Wyman's Falls - the Holy Grail

Monday- perfect weather- perfect day for a ride.. but where shall we go ? Perhaps some of you blog followers remember our Watchtower ride, where Zoe and I rode for many miles and never found any particular destination. That was the beginning of my true quest for Wyman's Falls and the trail which would lead us to "it"-- having never seen the falls, I had no idea where or what they looked like. This became like the elusive Holy Grail.. so-- I suggested that we head over that way by road. This would be a long ride- but Zoe remembers a trail that MIGHT lead to the road which MIGHT lead to the falls ! Good enough for me :)

We started out traveling over Flamstead Road into Chester, cross the River - trot through a portion of Stone Village. This is where Keri's ears really perk up.. up until this point she was rather heavy and lazy. We cross Route 103 onto Church Street and duck into the trail that Zoe remembers from a long time ago.

This is a snowmobile trail that runs alongside the train tracks and the river. We are pretty certain it will take us toward the Falls.

The trail leads us in and out of woods and meadow - through a few hay fields, past grazing deer, a big pond to our right full of geese and other water birds.

we are not sure where we are .. but everything is new to us and exciting as we continue on our crusade.

We meet quite a few closed gates-- because it's a snowmobile trail, the gates are closed for off season. There is a sign at this gate marking this land as a gift to the town of Chester from Dr Hebert Adams and his wife- Josephine.

Per tradition, Zoe and I spin yarns of who these people are - and perhaps did they live in this cabin on the sidehill.. or is this a handy Hobo cabin for those men in the 20's that rode the rails as a way of living.

We are pressed for time since it took awhile to get this far and we don't know how far our quarry is -- otherwise, I'd ride up and take a closer look at this little cabin.

Snowmobile bridge- with instructions.. Public Highway- Keep Right single file. We exit out onto a road- Wyman's Falls Road ! which dead ends in a way- as it eventually veers off to the left- a class 4 road.. with warnings about safe passage.

I suppose the first problem one might have here is the bridge is missing. Not much of a safety issue for us. The stone work is beautiful where the absent bridge would have sat-- and I wonder about the history of this roadway and the long ago travelers.

But- now the tension is mounting-- are we close to the Falls ? Our faith is wavering.. are there truly falls here ?

We ride by a series of small falls... They are pretty but did we just ride eleventy-seven miles to view these ? But dedicated crusaders that we are-- we continue on.

That ancient bridge you see - completely in ruins... no crossing that. We carefully review our options- to the left of the bridge is mossy steep ledge.. to the right of the bridge is a way to cross but questionable.. wet slippery leaves and moss in this sunless area- Keri gave it a try, she has her shoes with studs so she made it.

Teasel is barefoot and he slipped and slid.. After that he was understandably reluctant to try again. Again- a moment of doubting... should we continue... turn back.. looking at our watches, brief discussion of time and return routes -- did we come this far in our pursuit of the possibly scenic, possibly mythical falls to turn back now ?

Zoe dismounted and led Teasel begrudgingly across.

Trotting and a little cantering up the trail-- The gorge created by the little brook is deepening ..

Actually the edge is becoming a tad scarey.. so photo's of how beautiful this is will be tricky.

Finally- we discover that Wyman's Falls is a series of cascades - each one more beautiful than the previous. If I hiked in here and actually got in the brook- you could see better the drop and the caves under the falls with the pools below eroded out of ledge.

This is the last one in the tier of falling water

This one is closer to the beginning of the sequence of falls.

Feeling satisfied.. we turn back for home-- we need to make good time now.

On our route to the falls and on our return- we cross the railroad tracks quite a few times.

I'm thinking of those hobo's and their eternal travels as the railways point into the horizon.

it was just a matter of time before we ran into the train.

This is a very long freight train - but you can see how pretty it would be to ride the passenger train once the leaves turn.

Finally- the 'caboose' -- we trot back on the same route we came on.. until the Cummings trail- which will give us something different to look at until we arrive back home- full of memories of a challenging adventure and contented with a quest goal completed.

we are planning our next ride - it will be fun but possibly not as demanding-- we'll see. Now that we've experienced the falls here- I am wondering about Cascade Falls ... I have never been there yet :)

Enjoy your day ~