This morning we went for a walk on the Noland Trail in Newport News. Take Exit 258A from I64, continue south for 2 1/2 miles on J. Clyde Morris Blvd. Then J. Clyde Morris Blvd. becomes the Avenue of the Arts. Turn left there onto Museum Drive. We parked by the Peninsula Fine Arts Center and started our walk there.
"Today I have grown taller from walking with the trees." is written on the trail head stone.
This is a 5 mile walk that follows the shoreline of Lake Maury. It is full of twists and turns and many elevation changes.
In addition to the twists and turns, the trail changes from packed gravel, to sand, to oyster shells, and there are lots of exposed roots, so you do have to pay attention to where you're walking. No bikes are allowed, but there are many joggers. We also saw one of the Newport News Police Canines going for a walk.
There are mile markers every 1/2 mile so you know how far you've gone. If you don't want to walk the whole 5 miles, you can turn around at any point. From a dog walker's standpoint--the only thing I didn't like was that there are only a few waste cans located at entrances to the trail so you have to carry your poop bags with you for several miles at a time.
Along the trail there are some Loblolly pines that are huge; and have such interesting bark. We must have grown taller from walking with these trees!
The Mariner's Museum Park staff have also put Q-reader codes on some of the trees, so you can find out more about them. Did you know that the Flowering Dogwood was the Virginia State Tree?
We entered the trail on the south side and walked about 2 miles to the other entrance by the Lion's Bridge. The Lion's Bridge is part bridge and part dam--keeping Lake Maury from flowing into the James River. There are four stone lions.
The lions had wreaths and ribbons around their necks, all decorated for the holidays!
Wish you were here,
Joyce
Sammy & PG
You'll have to train the kids to poop only at trail heads :) Hope Sammy is feeling better and getting lots of rest.
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