Marjorie Turner Hollman supports nonfiction authors to self-publish their books. She is also a disability advocate, sharing information about Easy Walks (not too many roots or rocks, relatively level with firm footing, and something of interest along the way) in open space. Let’s get in touch.
We visited the Trustees of Reservations property, Bartholomew’s Cobble on a beautiful autumn afternoon as the sun was sinking into the horizon. A very few visitors lingered as we arrived. We passed no other people on our way to a view of the Housatonic River.
As we scoped out the map, I spotted a sign for the Hal Borland trail. The arrows pointed to an recently hayed open field. We opted to take the wooded trail first and later followed up with a walk alongside those mowed rows of cut grass at the edge of the open space.
We headed through the woodland on the footpath that has been improved with gravel and wood chips. Impressive boulders (one of the two “cobbles” that rise above the trail and soon present challenging footing for those of us who require Easy Walks, that is, as I often say, “Not too many roots or rocks, relatively level with firm footing, and something of interest along the way.”
By following the Ledges Trail, I was able to reach an overlook of the Housatonic River that winds next to the refuge. Beyond that vantage point, however, the path drops off steeply and would have required that I sit to slide down the rocky path. Not what I was up to at the end of the day.
The Hal Borland trail offered much easier footing for the most part. The remnants of the haying process created beautiful patterns across the open meadow. We visited in early fall so the trees were not ablaze, but we still enjoyed touches of color that promised a more spectacular show in the days ahead.
Along the Hal Borland trail, we spotted on the map a foot bridge over the nearby stream that turned out to be under construction at the time of our visit. We took a peek at the progress but quickly saw that this was not a place for the general public, at least, until the foot bridge is replaced.
After going through a farm gate, we followed the Borland trail alongside a farm fence that led to a wooded path. We would have done better turning around at this point. Not being familiar with the area, we soldiered on and soon discovered that this section of trail is somewhat wet, with lots of roots and rocks, making for some tough travel. We made it, but on future visits I will choose to avoid this part of what is designed as a loop trail.
Our daylight was limited, but what we saw from the map of this whimsically named property will draw us back here. One visit was certainly not enough. Happy trails!
Marjorie
