Marjorie Turner Hollman is an author, creator, observer, and disability advocate who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.
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Grand Falls in autumn. The St. John River created this massive gorge and cascade
Choosing to travel to Canada when living in New England is not that big a challenge. On a recent trip we left from Massachusetts and headed for the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, and stopped at Grand Falls, New Brunswick (NB) on our way farther north. After studying our planned route, we decided to include Grand Falls as an incidental stop along the way to the Gaspé Peninsula. Sometimes the unplanned stops along the way can be the most rewarding. Grand Falls was the perfect start of our travels north, beyond the border of Maine and the U.S.
Years ago my husband and I visited often the Acton Arboretum, just off Rt. 2 on Taylor Road. On our previous visit the parking area was rough with potholes, but a few of the paths were handicapped accessible. Some benches were available here and there.
Returning ten years later, we were amazed at the positive changes that have made this open space into a destination I would highly recommend.
Our fully loaded adaptive tandem bicycle. We look like we are headed out for a week, but this is what it takes to keep me safe on the trail.
In this post we’re off to Westfield, MA and heading south into Connecticut. Late spring, cooler summer days, and early fall are the times when we take out our adaptive tandem bicycle. Our visit to Westfield was early summer, overcast and comfortable.
On the trail with our adaptive tandem bicycle
My walking distance is limited, but when we climb onto our tandem bicycle we can travel substantially farther (often between 10 and 35 miles round trip) and enjoy varied terrain along the way. On these tandem outings we often cross multiple rivers, streams, and ponds.
We started on the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail in Westfield, continuing into Southwick, MA. Our plan was to head south from Westfield to the Farmington Rail trail. It is designated as the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail and Farmington River Trail, the boundaries of which reach from the Massachusetts/Connecticut line south to New Haven, Connecticut.
In the area where we pedaled, we spotted a few small sections of what was once the Farmington Canal, which was begun in the 1820s (from the Massachusetts state line south to New Haven, Connecticut) and operated through the 1840s. As a transportation option, the canal was never a financial success. For the most part, few signs of the canal structures are still intact. We spotted a stretch of water with exceedingly straight banks, most probably a small portion of the erstwhile canal. Water flowed through a small stream underneath a bridge along the trail, and then continued on to the man-made waterway.
In Simsbury, the next town south of Granby, the trail took a detour around the Monrovia Nursery Company and Imperial Nurseries. There is a dedicated path for trail users but it requires crossing at a busy light. The paved section at the back side of the nursery is quite narrow. Take care. An overzealous rider coming from the opposite direction chose to speed up to squeeze between us and another bike that was approaching us. With inches to spare we all got past each other. This is a down side of sharing a path with others.
Lake Basile in Simsbury, Connecticut was where we turned around. Before heading back north we found a bench overlooking the lake and pulled out our lunch.
Tasty wild strawberriesVandalized turtle nest on the shores of Lake Basile
Ripe wild strawberries added to our meal (but be careful of the poison ivy!) The sandy shoreline next to the water was pock-marked with remnants of turtle nests that had been dug up. The curled up remains of turtle eggs surrounded each excavated hole. A raccoon or skunk must have had a feast.
Much of the area we passed through is cultivated farmland. We saw corn crops, the young plants just poking up out of the ground. Other fields were planted with vegetables. Road crossings in these rural areas were, for the most part, easily gotten past. A few heavily trafficked streets had crosswalk lights that helped us to safely get to the other side of the trail.
Fun sculptures at a road crossing in Simsbury
As with many rail trails, the path itself is relatively level, yet seemied to slope down in each direction we traveled. We were reminded of the stories of past generations when children walked uphill both ways in the snow on their way to school. In our case, however, it felt as though we mostly rolled downhill both ways. Happy trails!
It’s a long drive from New England where we live, to Tennessee, where our grandboys (and their parents!) are. On our way there, or when traveling back toward home, we make a point of stopping places that offer Easy Walks, (not too many roots or rocks, relatively level with firm footing, and something of interest along the way). After a recent visit, we headed for the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia, but before we got onto the parkway itself we stopped at the Blue Ridge Tunnel.
Have you ever felt like you’ve been someplace before, even when you know the surroundings are new to you? On a recent trip I got that feeling, though perhaps, it was more of an echo of the past. Different state, different circumstances, and with different people. One common denominator tied my memory with the reality: sand dunes. We stopped to visit Indiana Dunes National Park. The Indiana Dunes State Park is adjacent to the national park and thus a substantial stretch of dunes buffers the surrounding area from the mighty waves of Lake Michigan.
Standing on the American side of the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls
Leaving from New England and traveling west, our logical first stopping point was near Buffalo, New York. Should we visit Niagara Falls? I had never been, but had heard of the massive commercialization near the iconic destination and felt sure it would be a disappointment.
In southern New England we are lucky to have a number of sections of coastline that are open to the public and easily accessible. My family heads to the coast for day trips, including Rhode Island and Connecticut since we are so close to the borders of both these states, mostly in the swing seasons (spring and fall). We choose coastal winter walks when other areas are likely to have ice-filled paths. Visiting in the swing seasons and even the dead of winter helps us avoid heat, bugs, traffic, and crowds that make summer coastal visits not so much fun for us.
I was asked to review a new book that will be published April 2, 2024, Hiking Ruins in Southern New England. It was gratifying to see that the authors, both archeologists, not only provided information about archeological remains along trails, but also included helpful maps and information about how to reach the various locations they pinpointed in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Color photos convey a lot about what they categorize as ruins. In addition, they offered information about trail surfaces, a real gift to those of us with mobility challenges. This book made me want to get out and start checking these destinations off my list. Reading through the guide brought to mind multiple locations I have visited that feature similar ruins.
We had an errand in the Milford, CT area and since it was a substantial drive for us from south central MA we made time to stop at a local Audubon shoreline sanctuary that we discovered not far from our destination.
Beaver Pond is quite close to downtown Franklin, MA, but feels a world away from the bustle of Dean College, churches, businesses, the town common, and the well-used commuter rail station. Rt. 495 skirts this conservation area, so quiet is not at the top of the list of attractions here. Despite the noise, the views are lovely, both from the beach area overlooking the water, and amidst the tree-lined path that skirts the edge of the pond.
Marjorie Turner Hollman 