This was a really, really cool DayTrip....different...and so interesting.
It was a gorgeous Sunday morning. We met our tour guide, Andy Griswold, in Chester and jumped on a small boat bound for Selden Island, in the middle of the Connecticut River. Andy is the director of the Connecticut Audubon's EcoTravel Division....which hosts more than 100 daytrips annually, as well as excursions outside the country. Our journey to Selden is sort of a preview of one of EcoTravel's public trips....they bring a group out to the island 2 or 3 times each year. There is still room to buy a ticket for the October 31st trip.
At any rate, our boat ride was incredibly delightful. Sunny, bright and brisk. The River sparkled in the early morning light and it seemed so empty. I had never really experienced it like that. Peaceful....calming.
We pulled up on the island and started our hike to the summit. We opted to take the fastest route, which is also the steepest! So, we were huffing and puffing! On the way, we learned the history of this 650 acre island...the largest island in the river and in all of Connecticut. Now, the island seems so primitive....pristine and totally natural. But, in the early 1900's, it was home to a sizable quarrying operation. 300 people lived and worked there....and the forest was decimated. Hard to believe, the way you see it today....but, refreshing to know that we are actually restoring a forest in these modern days. You cans still see piles of rubble and several steel barrels used for the quarries.
When we arrived at the top, the view was SPECTACULAR! The colors of the foliage were everywhere....the water was blue, blue...as we looked down towards Chester and Deep River. The EcoTravel trips provide visitors with information from a botanist, a bird enthusiast and a historian....so, you can appreciate nature in many different ways. Andy is somewhat of a bird expert...he has traveled the world learning about them. So, our conversations were fascinating.
If you can't make it on one of the EcoTravel trips to Selden, you can book a private tour....there are also 4 campsites on the island...you can reserve a space through the ranger at Gillette Castle.
Selden Island is a very cool place to visit. I felt like an explorer! And the sole of my hiking boot fell off....very funny...but, that's another story! Cheers!