Hiking into September

September?  Really?  Great!  Because I love Fall.  What better way to start September than with a hike through some uncharted {to me} territory in Rhode Island.  I had purchased three great books last summer about Rhode Island including Weekend Walks in Rhode Island: 40 Trails for Hiking, Biking, & Nature Viewing, Discover Rhode Island: AMC Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking, & Paddling, and Rhode Island off the Beaten Path.  Each book had a little something different to offer, though some trails did overlap of course.  Off the Beaten Path is a little quirkier & has more unusual, but fun offerings. 

We chose the Pachaug-Tippecansett Trail, part of the Arcadia Wildlife Management Area on the Rhode Island - Connecticut border.  The trail follows the shore of Beach Pond & was a mix of woods & rocky cliffs & hilltops.

Me looking out to Beach Pond.

We passed by many high cliffs, each one Rich wanted to climb thinking it would be the view our friend Bryan told us about, & each time I thought he was not correct...including the cliff we climbed for this view.  Guess I may have been wrong!  We stayed here for awhile feeling like we were the only ones on the trail for the day, until we were greeted by two dogs & their owners.

Our fishing box, waiting to be used.

We continued on to Deep Pond, where we hoped to find some fish.  Much to our disappointment we did not see any wildlife - no birds, bunnies, even a squirrel or a chipmunk!  However there was still plenty of other amazingly beautiful things to see.

We came upon Deep Pond after passing old stone walls & large cairns & even a small stone pillar that I now know served as the marker between Rhode Island & Connecticut!  We attempted to fish in Deep Pond only to find there are no fish in there.  Oh well.  It was good casting practice for me.

After nearly seven miles of hiking we were quite tired, needless to say!  We found a quite little diner called The Middle of Nowhere Diner.  It certainly was.

It was an incredibly refreshing day & I feel rejuvenated & ready to welcome Fall & all the new projects that are to come!