Tag Archives: New Trail

Finding A New Local Trail

It’s always awesome when I stumble upon a new trail.  Especially when it’s local.

Recently, I found that the trail system in Machias had been expanded.  I’m not sure when this happened.  For all I know, these trails could have existed all along and I just never realized it.

Anyway, I decided to check out the new portion of trail.  Along the route, I came across an old car (I think it was a station wagon), rotting into the ground.  Every time I come across a crumbling vehicle in my hiking adventures, I always wonder about them.  Who did they belong to?  Why were they left?  And how did they get here?

As I was circling the car, taking a few pictures, I noticed something both odd and funny…

 

This little dude was just hanging out and again, I got to wondering what the deal was with him. Who made him? Who put him here? Why?

 

The things you find when hiking.

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

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Western Head Preserve

 

 

 

On my trip to Campobello that I mentioned earlier this month, I stopped by one of the visitor centers and picked up a few maps of trails I hadn’t heard of here in Maine.

 

Let’s stop and reflect on that for a second… I had to go to CANADA, to find trails in my own state of Maine. That’s just wrong. Step it up, Maine!

 

Anyway, I learned of a place close by a few of the other trails I frequent in the village of Cutler. In fact, I’ve driven by the road this new trail is on too many times to count and always wondered while passing it, “what’s down there?”

 

Well, I finally found out… Western Head Preserve…

 

But let me take a step back for a moment and tell you about the drive there. On the way to Cutler, I have to pass through a small town called Whiting and at a point where the road curves (there are lots of curves in this road so just take my word here), there’s a telephone pole with a huge Osprey nest built on top. I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this in past posts or not…

 

Anyway, the Osprey were in full view from the road. One was in the nest, the other in the trees not far away. I took a few pictures of both and it was only upon reviewing the images at home that I noticed something…

 

 

It looks to me like this Osprey only has one foot. I can’t tell if the foot is just tucked, like a flamingo, or if the leg is missing altogether. Hopefully it’s just tucked.

 

 

Moving on to Western Head Preserve. After parking I had to walk down a dirt road a little way to reach the trailhead which brought me down to a small stone beach then into the woods, to another stone beach, back into the woods, to a third stone beach, and back into the woods once more. This trail’s shape is called a “lollipop.” It’s a length of trail that leads to a loop, then back out along the same trail.

 

The vistas on the far, seaward side of the loop were amazing. I took a few panoramas to share with you folks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

Unexpected Trail Guide

 

 

Recently, yesterday in fact, I went hiking with my parents on yet another new trail network.  The Eagle Hill Trails in Steuben, Maine.  Well, I can’t attest to how new the trail itself was, it was just new to me since I never knew of its existence until this past weekend.

 

 

Anyway, it was a two mile network of trails winding through woods, blueberry fields, and along the coast.  The trails are part of a campus called Eagle Hill Institute and I was thoroughly impressed with how well they were marked.  I’ve hiked some poorly marked trails and this puts the trails I previously thought were marked well to shame.

 

 

Upon arriving, we were greeted by the director of the institute, George.  He provided us with a trail map and pointed us in the direction of the trailhead.  This is where it got super funny.

 

 

As we were heading toward the trailhead, a white dog that had to have been part Husky (I adore Huskies), came around the side of a shed, tail wagging.  George introduced us to 15 year old Bonnie.  I figured the introduction would have ended with a pat on her head from me and my parents and a sniff or two from Bonnie, but she decided she was going to lead us along the first portion of the trail.

 

 

I never had a trail guide before, let alone a canine guide.  It was hilarious.  She would run ahead a few steps, stop, turn, and bark at us to follow.

 

 

 

Bonnie the Trail Guide

 

 

Sadly, Bonnie didn’t stay with us throughout our entire hike.  It was either the fact that we didn’t take the path she wanted us to take, or she got bored with me stopping to take pictures every once in a while.  She ended up turning back and leaving us to fend for ourselves.  But, we met up with her again when we got back to our car.  She circled us, sniffing, and wanting attention, then she stood in front of our car, not wanting us to leave.  Silly dog.  [^_^]

 

 

 

Bonnie

 

 

 

Overall, it was a pretty nice little hike and I’m sure I’ll be returning to these trails come warmer weather.  Hopefully Bonnie will still be there to greet me.

 

 

 

Eagle Hill Institute Trails - Border Trail

 

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.