Papa Tom

Doing this ride tomorrow (July 20, 2014) and I still haven't decided which route to take!

cdale56

That is the best way.

Wish I could join you but I can't even drive yet.

Papa Tom

At my hotel in Mystic now, having gone only as far as Stonington Village, due to autumnal (non-beach) weather. CDale: THANK YOU for describing the surface of the trails through Bluff Point and Haley Farm State Parks. I am SO glad I switched to my knobby tires at the last minute last night. The ride was a teeth chatterer WITH the 26"x 2.25" MTB tires. I can't imagine having done it with my slicks!

Will post a full report when I get home tomorrow (Monday). Not sure what return route I will choose!

cdale56

In the "beating a dead horse"/"who cares" department, there was a recent article in the local paper about a new fence at the spot where Mumford Cove ends at the RR tracks. (There is a paywall at this newspaper but it allows a few free visists I believe)(the comments are the best part)

The Day - In Mumford Cove, bad fences make bad neighbors - News from southeastern Connecticut

I walked out there the other day to check out the new fence and it is an about 150 foot long by six foot high baby iron fence with spiked pickets. there are numerous signs alerting the potential sojourner that this is private property.

I am always concerned-based upon countless examples-that this fence would illegally obstruct my hikes from adjoining Bluff Point to Haley Farm State parks, but this was not the case and there are no obstructions blocking one that way.

The old trolley right of way veers east at a 90º angle at the fence and this is-I believe-phase 3 of the trail. This path is blocked by a simple road gate with the same signage as the iron wrought fence proclaiming that this is private Mumford Cove property and "No Trespassing"

So, this way of using Mumford cove as a way of circumventing the nasty climb up Rte 1 on route seems to be forbidden and and the rider would have extreme difficulty climbing a fence topped with spear tips.

Mumford Cove is officially a gated community. (There is gate with keypad lock)

PS I took a bunch of pictures but can't post them on this site,

PQ Cyclist

I know this is an old thread but I biked with my kids there today. The plan was to go to Ester Point beach it took what seemed only minutes from (believe it or not lots of middle class) poquonnock bridge to the black fence with the warning of surveillance cameras and private property signs...and an open gate, lock on it for probably dusk for someone to put back on. I went through and we rode through MC and GLP. The views were beautiful and quiet roads to keep my youngest safe. We didn't stop in any of their parks looking in the MC section irresistible until the glaring private signs take over cluttering up the place so we remained respectful. Took a wrong turn to the beach and was on the coastlines in GLP. Their private areas while bigger and more water, littered by their own. MC wins nice neighborhood hands down. I am searching the internet for updates but I took the open gate as a compromise.

Paully01

I had a submariner friend from Groton, CT.

cdale56

I rode down there yesterday-I only get there a few times a year-mainly with the dogs on walks.

On rides, I have been following the pavement from Knoxville Court in Poquonock or from the Haley Farm trails and then I take the undeveloped trolley line that parallels the AMTRAK line to the south. This unpaved section runs from the old trolley bridge to the entrance to Mumford Cove enclave. It comes out on a road near said enclave entrance. (Haley Crescent RD) This section is all grass-recently mowed-and for most of the route a nice stripe of hard pack. There were none of those red and white "Private Property/No Trespassing" type signs on this trail-or the entrances which indicated to me that if this was deemed their private lands, there would be signs to keep us riff raff out.

It makes a nice way to go on longer west/loops loops that avoids going up RTE 1 on Fort Hill.

BTW the gate was open.

PS: As a frequent rider of both the RI and CT costal areas, I find this type of signage all over the place; at first I found these signs upsetting and quite frankly insulting, but I guess after a while you get used to it and learn to live with it.

Welcome to the Town of Groton, Connecticut

cdale56

Sorry about this presentation(I am dating myself here) but this is the signage and new fence that is at the end of Neptune Drive. The date and another picture with a walker is the unpaved section that is labeled phase 3 on the Town of Groton map of the Groton Stonington Trolley path.

indyfabz

You find the posting of private property upsetting and insulting? What if it were your property?


In some (if not many, most or all) states there are laws providing that one is not trespassing unless certain types of lands are not posted. On top of that, the public can acquire an easement after enough years of use. It can put a property owner in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation.