of Watkins Glen and started our walk south along the canal. The vegetation is somewhat high on both sides of the trail so you only get the occasional glimpse of the canal. There are plenty of trees along the trail and the partial shade was a welcome break from the sun. We came across a side trail that said it was to Aunt Sarah’s Falls, which Karen had read was only worth seeing after it rains. We had experienced a thunderstorm last night so decided to make the side trip. We hadn’t quite reached the falls when we found access to the stream and Luxie was quick to dunk herself in the cool water. After she was thoroughly soaked we continued toward the Aunt Sarah Falls which is right along a busy highway.

With the streets of our destination within sight we decided to not backtrack to the canal trail but work our own way to Shequaga Falls, which was only a few blocks after crossing the highway.  There is a small “park” at the base of this falls which provided a shaded spot for water and a snack before heading back the trail.

On the way back we decided to take the side trip to the stream to let Luxie play in the water again, then back to the canal trail. About half way back to the car we spotted a doe and her fawn on the trail ahead of us. We kept walking and she and the fawn kept moving farther away and then disappeared in the brush between the trail and the canal. When we got to the spot where we first saw them Luxie picked up the scent and tracked them down the trail as we kept scanning the brush to see if we might spot them. To our surprise we managed to find the mother watching us through the bushes as we passed by. 

by Dennis
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