One of Tim’s friends told us about this lovely park. This bridge goes over the overgrown tracks of the Norwich & Westerly Railway.
The Norwich and Westerly Railway was an interurban trolley system that operated in Southeastern Connecticut during the early part of the 20th century. It operated a 21-mile line through rural territory in Norwich, Preston, Ledyard, North Stonington, and Pawcatuck, Connecticut to Westerly, Rhode Island between 1906 and 1922. For most of its length, the route paralleled what is now Connecticut Route 2.
~ Wikipedia
It’s a blurry picture but I was so excited to finally see a Carolina wren in Connecticut. I first heard its pretty song and saw a few of them while at my daughter’s home in North Carolina in the fall of 2018. I’ve been hearing them sing in the spring and fall since returning to to Connecticut but haven’t been able to spot one until this day.
against the natural stone throne
A “Natural Stone Throne” was indicated on the map but we almost missed it behind all the brush. Tim bushwhacked his way up a steep incline and got the above picture on his cell phone. I wasn’t about to follow but then he noticed a cleared trail joining the main trail a little ahead of where I was. So I walked around and up and got the following two pictures. I made one attempt to climb up and sit on it but it was too high to pull it off!
We proceeded up the hill and found ourselves at eye level with the top of the 23-story Grand Pequot Tower at Foxwoods Resort Casino, a mile and a half away (2.4 km).
A little farther along we got to the end of the trail at High Ledge Overlook. Thank goodness there was a fence marking the edge. It was a long way down. And then we turned around and noticed different things on our way back down the hill.
How little there is on an ordinary map! How little, I mean, that concerns the walker and the lover of nature…. The waving woods, the dells and glades and green banks and smiling fields, the huge boulders, etc., etc., are not on the map, nor to be inferred from the map.
~ Henry David Thoreau
(Journal, November 10, 1860)
Ah, a splended walk. I like your little wren – my favorite bird. That throne did look high. Enjoyed going with you on your journey. Like the quote at the end of your post.
I bet you have a lot of those pretty little carolina wrens around your state. We’re at the northern edge of their range and I’m delighted to hear their lovely songs as often as I do. 💙
Yes, we do see the Carolins Wren here. Have a pair nesting in my yard.
Wonderful! What a blessing!
This post confirms Thoreau’s thoughts on the matter. That throne is fascinating. I like walking over bridges like the one in the first photo, somehow doing so seems meaningful to me.
Sometimes I’m amazed at how little has changed since Thoreau walked this earth. I love bridges and boardwalks — walking on them feels like someone thought it was important enough to make it possible for us to walk over that particular place. 🙂
Splendid walk indeed! I swoon when I watch all the beautiful trails you explore, Tim and you. I would like to see a photo of you on that throne, Barbara – maybe you could bring a small foldable chair or ladder with you -:)
Tim says next time we go there he will let me stand on his bended knee to get myself up on the throne. 🙂 It’s been fun getting outside in the warm sunshine again after the cold winter. Can’t wait until the trees start leafing out…
Another enjoyable trek to accompany you on Barbara. I love that stone throne – what a fun find. I liked the rustic little bridge that you crossed at the beginning of your walk and still more glacial erratics. It is so good to put Winter and its dangerous footing aside and go unencumbered onto each trail … the sky’s the limit for adventures and even more so now that you’ve had both shots.
Thanks, Linda. I didn’t expect the throne to be so large and so well-hidden. 🙂 We’ve got a slight chance of snow later this week… But I’m sure it won’t amount to much and will be gone before it causes any problems. I can’t believe I’m still finding and hearing about trails I’ve never known about or visited around here. Lucky us!
Snow! Like you said, it won’t last, but still a shock after mild weather. We had that snow squall that morning two weeks ago, then a couple of days later it was 80! That’s great to find new trails and go explore them. I never knew Michigan was also called ‘The Trails State” for its many trails, but they count rustic trails as well as water trails. We have that Iron Belle Trail which runs from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan down to Detroit … it is not finished yet, but will be the longest trail in the nation (as I understand it).
Maybe the longest trail in Michigan. The Appalachian Trail (2,200 miles) running from Maine to Georgia is much longer. And I think there are other longer trails out west, too. But 1,204 miles for the Iron Belle Trail is very impressive! I couldn’t help doing some research: there are more than 13,000 miles of state-designated trails and pathways in your beautiful state! Definitely the Trails State. 🙂
Now we’re getting a nor’easter for Thursday and Friday. Snow likely in the northwest hills, lots of chilly rain and wind for us here in southeastern CT. A brief return to winter….
I was amazed to learn how many miles of trails and pathways are here … I must explore more when I am retired, that’s for sure. Yet, Michigan is not touted for its trails – more for its waterways, hence “The Great Lakes State” so I learned something. Sorry to hear about your return to Winter Barbara. I had not heard that forecast on the national news, as the news was full of the J&J vaccine woes and the Daunte Wright shooting. Hopefully the snow is short lived!
Now it looks like all rain for us — yay! I have a feeling you will thoroughly enjoy exploring Michigan’s trails after you retire. And there will be fewer people out there midweek, if social distancing is still needed then. 🙂
Oh I love that throne, how cool! And great little birdie sightings and captures, Barbara! I love that little wooden bridge first photo, nice. 🙂
Thank you, Donna! I’m glad you enjoyed our little adventure. We went back yesterday to explore a different trail — hope to post about it soon. 🙂
HI
Came upon your blog when I was researching the Norwich and Westerly Trolley line. I own land in Preston and Norwich and a portion of that is on my land too. I remember as a kid walking the trolley line where Foxwoods is now.
Hi Lloyd, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and share your memories about that trolley line. There was another trolley line from Mystic up to Old Mystic, I think, from what my grandfather told me. I’ve often wondered if the bed from those tracks still exists.
https://www.ingebrita.net/2014/06/grandfather/