Merchants Millpond Hike is always a good one even in snow, rain or heat and Ellis is always leading it and setting a good pace. This year on Tuesday Jan. 14, 2020 it was a little different; Ellis called me on Monday and asked if I could lead the hike because he still had that bad cold, so he said, I am sure it wasn’t that the weatherman call for 110 % chance of rain and it turn out to be more like 150% chance of RAIN!
We had 23 Tuesday Groupers signed up and only had 13 to show, I know they all had good reason to miss this great hike and it had nothing to do with the 185 % chance of rain. On the drive down to the millpond it rain so hard that I couldn’t see my windshield wipers and with the lighting that was flashing now and then I really didn’t think anyone would make it today. Well, remember this is the Tuesday Group known Nation Wide by all and some of us never back down for any reason. I reach the parking lot about 8:50 A.M. and only the staff was there so I sit there in my truck (with the rain coming down in buckets) for about 8 Minutes and here comes one car after another until 7 vehicles show with 13 Tuesday Groupers.
It was like magic as they pulled in the rain slowed and before we started out it had stopped. With Bob M, Carl, Bob S, Kenny, Kay, Sandra (her 2 dogs) Mark B, Richard, Steve, Stephanie, Ed, Judy and Bruce we all lined up for a few pictures. I had thought it would be better if we stayed close to the parking lot (with 180 % chance of rain) so I talked to one of the Rangers about the Bennett’s Creek Trail and Cypress Point Trail and he agreed with me saying they would be better to hike on with just a little water but less muddy hills. He was right about the mud but we did find a little water here and there, reminded us of Sandra’s farm hike.
We started about 9:40 A.M. and were back at the parking lot at 12:05 P.M. to sit down on some of the chairs and tables and eat our lunch which we did not take with us. This was after almost 6 miles of hiking on a beautiful day, we did see the sunshine for almost 10 minutes as we sat and ate our lunches. Everyone said they had a good day and enjoyed being out in the woods on 2 new trails, for some.
Bruce
Special thanks to Bob M for his Pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mQ7DBVAqG6QYSo5r9