7/12/14 Sheepscot Headwaters

Another beautiful day with temps in the 70's. The question was going to be bugs. We started from the Whitten Hill Trail Head. Very few mosquitoes and no deer flies. Kelley did not seem her usual enthusiastic self and I thought maybe she was tired and we would just do a very short one today. The first part of the Northern Headwaters Loop has no water so I decided we would hike to the Goose Ridge Trail- a short distance down that are two small streams and a small pond- Kelley could get into the water and then we would turn back.

Kelley was very happy with the water

Problem was we encountered lots of deer flies around the water and did not stay long

I also found the smallest damselfly I have ever seen- about 1.5 inches long

After the water, Kelley perked up and we decided to go back and finish the loop. Part of the time the trail is close to the river and there are also some small streams. Once we were back on the main trail there were only a few deer flies.  Most of this trail is in fairly dense woods so not many flowers but there is one section that crosses the edge of a meadow

and I found a wild morning glory

Back into the woods

All in all not a bad hike. The deer flies had only been really bad on the goose ridge section and Kelley seemed happy to be on the trail once she got her water time.  2  1/4 hours