Leg 25
Well today is notable for a few things, first of all it was the 25th hike and gee i sure am not making much east west progress for that many hikes. This was only my second point to point walk: the rest have been loops or in and outs. Today was also the first use of a train.
The walk was pretty simple, park at Old Saybrook RR station, walk the Post road to Westbrook and then take the train back. Not the best of roads, I scouted it out last week to look for some scenic shore roads- all i found were signs. History wise, walking this road was interesting I guess.
Rte 1 is Rte 1, a few pinch points where I had to carry Dom across a few short bridges. she does OK with the traffic but hates bridges with metal guardrail and she also hates those sewer grate things.
The road just west of the station is built up with a couple of shopping centers and strip malls. most of these had some green grass to walk on. the first narrow part was over a little marsh and we caught sight of an egret.
Except for s short section on Old post rd, we stuck right on the post road. I overestimated the time to the train and would have arrived at the station an hour and half early. We slowed down a bit and headed down one of the roads to the sound-from a hill-Ryley hill to be exact, Walking south we caught glimpses of the sound's whitecaps, the road ended at a T and the left was signed, the right was signed dead end- it went on for few houses and we came to some condo land(Ryley road was bordered by huge condos that looked like big college dorms- yech.
Killing time in Westbrook was easy, I got a meatball grinder from a pizza place on the Green and threw the ball for Domino. It was pretty cool-the temps were in the 40s but a stiff breeze and lack of activity made it seem colder. We sat on the steps of a gazebo looking at the old library and next to and old stone water trough.
We headed up to the RR station on a crappy road for walkers, (Rte 153) no shoulder heavy traffic, grates-one grate was full of cat litter-someone was simply disposing of cat litter in the sewer grate-so much cat litter that it was almost overflowing and it stank a lot.
The Westbrook RR station is small: simply some decking with a few benches enclosed in clear plastic, a nice warm and windless place to wait, this was an experiment for us, on shoreline East trains you can take dogs in a crate. I brought a little dog carrier and this was out first time using it. It was too small for Domino so just her head stuck out. We got on the train and she got real scared,even a little shaking. I knew that she nervous because she would not eat a treat!
After going up and down the stairs from the far side tracks, she calmed down a bit, I am sure that she would rather stay home and just throw the ball in the yard,
Despite and old road walk, the best part was Old post road-a quiet little road with a few colonial houses and maybe a much older house.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
24, 1 April 2009
Leg 24, 1 April 2009
Start and Finish: Saybrook Point. Distance 6.2 miles(from gmaps) weather overcast all day. 8am starting the 30s and 40s finish
Today we parked at the Saybrook Monument Park and walked to the train station; I was expecting a boring walk because it was all on roads I knew to be busy, but it turned out to be an excellent walk. The walk along the water was beautiful and with all the old houses it was like a walk through CT history. On top of that, the people I came across were very friendly.
We explored the town park a bit, reading the signs telling stories of various things, the old forts, ferries across the river, old railroads and a boardwalk over a salt marsh. John Winthrop too.
We took a long cut on North Cove Rd, which went right along a cove of the river. It was a very nice walk full of big houses, some dating back to colonial times. The views of the water were great and full of ducks. There were several places to sit and rest. Another thing was a total lack of signs along the water. The traffic was light.
We then headed north to the train station. I had been here a few times in the past on the bicycle and remember it as a busy street with many stores just before rte 1. It was a pleasant surprise to walk it, at first it was lined with houses, some with those little signs saying that they were built in 1600s. came across a millstone enclosed in an old metal fence with another sign saying that was once the site of a ca. 1600 windmill. interesting.
Further north, the street widened and became four lanes, there was a nice business section with room for cars to diagonal park, wide sidewalks often separated from he street by ribbons of green grass. The buildings were one story and with big front windows, kind of a place time forgot-frozen back in the 40s or 50s. all sort of stores, some with outdoor seating. No MacDonald's stop and shops or dunkin doughnut here- they are on the next leg's walk.
I turned around at the train station and stopped by the Chamber of Commerce where a nice lady gave me a map of Old Saybrook, I was hoping to find a a road parallel to the main drag to take me back but the hopeful roads to the east were alldead ends.
The southern part reminded me of Sturbridge Village, walking by so many old houses, churches, greens, but this village was altered a bit but then frozen maybe 50 years ago or so. How many taverns can one place have? There were several. One place had a sign saying that "Lafayette made a purchase here" This building probably an old colonial tavern, looked like it was altered to make it into an ice cream take out place a long time ago and now some other type of store we find.
We made our back on North Cove Rd and stopped at one of the several benches we saw, no 'no trespassing' or' private signs' here so we stopped for an early lunch, peanut butter and jelly and hot chocolate. this was a public boat launch and Domino had some room (and energy) to chase the ball.
Just before we got to the car we came across a dog that looked a lot like Domino(man i have to start bringing the camera) the guy walking him said that he was 15, blind but still got along. The guy was in love with the dog. The guy was 85.
We ended the walk by doing to a little part of the park just north of dock and dine the restaurant. we tried to pick out the shore of Lyme where we last stopped but couldn't pick it out.
And now for the trains: I tired to scout out a walk for next time, hard to do. The roads along the water are all dead ends and full of private road" and "private signs" and t looks like a long stretch on rte 1.
Start and Finish: Saybrook Point. Distance 6.2 miles(from gmaps) weather overcast all day. 8am starting the 30s and 40s finish
Today we parked at the Saybrook Monument Park and walked to the train station; I was expecting a boring walk because it was all on roads I knew to be busy, but it turned out to be an excellent walk. The walk along the water was beautiful and with all the old houses it was like a walk through CT history. On top of that, the people I came across were very friendly.
We explored the town park a bit, reading the signs telling stories of various things, the old forts, ferries across the river, old railroads and a boardwalk over a salt marsh. John Winthrop too.
We took a long cut on North Cove Rd, which went right along a cove of the river. It was a very nice walk full of big houses, some dating back to colonial times. The views of the water were great and full of ducks. There were several places to sit and rest. Another thing was a total lack of signs along the water. The traffic was light.
We then headed north to the train station. I had been here a few times in the past on the bicycle and remember it as a busy street with many stores just before rte 1. It was a pleasant surprise to walk it, at first it was lined with houses, some with those little signs saying that they were built in 1600s. came across a millstone enclosed in an old metal fence with another sign saying that was once the site of a ca. 1600 windmill. interesting.
Further north, the street widened and became four lanes, there was a nice business section with room for cars to diagonal park, wide sidewalks often separated from he street by ribbons of green grass. The buildings were one story and with big front windows, kind of a place time forgot-frozen back in the 40s or 50s. all sort of stores, some with outdoor seating. No MacDonald's stop and shops or dunkin doughnut here- they are on the next leg's walk.
I turned around at the train station and stopped by the Chamber of Commerce where a nice lady gave me a map of Old Saybrook, I was hoping to find a a road parallel to the main drag to take me back but the hopeful roads to the east were alldead ends.
The southern part reminded me of Sturbridge Village, walking by so many old houses, churches, greens, but this village was altered a bit but then frozen maybe 50 years ago or so. How many taverns can one place have? There were several. One place had a sign saying that "Lafayette made a purchase here" This building probably an old colonial tavern, looked like it was altered to make it into an ice cream take out place a long time ago and now some other type of store we find.
We made our back on North Cove Rd and stopped at one of the several benches we saw, no 'no trespassing' or' private signs' here so we stopped for an early lunch, peanut butter and jelly and hot chocolate. this was a public boat launch and Domino had some room (and energy) to chase the ball.
Just before we got to the car we came across a dog that looked a lot like Domino(man i have to start bringing the camera) the guy walking him said that he was 15, blind but still got along. The guy was in love with the dog. The guy was 85.
We ended the walk by doing to a little part of the park just north of dock and dine the restaurant. we tried to pick out the shore of Lyme where we last stopped but couldn't pick it out.
And now for the trains: I tired to scout out a walk for next time, hard to do. The roads along the water are all dead ends and full of private road" and "private signs" and t looks like a long stretch on rte 1.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Leg 23: 26 March 2009
6 Miles.
Well, today we parked at the Mile River Preserve and walked to the western edge of Old Lyme, not sure if that is technically considered the CT River or not. Our route was Mile River Rd across 156 to Town Dock Rd and back, with small detour.
It was overcast all day, with rain on the way and it started to rain when driving home. it was in the 40s but with the clouds and winds it wasn't warm but comfortable and in fact wore light gloves most of the way.
Headed west on Mile Creek Rd and descended down into the river. A pleasant enough walk but kind of nondescript. I had scouted this out by bike last year and several years before that we rode the bike up Mie Creek to Whipperwill, thus I had thought we would walk along the salt marshes more but that was not to be. We did cross a nice tidal creek lined with spartina, which I love. The traffic was light.
We passed a few horses, one of which took a liking to Domino and visa versa When I first got Domino, there used to be horse that lived in a field up the road, they used to look at each every day when we passed. Later, we came to three horses who came to the fence, perhaps expecting a treat of sugar or something. Don took a great amount interest in them but went into a growl mode which briefly startled the poor creatures.
When mapping this route out on Gmaps pedometer the other day, the route given to me included a Ben Franklin Rd which didn't even show up on most maps. Pretty sure it is a woods road and Internet research showed little info. Yesterday i passed it and on a whim tried to walk to see how far i could get before seeing a no trespassing sign: that detour lasted a few tenths mile when I came to a "Private drive" sign, whether or not that sign is legal I will never know, but i turned around.
We planned to turn around at 156 but saw an inviting road going directly across 156 and looking for a spot for lunch we took it, and came to a road with a Town sign, "Town Dock Rd" From my experience with such matters, I know that of there was any chance or truth to such a way being a private way, it would definitely be signed, especially so close to the water.
This little dirt road was well worth the trip, bordered by an aging picket fence with granite posts and a couple of those giant houses, we ended at crude boat launch and small lot. One guy was puling his kayak out of the water when we got there and then another fisherman showed up as I was having my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and hot chocolate.
The view west was of a island between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook-Great Island. I had seen it on maps and expected a island with trees and stuff, but it looked pretty flat and wet with spartina marsh and few clumps of trees. Just north were the RR bridge and the Rte 95 bridge, the presence of which was only noted by passing cars way off.
The return back was uneventful, we just missed having a Acela go over us at the bridge, which on Mile Creek Rd was a one lane underpass with stop signs to regulate traffic.
I noticed a sign on Johnnycake Hill rd with a bridge out sign, which is probably the Amtrak Bridge.This was going to be part of the next walk's route, was actually going to try to do a loop. Oh well.
Was hoping to do the loop at the preserve on the way back-it starts and stops at the parking lot. We were kind of tired by then and were running late, as this was Thursday.
The walk was 6 miles total, but as the crow flies east est distance was just over 2 miles, that is the fate of this walk, doubling distances with in and out walks.
Found this article in the NY Times, written in 1894 about the ferry trip back then. My how things have changed. titled "Tramping in Connecticut".
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A04E3DC1231E033A2575AC0A9649D94659ED7CF
6 Miles.
Well, today we parked at the Mile River Preserve and walked to the western edge of Old Lyme, not sure if that is technically considered the CT River or not. Our route was Mile River Rd across 156 to Town Dock Rd and back, with small detour.
It was overcast all day, with rain on the way and it started to rain when driving home. it was in the 40s but with the clouds and winds it wasn't warm but comfortable and in fact wore light gloves most of the way.
Headed west on Mile Creek Rd and descended down into the river. A pleasant enough walk but kind of nondescript. I had scouted this out by bike last year and several years before that we rode the bike up Mie Creek to Whipperwill, thus I had thought we would walk along the salt marshes more but that was not to be. We did cross a nice tidal creek lined with spartina, which I love. The traffic was light.
We passed a few horses, one of which took a liking to Domino and visa versa When I first got Domino, there used to be horse that lived in a field up the road, they used to look at each every day when we passed. Later, we came to three horses who came to the fence, perhaps expecting a treat of sugar or something. Don took a great amount interest in them but went into a growl mode which briefly startled the poor creatures.
When mapping this route out on Gmaps pedometer the other day, the route given to me included a Ben Franklin Rd which didn't even show up on most maps. Pretty sure it is a woods road and Internet research showed little info. Yesterday i passed it and on a whim tried to walk to see how far i could get before seeing a no trespassing sign: that detour lasted a few tenths mile when I came to a "Private drive" sign, whether or not that sign is legal I will never know, but i turned around.
We planned to turn around at 156 but saw an inviting road going directly across 156 and looking for a spot for lunch we took it, and came to a road with a Town sign, "Town Dock Rd" From my experience with such matters, I know that of there was any chance or truth to such a way being a private way, it would definitely be signed, especially so close to the water.
This little dirt road was well worth the trip, bordered by an aging picket fence with granite posts and a couple of those giant houses, we ended at crude boat launch and small lot. One guy was puling his kayak out of the water when we got there and then another fisherman showed up as I was having my peanut butter and jelly sandwich and hot chocolate.
The view west was of a island between Old Lyme and Old Saybrook-Great Island. I had seen it on maps and expected a island with trees and stuff, but it looked pretty flat and wet with spartina marsh and few clumps of trees. Just north were the RR bridge and the Rte 95 bridge, the presence of which was only noted by passing cars way off.
The return back was uneventful, we just missed having a Acela go over us at the bridge, which on Mile Creek Rd was a one lane underpass with stop signs to regulate traffic.
I noticed a sign on Johnnycake Hill rd with a bridge out sign, which is probably the Amtrak Bridge.This was going to be part of the next walk's route, was actually going to try to do a loop. Oh well.
Was hoping to do the loop at the preserve on the way back-it starts and stops at the parking lot. We were kind of tired by then and were running late, as this was Thursday.
The walk was 6 miles total, but as the crow flies east est distance was just over 2 miles, that is the fate of this walk, doubling distances with in and out walks.
Found this article in the NY Times, written in 1894 about the ferry trip back then. My how things have changed. titled "Tramping in Connecticut".
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9A04E3DC1231E033A2575AC0A9649D94659ED7CF
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Twenty-two: 16 March 2009
Parked at Rocky Neck State Park, turn around at Mile Creek Open Space on Mile Creek Rd. Distance: 6 miles?
Taking advantage of a fine March day, we parked at the same place where we parked last time. The first eight tenths of a mile or so were on Rte 156 again, and I found a side trail that paralleled the road to a bit farther down to another trailhead on 156. so our time on it was shorter and even that wasn't too bad.
Soon we were on Mile Creek Rd, a road I scouted out last summer and it wasn't bad to walk on. A windy, hilly road with all sorts of old houses on it, a little creek crossing with old quarry nearby. Domino saw a lot of friends but only one was loose, a dog half her size that she did wanted no part of.
Traffic was light and offered little worry, save for the speeding BMW. there is school on this road and I guess it was kindergarten time because suddenly a lot of cars and SUVs were screaming by.
I piked a tick off of DOM and how often can one say that they took off a tick in Lyme- the same Lyme that the disease is is named after.
Our turn around point-chosen by time- was a place called the Mile Creek Open Space. We walked it a bit to find a quiet rock for lunch. This open space seemed to be more a buffer for complexes of large houses. Lunch was PB and J sandwich with some hot chocolate. I am experimenting with hot tea and hot chocolate in thermoses. last week the tea was real bad but today's hot chocolate was great.
We saw a turkey early in the walk and later we saw a deer crossing the road, she wanted to chase it.
On the way back we took a trail (Shipyard Trail ?) off of the second parking lot, along the tidal creek that marks the park's western border and then back to our lot. The walk went along the creek and then back up on a ridge with more evidence of quarrying.
Not exactly how far we went or how much time we spent doing it. Probably around 6 miles.
Taking advantage of a fine March day, we parked at the same place where we parked last time. The first eight tenths of a mile or so were on Rte 156 again, and I found a side trail that paralleled the road to a bit farther down to another trailhead on 156. so our time on it was shorter and even that wasn't too bad.
Soon we were on Mile Creek Rd, a road I scouted out last summer and it wasn't bad to walk on. A windy, hilly road with all sorts of old houses on it, a little creek crossing with old quarry nearby. Domino saw a lot of friends but only one was loose, a dog half her size that she did wanted no part of.
Traffic was light and offered little worry, save for the speeding BMW. there is school on this road and I guess it was kindergarten time because suddenly a lot of cars and SUVs were screaming by.
I piked a tick off of DOM and how often can one say that they took off a tick in Lyme- the same Lyme that the disease is is named after.
Our turn around point-chosen by time- was a place called the Mile Creek Open Space. We walked it a bit to find a quiet rock for lunch. This open space seemed to be more a buffer for complexes of large houses. Lunch was PB and J sandwich with some hot chocolate. I am experimenting with hot tea and hot chocolate in thermoses. last week the tea was real bad but today's hot chocolate was great.
We saw a turkey early in the walk and later we saw a deer crossing the road, she wanted to chase it.
On the way back we took a trail (Shipyard Trail ?) off of the second parking lot, along the tidal creek that marks the park's western border and then back to our lot. The walk went along the creek and then back up on a ridge with more evidence of quarrying.
Not exactly how far we went or how much time we spent doing it. Probably around 6 miles.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Twenty-one
This was my first leg of this journey in six months. I was hoping to be on the other side of the river, but after scouting Rte 156 on bicycle last fall, I as less than enthusiastic about walking Domino on this stretch of road,(Rte 156) thus I was stranded at the corner of Black Point and Fairhaven Rds all fall and winter.
Driving there, I drove on a short stretch of 156 between 95 and the days' trail head, that short stretch had no shoulder, and the grass shoulder was part of a cut through hill, so we were faced with either walking on this road or going on trails though the woods(part of Rocky Neck State Park), there was no decision but to head into the woods. Rocky Neck, as it's name implies, is a neck of land plunging into the sound. and so by going south this "U" shaped route would add miles, but a chance to see water.
The trails, which nicely were posted on a trail maps sign, were great as we headed along Bride Brook along a frozen salt marsh just past sun rise and it was fantastic. this point of land ended at a wooden bridge that went over a stream with nice views. Somewhere in here, in the middle of woods we came across a block of granite, which with its square sides and drill holes was clearly quarried, but no obvious signs of a quarry nearby. Indeed there was quarry activity in this area and perhaps a longer walk on the other trails is in order.
We got to the state park parking area-which is huge-and dead reckoned our way to Giants Neck rd, the road we wanted to take to get back to 156. sure enough there was a path on a little berm across a little salt marsh, and sure enough we encountered our first dog of the day-a large poodle like creature, perhaps a labapooddle? An older lady was walking it and taking all precautions learned from Dom's previous attacks, the dog lunged at Dom with meanness that we have come to expect. Anyway a few feet later I heard a plop and sure enough this dog had taken the lady down , prone on the ground. Because of the dogs I could not approach her but she said she was OK and I saw her walk away. I felt bad because she might walk every day on that path and never encounter another dog, but it wasn't my dog that knocked her down.
The hike up Giants Neck was quiet but more traffic than I expected on a winter day. A lot of sewer grates, which Dom hates with a passion- are along this road. We got to 156 checked out the Thomas Lee house, (ca. 1660?) then headed east on 156 past the prisons through couple of lights and to Fairhaven Rd. RTE 156 has narrow parts and even narrower pinch points along with steel guard rails as well as those post and cable guard rails that seem to be designed with complete disregard for pedestrian traffic.
Fairhaven Rd, on the other hand, was gem. It is one of those many New England roads that I have ridden by on bicycle and have said, "what a nice place to walk". Well today was our chance. It crosses little river/tidal marsh and that was sweet. the place was loaded with ducks-a whole bunch of hooded mergansers. The west part of the river looked like an old farm, with a colonial house and old barn that was right on the river. The old fields of this farm were filled with newer houses and yards.
We got to Black Point Road, sat, ate, rested and returned, This time we skipped the long cut through the park in favor of Rte 156.Not being completely exhausted (yet) Dom had to play with the ball at a park and we passed some interesting stones. one an old 1930's stone commentating settlement of Bridebrook and another, a flat stone that must of at one time had lettering but weather had worn it so I could only make out a single "X'
To avoid the stretch of 156 that I mentioned was bad, we found a nice trail that paralleled 156, it was old pavement turning back to nature and probably as an old roadside picnic area, it was a sure welcome after 156.
The days hiking time was 3 hours, which based on a speed of 1/2 hour miles makes it 6 miles but gmaps makes it longer. maybe we walked faster past those sewer gartes and all the dogs......
Driving there, I drove on a short stretch of 156 between 95 and the days' trail head, that short stretch had no shoulder, and the grass shoulder was part of a cut through hill, so we were faced with either walking on this road or going on trails though the woods(part of Rocky Neck State Park), there was no decision but to head into the woods. Rocky Neck, as it's name implies, is a neck of land plunging into the sound. and so by going south this "U" shaped route would add miles, but a chance to see water.
The trails, which nicely were posted on a trail maps sign, were great as we headed along Bride Brook along a frozen salt marsh just past sun rise and it was fantastic. this point of land ended at a wooden bridge that went over a stream with nice views. Somewhere in here, in the middle of woods we came across a block of granite, which with its square sides and drill holes was clearly quarried, but no obvious signs of a quarry nearby. Indeed there was quarry activity in this area and perhaps a longer walk on the other trails is in order.
We got to the state park parking area-which is huge-and dead reckoned our way to Giants Neck rd, the road we wanted to take to get back to 156. sure enough there was a path on a little berm across a little salt marsh, and sure enough we encountered our first dog of the day-a large poodle like creature, perhaps a labapooddle? An older lady was walking it and taking all precautions learned from Dom's previous attacks, the dog lunged at Dom with meanness that we have come to expect. Anyway a few feet later I heard a plop and sure enough this dog had taken the lady down , prone on the ground. Because of the dogs I could not approach her but she said she was OK and I saw her walk away. I felt bad because she might walk every day on that path and never encounter another dog, but it wasn't my dog that knocked her down.
The hike up Giants Neck was quiet but more traffic than I expected on a winter day. A lot of sewer grates, which Dom hates with a passion- are along this road. We got to 156 checked out the Thomas Lee house, (ca. 1660?) then headed east on 156 past the prisons through couple of lights and to Fairhaven Rd. RTE 156 has narrow parts and even narrower pinch points along with steel guard rails as well as those post and cable guard rails that seem to be designed with complete disregard for pedestrian traffic.
Fairhaven Rd, on the other hand, was gem. It is one of those many New England roads that I have ridden by on bicycle and have said, "what a nice place to walk". Well today was our chance. It crosses little river/tidal marsh and that was sweet. the place was loaded with ducks-a whole bunch of hooded mergansers. The west part of the river looked like an old farm, with a colonial house and old barn that was right on the river. The old fields of this farm were filled with newer houses and yards.
We got to Black Point Road, sat, ate, rested and returned, This time we skipped the long cut through the park in favor of Rte 156.Not being completely exhausted (yet) Dom had to play with the ball at a park and we passed some interesting stones. one an old 1930's stone commentating settlement of Bridebrook and another, a flat stone that must of at one time had lettering but weather had worn it so I could only make out a single "X'
To avoid the stretch of 156 that I mentioned was bad, we found a nice trail that paralleled 156, it was old pavement turning back to nature and probably as an old roadside picnic area, it was a sure welcome after 156.
The days hiking time was 3 hours, which based on a speed of 1/2 hour miles makes it 6 miles but gmaps makes it longer. maybe we walked faster past those sewer gartes and all the dogs......
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