Loop from Pequot Woods and back by public roads. 5.1 miles.
Started at Sandy Hollow road with intention of an in and out to reduce miles for next walk. After work.
I started with intention of going into Pequot woods and maybe some of Judson Rd depending on sunlight as it was getting late in the day. Apparently a thunderstorm must have come by because the trails were wet, even though I saw no rain in New London at work or at home each on either side this walk. After five straight legs of this walk on the paved road, I was looking forward to woods walking again . These trails have rocky rooty muddy sections and I remembered the return as being in a stream bed. Yes it was nice to walk int he woods, but it was dark and somehow gloomy with a late evening sun. Probably sacreligious to say that. The end of the trail hit Rte 1 on a overgrown path with grass and briers. I stopped to look at map on a sign and where was Domino? Sitting right on edge of traffic on rte 1. Wow.
I didn't have enough light to do much more walking, so I went on the roads to the next wooded area, Beebe Pond Park. The first road was Judson Rd-a nice enough road in a quiet neighborhood type place. The sky was full of those big summer clouds so I decided to skip going back through Pequot Woods and try to dead reckon my way back on public roads. I didn't have a map with me, I had just been there on my bike so i kind of knew the roads, just not how far.
I passed our turnoff to the woods to Beebe and continued on quiet roads to rte 1 just wets of the big hill out of Mystic. I started on Allyn Stet Connector but it was too noisy and busy with cars, so i tried to find Pequot Rd and what a nice quiet road that is. I passed the James Mason statue site, a place that Nancy had just me about last year.
A bit of history: James mason was a colonial soldier in the Pequot war, 1635-1636 and the statue commemorated his battle at the Mystic Fort located nearby. The war between the Pequots and the New England colonies and this battle ended it. Not really a battle but a massacre of elderly and children according to some. A bit of revisionists history here, as the Pequot tribe delveloped money from their casino income and subsequent power, the statute was removed. Makes me wonder anyway about who writes history and how accurate the recording of history is? I have wondered where the fort is and I asked a fellow dog walker on this walk and she said no one really knows.
I got back to the car and it was getting dark. Just prior to that we stopped to rest on a couch sized boulder on the corner of Pequot and Sandy Hollow roads the rock was nice and warm. complete a little indentation puddle for water. Watched the last rays of bright sunlight and then boom the sun went away quickly.
Another Milestone: this was the tenth walk in this journey.
Next leg. Beebe to ??? I was hoping to car pool and do one long wak through Pequot woods, Beebe Pond, Haley farm and Bluff Point for a grand tour, but i don't think that is a going to happen.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
NInth Leg, 22 June 2008
Another back and forth, we started at end of last walk on Rte 27 just north of the Pequot Trail and turn around point was start of Pequot Woods Trail on Sandy Hollow Rd in Mystic,
Length: 3 miles each way. Total 6 miles walking for the day.
This was day of my going away at Harkness which was a very sad event, but we did this walk early in the morning with intention of turning around sooner. This was a great walk and they keep getting better. Kind of misty and foggy but not bad, cloud cover 100% at start but irregular clouds.
I have ridden this a lot on the bike but never walked any of it. River Rd is very nice and it has always been the road I would suggest that out of town riders to ride on. Somewhere along the river the sky opened briefly and the thinest amount of blue sky and sunshine appeared. That was the last sunshine until right at the turn around point which when I saw direct sunlight on the very spot that we chose to turn around, I saw that as somehow a good sign.
Going back down the hill back into the valley and the sky opened up completely and it was blue and sunny and much hotter, I wasn't expecting heat at all.
The walk was all pavement but went along two small Avolonia preserves one on a road leaving River rd that was actually stream with a bunch of old mill foundations and stuff(and a neat little waterfall)and the other one was marsh right on the river. There is public boat launch right under the twin rte 95 bridges, Domino did not like the sound of the busy Sunday traffic above.
In the first mile we cut through a cemetery that was right on the water, that was nice. On the way back in the same cemetery, there was a solitary woman standing at grave in a very sad pose, I couldn't bear to look at her and her sadness.
A milestone- the first river- the Mystic River even though it is not that far from my start nor that mighty of a river, I am going to measure this walk by rivers crossed and we passed the first one, on small bridge over a narrow stream on a stone lined channel.
Also on Sandy Hollow Rd, there is s state sign signifying this as scenic road, the sign is in the shape of Connecticut with a star in Groton like a "You are Here" indicator. By a rough measure using hand width, we are maybe 1/10 of the way now?
Length: 3 miles each way. Total 6 miles walking for the day.
This was day of my going away at Harkness which was a very sad event, but we did this walk early in the morning with intention of turning around sooner. This was a great walk and they keep getting better. Kind of misty and foggy but not bad, cloud cover 100% at start but irregular clouds.
I have ridden this a lot on the bike but never walked any of it. River Rd is very nice and it has always been the road I would suggest that out of town riders to ride on. Somewhere along the river the sky opened briefly and the thinest amount of blue sky and sunshine appeared. That was the last sunshine until right at the turn around point which when I saw direct sunlight on the very spot that we chose to turn around, I saw that as somehow a good sign.
Going back down the hill back into the valley and the sky opened up completely and it was blue and sunny and much hotter, I wasn't expecting heat at all.
The walk was all pavement but went along two small Avolonia preserves one on a road leaving River rd that was actually stream with a bunch of old mill foundations and stuff(and a neat little waterfall)and the other one was marsh right on the river. There is public boat launch right under the twin rte 95 bridges, Domino did not like the sound of the busy Sunday traffic above.
In the first mile we cut through a cemetery that was right on the water, that was nice. On the way back in the same cemetery, there was a solitary woman standing at grave in a very sad pose, I couldn't bear to look at her and her sadness.
A milestone- the first river- the Mystic River even though it is not that far from my start nor that mighty of a river, I am going to measure this walk by rivers crossed and we passed the first one, on small bridge over a narrow stream on a stone lined channel.
Also on Sandy Hollow Rd, there is s state sign signifying this as scenic road, the sign is in the shape of Connecticut with a star in Groton like a "You are Here" indicator. By a rough measure using hand width, we are maybe 1/10 of the way now?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Eighth Leg, June 19th 2008
Pequot Trail from Tom Wheeler to rte 27 and back. 4.8 miles
This was going to be a connect the dots walk with an in and out along the Pequot Trail. I haven't really been on this road much as when I ride in the area, it is one of those roads that I don't seem to do much, maybe because of the climb.
Turns out it was really nice stretch of paved road, don't exactly know how this Pequot Trail connects with the Pequot Trail that now lies beneath he worlds largest casino, but it is a quiet little stretch especially the middle, which is reservoir land and thus no development. It reminded me of a place you'd find somewhere else, a place you would drive hours to get to.
I turned around at Rte 27 at Old Mystic, there is a nice climb with nice views. This too must have been a hill top farm but now the fields are full of big new houses. A guy on a bicycle was going up and down the hill.
A roofless, windowless house of stone on top of the hill has always intrigued me.
This was a before work walk and we started at about 5:00, it was clear here but foggy with that condensation on the trees causing 'rain'. On the return, facing the rising sun, it cleared dramatically and rays of sunlight were beating into the mist into the forest. The road itself is narrow and twisty thing with cable type guardrail things, but traffic wasn't bad enough for that to be a worry.
There were a lot of old cart roads and trails off this road and some were inviting.
I haven't walked in Old Mystic and a few of the houses have signs with dates, names and owners' occupations, all from the early 1800s, Enoch was merchant in a big house across from where the Mystic River just narrows and there was a cabinet maker and hatter's house. All this stuff you don't see from a bicycle no matter what the pace.
Distance 4.8 mile roundtrip (gmaps)
Distance from Start(crow) 13 miles
Next leg; Pequot Trail to Pequot Woods trail head.
This was going to be a connect the dots walk with an in and out along the Pequot Trail. I haven't really been on this road much as when I ride in the area, it is one of those roads that I don't seem to do much, maybe because of the climb.
Turns out it was really nice stretch of paved road, don't exactly know how this Pequot Trail connects with the Pequot Trail that now lies beneath he worlds largest casino, but it is a quiet little stretch especially the middle, which is reservoir land and thus no development. It reminded me of a place you'd find somewhere else, a place you would drive hours to get to.
I turned around at Rte 27 at Old Mystic, there is a nice climb with nice views. This too must have been a hill top farm but now the fields are full of big new houses. A guy on a bicycle was going up and down the hill.
A roofless, windowless house of stone on top of the hill has always intrigued me.
This was a before work walk and we started at about 5:00, it was clear here but foggy with that condensation on the trees causing 'rain'. On the return, facing the rising sun, it cleared dramatically and rays of sunlight were beating into the mist into the forest. The road itself is narrow and twisty thing with cable type guardrail things, but traffic wasn't bad enough for that to be a worry.
There were a lot of old cart roads and trails off this road and some were inviting.
I haven't walked in Old Mystic and a few of the houses have signs with dates, names and owners' occupations, all from the early 1800s, Enoch was merchant in a big house across from where the Mystic River just narrows and there was a cabinet maker and hatter's house. All this stuff you don't see from a bicycle no matter what the pace.
Distance 4.8 mile roundtrip (gmaps)
Distance from Start(crow) 13 miles
Next leg; Pequot Trail to Pequot Woods trail head.
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Seventh Day, 14 June 2008
Back and forth on Tom Wheeler, from 184(parked) to Pequot Trail
Tom Wheeler is quiet road that runs south directly across form 184, in fact they probabaly once shared the same name. Tom Wheeler is more developed especially as you go south and closer to the interstate. On the way down I saw more bicycles than cars, 4 to 2 and about even on the way back.
Another nice morning and another nice road. All paved about 2.4 miles one way. The road starts with a farm on little hill, with wild roses all over then over a little rise to another pair of small farms. Domino had to climb a stone wall to see some cows and she didn't want to leave them.
At the bottom of a little rise are a bunch of driveways and mailboxes, then crosses a little swamp with a few small stream crossings, so small that stone walls go across the streams at the roadside. After a little bend in the road is a big old stately farm house, bigger than most colonial houses with a bunch of kept out buildings, groomed lawns and a couple of dammed ponds. A place I have seen many times from the bike but especially nice to check out by foot. near the turn around point is first a horse farm then the road is lined with houses.
Besides wild roses, mountain laurel, honey suckle and another flowering shrub are in bloom.
All in and all a nice paved road walk on a quiet little traveled road.
Next leg: Pequot Trail to Old Mystic or start of Pequot woods.
Back and forth on Tom Wheeler, from 184(parked) to Pequot Trail
Tom Wheeler is quiet road that runs south directly across form 184, in fact they probabaly once shared the same name. Tom Wheeler is more developed especially as you go south and closer to the interstate. On the way down I saw more bicycles than cars, 4 to 2 and about even on the way back.
Another nice morning and another nice road. All paved about 2.4 miles one way. The road starts with a farm on little hill, with wild roses all over then over a little rise to another pair of small farms. Domino had to climb a stone wall to see some cows and she didn't want to leave them.
At the bottom of a little rise are a bunch of driveways and mailboxes, then crosses a little swamp with a few small stream crossings, so small that stone walls go across the streams at the roadside. After a little bend in the road is a big old stately farm house, bigger than most colonial houses with a bunch of kept out buildings, groomed lawns and a couple of dammed ponds. A place I have seen many times from the bike but especially nice to check out by foot. near the turn around point is first a horse farm then the road is lined with houses.
Besides wild roses, mountain laurel, honey suckle and another flowering shrub are in bloom.
All in and all a nice paved road walk on a quiet little traveled road.
Next leg: Pequot Trail to Old Mystic or start of Pequot woods.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Day 6 June 7th 2008
Parked at intersection of Rte 201 and Al Harvey Rd in Stonington. ( a new town for this trip)
This was a loop consisting of four paved roads and the last part(Rte 201) of my missed leg last week. It rained.
It was really foggy when I got up and I tried to balance fog, and early start because of predicted heat and traffic.
I headed east on rte 201 which I know well from bicycling but never walked it. It had a narrow to nonexistent shoulder and several pinch points with no where to go if cars came by. the wetness in the air made the knee high roadside grass wet. Again this would have been decent leg if not for traffic, even 7 AM Saturday traffic. Started by an active (now turkey) farm and then a little climb to a field bare hill. Cool.
Condensation on the leaves from air moisture made it "rain" under the canopy.
The second road on this square loop was Jeremy Hill Rd, a quiet road that, living up to to it's name, had a nice hill climb, the top of which was another farm site, only this one's latest crop was big houses, really big houses.
The third road was Route 184, AKA as the New London Providence Turnpike. I know this well from frequent bicycle commutes to work but realized that I have never walked on any of it. Even though it was recently paved, it is a raised road bed so it had a lot of cable traffic barriers and the metal kind as well, producing for someone walking a dog prolonged shoulder narrowing. Despite this, it is a great section and quite by chance, it had three spots where I used to stop at and rest on my bike commutes. One was at the top of big climb(same hill but from east on 184) there used to be a sheep farm and I would stop and watch them. There are now two huge houses on those field and no sheep. The second place was across from a farm-a working farm with cows, ageless grazing fields full of rocks and trees. The third place was just a quiet spot near a vernal pond.
The last road was AL Harvey road, which has to be one of the nicest roads around. Except for the part near 184, it has few houses on it and the rest is all woods and fields. Traffic was light. Two old farms with grand old houses and barns. The first one had a barn that looked like it was made of wax and melting fast.
Some of the fields near these farms haven't been abandoned for long, and full of cedars and rose bushes. On these roads I try to imagine other abandoned farms on woods roads in the middle of nowhere and try to picture what they were like in years past.
We stooped to rest near a grazing cow with a nearby bull frog entertaining us.
At one of the corners near the other house, I heard a droning sound and thought that it was an approaching truck coming around the corner. But, the truck never showed and the louder the noise got until I realized that it was the sound of a swarm of bees. Looking up in a big tree that overhung the road, I saw this huge swarm of bees. Scary, but cool.
Near the end, Domino was acting funny, maybe because these are unfamiliar roads, maybe because we had to stop frequently and wait for cars to go by, maybe it was all of the pinch points(she hates bridges and thinks guardrails, cuts into hillsides, are bridges, she gets frightened by those drain grates which to my surprise there quite a few of them on these roads. and at one house we were surprised by a big Shepard who barked suddenly.
Today's distance walked: 5.5 miles ( gmaps)
East west into CT: about 7 miles
Next leg: Tom Wheeler/Pequot Trail to Old Mystic
This was a loop consisting of four paved roads and the last part(Rte 201) of my missed leg last week. It rained.
It was really foggy when I got up and I tried to balance fog, and early start because of predicted heat and traffic.
I headed east on rte 201 which I know well from bicycling but never walked it. It had a narrow to nonexistent shoulder and several pinch points with no where to go if cars came by. the wetness in the air made the knee high roadside grass wet. Again this would have been decent leg if not for traffic, even 7 AM Saturday traffic. Started by an active (now turkey) farm and then a little climb to a field bare hill. Cool.
Condensation on the leaves from air moisture made it "rain" under the canopy.
The second road on this square loop was Jeremy Hill Rd, a quiet road that, living up to to it's name, had a nice hill climb, the top of which was another farm site, only this one's latest crop was big houses, really big houses.
The third road was Route 184, AKA as the New London Providence Turnpike. I know this well from frequent bicycle commutes to work but realized that I have never walked on any of it. Even though it was recently paved, it is a raised road bed so it had a lot of cable traffic barriers and the metal kind as well, producing for someone walking a dog prolonged shoulder narrowing. Despite this, it is a great section and quite by chance, it had three spots where I used to stop at and rest on my bike commutes. One was at the top of big climb(same hill but from east on 184) there used to be a sheep farm and I would stop and watch them. There are now two huge houses on those field and no sheep. The second place was across from a farm-a working farm with cows, ageless grazing fields full of rocks and trees. The third place was just a quiet spot near a vernal pond.
The last road was AL Harvey road, which has to be one of the nicest roads around. Except for the part near 184, it has few houses on it and the rest is all woods and fields. Traffic was light. Two old farms with grand old houses and barns. The first one had a barn that looked like it was made of wax and melting fast.
Some of the fields near these farms haven't been abandoned for long, and full of cedars and rose bushes. On these roads I try to imagine other abandoned farms on woods roads in the middle of nowhere and try to picture what they were like in years past.
We stooped to rest near a grazing cow with a nearby bull frog entertaining us.
At one of the corners near the other house, I heard a droning sound and thought that it was an approaching truck coming around the corner. But, the truck never showed and the louder the noise got until I realized that it was the sound of a swarm of bees. Looking up in a big tree that overhung the road, I saw this huge swarm of bees. Scary, but cool.
Near the end, Domino was acting funny, maybe because these are unfamiliar roads, maybe because we had to stop frequently and wait for cars to go by, maybe it was all of the pinch points(she hates bridges and thinks guardrails, cuts into hillsides, are bridges, she gets frightened by those drain grates which to my surprise there quite a few of them on these roads. and at one house we were surprised by a big Shepard who barked suddenly.
Today's distance walked: 5.5 miles ( gmaps)
East west into CT: about 7 miles
Next leg: Tom Wheeler/Pequot Trail to Old Mystic
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Day 5 June 5 2008
Ryder RD to Jeremy Hill Rd (North Stonington, CT)
(before work)
Parked at Narragansett Trail/Ryder Rd and walked down Rte 2, Main Crossing Rd, Rte 201 and then turned back right after Assekonk Brook.
After two pure woods walks I was expecting a rough walk on these roads, Rte 2 being the main drag between Rte 95 and the world's largest casino. When I scouted it out, it looked innocent enough, about 5 foot shoulders and today I started at 0540 AM, Traffic was there and three vehicles including one Peter Pan bus crossed the line in my shoulder.
Domino fared well in the newly cropped roadside grass and except for a few bridge crossings she was great.
Not great was traffic especially a trio of SUV/pickup trucks who instead of sensing a need to slow down at the sight of a pedestrian on the shoulderless Main Crossing Rd and Rte 201 went faster with typical disregard for safety and allowing zero margin for error(IE : miscalculating a curve and or on coming traffic, perhaps a FORD SUV as careless as them?
Anyway, there was just enough traffic to prevent me from enjoying these roads that might have been a pleasant walk.
On the way back we stopped and walked on the Narragansett Trail a few feet west of Rte 2, the trail heads west to Lantern Hill. A new foot bridge goes across a small pond's dam, a new metal and wood bridge. very nice.
It was overcast and at few times looked like rain but it stayed dry.
A seed was planted in my mind that a lot of foot travel on well trafficked roads such as these isn't going to keep me going on this venture for long.
Length: about 4 miles round trip, with about .5 miles east west towards NY state.
Next leg-Rest of 201 to Tom Harvey, my favorite road to bike that Tom Harvey.
(before work)
Parked at Narragansett Trail/Ryder Rd and walked down Rte 2, Main Crossing Rd, Rte 201 and then turned back right after Assekonk Brook.
After two pure woods walks I was expecting a rough walk on these roads, Rte 2 being the main drag between Rte 95 and the world's largest casino. When I scouted it out, it looked innocent enough, about 5 foot shoulders and today I started at 0540 AM, Traffic was there and three vehicles including one Peter Pan bus crossed the line in my shoulder.
Domino fared well in the newly cropped roadside grass and except for a few bridge crossings she was great.
Not great was traffic especially a trio of SUV/pickup trucks who instead of sensing a need to slow down at the sight of a pedestrian on the shoulderless Main Crossing Rd and Rte 201 went faster with typical disregard for safety and allowing zero margin for error(IE : miscalculating a curve and or on coming traffic, perhaps a FORD SUV as careless as them?
Anyway, there was just enough traffic to prevent me from enjoying these roads that might have been a pleasant walk.
On the way back we stopped and walked on the Narragansett Trail a few feet west of Rte 2, the trail heads west to Lantern Hill. A new foot bridge goes across a small pond's dam, a new metal and wood bridge. very nice.
It was overcast and at few times looked like rain but it stayed dry.
A seed was planted in my mind that a lot of foot travel on well trafficked roads such as these isn't going to keep me going on this venture for long.
Length: about 4 miles round trip, with about .5 miles east west towards NY state.
Next leg-Rest of 201 to Tom Harvey, my favorite road to bike that Tom Harvey.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Day 4 ; June 3rd 2008
Narragansett Trail
Start and Finish: Ryder Road, turn around: point Wyassup Rd
Couldn't do this last Saturday, as I was going to drop off a car and do a point to point hike to Tom Harvey Rd, but it got wicked rainy and thundered so we didn't and instead-
This was our first in and out, returning the same way as we went and it was great section of trail to do it twice, the best part of the Narragansett Trail so far. Lacking the high ledges of other sections, it also seemed to lack a lot of traffic and this was a true footpath with no ATV use evident at all. Starting from Ryder Rd the trail ascends quickly to a high ridge that seemed high enough to see the sea but I couldn't make it out. trees blocked a nice view of the valley below, high enough to see birds from above.
We came to a small brook and it reminded me of a certain stream I used to go-as a child- to on the old Pequot Trail, old meaning pre casino. Black water brook, black smelly mud, and hemlocks added to the sense. Buried under the world's largest casino, I know that I will never be able to go to that stream but this is the close. Real close.
Following this small stream we came to a dammed pond, didn't see and beaver but a lodge. The pond was full of birds. The trail followed the pond which seemed to be low in water height and then followed the stream again. The trail was barely a thread in between vegetation of various types. At one point the trail dived a bright deciduous wood on the left with dark pine forest on the right. An opening in a stone wall back into a single woods and a stream crossing on several rocks, along with a parallel stream seemed to be an old mill site? Suspicious piles of rocks seemed to add to this but barely.
The trail followed up and downs to Wyassup Rd, though I still haven';t figured out where the Narragansett Trail hits the paved road. I hit it last week at one place, I bushwhacked another today and last week parked at another where blue blazes disappeared.?
This is the last of the Narragansett Trail for us , I would have loved to continue on to Lantern Hill and then part of the Pequot Trail, except that Pequot Trail doesn't exist any more and the roads I would have to then use are horrible with casino traffic.
It was almost 80 when I finished at 10 AM.
Length of days hike: 6.2 round trip
East-west distance: about 5 miles
Next leg: Rtes 2 and 201 to Tom Harvey
Start and Finish: Ryder Road, turn around: point Wyassup Rd
Couldn't do this last Saturday, as I was going to drop off a car and do a point to point hike to Tom Harvey Rd, but it got wicked rainy and thundered so we didn't and instead-
This was our first in and out, returning the same way as we went and it was great section of trail to do it twice, the best part of the Narragansett Trail so far. Lacking the high ledges of other sections, it also seemed to lack a lot of traffic and this was a true footpath with no ATV use evident at all. Starting from Ryder Rd the trail ascends quickly to a high ridge that seemed high enough to see the sea but I couldn't make it out. trees blocked a nice view of the valley below, high enough to see birds from above.
We came to a small brook and it reminded me of a certain stream I used to go-as a child- to on the old Pequot Trail, old meaning pre casino. Black water brook, black smelly mud, and hemlocks added to the sense. Buried under the world's largest casino, I know that I will never be able to go to that stream but this is the close. Real close.
Following this small stream we came to a dammed pond, didn't see and beaver but a lodge. The pond was full of birds. The trail followed the pond which seemed to be low in water height and then followed the stream again. The trail was barely a thread in between vegetation of various types. At one point the trail dived a bright deciduous wood on the left with dark pine forest on the right. An opening in a stone wall back into a single woods and a stream crossing on several rocks, along with a parallel stream seemed to be an old mill site? Suspicious piles of rocks seemed to add to this but barely.
The trail followed up and downs to Wyassup Rd, though I still haven';t figured out where the Narragansett Trail hits the paved road. I hit it last week at one place, I bushwhacked another today and last week parked at another where blue blazes disappeared.?
This is the last of the Narragansett Trail for us , I would have loved to continue on to Lantern Hill and then part of the Pequot Trail, except that Pequot Trail doesn't exist any more and the roads I would have to then use are horrible with casino traffic.
It was almost 80 when I finished at 10 AM.
Length of days hike: 6.2 round trip
East-west distance: about 5 miles
Next leg: Rtes 2 and 201 to Tom Harvey
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