Welcome to the June 30th edition of our Hiking Adventures in Pictures

Welcome Hikers!

This week we have a special treat for everyone. I've got pictures of Bill and Becky with us at the top of Lantern Hill!

Deb has been walking around Westerly with Bill and Becky twice a week for about a month now, and this week Sof, Rob, Kali, and I were invited to hike Lantern Hill with them on Thursday evening, after work.

We started at the base of Lantern Hill at about 5:30pm, planning on hiking a short loop around the base of the hill, and then up the back side, then down the other to our cars. We started hiking mostly up hill, on the road, towards the North Stonington dump where we passed the closed gate at the entrance, and then past the dog kennel where the trail enters into the woods. The dogs in the kennel were barking enthusiastically at us as we passed them.

This trail is very familiar to us, and we all enjoyed the fresh afternoon air. We eventually started our climb up the back of Lantern Hill, and stopped a few times to gather our strength and to rehydrate. As we climbed over the tree line, we took in the scenic views all around.

Here's Bill doing a Fred Sanford style, "Oh.... it's the big one, Elizabeth! I'm coming to join ya, honey!" at the top. LOL.



After a short rest to catch our breath and to rehydrate again, we took these group shots.





We then continued down the other side of Lantern Hill, and back to our cars. We later had dinner at Village Pizza, in Preston. I very much enjoyed our evening hike, and hope to do many more week-day adventures.

And on Sunday, Sof, Rob, Deb, Kali, and I hiked the Narragansett Trail from the Sunoco station on RT2 to RT164 in Norwich.

Sunday was an extremely hot and humid day, even at 8 o'clock in the morning. And most of the trail was covered with thick undergrowth. It was obvious that this part of the Narragansett trail has not been worn down by hikers very much this season. In spots, we were plowing through fields of soaking wet grass over 2 feet tall. During one 100 yard stretch or so, towards the end, we were wading through grass up to our armpits. And the bugs were ferocious. We have suffered through worse, but most of the morning's hike was not pleasant.



We had planned to hike from RT2 to RT164, and then back again, but because of not wanting to over-work Kali, Sof wasn't planning on hiking back to RT2 with us. She left her truck at RT164, and was teasing us as we all approached it. Because we had enough of fighting with the bugs, we decided to cool off at Sof's pool instead of fighting the bugs while hiking all the way back to RT2, except for Rob. He wanted to hike back to RT2, and we all let him.



Eventually, we gathered again at Sof's pool for a very refreshing swim and then later had lunch at Daniel's at the Waterfront.

See everyone next week!
Joe

Welcome to the June 23th edition of our Hiking Adventures in Pictures

Welcome Hikers!

Sof, Rob, and Kali met Deb and I at the intersection of RT2, Ryder Rd, and RT201 at about 8am on this Saturday morning. This leg of the Narragansett Trail from RT2 to the top of Lantern Hill is probably one of our most traveled, and because of that, we have adopted it as our most prefered adventure hike. It's not only located at a close proximity to all of us, but also provides an interesting mix of terrane and scenic overlooks which keeps us coming back.



We started out studdering and pausing while attempting to cross the busy traffic along RT2, and then we picked up our stride over the bridge traversing the Gallop Pond dam. Next we entered a fairly large grass field which has grown easily over our heads. Thankfully, someone who is hiker friendly, mowed a path along the left side of the field so as to let us pass without having to swim through such a thick mess.



We then made our way into the woods and up a few hills, then down a few more. Eventually we reached the entrance to the North Stonington dump, passing the dog kennel, and then back into the woods again. After a few short breaks, we started our climb and enjoyed the morning breeze once again at the summit.



After a few group shots, and a water break or two, we headed back the way we came. We eventually made our way to our cars and we all headed back to Pawcatuck.

I ended up missing lunch with everyone, but I was able to meet for our lattes at the Mystic Starbucks, and then we all went back to Norwich where we enjoyed a short, chilly dip in Sof's pool. Eventually we had dinner by the pool and the fire with an extremely good bottle of 40 year old port by Taylor Flagate. It was a very good day.

ok, that's all for this week, can't wait till next!
Joe

Welcome to the June 16th edition of our Hiking Adventures in Pictures

Welcome Hikers!

This week, we all decided to stay close to home. At about 8:30am Rob, Deb, and I met at Wyassup Lake, and started our adventures from there following the Narragansett Trail in route towards the intersection of RT2 and 201, which is at the bottom of Cossaduck Hill.

It was a very hot and humid morning, a little bit more so than last week, I think. Sof was forced to miss the beginning of our hike, but she was able to meet up with us, with Kali, a bit later.


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This is Kali's first hiking picture. We welcome many more to come.



See everyone next week,
Joe

Welcome to the June 9th edition of our Hiking Adventures in Pictures

Welcome Hikers!

This week, Deb and I met Rob in Norwich a little earlier than we usually do because we knew that the sun was going to be hot, and we wanted to enjoy our hike as much as possible during the coolest part of the day. Sofee wasn't able to make it this week, but she provided us with ice lattes when we finally got back, so we forgive her.

We as a group have been trying to complete one, and eventually, all of the hiking trails in the Quinnipiac, Metacomet, and Mattabesett Trail systems. Hiking enthusiasts who have completed either one of these trails from start to finish can apply for a commemorative patch from the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. The Connecticut Walk Book states that patches are awarded to hikers who provide the "name of the trail and the dates you hiked it, giving separate dates for each section finished." If your interested in more information, please visit the CFPA website for more details at www.ctwoodlands.org or call 860-346-2372.



The beginning of our hike was extremely steep, and rocky. We immediately began a 4 to 5 hundred foot accent, and we all felt the strain struggling to reach the top. Rob was actually cheering Deb and I on saying, "Your almost there guys!" After our final exhausting step at the top, we rested a bit, catching our breath, and then snapped a few pictures.

It was a very warm morning, but most of our hike was under tree cover, so that thankfully kept us from over-heating. We had brought plenty of water and therefore were for the most part, fairly comfortable. Rob kept the pace up most of the way, and we all challenged our high heart-rates while straining to keep oxygen in our lungs.



The trail that was chosen this week was just remapped and there were new blue dots replacing the blacked-out ones that meant to be erased. And there isn't a map out yet that shows the new trails yet, so I am not going to try to describe what trails we hiked. Maybe Deb or Rob will help me with this later.

See everyone next week,
Joe

Welcome to the June 2nd edition of our Hiking Adventures in Pictures

Welcome Hiking Fans,

This week Deb and I met Sof and Rob at their house around 8:30 am, like we usually do, and headed off in Rob's Volvo. Deb and I would like to thank Rob again for driving. It is so nice to be able to spend the day together in the same car so that everyone is able enjoy each other's company throughout the day.



It was a very warm and sunny day, and we took in as much of that as we could during our adventures this past Sunday. Most of the trail was covered in shade because of all of the tree cover, but it was still very warm and humid from the rain the day before.

The first mile or so included 2 fairly long and very steep, rocky hills that took the wind out of our lungs right away. Once we were at the top, we turned to our right and followed the trail along the hilltop until it started declining again, a few miles away. In the middle of our descent, we noticed a waterfall which we used as our backdrop for our weekly group shots.



We did our loop-d-loop at the waterfall, hiked back to the car, stripped off our wet shirts and hiking boots, and headed off to lunch. We hiked about 6 miles in all.

Lunch was at a biker bar called the Winchester Cafe in Portland, and it was very good. And our usual Starbuck's latte was in Colchester. We then bought some rib-eye steaks that were on sale close by, and headed home. Another successful hike was had by all.

Here's a hiking poem I found online...

THE PATH THAT LEADS NOWHERE

THERE'S a path that leads to Nowhere
In a meadow that I know,
Where an inland island rises
And the stream is still and slow;
There it wanders under willows,
And beneath the silver green
Of the birches' silent shadows
Where the early violets lean.

Other pathways lead to Somewhere,
But the one I love so well
Has no end and no beginning—
Just the beauty of the dell,
Just the wind-flowers and the lilies
Yellow-striped as adder's tongue,
Seem to satisfy my pathway
As it winds their scents among.

There I go to meet the Springtime,
When the meadow is aglow,
Marigolds amid the marshes,—
And the stream is still and slow.
There I find my fair oasis,
And with care-free feet I tread
For the pathway leads to Nowhere,
And the blue is overhead!

All the ways that lead to Somewhere
Echo with the hurrying feet
Of the Struggling and the Striving,
But the way I find so sweet
Bids me dream and bids me linger,
Joy and Beauty are its goal,—
On the path that leads to Nowhere
I have sometimes found my soul!

A Path the Leads to Nowhere
by Corrine Roosevelt Robinson (1861-1933).

See everyone next week,
Joe