Eastern Trail

ET Outings 2003 Page - May 3, 2003 Vaughn Memorial Park Loop Ride

Hello folks,

Here is a ride description for the ETA ride from May 3. Jeanne Peckiconis, Bruce Wakefield and I did this ride together. It was a beautiful early Spring day, and the trees were on the verge of leafing out. Jeanne and I drove down to Vaughan Memorial Park together - when we went to turn down Vines, we found that there was a bridge out, so we turned around and drove up to Brattle and on to Vaughan. Bruce was was already there waiting for us. We then followed the On-Road ET (ORET) signs through South Berwick and out into the countryside. I had tucked my digital camera into my pocket for easy access, and of course it tumbled out onto the ground. Jeanne stopped and picked it up - no serious damage, the batteries had popped out along with the card. So I put everything back together and took the opportunity to take a pic (see right). For most of the ride, the ORET signs made following the route pretty easy, the turnoff for Emery's Bridge Rd was the only slightly questionable spot since it looks like a likely turnoff. Perhaps a sign letting riders know that if they go straight they are still on the route could be helpful.

As of this ride, the signs are still in place indicating that trail users are to bear left where Knights Pond Rd meets Hooper Sand's Rd. To investigate the proposed route, we followed the instructions on the ORET Trail Guide and turned right onto Hooper Sands and then Left onto Great Hill, a little ways on. (see three pictures below). 

	Great Hill Rd  quickly turned to dirt and after a fairly short uphill, became a long potholed downhill to the wooden bridge over what we thought was the Great Works River. We paused there for a break, and a couple of pictures (see to left and to right) before continuing on. Not much further along the road became paved once again. After a mile or so, we encountered a steep uphill with about 3 pitches. (see to left and to right) Finally, we rode along  Thurell Rd, initially intending to take it to Route 9 according to the Trail guide before heading back towards South Berwick.

 Instead, we followed the directions of a man we saw at a house along the way and headed back towards Route 9 slightly sooner. Just before Route 9, we stopped at a Cumberland Farms for a nice lunch on the curb outside. We traveled along a short section of Route 9, then turned onto Route 4 and rode several miles back to South Berwick. From South Berwick on, we were retracing our steps (tracks?) at the beginning of the ride traveling down Vines St. (below left) and across the bridge (below center) back to Vaughan (below right).

It was fun early Spring ride with beautiful weather, and we found that for the most part, the ORET signs were effective.

Our next ride is June 7 (National Trails day).

Regards, Ethan Davis