Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Where Cows Once Grazed, A Walk Through Former Farm, River Meadows



"Time and space - time to be alone, space to move about - these may well become the great scarcities of tomorrow." - Edwin Way Teale

A Boston terrier is a curious and intelligent being and a most worthy companion for walking.

Two Bostons make exploring the fields of a former dairy farm (now preserved as open space) even more memorable. (A third companion is a steadfast rat terrier who patiently bears with the snorting bounces of the BTs.)

The Coginchaug River in Connecticut, is an oddity since it flows mostly north (most rivers flow south) from a pond in Guilford through Durham and Middlefield to merge with the Mattabesset River in Middletown, upstream of the tidal Connecticut River.

"Coginchaug" is the Native American name for the area, loosely meaning "great long swamp" due to the river meadows that line the river's courses.

The river passes through the 139-acre former Strickland Farm, now managed by the town of Middlefield. The late-in-the-day light is exquisite. There is a hilltop bench perfectly situated for a rest to enjoy the panoramic views.



Editor's Note: Request a PDF map and directions that lead to access walk via e-mail, as our research on our walk book series continues.