Hikes

Not Walking…

by taohobo

Right now we’re not walking as a group. As you can see in the side bar where I list future walks we’ll be waiting for all Covid-19 precautionary measures are lifted before rescheduling Breakfast Walks.

Meanwhile, none of that should stop you from getting out, AND SAFELY, enjoying an outdoors walk.

We’ve done one walk together in the past week and I’ve been out on a short hike recently.

Niantic Boardwalk is a great place to walk. The day we were there we had no problem keeping a very safe distance from other walkers. One, because the boardwalk is now one-way – FROM THE HOLE IN THE WALL TO THE NIANTIC DRAWBRIDGE (that’s opposite to the initial announcement in The Day); and everyone was obeying the one-way requirement (i’m not finding that when grocery shopping). The sun, views, and fresh air lifted our spirits and put smiles on our faces. We had face coverings ready in case we needed them but the safe distancing and one-way traffic didn’t require their use.

Garlic mustard, an invasive, introduced bi-annual from Europe, North-western Africa, Western and central Asia. It is an herb that has been in use dating back to 4,000 BCE.

Yesterday, I took a day to explore some of my favorite trails in Pachaug State Forest. I got there early, walked one loop without seeing anyone. On the next loop there were other hikers behind me for part of the trail but they’d soon branched off. I finished that trail without encountering anyone else. Lots of birds busy in the forest, calling, and flitting around, trout rising and taking flys off the surface, enjoying old favorites and new plants blooming,…

So if you can get out there are things to enjoy and lift your spirits. Please do it safely and respect the safety of others. Distance yourselves from others, have face coverings to wear when passing within a close distance from others.

Be safe, be well!

Whether weather…

by taohobo

…will impact our Evergreen Preserve walk on March 7th. Here we are a week away from another Pancake Breakfast Walk and wondering, what the weather will mean for Saturday morning? Friday is forecast, right now, to be in the mid to upper 40ºs, dropping to freezing overnight and Saturday only rising to the upper 30ºs. There’s also the possibility of rain, turning into snow showers overnight and into Saturday morning.

Whose home?

In addition to weather considerations we also need to plan for a longer drive from breakfast to the Hoffman Evergreen Preserve on Route 201. In order to start the walk at 9:30 we’ll need to leave Ledyard Congregational Church at 9:00. There is ample roadside parking at the Preserve so car pooling is not necessary although I’ll be happy to provide a ride to and from.

For those of you who want to just meet at the Preserve for the walk, and for those who’d like to know a little bit about the trails, here’s a link to All Trails Hoffman Evergreen Preserve information. Or enter this: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/connecticut/hoffman-evergreen-preserve into your browser.

I’ll be walking the trail earlier in the week, checking the weather as we get closer, and posting an update Thursday afternoon or evening.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to seeing on the trail…

Walking the Pike Preserve Trails

by taohobo

A preview of the April Pancake Breakfast Walk.

Don’t let the moving time dismay you. When I’m on the Pike Preserve trails I constantly stop look, listen… It’s a nature walk and the nature, regardless of the season grabs me.

While there are few hikers or walkers on these trails there are several stables that take advantage of the contingent trails. It does help to keep the inner trails well trodden and identifiable year round. The entry and exit trails for walkers and hikers are well blazed but you need to keep a check on them since these trails meander frequently.

Two unique features that keep children of all ages interested are the ‘Castle Rocks’ at the Northwest turn around and the spring pool at the Northeast side trail.

Castle Rocks…

Just Loony…

by taohobo

There’s a backside to every story. There’s a backside to walking at Bluff Point State Park that also has a contemplative side, a connection to Haley Farm State Park in Noank, and a loony side.

But, what always draws me to the backside of Bluff Point in the winter are the loons that winter over in the cove. It’s one place where I can almost always find a loon or two floating and working the cove. Occasionally I’ve caught one on the edge of beach and watched its awkward scramble back to the safety of the water.

It’s not a sunning beach, mostly shells and gravel. It can be a “treasure” beach, especially for the young and young at heart. Shells, interesting stones, horseshoe crab shells… The things that spark a world of imagination – and often fill a child’s pockets (or bucket).

If you’d like to explore the backside of Bluff Point you can join me on Saturday, February 1st. (See the side bar ”Upcoming Walks and Hikes”.) or you can also use this link to Bluff Point Eastern Trail in AllTrails.com and explore on your own.

Enjoy the hike..!

An Easy Farm Trail

by taohobo

The background is not the type of terrain you’ll be walking at Haley Farm State Park in Groton Connecticut. Although there are a variety of trails the main ones are wide and easy walking. There are some amazing stone walls and foundations from the old farm buildings.

AllTrails has over 200 photos, 50 comments, and 55 recorded walks of the trails to help you decide which of several options you have for walking here. These trails also link to trails in Bluff Point State Park.

Enjoy your walk, see you on the trail.

Past and upcoming…

by taohobo

Saturday was a perfect day to walk the Pike-Marshall preserve in Ledyard… Except no one showed up. If you’d like to see what you missed you can check out an earlier hike that I recorded in AllTrails (R) (click here). Check the sidebar for walks coming up on New Year’s Day & a short Pancake Breakfast on Saturday the 4th of January 2020.

Anemome quinquefolia

So easy…

by taohobo

To put off the things you enjoy doing for the things that appear urgent, not necessarily important, and to be detoured by little things like the weather. After all why couldn’t, wouldn’t you hike in the rain. Well maybe not in 50º temps and 20 knot winds. But, you must get my drift. Yes, I’m talking about this blog and walks and hikes in and about Ledyard, SE Connecticut, and further afield.

So there’s a walk scheduled for December 7th. I hope to see you there.

A Little Remiss…

by taohobo

Well, it has been quite a while since I’ve updated this blog. The fact that our last attempted hike was aborted because of a trail I’d planned on using needed maintenance isn’t a good excuse. Primarily because I did contact the organization about the trail and volunteered to do the clearing, which they accepted, and I did. It needs a touch up again, which I’ll be taking care of one day this coming week.

So, look forward, check back, be curious… This will be an active blog. I look forward to walking/hiking with you.

Oh no…

by taohobo

As is my habit I pre-walked, or tried to pre-walk, the Berwick preserve for tomorrow’s Pancake Breakfast walk. It seems that either a tract of land has been sold, or there’s been a change in an access easement that allows access to that Avalonia Land Conservancy preserve. A “Private Property” sign is posted at the start of the access road.

I tried to contact the Conservancy and left a voice mail on their office phone requesting clarification. As of now (7:00 p.m.) I’ve had no clarification.

Regretfully, I need to cancel tomorrow’s walk and I apologize for the short notice.

Saturday’s Pancake Breakfast Walk…

by taohobo

While there may be rain overnight Friday into Saturday we’re still walking the trail at Poquetanuck Cove Preserve. This Nature Conservancy property offers an interesting variety of terrain, habitat, geology. The trail is an out and back with a terminal loop before the return.

You can preview the hike here: White Blaze Trail

Its an easy to moderate walk of just under 2 miles. We should be able to complete it at just about 1 hour. Wear sturdy shoes since this can be a rocky, root infested terrain at times. We’ll also have a fairly steep narrow trail around the mid-point of the walk, and this section of trail can prove slippery after a rain fall… Or, during a rain fall. So have your foul weather gear ready as well.

We’ll meet and leave from the Ledyard Congregational Church Pancake Breakfast at 9:30 sharp. There is limited parking at the preserve so we’ll be carpooling from the breakfast. It’s a free breakfast of more than just pancakes and coffee (NO Facilities on the hike!!) although a free will donation won’t be refused.

If this is your first walk with me please make sure you read and understand the guidelines and the assumption of responsibility and release of liability (Before We Hike, Safety Guidelines).