We visited the Hopedale Parklands on a misty morning to record a “Corridor Chat” with folks from the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. We were talking about Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are, and tips found in the book to help you have a safer, more positive experience spending time outdoors. Here’s the final 10 minute video: https://youtu.be/NwLnKLFJvJk
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Hopedale Pond, frozen
Until quite recently we have enjoyed relatively mild temperatures for December. Overnight the temps dropped into the teens and the pond at Hopedale Parklands quaked from the shock of the change. Continue reading
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Colors are popping right now
After traveling, I always have a hard time getting going–there seems to be so many things to get back where they belong, so many concerns to tend to. We’ve just returned from visiting grandboys in Tennessee. But right now the foliage in our area has simply “popped” and I can’t bear to miss it. Continue reading
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View from Joe’s Rock, Wrentham
The genesis of my Easy Walks book series began when I noticed an unusual amount of activity on my website, people asking the question, “Where’s Joe’s Rock?” Continue reading
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Sculpture Park, Franklin, MA
When the woods begin filling with color, it’s as though I’ve forgotten this ever happened before. Some view fall as the harbinger of winter, but for me, it is the long-promised relief from the heat of summer. Continue reading
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The Blackstone River is a hidden jewel that is slowly being discovered. Here’s a quiet spot along the Blackstone that offers water access, and views of rolling hills upstream from the pond, on both sides of the river. The Blackstone Canal was built on the opposite bank of the river from where this photo was taken. 
I love how the water sparkles in the sunshine–a perfect fall day for an Easy Walk in the Blackstone River Valley.
Marjorie Turner Hollman
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
http://tinyurl.com/MTH-More-easy-walks
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There are a number of access points on the Blackstone River Bikeway, a wonderful railtrail that follows the Blackstone River from Woonsocket, RI to Pawtucket. There are views of the river along much of the 14 mile trail, but there are also interesting man-made structures that are pretty amazing. These views are found in Lincoln, RI, a pretty quiet section of the trail. 
“Like” us on Facebook at “Easy Walks in Massachusetts” for updates about new trails and all things outdoors.
Marjorie Turner Hollman
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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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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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
Comments Off on Favorite spots along the trail
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Marjorie Turner Hollman (courtesy of The Bellingham Bulletin)
We hear a lot about how important it is that we exercise more, but many of us don’t have the money to pay for gym memberships. And gym memberships don’t do much good if you never use them. Perhaps you’d be tempted by new places to walk your dogs, trails that offer different experiences in different seasons, or places that are safe for children and have walking paths good for people of all ages. Sound tempting?
There are many trails either in Bellingham or within twenty minutes away that are great places to return to again and again. River Bend Farm in Uxbridge has free parking; restrooms are available in the Visitors Center daily, from 10 am to 4 pm. Fishing is permitted, there’s easy canoe and kayak access into the canal beside the Visitors Center, and the tow path along the canal is flat. Continue reading
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Marjorie Turner Hollman 