Just near the town line off of South Park Avenue, the William J Kupinse Jr and Patricia Kupinse Preserve is one of Aspetuck Land Trust’s newest properties. I stopped by this past Friday morning after dropping the kids off at Samuel Staples and picking up coffee from 7 Brew, in Bridgeport. (Side note, if you haven’t tried this newer drive through coffee spot, it’s got better than decent cold brew, a rewards program, and the line always moves faster than expected.) I parked in the gravel parking lot near several waiting-to-bloom trees and shrubs, left the coffee in the car, and set off with my Saint Carlo Acutis prayer beads for a nice walk into the woods.
Just next to the parking lot, you’ll notice some newly planted trees and shrubs transplanted from Westport. They were rescued before a construction project at Long Lots School bulldozed the site, and were planted on the preserve in May last year. A new split rail fence separates the parking area from the vegetation, then runs along the trail as it heads away from the road and into the heart of the preserve.
I listened to the morning birds active along the river and then hooked left as the trail moved into the woods and uphill. The hiking here is not challenging, and the trail is dry so no need for hiking boots. Sneakers will do just fine. If you’re stopping by on the way to the office or on the way home, you could even trek in your shoes if it hasn’t rained in a couple days.
At the top of the ridge, I met a group of deer relaxing in the morning sun on the edge of a meadow on the property next door, currently leased by the New England Prayer Center. I counted four does and I think one buck, though difficult to confirm without antlers visible at this point in the year. This larger individual stayed more concealed in the edge of the forest, and seasoned bucks are known to be more stealthy out of necessity. Unfortunately, my presence roused them from their relaxing sojourn and they watched me carefully as I continued up the trail.
I took a detour when reaching an old asphalt driveway that runs downhill towards the Mill River. I could hear the water rushing and stopped by the edge of the river to take in its pristine beauty. Along the edge, iron-rich groundwater seeps into the river turning the water a stunning orange hue. The sound of the water at this point was due to some rocks in a shallower part of the river, and the current sounded more aggressive than it appeared up close.
Turning back uphill to the trail I went farther into the woods following the white trail markers. As I’ve said before about the land trust’s properties, they are well marked, making it hard to get lost. Reaching the top of a hill and finishing up with my prayerful meditations, I observed across the Mill River a smaller stream flowing into it. The nearby skunk cabbages appeared extra vibrant in the morning light.
Heading back the same way I came, I said goodbye to the deer, who were still watching me intensely, and made my way to the car. The sound of squirrels crashing through last year’s leaf litter was ever present, and at one point caused me to look uphill. A happy coincidence, a young turkey was walking along the top of the ridge. The iridescence of his feathers and his prominent beard were impressive. I snapped a picture for you, dear reader, and continued on my way to the parking lot.
All in all, the preserve made for an excellent grounding exercise before tackling a day’s worth of real work. The walk was invigorating and the wildlife added to the vibe of my prayers. If you have the time to stop in, go and say hello to the residents of the forest, pause for reflection along the Mill River, and appreciate yet another wonderfully preserved property in our bucolic town.
See you on the trails.
The Cultural Easton 