Lake Street Entrance to the SNETT-older, town-made sign on the right, and newer, DR sign at trailhead on the left
The SNETT is within walking distance of where I live in Bellingham, and thus I’ve been able to keep a pretty close eye on any progress, or lack thereof, in making this section of trail more useable. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Along the Mass Central Railtrail in Rutland, wearing cooling scarf, cooling vest, with water mister on hand nearby
In summer, sweat is an important body function, part of keeping us safe from overheating. Inconvenient, for sure; unattractive, perhaps, but there you have it–our body’s way of helping us cool off on these hot, July days mid-summer. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
A parade of eiders, traveling west along the banks of the Cape Cod Canal
After a whole lot of rain, we were ready to get out to stretch our legs so we headed to the Cape Cod Canal. It’s early spring and we were curious to see if the herring were heading up the fish ladder that is near the visitor center on the north side of the canal.
We headed down the stairs to the bikeway that travels alongside the canal, and saw people gathered all along the path, staring out at the canal. No, there was no large ship passing through right then. Instead, we spied a parade of eider ducks, several hundred birds, male and female, paddling within feet of the shoreline, against the current. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
In the greenhouse at Wellesley College
The trails hereabouts were all clear as we approached spring, until we were hit with a late season blizzard, and so it’s back to icy trails and the challenge to find safe places to walk. When my hiking buddy Jennifer suggested visiting Wellesley College’s Botanic Gardens, my first thought was, “Yeah, no ice!” I did not, however, expect to be transported back to the years of my childhood. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
On the shoreline of the Quinapoxit river, opposite the Mass Central Railtrail in Boylston
We have spent the past several summers riding our tandem bike along the available railtrails within about 3 hour’s drive from our home in Bellingham, MA. We have two substantial portions of railtrail, the Blackstone River Bikeway and the Upper Charles Trail, both within about 15 minute’s drive from us, and a portion of a third proposed trail, the SNETT, within easy walking distance of our home.
Sometimes we are lucky enough to discover additional options for travel quite near to railtrails we’ve explored in the past. Our recent “explore” near the Wachusett Reservoir in north-central MA revealed a new spot where we’ll be able to travel on our bike when the weather is warmer. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Hardy folks of the Ten Mile River Watershed Council, on the trail at the Fish Hatchery in N.Attleboro
Last weekend we had a kickoff meeting for our newest project. And since the project is an effort to document and share the trails and canoe put-ins of the Ten Mile River watershed, our meeting was held outdoors. No matter that the temperature hovered in the teens. The volunteers of this water conservation group are a hardy lot, and cheerfully headed out with me on the trail at the Fish Hatchery on Bungay Road in North Attleboro. Continue reading
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Bright yellow leaves wreathe the entrance to the trail at Choate Park
The oaks are particularly stunning this fall as the foliage season stretches past what we normally expect. But there are also maple trees that did not seem to get the message that they were supposed to change color in October. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Summers in New England are relatively hot, except when they’re not. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
Back on the biketrail in Gardner, MA
It’s been over 20 years since I was able to hop on a bike and pedal myself down a path. That saying, “just like riding a bike” always catches me—people think riding a bike is something you can’t forget how to do. Yet for some of us, because of balance issues caused by many things, riding a bike is exactly what we can no longer do. Maybe it’s not that big a deal for some folks. But before my life changed because of surgery to remove a life-threatening brain tumor, I was physically very active. I loved to get outside, loved to walk, loved to swim, loved to dance, and biking was something that was easy for me. Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks, Meditations/Liturgies
Joe’s Rock, Wrentham, MA
Last month I had an unfortunate encounter with an overenthusiastic farm dog, all while standing too close to the edge of the farm porch. The resulting fall has kept me homebound the past month, icing my hip, lower back, ribs, and shoulders as I waited for my body to heal. Gratefully, I have no broken bones, but walking has been quite painful.
Strangely, walking on level floors has been more painful than climbing stairs. Yesterday, as the sun rose and the sky filled with blue, I thought, why not climb straight up Joe’s Rock? Continue reading
Filed under Blog posts--Easy Walks
