Tag Archives: finding easy walks

by | September 25, 2020 · 3:05 pm

The other Upton State Forest, Pleasant Street

Signs of beaver alongside the West River in the Upton State Forest, Pleasant Street

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

We have state forests throughout Massachusetts, and are lucky enough to have several near where I live. Upon has at least two separate parcels of open space, the better known area where the CCC headquarters building stands off Westborough Road, and the parcel of forest behind Nipmuc High School on Pleasant Street in Upton. We visited this second portion of state forest on a recent weekend, and found almost no one on the nearly 2 mile loop trail that takes travelers alongside the West River as it flows on its way to the Blackstone River.

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by | September 23, 2020 · 2:53 pm

Return to a dry Hop Brook, Blackstone

Hop Brook last May

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

Last spring we visited Hop Brook Preserve in Blackstone and took in the views of the triple waterfall cascade tumbling down the hillside in this area that is clearly former pasture.

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by | August 11, 2020 · 3:21 pm

Have a Plan B, exploring in Central MA

Congregational Church, Dudley MA

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

We headed out to Dudley, MA, planning to park at Nichols College to bike a rural route from there on road. The sun shone bright, we found a spot next to the entrance to the college, and saw next to no one around. Everything was a go, bike all set, extra ice packed, bike tools packed, snacks. And then, the cooling vest didn’t quite work right.

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by | July 13, 2020 · 3:18 pm

Early morning ride on the Burrillville Bike Path

Pascoag Reservoir, near the Burrillville bike path

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

We continue to practice what we tell others they can do to #Avoidcrowds. We packed our bike the night before, including everything we’d need for the morning and got up early to head out first thing. It promised to be a hot, muggy day, and we wanted to avoid the worst of the heat. Our destination was Pascoag, RI, (a village in Burrillville) to a very short paved bike path. Our plan was to start at the Burrillville Bike path, and do some road biking from there.

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by | June 24, 2020 · 11:14 am

After dinner ride, Upper Charles Trail, Holliston

Early evening on the Upper Charles Trail, Holliston

With the start of summer comes the longest days, the most sunlight (and the summer heat, of course). We had an early light dinner and headed out with our adaptive tandem bicycle to one of the closest local trails, the handicapped accessible, stone dust covered, Upper Charles Trail in Holliston, MA. A helpful strategy we have used for avoiding crowded trails is to get out early in the morning, or at supper time, when others are headed home.

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by | June 17, 2020 · 12:12 pm

Dudley Quinebaug Rail Trail Where the crowds are not

Quinebaug River, Dudley

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

While it was difficult to tell from the maps we studied and the trail reports we read, it looked as though the Quinebaug Rail Trail in Dudley, MA might offer a bikeable path for us to explore. If we found this not to be true, we had Plan B at the ready, to travel just a short ways north to join up the Grand Trunk Rail Trail in Southbridge.

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by | June 8, 2020 · 2:16 pm

Just over the line-Railtrail in Mason, NH

Mason Railtrail, Mason, NH has impressive rock cuts along the way

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors. Link to all Marjorie’s books.

We headed north to investigate a potential rail trail we had heard about in Mason, NH, to see if it was bikeable. Called the Mason Rail Trail, we found very little up to date information on the internet, a little info on the Mason town website, but later discovered a quite recent account of a visit there only last week.

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by | August 16, 2019 · 1:07 pm

Finding Easy Walks Along the Way in Vermont

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You never know what you might find…just off the road, traveling through Smugglers Notch

As I work on finishing up my book, “How to Find Easy Walks Wherever You Are,” when we travel to unfamiliar places, I am reminded of important points made in the book. These are some of the concepts I have found to be helpful: be willing to explore; be willing to turn around; learn to read maps; use the internet; and tell everyone you are looking for Easy Walks. We used nearly all these principles on our most recent trip to Vermont. Continue reading →

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by | April 4, 2019 · 3:10 pm

Finding Easy Walks–Delaware Water Gap

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Delaware river with mountains on either side of the river

When we got to the Delaware Water Gap, I was surprised to learn that it is so much more than a spot where the Delaware River cuts between a mountain range. In fact, for about thirty miles, on both sides of the river, the Water Gap is actually a National Recreation Area. Continue reading →

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by | February 15, 2018 · 4:08 pm

Finding a Place to Walk in Winter–St. Vincent’s Hospital, Worcester

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Liz talks with the group prior to heading out to walk at St. Vincent’s in Worcester

Winter offers challenges to everyone, especially those of us concerned about the consequences of slipping on ice and injuring ourselves. The past three winters Worcester resident Liz Myska has created an indoor walking program that provides not only a safe place to walk, it also has drawn people from a wide variety of backgrounds to come walk with those who are visually impaired, and learn how sighted guides can be helpful to those who have limited vision. Continue reading →

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