Queen's River Preserve, Exeter

July 31, 2009

Off Route 2, a bit south of Schartner Farm, is Mail Road. Less than a mile down Mail is School Land Woods Road. Less than a mile down there on the left is the trail head for Queen's River Preserve, a Nature Conservancy property.

It had rained earlier in the day and threatened to do so again, so I didn't know if I would get this one in. I didn't know how muddy the trail would be. Worst case was I would at least find the trail head. That I did around 3:30 pm. There were three other cars parked there. I did my best to not block them in.

The trail is a barred forest road. I brought shorts, but it wasn't very warm, so I walked in jeans. First order of business was to walk off the trail for a relief. Through a clearing and back into the woods I found a private place. There I found half buried debris. Some of it looked very old, maybe dating back to before the preserve was declared.

Duty done and back on the main trail I saw foot and paw prints. I passed another clearing declaring a forest restoration project in effect. Fire is an integral part of forest health, but we simply do not allow them anymore. Instead, the conservancy selectively cut some species of tree to allow, if memory serves, pitch pine to grow. This was very important to the tiger beetle. I'll have to take their word.

Soon I came to the end. This, I presume, is Queen's River. I had passed two side roads on my way. I turned back to try one of them. I passed a small cemetery. The stones I could read dated to the early 19th century. Soon I came upon three woman, each with large, friendly dogs. I'm not a dog person, but their sight was not without welcome. I didn't continue too far before a narrow side trail beckoned me. I turned right off of the road into the woods proper. The foliage was still wet and passing there made we as well. The way zig-zagged through mountain laurel and rhododendron. The path became more distinct then ended at another forest road. Left or right? I chose left.

I wanted to see what was to the right, and I also needed to know where the other forest road led to. I'd simply have to come back. So, off I went down the road. Eventually it ended at a field. There was another sign there announcing the preserve. I turned left down a road that seemed to skirt the property. I don't like to rely on my innate sense of direction, but no trail map was available and I didn't bring a compass, and I had the feeling I was walking back towards the original road. After a while I landed at the restoration clearing! I had looped! I turned back towards my car.

I passed the other side road and took it. I was doing ok on time. In short order I ended at a clearing with parked tractors. I doubled back and went back to the car. It was time to change into hiking shorts. Conveniently after changing, another car pulled up. In it was a woman with two greyhounds. She seemed to be waiting. The other three cars were gone.

I made hast on the path again, now free from cotton. I turned down the side road, then down the path. This time I turned right. It couldn't lead back to the main road or I would have seen where it comes out. It ended in a clearing near the river. I poked around, seeing more dog prints in the mud. I doubled back. Time was growing short.

Back on the main road, I still felt the urge to dawdle on side paths. There is a patch of moss that looked like a great place to nap. A side path led back to the agriculture field. I finally got back to my car right at 5:00. A second car was there, this one with a bumper sticker declaring their support for Chocolate Labs. Popular place for dog lovers. I had just enough time to get to North Kingstown and get into my Gi. We did heavy bag.