Facts
Location: Pascoag, RI
Park: George Washington Park
Trail: Walkabout - 8 miles (we ended up walking 10-12 miles, we got lost!)
Date: 10/8/11
The Adventure
I was home for my grandparents 60th anniversary celebration up in Northampton, MA. That Saturday while back in Worcester I decided to find a local hike that I had yet to go on and naturally fell short of spots in Massachusetts. I had completed a limited amount of hiking in Rhode Island and through some research landed on walkabout. Erika and Eric decided to join me for the occasion and I selected the walkabout trail because it was close by, it had different trail options, and most importantly I loved the name. I would not so secretly love to go on a legit walkabout, as in a "spiritual journey" like the Aboriginal Australians did, at some point in my life. I was mostly excited for my first and only chance to spot the foliage in New England this year!
I was leaving for Philly that evening after the hike so Eric, Erika, and I decided that the 6 mile trail would be best because the 2 mi would be short and the 8 mi trail would be cutting it close to dinner time back at the Banner. The trail was really beautiful, full of hills, and obstacles through the woods. Erika and I spent most of the time catching up on our lives, discussing jobs, the future, and education. When the trail forked we went left deciding that there should be an end to the six mile trail soon. When we came out to the dirt road we determined that it must have been the six mile stop point and thought we should just walk down main path back to the car. It was getting late and we were all hungry.
We started going in one direction only to realize we were not quite sure if we were walking towards the car. We asked for directions and realized we were going the wrong way, thus turning around again. The people giving us directions were not entirely sure so I used my iphone to determine we should turn around for the third time. After walking for 1-2 miles and realizing that we were not getting any closer I consulted the phone one last time. It demonstrated that we were still another 2 miles from the car going in the wrong direction. I was waiting for Eric or Erika to beat me up for all the blunders I had made in trying to guide us back to the car. We finally got back to the road we drove in on and we're so grateful! A park ranger drove by and asked if we were lost and if we wanted a ride. Eric and I looked at each other and hesitated a moment given our high level of pride before finally submitting and taking the ride back (which saved us an additional ten minutes of walking.) It was a long day on the trail and despite the unnecessary walk back to the car I truly enjoyed it! Also even though I was slightly late I still made it to the Banner for dinner before the lengthy drive home. |
| Please don't kill me! |
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