they were never more than a few feet behind me, and still aren't - something i've known for years and years. this page is only the most recent iteration as to why. i don't have a file, i have a filing cabinet.
that's a picture of dow's lake from the bike path in behind the pavillion. you have to take the bike path south, as though you're continuing forward past preston (preston ends at prince of wales). there's a "peninsula" into the lake.
and, then you can bike to school up the back way, you just need to cross the locks with your bike on foot - which means you need to be able to lift your bike over a flimsy bridge, stoned. don't do this if that sounds challenging.
the reason this was a great spot to smoke at the time is that you could get out on to one of the rocks before you light up. the water level comes down further than that for most of the school year, so you can actual go a ways out into the lake before you light.
and, then you can see anybody coming from a good distance - and throw away the evidence into the lake, if you have to.
i never had to. but, i made the precaution for a good reason. i'd been stopped and questioned...