Family Hike

We had a map, but I forgot to turn on the tracking for this early summer hike in June.  Tanks to Mass DER, I was able to copy of portion of the Wachusett Mountain Reservation hiking trail map to show you where we went.

We park our car at Administration Road at the mountain's south side and set our sights on the Echo Lake and High Meadow Trails.  Hopefully, it won't be too strenuous on anyone. 

From High Meadow, we head down via the Jack Frost Trail.  As you can see by the contour lines it was a little steeper than I remember, but also sill a long ways from the summit.

Somebody doesn't need to take a nap and is raring to go!

When my kids were little, we did not have such fancy back packs.  They were held in by one flimsy little strap instead.

Yay!  First objective "Echo Lake" is met.

"Yes", we are definitely having fun yet.

So the High Meadow Trail is called that for a reason.  It was a bit of a climb to get up there.

Madeline thinks she's had enough of the backpack and would like to do a little walking too.

You Can Still Get Out - Orienteering

Thank you New England Orienteering Club for helping me get outside and enjoy nature in the midst of the stressful times of COVID-19.  In fact, outside is one of the best places to be, as it turns out:

Running and walking outside are some of the safest activities people can do right now, “assuming they follow the actual social distancing guidelines,” Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, chairman of the department of medicine and hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau tells CNBC Make It.

While there still aren't that many people out, I am undeterred.  With the NEOC's BYOM (Bring Your Own Map) format, which utilizes a QR Code reader application on my phone, one can enjoy the challenging experience of Orienteering without the worries of conforming to a strict schedule of start times.  In fact, NEOC held multiple BYOM events this spring at Nobscot Reservation in Sudbury and Hale/Powissett Reservation in Westwood.  

Orienteering is done in the wood where it is easy to keep safely physically distant from people.

Small orienteering controls are hung without the usual card punch or electronic readers, but rather a plastic-bagged paper displaying the control id and a QR Code.

At Nobscot's April 4-12 event, was able to do the Yellow course one week with Betsy and attempted the Orange course the following week as well
(click on the link above and search for "Fiedler" to see my results).

The following week, I headed down to Hale Reservation.  I did an Orange course and the locations on the map were shown as just symbols (without text).  I finally figured out what the symbol for this control was - "pit".  Boy! -- was that one hard to find.

That event ran from April 18-26, so I did an Orange one week and Yellow the next.  My results are here, but you have to search for "Steve" because I spelled my last name wrong.

The lake on this reservation is beautiful and has a couple beaches as well.

This is New England for you.  There's still snow in the woods in late April.

Finally, I returned to Nobscot for the course set up by the Juniors on May 9-24.  One weekend I did a Brown course, another weekend I did the Orange course, and on the third weekend, we took the grandkids to do a Yellow course.  Dominic navigated most of the way.  You'll only see 2 entries for "Fiedler" in the results, as I messed up in my registration of the Yellow course.  Our results can be found of you search for the name "No".  If you view the split times, you will see we took a nice long break between control 8 and 9 to eat our lunch.

Hope you have as much fun getting out as we do.

In front on Nobscot's parade ground, we're ready to go

Batholomew's Cobble

Today I was reminded that fall is the best season for hiking.  We had an opportunity today to go hiking with the Brooklyn side of the family.  After spending a getaway night in the Berkshires, Matt, Becky, and Madeline joined us for an outdoor adventure in extreme southwestern Massachusetts.  The location is Bartholomew's Cobble, a Trustees of Reservations property.  Since we're already members (and often take advantage of our membership at Crane Beach), we thought it would be nice to explore one of the other properties on their extensive list.

Once we settled on location, Matt did some research and planned the perfect hike for us.

Despite what the website said, the visitor's center was closed.  So, after a few adjustments, we start out along the scenic trail.  Matt had done some research and had a plan for the hike.

We walk alongside the Housatonic River which snakes back and forth here.
 The river is running pretty high right now due to some recent rains.

Madeline's having a grand time riding on Daddy's back.

There were interpretive signs along some portions of the trail.

Almost everybody in this "selfie".

In this "selfie", I include the "Rock Outcrop" which is noted prominently on the trail map.

It's not the Rockies, but there are actual mountains in the Berkshires.  

Usually one  step OVER a log that has fallen across the trail.

It's a little after 12pm at this point, and you can tell by the length of the shadows that's its autumn.

Lots and lots of fallen leaves getting stuck on the end of my trekking poles. 

This is a long path up to Hurlburt's Hill.  Grasshoppers were jumping in front of our shoes with every step.

The payoff for the climb is this great view.

With a panorama  photo, you get an even better sense of the expansive landscape.

This photo shows color and suggests texture as well.

We take a rest and snack break at the benches on the hill top.  About 50 meters behind us is the Connecticut state line.

Feeling good at the top of the hill.

 After our break, we have a straight-line walk back to the visitor's center and our car.  The hike is a modest 3.27 miles done in 2:11.  With the climb up Hurlburt's Hill, our total elevation gain as 682'.

The parking lot at the visitor's center was quite full when we arrived back.  We pack up and head into Sheffield for a late lunch.  Matt's chosen Bash Bish Brew & Que, a small establishment on the main street.  The atmosphere was laid-back and the food was very good:  brisket, pulled pork, greet beans, cole slaw, and local beer.  Betsy brought gluten free German Black Forest cupcakes to celebrate Matt's birthday.  A fitting end for a beautiful fall day in the Berkshires.

Hub on Wheels 2019

This is the year for long city bike rides.  In the spring it was 40 miles on the Five Boro Bike Tour in New York.  Today it's 44 miles with Hub on Wheels here in Boston.  There are a few differences between the rides.  First of all, since this one's in Boston, it's a lot closer to home.  Instead of driving 4 hours to another city the day before, I got to sleep in my own bed before the big adventure.  Even better, instead of rain and showers, it's a blue bird day here in New England.  However, just like in the spring, Matt & I are doing this ride together. To add to the fun, though, we're joining several cyclists from the Veracode Burlington office.

For my part, I am nursing a knee injury suffered in an after-work volleyball game a few days earlier.  Hopefully, it won't hold me back today.

Matt didn't receive his info packet in time, so we need to go to registration in City Hall Plaza before we start.  After that, we look for our friends.

Matt & I are ready to go.  Little did I realize when I took this picture that we were right in front of the Old State House.

Some friends and coworkers:  Yun, Ryan (back turned), Kate, and Matt.

Kate & I must have registered at the same time;  her bib number (1625) is one number after mine (1624).

Looking down State Street past the Old State House, you can also see the Boston Custom House Tower against the sky.

The ride begins and we turn left onto Congress Street cutting between City Hall on the left and Fanieuil Hall on the right.  From there we head out onto Storrow Drive along the Charles River.  Sorry, no pictures here - there were lots and lots of bikes and people, but beautiful view of the river, the Esplanade, and Boston University. 
We turn off at The Back Bay Fens and start down the Emerald Necklace.

Our first rest stop is at in Arnold Arboretum about Mile 13.5.  We catch up with Kate for the first time.

This bridge wasn't too far after the rest stop, not sure exactly where, or if it has a name,
 but, I thought it was pretty neat looking.

The second rest stop is  at Neponset Park, just short of Mile 30.
There we found granola and energy bars, fresh fruit, and lines for the port-a-potties.
Next we're off to Pope John Paul II Park then heading onto the UMass Boston campus.

Reaching Columbia point, I take a picture break at the JFK Library where I visited last February.
I've seen this iconic building from the water several times paddling in Dorchester Bay, but never this close before.

From here, you get a great view of the city skyline.

Our third rest stop is at Carson Beach Mile 36.5.

We fell behind Kate and Ryan a bit and planned to meet them here.  Unfortunately, we couldn't find them,
but apparently they were here waiting for us just to the left of this photo.
From here, we're off into Southie, past City Point beach, another one of my paddling put-in spots for Boston Harbor.

We saw Serenade of the Seas when we passed the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, before riding into the seaport district.
This is the view up Seaport Boulevard.

We've had to obey the stoplights along the route, but now that we're back downtown, there's a lot more of them.

We cross the finish line back at City Hall Plaza, where we view vendors and food stations. 
We wait in line for our free burrito bowl.  It was worth the wait.

Another nice medallion to hang on my dining room lamp.  Just slightly bigger than the one from NYC.
Maybe because it was a few miles more.

My hyperextended knee didn't hold me back at all today.  Moreover,  I may have enjoyed this ride even more than the one in the spring; I'm sure the weather had something to do with that.  But even more than that, I got to see so many cool places that I've visited for other reasons or heard about and now finally got a chance to see.