Tag Archives: finding easy walks

Walking through history at the Bellingham town common

Watering trough for horses now stands in a place of honor at the town common

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

Town commons are, well, common throughout New England, but this doesn’t mean they have remained static throughout their history. Many town commons have been altered, “improved” and in Bellingham’s case, built on and almost forgotten. But today, Bellingham has a vibrant town common that is well-situated, beloved, and much visited. Community events take place there often, and visitors, both adults and children, spend time there daily throughout the year.

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The 8 arch bridge Holliston in autumn

The 8 arch bridge in Autumn

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

The 8 arch bridge is best enjoyed off the trail. The arches are only visible to passers-by, but still, the views from the bridge itself–now that is what keeps me returning to this spectacular spot along the Holliston Upper Charles Trail.

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Forest Bathing in Wellesley

Glowing foliage surrounded us at Elmbank in Wellesley

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

We had a perfect outdoor fall day to try forest bathing at Elmbank in Wellesley, MA. The bright blue sky offered a perfect backdrop for the glowing fall foliage. The breeze provided a varying shower of leaves as the wind increased then died back down.

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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