Massachusetts - Walks in the Woods

Sometimes we need a break from looking at real estate and we take a local hike or Barbara goes letterboxing.

We explored Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. This former military training base with WWII era ammunition bunkers was cleaned up and transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for conservation in 2000.

Bill at bunker, Assabet River NWR, Sudbury MA, Jan 31

Photographs can't quite capture the enchanting feeling we felt while walking in a totally snow covered woods near our home one day – like a wintry Narnia.  We didn't get much snow this year, but that day was just beautiful.

a snowy day at Wolbach Farm, Sudbury MA, Feb 2

After countless times driving past a conservation area in Concord called the Old Rifle Range, we finally explored the trails in pursuit of a letterbox. The former rifle range provided a training area for the local militia from 1910-1951. It ended up a treacherous walk on ice packed trails, but we liked the view at the end of the trail.

Kennedy's Pond, Old Rifle Range, Concord MA, Feb 22

We found several remnants of old targets along the path.

former target, Old Rifle Range, Concord MA, Feb 22

After a fruitless trip to Virginia where the house we planned to see was sold before we got there, Barbara needed a good hike. She spent a day on her own letterboxing at Ward Reservation in Andover. The area is one of Barbara's favorites.

stones, Ward Reservation, Andover MA, Mar 11

There have been lots of other hikes here and there. We try to keep our eyes open to what we see along the path.

ice, Mt Tom State Reservation, Holyoke MA, Feb 27

fungi, Ward Reservation, Andover MA, Mar 11

rail trail, Sterling MA, Mar 31

stick teepee, Puplit Rock, Bedford NH, Mar 31

White Pine sign, Assabet River Trail, Maynard MA, Apr 9

fairy house, Fairyland Pond, Concord MA, Apr 10

MA, NH & VA - House Hunting Hikes

Our serious travel is stalled while we look for a place to move, but we still got in some day hikes while house hunting.

In January we looked at houses on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Bill hiked by a salt marsh and also walked from one house to the ocean while Barbara hung out at this beach.

beach at Surf Drive, Falmouth MA

So cool to find a house so close to the ocean, but there was a surprising amount of traffic in January that will only be worse in the summer.

The next day Bill hiked a mountain near Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire that was walking distance from a few houses.

view from Pine Mountain, Alton NH

No traffic here and a beautiful view, but we wondered if it was a little too far from things.

Later we went back to the Cape and Bill took an inland hike pretty close to a house we liked. Too bad the extra garage was a little too tight for our trailer.

West Barnstable Conservation Area, Barnstable MA

 In February we went to Southwest Virginia. Bill hiked a section of the Appalachian Trail near Daleville.

Carvins Cove Reservoir viewed from the Appalachian Trail near Daleville VA

We looked at a few houses in the Roanoke area, but didn't find the right home. We did drive a section of the Blue Ridge Parkway and caught a nice sunset.

Blue Ridge Parkway near Buena Vista VA

We also looked at real estate in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts – the area near the Connecticut River. On one of these trips we hiked at Mt Tom State Reservation. Barbara hiked to two rickety towers and despite her acrophobia, climbed both.

Goat Peak Lookout Tower, Mt Tom State Reservation, Holyoke MA

Bill hiked to the top of Mt Nonotuck, saw the remains of a hotel that burned a century ago, and got a view of the Connecticut River.

view from Mt Nonotuck, Mt Tom State Reservation, Holyoke MA

Finally we checked out a couple towns in Southern New Hampshire. We found a house in Hollis that had a marvelous barn for our trailer but the house was, well, not marvelous. It was walking distance from a network of pretty snowmobile trails, but we didn't get a picture. Another trip provided the opportunity to explore the geologically interesting Pulpit Rock Conservation Area in Bedford with its boulders, potholes, and cascading stream.

Pulpit Rock Conservation Area, Bedford NH

We've looked quite a bit at real estate, starting with Florida in the Fall and it's been a challenging process finding the right place, but we've enjoyed some moments along the way.