Pancake Breakfast Walk

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 in the Rain…

by taohobo

Walking the East side of Bluff Point on Saturday is looking like it’ll be dry walk according to one weather source and maybe some rain or light snow by the other one I use to plan what to wear, bring, etc.

Regardless of any precipitation we’re looking at temperatures creeping into the 40º zone by the end of our walk. So, I’m walking…

Since this will be a Pancake Breakfast (at Ledyard Congregational Church – free or goodwill donation that benefits a local non-profit group from 7:30-10:00) we’d normally car pool from the breakfast at 9:00. Since Bluff Point has plenty of parking you can just plan on meeting at Bluff Point State Park to begin the walk at 9:30. If you do want to car pool from church I’ll be leaving there at 8:45, it’s nice to be at the walk site before the early birds.

Be sure to check the sidebar for additional information about checking in, the release form, safety, etc.

If the weather takes a drastic down turn any cancellation notice will be here on the main page early Saturday morning. Not anticipated, but this is New England, and it is supposed to be winter.

If you’re a birder bring binoculars or a spotting scope since we’ll likely see loons on Mumford Cove.