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......