April 4, 2009
Despite the ease and short distance of this "hike", it was at one point consider one of the toughest state highpoints to reach. The reason is that you have to cross private land to get to it. The current landowner is very cooperative and getting to the highpoint is no longer a problem, but there are stories (just stories mind you) of the prior owner chasing off highpointers with a shotgun.
Lynn and I are on our way to North Carolina and Georgia so that I can finish the Appalachian Trail. We decided to stop in Rhode Island and bag this highpoint on the way. There is a sign on Route 101.
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Lynn by the sign.
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Take the short path
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Follow the markers
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Here I am on the 812 foot "summit".
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Lynn on the highpoint.
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Don't forget to sign the register
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This short trail and highpoint are very well maintained and easy to find thanks to the landowner and highpointers club.
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Another Side Trip
After hitting Rhode Island's highpoint, Lynn and I continued our drive south. We decided to make one more little detour and went to visit the Hale Homestead and Hale Monument in Coventry, Connecticut. Nathan Hale was a spy during the American Revolution. He was caught and hanged by the British. He is most famous for saying, "I only regret I have but one life to lose for my country."
Here's Lynn in front of the monument.
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Free Dinner
Lynn and I made it to Carlisle, PA. After rehiking a one mile section of the Appalachian Trail just for fun. We went out to eat at Bob Evans Restaurant. After eating, I went to the register to pay the bill.
"That's funny," the cashier said.
"What's that?" I asked.
"Your bill has been paid for," he replied.
"That's not possible, I don't know anyone here. Did someone pay my bill instead of their own?"
The gentleman checked.
"No, there are no outstanding bills."
He called over the manager who reviewed the situation.
"Looks like it is your lucky day," said the manager. "You can leave."
I made one last attempt to pay the bill but when I was assured I didn't need to, I walked quickly back to our table, left a generous tip, and left before anyone changed their minds. A free dinner. How cool was that!
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