This was another "lollipop loop" trail of about 3.25 miles that took place on
Saturday, June 5, 2021. Participants were Betsy Campagna, Mary Gordon,
Jessica Lowry, Tom O'Brien and Mike Calabrese.
As usual we met within the rear parking lot of
Prince of Peace United Methodist Church
and departed promptly at 8:00 AM. Tom and I drove separately. Betsy and
Mary carpooled since they are family. And Jessica met us at the Eagles
parking lot on Neabsco RD at around 8:25.
We started the hike shortly afterwards. The last time that we hiked the
boardwalk as a group was in January, 2020. The route that we took then was
boardwalk->Blackburn RD->US1->Neabsco RD, about a 4 mile loop. This
time we did the Approach Trail to boardwalk->Boardwalk->Dirt Trail to
parking lot->Sidewalk to Rippon Lodge->Trail back to parking lot->
Potomac Heritage Trail->Boardwalk->Approach trail back to our vehicles.
The boardwalk was the stick of this lollipop loop hike.
We saw many turtles, minnows, red winged blackbirds and herons on our walk. I
asked Betsy what she did for a living and she said that she had taught at
Woodbridge High School. I asked if she knew Carlos C. She said that she
did. I knew Carlos and Hilary through my better half Julie R. Julie
went to college with Carlos and Hilary. About five minutes after this
conversation who did we run into on the boardwalk? Carlos and Hilary. That
was amazing.
Once we got to the north end of the boardwalk we took a dirt trail for about
a quarter mile. We then cut across a parking lot and started up a sidewalk
that would lead us to Rippon Landing. It was a tough up and I was last as
usual. We looped around Rippon Landing, which was built in 1747 by John
Blackburn.
There was a caretaker working nearby. I told him that I hiked a
trail from Rippon Landing to Blackburn RD about 10 years ago and asked if that
trail was still here and hikeable. He gave us directions to this trail. So
we took it back down to the road. If you plan to do this hike, you may want
to take this trail up to Rippon Landing and the sidewalk back down to Blackburn
RD as the trail is shaded and is a more gradual up.
So we crossed Blackburn RD, took the Potomac Heritage Trail back to and over
the boardwalk, then the approach trail back to our vehicles. I'm glad that
we did this hike early as it was getting hot at the end. So this is another
good hike in the books. Thanks to my four fellow hikers for coming out for
this one.
Mike C
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Along Neabsco Creek Boardwalk.
By Mike Calabrese
Group Pic at end of hike
By Mike Calabrese
Wetlands along Neabsco Creek
By Mike Calabrese
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