Today we got a break in the cold and rainy weather we have been
having. After finishing my Christmas shopping I took advantage of
the nice weather to plant a new letterbox. This letterbox is along
the North South Trail in Richmond, RI (Washington County). So
without further ado here are the clues.

Moonstone_baby


North South Trail The Pines
Richmond, RI
(Washington County)


Difficulty: Clues: easy. Hike: 2 miles round trip. Mt. bike
friendly trail.

Background: The North South Trail (NST) runs 77 miles from the
Rhode Island's southern shore at the Atlantic Ocean in Charlestown to
its northern border at the Massachusetts line in Burrillville. The
North South Trail was proposed over three decades ago by George
Ernst, a hiker from Cranston. He suggested building new trails and
connecting them together with already existing hiking trials to
create a long path across the state. The state of RI studied the
idea in 1978 but the trail wasn't actually built until 1991. The
North South Trail letterbox series will be a series of letterboxes
placed along various points on the trail to celebrate this
achievement. Each stamp will contain a common image that represents
the NST as well as an image unique to the stamp's location. The North
South Trail The Pines is the first letterbox in this series.

Driving Directions: Take Rt 3 in Richmond to the intersection with
Baker's Pine Rd (near the I-95 overpass at exit 4.) The New London
Turnpike crosses Baker's Pine Rd at .2 miles. This is the start
of your hike. Park your car on the right side of the road by the
metal barway.

Clues: From Baker's Pine Rd follow the North South Trail south west
along the New London Turnpike (the dirt road with the barway NOT the
paved road.) After a short distance (about mile) the trail turns
left into the woods. Along this trail there are several crossing
unmarked trails so be sure to follow the North South Trail markers
and the blue blazes. After a short while you will pass a double blue
blaze marking a right turn in the trail. Continue along the North
South Trail. The trail will pass through a break in a stone wall;
will go down a small hill then through a break in a second stone
wall. When you come to a Y in the trail with an oak tree with a
North South Trail marker on it in the middle of the Y -- STOP. At
this point the North South Trail goes to the left. You will take the
trail that goes to the right. As you walk onto this trail there
will be a stone wall on your left. Follow the trail a short distance
until you come to a break in the stone wall. Walk through the break
in the wall. The North South Trail -- The Pines letterbox is on the
right in a crevice between the first and second large stones on the
bottom of the wall. After stamping in return to your car the same
way you came.