We turn back around and head back down 72 and zoom right by the trailhead. We eventually realize this, turn around, and watch Joe go by, still heading down after us.
Eventually we get it sorted, meet up, and prepare to head down to drop off the return car. But instead, we decide to leave a car here, at Route 72, drive down to Route 532, and walk back. South to north today, mixing git up (and a bit concerned about the weather forecast).
Joe had scouted out where the trail intersected Rt. 532 after yesterday's hike. "It's at the big B", he said. And so it was.
This portion of the trial was recently (for large values of "recent") rerouted to go through the Franklin Parker Preserve.
For the almost the entire way the trail was clear and wide. A nice walk for sure.
And it was obvious in spots that it had recently undergone maintenance.
Although there was still some work to be done.
Hmmm, either there was once a building here and all that remains is the mail box. Or someone thought this would make a good trail marker and brought it out here. Whatever, it worked.
We got our daily dose of mushrooms ...
... deer prints ...
... Indian Pipe ...
... antlions ...
... and spider webs.
And spiders were not the only web weavers this day (alas, we have these in the yard also, defoliating our Elderberry bush).
Franklin Parker was once a cranberry farm, and there are several lakes along the way.
Water once used for harvesting the berries.
Now home to fish, fowl, and other wildlife.
And flowers. Count the water lilies in this image!
And that water had to be moved around the bogs.
Which meant bridges.
Plenty of bridges.
Our initial plan had been for the day two to be from Route 72 to the Carranza Memorial, a twelve mile hike. Instead, we did but seven miles. This turned out to be a good plan because as we past the five mile mark the clouds started rolling in.
And after a rest stop, with yummy home made peanut butter cracker sandwiches from Joe, we were racing the rain.
So off we went ...
... across another bridge (watch that first step)...
... through fields of Sweet Pepperbush ...
... navigating a maze through a cedar swamp ...
... we beat the rain with just steps to spare. And it really started to rain when we got back to the car where we started.
This was a very nice hike. Well marked wide trails, except for a bit of tall, and no doubt chigger infected, grass at the Route 72 end. And from what I gather, much better than the previous route.
Tomorrow we head out for Carranza, alas sans Joe.
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