NORWICH – A whopping number of people, somehwere between 45 and 50, showed up to honor the FLT’s end-to-end coordinator Ed Sidote on the annual ‘Summer Ed Sidote Hike’ sponsored by the Finger Lakes Trail Conference.

Led by Don Windsor of Ed’s “home club,” the Bullthistle Hiking Club of Chenango County, the group completed a six mile loop along the FLT and seasonal back roads near Pharsalia and Jackson Pond, on FLT Map M23.

It was a gorgeous day, befitting the occasion. Sidote arrived early, and set up “court” in the parking lot greeting all the participants as only he can, with cold bottles of water, cookies, and other snacks left over from his club’s National Trials Day outing earlier this summer.

Don, who regularly leads hikes for the Bullthistle Hiking Club, entertained the participants with stories of local lore and plant identification. Don, I learned, is the Deputy Historian for Chenango County when he’s not out leading hikes.