Stony Brook Gristmill, Brewster

After the windmill, I turned off Rte. 6A onto Stony Brook Road because I wanted to check out the gristmill. That was soooooo worth the stop.  Seriously.  This one wraps circles around Sandwich's (and Plymouth's too).  I was expecting your basic waterwheel mill, pond, stream and herring run.  This was all that and so much more.  I parked at the little lot across the street from the mill and really loved the park and trails.  The mill was closed and looked like was undergoing some maintenance, but that was fine because there was plenty to do and see.  

Plus the sound of the cascading water is so soothing to listen to.

The stream runs under the road.

Could this be any more charming?!?!?!

Just lovely!!!  Although...it should be noted that as I came upon this, which is at one end of the above bridge, I was appalled to see that some disrespectful person left a big empty pop bottle and 3 empty liquor nip bottles on top of the well.  I was furious and grumbling aloud to myself about how repugnant the human race is, as I removed them for my shot.  And yes, I packed them out with me and threw them away in a proper trash receptacle.  

After the herring run, the stream continues on it's happy way through the happy little trees.  ;-)

Then I walked across the street to check out the mill.

Fantastic paths that take you to the pond, across more bridges to the other side and back.  This place is da bomb.

This is called Lower Mill Pond.

The water was flowing freely down the herring run, but the sluice gates for the waterwheel were shut.

Water would normally be flowing here to spin the wheel, which makes the huge, heavy grindstones turn inside the mill, pulverizing grains into fine powder, or 'grist'. 

I hope you enjoyed my tour of Brewster, MA!  Stay tuned for more adventures!

Drummer Boy Park, Brewster

Just a short ways east of the Museum of Natural History is Drummer Boy Park, where you can find the Higgins Windmill, Harris-Black House and Henry Hopkins Blacksmith Shop.  It appears that they are probably open on the weekends in the summer, but they were closed the day I went.

Blacksmith shop

I am going to guess that this is obsidian, although it's possible it could be some kind of coal byproduct.  It was very hard, sharp and shiny, and I can neither confirm nor deny that a small piece may have made it into my pocket.

Every now and then you will encounter a ginormous rock deposited by itself by a glacier in the last ice age.  Glaciers are why there are so many ponds on the Cape.

I peeked inside and it's set up with basic furniture of that period.  Literally one room, although it looked like there was a tiny water closet in one corner.

OK I'm veering a bit from the route I took because I want to devote a post to the grist mill.  I shot these next pictures on the way back to the highway.  This is Wayne's Antiques, and I am kinda glad it was closed because it looked fabulous and I don't need anymore tchotchkes.

I thought this was adorable.  I passed it on the way that morning and made a mental note to stop on the way back to the highway.

Museum of Natural History, Brewster

I next headed east along Rte 6A and stopped at the Museum of Natural History.  I didn't go inside, having spent my money at the Brewster Store.  But the nature trails were free so I took the opportunity to go for a nice walk.  

 The clam shell trail starts alongside the museum building and winds it's way out to the salt marshes.

This is an osprey nest with what looks to me to be a youngster.  There is a pole and camera next to the nest and you can watch it in real time online.

The trail across the marshes is comprised of wooden planks set side by side that are a little bouncy as you go across the spongy grasses.  I got halfway across and realized that I had not checked the tide table and I had no idea how flooded this marsh gets at high tide.  But I rolled the dice and kept going.

 The marsh trail ends at Wing's Island which was a very peaceful walk through the forest.

After I passed the Sachemas' calendar, I came upon another small trail map that indicated 'wooden stairs'. Yes, I had to see what that was all about so I pressed on.  I was surprised at how short of a walk it was going to be to the beach!  How could I resist a little beachcombing?!?!  

Parasailer out in the bay being towed by a boat.

What a cute and narrow little beach!!!!

I walked it in both directions, but there was absolutely zero glass.  Not even a chip!

I did see a dead horseshoe crab though.

This part of the Bay is a little marshy and sandy, so there's grass in the water.

Headed back

What a day!!!

I didn't take too many more pics on the way out, but this was really cute.