Lost on the Trail

Monday, we had most of the day to explore and decided to take a trail we have not traveled in 10 years or more. This trail, so we thought, would lead us to another trail which I had heard from another local rider would take us to Wyman's Falls, a place I have not visited yet but supposedly beautiful. Cool !

Again, our spirited steeds, Keri and Teasel, were ready to GO- It was to be a long trip and they were so ready.

The start of the trail seemed innocently ho-hum... but it wasn't long and the challenges began.

Criss-crossed sap lines everywhere, we had to duck under carefully.

And, then the trail disappeared-- But we persevered, knowing the general direction we wanted to go. Every now and then, we found remnants of the old trail.

This area was logged off some years ago- allowing brush to grow up and conceal the original trail we used to travel. Sometimes we followed the old skidder tracks. While we were not truly lost, we weren't truly on the trail we thought we'd be on either... oh well-- it's going to lead us to where we want to go anyway... so we hope.

And we do end up coming out on Trebo Road as we planned- just in a slightly different place. We cross the dirt road to get on the trail opening we've seen from the car-- and excitedly head toward Wyman's Falls. Mission half accomplished ! so we think.

A short ways in-- we discover.. what's this ? squatters ? An odd little "settlement" .

We come upon a clearing.. someone's hide-away Yurt.

And look at the roof garden.. it's just starting to bloom. After a few years of growth, This is going to be quite spectacular. No one seems to be around... which is a good thing because you don't want to come upon someone's wrong kind of 'secret garden' and get shot at.

We continue to peck our way through brush and openings that look like trail.

Decision time.. which way ?

Trail number 1 --- to the left

trail number 2, in the middle

trail number 3- to the right.

We choose this one- it seems to be headed in the right direction and we spy a deer path to follow.

Soon- we come to another area which has been logged of quite recently.. it's here we begin to run into serious directional problems.

We spent quite a bit of time following false leads and wannabe trails. Not quite sure where we were.. we tried to think if we had seen any 'landings' where all the logs had been dragged for pick up along the roads.. we could perhaps track ourselves down to the road and get our bearings.

Whoever logged this acreage off did it in lots of mud- these skidder ruts are deep. Every trail and passage leads no where so we backtrack, zig zag and ponder...

Finally-- maybe this will lead somewhere.

it takes us out onto the power line, but which one ? We can turn back and go home the way we came-- or we can continue to ride the power line and see where we come out. As you can see... this looks like it might be ways off.

We are not ones to shy from a challenge.. ride the power line. Eventually , we'll come to a road and trot home from there.

Off in the distance- we see someone walking in their pasture-- maybe we can get over there and ask that person where we are ! :)

We continued to ride the power line.. came across some old fence.. Zoe had to dismount and hold it down so we could cross it.

We are starting to think... There must be some way out of here,

-- (to quote Bob Dylan from All Along the Watchtower)

In the end, we came out at a farm- at least we know where are now... but it's all fenced and we kept having to dismount and open and close gates. Luckily, there are no animals here anymore. As we neared the farmhouse.. we hoped we could sneak past quietly in case the owner would be upset or cranky about our mistaken trespass. No such luck-- there's a driveway gate right next to the house. The owner actually came out and opened it for us.. completely with understanding of our predicament.

We got out on the road and cantered and trotted for home ! it was a fun ride-- a long ride, and I am not sure if we'll bother re-visiting that trail again. But we will continue to search for the way to Wyman's Falls.

Enjoy your day ~