Urban Hiking - Finding a Toy Graveyard

Over in Black Rock, in wooded areas off road by the railroad tracks, people have been dumping all kinds of things. This load of toys just seems like a hundred shades of wrong. The city has now blocked the access road. Thank you!

This Baby Went Through a Fire?

She's had a hard life. I have to take her home and clean her up. Actually after a few days in bleach water she ends up looking very good. She's going to be part of an art project that will show up on this blog next month.

Baby Jesus

Is it a sin to throw away Baby Jesus? He's all plastic, just with a few cracks. He could lay here for eternity.

Grass Grows Right Out of Her Head

This baby has been on the ground a long while. Grass is growing right in her plastic hair.

Homage to Al Volo

A stuffed rabbit peeks out from under the weeds - reminding me of all the rabbits created by artist, Al Volo. This cloth bunny is too far decomposed to save.

At the Cargill Superior Grain Elevator

How did this delicate little rag doll end up beside such a vast looming structure? Does anyone know what her name is?

Urban Hiking - Finding a Burned Out Hobo Camp

Hiking along railroad tracks near Military Road, we enter the woods and find a hobo encampment. It is laid out very well and obviously used for quite a while before being burned. There's lots of cans of food, crudely opened and cooked.
Did the 'camper' let his fire get out of control? Did the nearest neighbors burn it down to get rid of him? The place reeks of stories.

The Stove

The bright blue teapot stands out in the rubble, looking ready to boil. Apparently there was a time during the depression when Buffalo was "overwhelmed" with homeless men - mostly migrant workers from the Lake freighters. We wonder what the story is of the people using this particular camp?

A Kitchen Cabinet

The fire doesn't seem to have damaged any of the trees around the camp but had a great effect on this metal shelving.

The Bedroom

Some old rags and plastic in a matted down area off to the left side of the camp seems to have been a sleeping area.

The Toilet

Another mysterious story. Someone had to drag this seat a good distance to place it in this particular spot.

Are we in Monet's Garden?

Wandering down another narrow path, we suddenly come into a magical sunlight garden of wildflowers and sumac.

Hiking in the Post-Industrial Forest

In this rust-belt city,
in undesirable, unnoticed,
out-of-the way spaces,
on land that has been exploited,
polluted, abandoned and forgotten,
in the cracks and corners of the city,
Nature fights to renew herself.

Open to the World

We are hiking around the Cargill Superior grain elevator, close to Tifft Farm. Abandoned since the 60's, it has many openings and is much more accessible than I would have imagined. It also has potholes, ditches and trash. Dangerous in so many ways.

Encountered Inside

We hear sounds as we enter the enormous interior space. This gang looks like menacing terrorists but they are actually a splat ball team. I think of all the history and uses of this building. These urban explorers are adding another layer to the long story.

Where the Freighters Tied Up

On the river side of the Cargill is a ledge with massive iron forms. I imagine they were used to tie up the ships while their grain was unloaded. Moss and honeysuckle bushes now grow out of the concrete.

The River Side

One side of the elevator is on the Buffalo River while the opposite side is covered with train tracks. "Form follows function". Grain scooped from ships, stored and sent out by train.
Now the ledge on the river side is covered with bushes.
We plan to make a trip by canoe next time.