Impromptu excursions often turn out to be the best.
Last Wednesday we nearly didn’t go, but it was one of those mild and brilliant days when it’s good to be out.
So we set off in no particular direction.
Grant turned left toward Greenwich and then shot off to the right, taking us immediately into a deeply rural part of Washington County.
In rural America, you will often see stars on barns or houses. It seems they originated with immigrants who arrived from the Rhine area of Germany in the 1700’s.
Although there are said to be a variety of meanings behind them, basically I believe they mean Good Luck, Good Health, Welcome.
You often see these stars in quilting and other rural handicrafts. They sort of say “America”.
We started out beneath a clear sky with just a hint of cloud on the horizon.
An avenue of shag bark tree.
Such a lovely, peaceful countryside.
Decision time. Which way?
Not there…
…or there…
Years ago, this area was well connected by rail.
We crossed the Battenkill River and turned east, away from Greenwich
We pass quite a few homes on these trips, but no-one ever seems to be home.
Not that we were planning to visit.
One more turn took us to completely new territory.
We suddenly came upon a small Nature preserve.
Shark-infested waters!
Well no, just a swamp with “spiky things”!
It was nice to find an area dedicated to wildlife.
With a swamp nearby, we expected mosquitoes and other pests, but there were almost none!
We saw only a curious chipmunk that watched us pass by silently on a boardwalk.
A second boardwalk took us through the woods,
safe above the lush greenery and any resident creatures.
Probably skunk cabbage, on left.
Beautiful ferns were thriving.
Puddles of light shafted through the trees
The woods were small in area but quite dense, with some impressively tall pine trees.
Many of the trees were re-fashioned by woodpeckers.
We had another view from a second overlook
A large farm on the opposite hill.
Another path took us back to the parking area.
The only evidence of human beings was a pile of dog droppings. It could have been a wild animal, but there had been another deposit, left behind in a plastic bag.
Being kind, I will say that the owner surely intended to return and collect it all up.
Otherwise, this small preserve was immaculate and surprisingly well kept for an area that does not cater for children or boating enthusiasts.
The small lake, or pond is accessible from the other side but there is a much larger lake close by.
This is swamp milkweed.
While we were not troubled at all by insects, I suspect there are quite a few species of creatures living in this little swamp. I was quite happy to remain on the boardwalk.
During the War of Independence, much of the fighting took place in the northeast and I sometimes think about those men, on both sides and all they faced.
The area was densely forested then but the challenges they faced would have been daunting.
We neither saw, nor heard anyone while we walked.
Yet, when we returned to the car we found the sign had been decorated with a noose-like piece of, we couldn’t quite make out what!
Grant suggested someone had put it there in case the owner returned for it.
Um. I don’t think so, but….
.
We carried on toward Lake Cossayuna…
Thank you, Carolyn, for lovely “Americana.”
Joanna
The woodpeckers have been very busy!
What a lovely drive! And no people at home or on your walk (and no cars on the road) … it must have been great to feel you’re probably the only ones in the world at that moment! And then a boardwalk with beautiful views – I like this a lot!
For an unexpected trip, you did very well. As you say over there, (but never here, never) ‘You lucked out’.
Best wishes, Pete.