Tour season is upon us

I led a tour for 4 people Sunday, heading to Prospect Point and the Maid of the Mist before taking the trolley over to Goat Island for Luna Island, Terrapin Point and the Cave of the Winds.

My guests were a mother and son making the drive from Maine to Oregon and a young couple from Dallas, traveling construction workers who decided to take their off-day to visit.

As I do in summer, I biked to the park from home. There is no need to pay for parking or deal with traffic. Biking the paths along the top of the gorge is much more pleasant.

On the trolley, I was informed by a state parks employee that guides have to pay-to-ride this year. In the future, I will walk because I think it is likely faster. I can leave guests on the trolley and beat them to the dropoff because of the trolley’s circuitous route, save $5 and get an extra 12-minute walk. That's a win.

Heading for home, I did a double take in the lot by the Park Police barracks in front of the Schoellkopf elevator, an Iveco travel truck with Brazilian plates, an uncommon sight. Marcando Territorios is the Youtube channel of Giovana and Rodrigo who have been exploring the Americas in their Iveco truck for the last several years and posting to Youtube. Their videos are a great watch even if you don’t speak Portuguese. Their goal is Ushuaia to Alaska. I had to look it up. Ushuaia is at the tip of Argentina. I never did find the travelers.