Cocumscussoc State Park, North Kingstown

Friday, May 29

Don't ask me to pronounce it. I'm not good with Indian names.

The legality of access to this tract of land is in question. According to this web page, there is access and legal hunting. According to someone I spoke with, who was in a position to know, it's off limits. I took a look around anyhow.

It had rained earlier in the day, so I was doubting that I could get very far inside. I found the access point at Richard Smith Grove (a small picnic area on route 1, just North of Wickford), and went in.

The unmarked trail was fairly easy to follow. It took me quite a while before I was out of sight of private property to the north and out of earshot of busy route 1. Some of the trail was ATV accessible and I saw evidence of tracks. I also saw a couple human footprints. I kept my ears open for sounds of hunters, but there were none. I had a legal orange vest in my backpack that would have gone on at first gunshot.

There wasn't much to look at. A slug on a birch tree, some running water, and mosquitoes. Not nearly as swampy and impassible as the above document implied. Soon, though, the path went wet and I had to stop. I couldn't see a path around and had no interest in bushwhacking, so I turned around and hiked back to my car.

The property appears to go a little over a mile from Route 1, but I doubt I got very close to a half mile in. Maybe, if the will existed, one could design, cut, and mark proper trails, put in a couple platform bridges, and we'd have a fair nature trail. Maybe a North Kingstown resident could suggest it.

Fisherville Brook - the red and white loops

Friday, May 22

I completed the rest of Fisherville Brook on the other side of Pardon Joslin road. Warned that there may be ticks on this trail, I tucked my jeans into my socks. If there is anything in life that makes you feel more like a dork than tucking your pants into your socks, I don't want to know about it. Small price to pay, I suppose.

yes, I was wearing blue jeans. Coming straight from work, you know. I did bring my hiking day pack, so I had a little water and munchies. With the whole shebang less than 2.5 miles, there was little chance of starvation.

While the South side had the water feature, North side had towering white pines. My pack had a tree finder in it, which gave me the opportunity to identify a pignut hickory. No nuts just yet. Mostly the forest consisted of pines and red maples, with a few oaks, birch, and beech scattered around. The caterpillars are running. I ran into many silks dropping from trees. I hate that feeling.

I did the red loop clockwise. Near the end of the loop, I crossed to the inner white loop counter-clockwise. I took any chance I could find to waste a little time.

It was hot and I drank my half liter. I knew it took about 35 minutes to get from the parking lot to the North Kingstown YMCA, but I still ended way too soon. I had a good half hour to kill waiting for class to start. Next time, maybe I'll visit Big River.

Great Swamp, South Kingstown

Saturday, May 16

My son's Boy Scout Troop decided to take an easy, flat hike for the newer scouts. I did this same hike with my brother-and-sister-in-law, but this time we didn't take the wrong turn and actually made it to the water feature. Good thing, too. The water totally makes this hike.

The gang included the Scoutmaster, a parent, four scouts, and myself. Part of the requirements for the first couple ranks is to be able to identify plants and animal signs, so I got the opportunity to do my walking lecture. There were the regular features: oaks, pines, and maples, but I got the chance to identify some slightly less common or more overlooked species. Star flower, witch hazel, skunk cabbage. Stuff like that.

For wildlife signs, we saw lots of poop. Unlike the cub scouts, these scouts seemed more appalled by this and jerked away out of fear of being bitten by it. Speaking of being bitten, we also saw a 30ish inch long black snake. Either a rat snake or a northern black racer. It showed no fear of us, and when it became bored, slithered back into the swamp. We also became very familiar with deer ticks. One scout had 14 pulled off of him by hikes end. I found five or six on myself. Next time I'll bring some deet.

Everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. It's not too tough of a trek, but one scout was unaccustomed with hiking and grew very tired. In the end, he did well. I hope to see him at the next hike.

Fisherville Brook, Exeter

Friday, May 15

My work hours were changed and now I have three hours to kill on Fridays between when I get off and when I have to be at karate. What is there to do in, or near, North Kingstown? Not too much, it would seem. You can browse the dollar store only so many times.

Then it hit me! Take a hike!

Friday after Friday came and went before the stars lined up. I drove to the ASRI Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter, parked, then walked onto the trail. Then I walked back off of the trail. I had assumed I was on the North, red loop, but the blazes were actually blue. I was actually on the part South of Pardon Joslin road. It was listed as 1.25 miles, but because I included the yellow blazed, Cedar Swamp loop, I'm guessing it was closer to 1.4 miles. At the South end of the property I picked up the orange loop for another mile or so.

What a gorgeous piece of land! It's rare that I get to take a walk all by me onesies, but it seems it's now a routine event. I walked without my regular gear. I usually over prepair, but this time, because of the length, I had nothing but the ASRI map and my car keys. No water, no snack, no compass, no nothing. The trail was well marked, fairly flat, and easy going.

Benches, both park style and log constructed, are located throughout. The day was hot and I walked with purpose. Sometimes it's hard to slow down, but I was just coming from work and I had a deadline. The canopy was fairly open so a fair amount of sunlight filtered down. Part of the trail borders fields for even more sun.

There is an historic cemetery, an beautiful pond, and a waterfall. It occurred to me later why I've never made it to this delightful hike. It's not in the Walks and Rambles. Not my copy, anyhow. I'll have to see if it's in the forth edition.

I slowed down, even sat for a moment, the closer I got to the parking lot. I was ahead of schedule. I got to karate with lots of time to spare. This would be a great hike for cub scouts.