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.
At 2000+ feet in elevation, Wachusett Mountain, in Princeton, MA, provides a perfect viewing spot for fall foliage. We visited on a beautiful fall afternoon when sugar maples were ablaze. The bright sunlight displayed oak trees’ reds and bronze foliage to their best advantage.
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.
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.
Just off Rt. 7 in Sheffield, Massachusetts is a covered bridge that spans the Housatonic River. We were in the area and looking for a picnic spot. A short one-lane dirt road leads to parking for about six cars next to the river. The covered bridge is closed to vehicular traffic and is just a few steps from the parking area. Visitors must undertake a slight incline to access the bridge.
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 are in the beginning stages of another Easy Walks in … trail guide, which will encompass the Berkshires. We were in the area and took advantage of a beautiful fall day to enjoy a short loop trail in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The Meadow Loop of the 333 acre Thomas & Palmer Brook property  is a half mile round trip with a packed gravel surface. This is an Easy Walk, for sure!
Fall colors along the paved Marsh Trail, Salisbury, MA
Marjorie Turner Hollman helps authors self-publish their nonfiction 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.Learn more.
LISTEN:
Salisbury, Massachusetts offers a wonderful rail trail network that provides marsh views, woodland paths and an overlook of the Merrimack River. Our visit was on a perfect fall day, with little if any wind. Bright autumn colors glowed in the sunshine. We saw few other people using the trail, which surprised us, since we were there on a weekend.
Marjorie Turner Hollman helps authors self-publish their nonfiction 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.Learn more.
Marjorie Turner Hollman helps authors self-publish their nonfiction 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. Learn more.
LISTEN:
Our calendar to-do list is pretty big this fall. Before we tend to those tasks, and it gets too cold (for us) to bicycle in New England, we decided to take a break. Vermont is a New England state we have spent little time in. This was our chance to explore the Lamoille Valley Rail trail, near Stowe, Vermont.
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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The Medway (MA) Trails Club and Open Space Committee have been hard at work since I last updated the 2nd edition of Easy Walks in Massachusetts in 2016. I recently visited Medway a couple of times to see for myself the changes that have taken place. Here’s a link to maps of all the open space in Medway.
As I work to update the book, my first outing to Choate Park this year with my friend Nancy was simply to capture some of the stunning foliage around Choate Pond, just off Rt. 109 in Medway. The trees did not disappoint. Watery reflections doubled the display of fall color.
Turtles resting on a log in Choate Pond
In the afternoon sunlight a row of turtles perched themselves on a tree trunk that had conveniently fallen into the pond.
Stone walls follow parts of the path from Choate Park onto Medway High School and beyond
The trail to Medway High School is accessed directly from the Choate Park recreation area. Keep an eye out in the afternoon when school is dismissed. Students use this trail when leaving for the day. The Cross Country (CC) team also uses this area as their CC race course. Plan to enjoy the quiet, stone walls, a small stream, and access to additional trails which will take ambitious walkers on several more miles of trail.
I learned that a new parking area, with access to a handicapped accessible path through the Adams Street meadow, is now useable.
Packed stone dust path encircles the Adams St. meadow
The grand opening for the trail is not yet scheduled, but the trail and parking area are finished and ready for visitors.
My tour guide Andrea
A member of the Open Space committee, Andrea, joined me for my visit to the meadow. Thanks to the hard work of local committees and additional funding through an RTP grant from Massachusetts Division of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), the meadow trail provides a paved handicapped accessible parking area. The crushed stone path takes visitors around the circumference of the meadow.
One of several benches in place along the Meadow trail
Multiple benches and picnic tables provide places to rest, or simply spend some time enjoying the view.
Viewing platform, overlooking the meadow
Species such as bluebirds and bobolinks need open space such as the Adams St. meadow to thrive. A handicapped accessible viewing platform hosts a bench for those looking to spend some time relaxing there. Additional connecting trails take visitors behind Medway High School back toward Choate Park.
Boardwalk over Chicken Brook
Yet another trail system on the other side of Adams St. hosts two boardwalks that cross Chicken Brook (a tributary of the Charles River). This portion of the trail has a small parking area on Adams St. next to the high tension wires that cross the area. The path from the high tension wires goes through woodland and wetland (thus the boardwalks) on its way to a small parking area on Lovering Street. Both Adams and Lovering Street and their parking areas are accessed from Summer Street (Rt. 126) in Medway.
Parking area at high tension lines on Adams St.Parking area sign at Lovering St.
I was excited to see all the progress that has occurred since I released the second edition of Easy Walks in Massachusetts. Our local rail trails have seen the most progress in connecting portions of trail from one town to the next. The town-owned open space of Choate Park is impressive, not only for efforts within the town to provide better access to their trail network, but for the countless volunteer hours that have contributed to making well marked trails available for residents and visitors alike.
Choate Park and its network of trails in Medway, MA are a worthwhile destination for sure. Happy trails!
Returning to where we have been before says a lot about our enjoyment level. Some are, for me, one and done. But I look forward to returning to others, like Powers Farm, Randolph, MA, when the opportunity presents itself.
