- Temp: Upper 40’s cloudy and raw
- Playlist: Best of Spencer Davis Group, Best of Gary Puckett
- Tucker Preserve Luddams Ford
- Total Miles: 3.95
Definitely “to go place” You park and walk down the side of the Indian Head River and walk back on the other side. This river and land adjoining it has seen a lot of changes since the first settlers arrived. It is almost back to where it was back in the day except for the lower dam.
This is where I park. Water is a little high today. I knew someone who started canoeing down the river a few miles upstream with his 12 year old son. It was spring and the water was much higher. When he got here he really thought he could shoot these rapids. Not mentioning any names, sometimes I really wonder what I was thinking.
Barely visible is the original dam that flooded the entire valley behind it. There is another dam further down. This created the abilities for people to mess up the whole river and environment around it. Around the lower and upper dam they built factories including saw mill, iron works, anchor making, grist mill, carding mill and the Clapp Rubber Co which left still to this day a patch of rubber next to the lower dam. Anchor for the Warship Constitution made here in 1797. Late 1800’s after a unusual heavy wet spell, fortunately the dam broke and wiped out most everything.
The lower dam has a fish ladder allowing herring passageway. It’s much nicer looking in the spring/summer/fall when there is color.
Teaberry grows low to the ground usually in moist soil with shade. The plant can be used for a variety of uses. If you are an old fart you have to remember Teaberry gum. The berries are edible and if the leaves are chewed between the front teeth extracting a nice flavor. Herbal uses include tea. The oil of the leaves resembles aspirin and the Native Americans used it for relief in pain being analgesic and anti-inflammatory
Not sure but I swear I saw a gnome run out the back side. And I hadn’t even had one adult liberation.