Hike 13 - Section #13B

Sunday, October 28 - Hurricane Sandy is bearing down on the whole eastern seaboard (see local paper spelling error), but it's still a good day to get out for a hike.  Well, maybe.

This section of the hike goes mostly through Charlton and traverses the famous "cow tunnel" under 4 lanes of US Route 20 (Boston Post Road).  That was my pitch, anyway, to entice Betsy to join me on this stretch, in less-than-ideal weather conditions.  Driving to the start is now a bit easier because we are close to major highways once again (I-290, US 20).  To get started earlier, we leave directly from church after Youth Ministry Band (YMB) practice. Once again, we jockey cars so that I have a little longer hike  and Betsy joins me in the middle. I start walking at 1:52pm.

Betsy takes a photo of me through the car window back at Four Chimneys.  You have to look very carefully, but there are raindrops on the windshield.

Several parts of today's hike were over pipeline, which made for easy walking.

Some of the roads I was on are designated "scenic", apparently meaning narrow and winding, with lots of trees, but no views.

Lots of variety on this hike.This is the major east-west rail line from Worcester to Springfield.

And somebody painted a welcome message for me on the bridge.

This appears to be a monastery or retreat center of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, which separated after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD.

It just seems odd that it should be behind such heavy security.

Betsy joins me after two miles.  It is still misty and drizzling a bit, but we're well prepared for weather.

You don't expect to see pink and purple leaves in the fall, but these almost match Betsy's backpack.

We make it to Rider Tavern, home to the Charlton Historical Society.

Across the street is a muster field, used well into the 19th century.  Betsy thinks I sometimes use my trekking poles as weapons, so I posed with them for this photo.

Passing over the Mass Pike, there's lots of westbound traffic evading the hurricane's path.  The rest area is in the distance.

This tree was being strangled by this heavy vine.

We finally arrive at the cow tunnel.  Inside, Betsy had an unfortunate fall because it seems someone left a bread-loaf size rock in the middle of the very dark path.

But we make it safely to the car, only another 0.1 mile away.

We were a little soggy at the end of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 5.05 miles, but a Dunkaccino and hot tea on the way home really warmed things up.