I love being an active member of Gather...not only is it a place to meet and connect with new people, it is also a site where you can experiment with your own writing and where you can stretch your imagination and read a good yarn or some fine poetry. With the click of a mouse I can join Rose at a southern family reunion (click here) or stroll with Ed Nudelman on Singing Beach (click here); I can be stranded on a sailboat with Faith(here) or be drinking at a pub in Cork with Magi (here). And every once in a while, you can discover a place not far from your home that intrigues you enough that you have the urge to travel there. That was the case last week when I read several articles (here) by Roy Hilbinger. Being bird watchers like Roy, I knew Papa and Tuck would enjoy hiking the trails at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, Rhode Island, a fifty minute drive from our house.
So early Wednesday morning the three of us drove down to the Sanctuary and had a fine time hiking the trails. Being a mountain climber, Tuck wanted to take the Hanging Rock Trail....a rather vigorous hike... but Papa and I, after reading Roy's description, decided it was the trail for us.
We picked up the trail by hopping the fence on the right side of the Visitor's Barn. With Tuck on a lease, we didn't want to chance the prospects that perhaps dogs were not allowed on the trail...neither did we want to pay the $4 admission fee, knowing full well that money saved would allow us to browse the bookstore at the Sanctuary later in the morn!
Walking on boardwalks, we soon came to the pond. Crossing over the bridge, we entered the forest and hiked up the hill to the Hanging Rock ridge.
What a view we see!
Every once in awhile, because of the heat, Tuck seeks some cool shade as he waits for Papa and I to scramble up the rocks.
Could that be an osprey diving for a fish Tuck wonders?
From Hanging Rock, you can sit awhile and watch the world pass by....as we did...eating dried apricots and circus peanuts and thinking how grateful we were to Roy Hilbinger for providing us with the directions to The Norman Bird Sanctuary. Thank you, Roy....it was all you said it would be!
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Comments: 38
No, flit, dogs are not allowed on the trails we found out from one of the staff after our hike...though I must be honest and say that once we got there I did suspect that was the case. Not wanting to leave Tuck in a stuffy car on a day that approached 88 degrees, we opted to take him on his lease until we hit the upper ridge. Being early morn, we met no one on the trails...and so it did work out. Talking to Deanna, one of the staff members that waited on us, and telling her about Tuck on the trail, she very graciously offered us a container to give Tuck some fresh water.
Oh yeah, and they like you to sign in (and out when you come off the trails) because if they see a name still on the list at the end of the day they send out the search party. I'm serious! Signing in to walk the trails is a very important safety measure!
Darcey D.
Roy...we will sign the book from now on. Since we now have a membership, it would be fun for us to meet you someday at the Sanctuary...so far, we have only done one trail...you must of been tuckered out after doing several. Red Fox trail sounds interesting...from the road after going to Sanctuary, we could see what Hanging Rock looked liked and where we all sat...wanted to get picture but too much traffic to stop. Now I know where you got yours.
By any chance, did you make a copy of your stories and send it to the Sanctuary... I'm thinking of doing it with mine. I think it's good feed-back for them.
As for Tuck...his Mom was an AKC retriever who got knocked up by a collie. Kennel owner didn't want the secret out and had Tuck and his siblings at a flea market in Pawtucket, RI...where they were rescued by Safe Paws ....and given up for adoption at 6 weeks. My son Will knew someone who volunteered at Safe Paws...and though we have only had labs in the past, urged us to go take a peek. One peek was enough. Tuck was three years old this July....we couldn't ask for a better companion for Papa. Walking a doll four or five times daily is good exercise. Tuck is on a lease when he goes out with just Papa...but several times a day we all go out together into the bogs and woods beyond so Tuck can really run free and do his favorite sport....froggin'!
I enjoyed your hike and photos. I went on a nature hike over the weekend. I don't get in as many as you! Hopefully I'll find the time to make an essay.
How do you keep up???
WwW.SparkleTags.Com
Roy I am not abandoning you I love your treks.
Thank you so much and give Tuck a big, big hug for me. Til next time.
Blessings