Public Footpaths – we need more of them

Public Footpaths – we need more of them

We awoke to perfect calm – no wind, no ripples on the water, just the early morning sun and silence. After “the worlds fluffiest blueberry pancakes” (not my words, that is what the recipe claims) we loaded up the folding bikes into the dinghy and headed in to shore. The tide was low so I dropped Gloria and the bikes at the sandy kayak launch and then rowed the dinghy round to the dock. Yesterday we had a lovely walk but felt we had only just reached the best sections before we had to turn back. This morning we were able to cycle back easily to yesterdays end point and then explored three different routes down to the water. In each case the public road became an un-maintained dirt road and then a private driveway. The ride was pretty enough but it was frustrating not to be able to get down to the water or explore more widely because all the land is privately owned. In my mind the USA has some of the best National and State Parks that I have been to anywhere in the world and they are a priceless treasure that should be preserved. How cool would it be if there was also a system of public footpaths? I still miss the vast network of public footpaths that criss-cross the UK allowing people to reach many places that would otherwise be blocked due to private ownership. In some areas local villages organize annual walks of their footpaths to ensure that the traditional rights of access are sustained. It would be great if there were more public footpaths here.

We took a packed lunch with us (well you can’t expect blueberry pancakes to last all day!) and enjoyed sitting under a tree by the side of the road watching a Carolina Wren collecting nesting material. When we cycled back to the public dock the tide was high and we were able to get everything and everyone back in the dinghy directly, without any extreme down climbing. Now we are back on board Cotinga resting and contemplating dinner. Who said I have a one-track mind?

Mike

37 19.613 N, 76 26.620 W

"Bryant Bay" anchorage (as it is referred to in Active Captain). There was only one other boat besides us.

School House Creek road

School House creek - looking north

School House Creek - looking south

This is Sue's place that Gloria described yesterday. The red roofed building is a 400 square foot house, the white building is the tidiest shed I have ever seen and the white roof a car port. The foreground is the land that Sue leases out to a local farmer to plant corn.