I have had a passion for berry-picking probably since I realized there was a large patch of wild blueberries right across the street from where I lived when my oldest child was quite small. There was something about getting outdoors, sitting in the sunshine and finding delicious food, free for the picking. I still keep my eye open for berry patches, and enjoy discovering wild berries on my summer walks. But I’ve found it difficult to pick enough wild berries to satisfy my longing for summer fruit. Continue reading
Category Archives: Blog posts–Easy Walks
Easy Walk Among the Blueberries
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Wenakeening Wood trail, Holliston
The heat of Massachusetts summer is upon us, so I was up at 6 this morning to meet my friend Jennifer for an early morning walk. I’d spotted what looked like a trail just over the Medway line in Holliston on Rt. 126, almost across the street from Fatima Shrine. We found a very small (2-car) parking area, pulled in and headed out on the trail.
Wenakeening Woods is a quiet trail, basically all woodland, relatively level, and mostly clear, except for one or two spots where trees have fallen across the trail.
We found some nice water views, old stone walls, and a structure that might have been a stone foundation in years gone by. The trails are marked, but even so we found ourselves confused about how to circle back to the trail where our car was.
All ended well, we found our way back, and here are some photos to give you a taste of what a pretty walk awaits. “Like” us on Facebook at “Easy Walks in Massachusetts” for updates about new trails and all things outdoors.
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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Easy Walk on the MA Coast
It’s finally dawned on me that “all” the walks I take are easy walks. It’s what I do. Summer heat and I don’t do well together, so we headed out early to the south MA coast, Westport, MA to my favorite spot, Gooseberry Island. Almost contiguous with Horseneck Beach, Gooseberry Island feels like a world away from the extremely popular state beach. Continue reading
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Adventures at Hopedale Parklands
I love visiting Hopedale Parklands in Hopedale, MA in every season. With water views almost the whole way around the pond, it offers so much to enjoy, on relatively, stroller-friendly trails.
Last weekend was a perfect spring day to venture outside. We went to Hopedale Parklands and had a great time on the trail, while a grandgirl climbed rocks and stayed cheerful for the entire 2.5 mile walk. Afterwards I went home and got a nap!
Great spots along the way to find a homemade slide
Hopedale Pond.
Marjorie
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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Easy Walking on the paths at Bellingham, MA Town Common
The Bellingham Town Common isn’t what might first come to mind as an “easy walking trail” but it has well-kept walking paths that are ideal for families to enjoy, especially on a fall day when the foliage glows in the sunlight. Skateboards and dogs are prohibited, but there’s no mention of a bike prohibition. I’ve seen lots of young children starting to learn to ride their small bikes along the paths, parents trailing behind, urging encouragement. I’ve pushed a stroller, new grandchild snoozing away, while his big sister enjoyed the compact playground tucked away from the road.
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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Fleeting time for fall foliage
Lookout Rock in Northbridge, MA on Quaker Street always offers a lovely view of the countryside. Lots of “leaf peepers” hit the highways and head north or west from here to see the sights, but miss the sometimes spectacular views right in our backyard. Right now I am hitting the trail as often as I can to capture views such as this before winter sets in. I am keenly aware of the seasons. I also know that spring will return!
Marjorie Turner Hollman
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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Beautiful views of Choate Park, Medway, MA
From the whimsical to the sublime, Choate Park in Medway MA is a fun place to visit. The trail around the pond is easy walking, the trail between the park and Medway High School provides stone walls, minimal poison ivy(!) and more easy walking. The playground, with “Choatie” the turtle, always makes me smile.
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.
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View from the road, the Charles River in Bellingham
The Charles River appears in unlikely locations in the communities it wends its way through; under busy roads, along small byways, beside and under interstates. Here’s a glimpse of the Charles as it meanders under High Street in Bellingham. In the spring it makes itself known here by flooding the road and making it nearly impassable. In late summer it’s well-behaved, easy to miss unless you make the time to stop and enjoy the view
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Marjorie Turner Hollman is a personal historian who loves the outdoors, and has completed two guides to Easy Walking trails in Massachusetts, “Easy Walks in Massachusetts 2nd edition,” and “More Easy Walks in Massachusetts.” A native Floridian, she came north for college and snow! New England Regional Chair for the Association of Personal Historians, she is a Certified Legacy Planner with LegacyStories.org, and is the producer of numerous veterans interviews for the Bellingham/Mendon Veteran’s History Project. http://www.marjorieturner.com
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Walks-Massachusetts-2nd-Northbridge/dp/0989204340
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Exposing the Hidden Charles on the High Street Trail
The High Street Ball fields in Bellingham, MA appear to simply be a recreation area for organized sports in Bellingham. But when you venture to the back of the fields, you’ll find bat boxes and on the far right you’ll discover an opening in the trees that provides access to trails that will take you to a lovely spot along the Charles River. The path is, for the most part, quite easy walking. The biggest challenge is the mosquitoes. Except in late fall and winter, be prepared to use bug repellent!
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a personal historian who loves the outdoors, and has completed two guides to Easy Walking trails in Massachusetts, “Easy Walks in Massachusetts 2nd edition,” and “More Easy Walks in Massachusetts.” A native Floridian, she came north for college and snow! New England Regional Chair for the Association of Personal Historians, she is a Certified Legacy Planner with LegacyStories.org, and is the producer of numerous veterans interviews for the Bellingham/Mendon Veteran’s History Project. http://www.marjorieturner.com
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Walks-Massachusetts-2nd-Northbridge/dp/0989204340
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Favorite spots along the trail
As I prepared these local trails book, I took photos along the way, not all of which fit into the book. I’m sharing them here in hopes that people will get excited about these beautiful, local places and get
out for hikes to see these places for themselves. Above is a view of the Charles River as it approaches North Maple Street in Bellingham, MA. Below is the Blackstone River as it flows through the Blackstone Gorge in Blackstone, MA.
Marjorie Turner Hollman is a personal historian who loves the outdoors, and has completed two guides to Easy Walking trails in Massachusetts, “Easy Walks in Massachusetts 2nd edition,” and “More Easy Walks in Massachusetts.” A native Floridian, she came north for college and snow! New England Regional Chair for the Association of Personal Historians, she is a Certified Legacy Planner with LegacyStories.org, and is the producer of numerous veterans interviews for the Bellingham/Mendon Veteran’s History Project. http://www.marjorieturner.com
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Walks-Massachusetts-2nd-Northbridge/dp/0989204340
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