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Neal was joined by 15 members at the Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover.
After being logged extensively around the turn of the century, Harold Parker State Forest was acquired by the Commonwealth between 1916 and 1934 from dozens of pasture and woodlot owners under a provision authorizing the purchase of “waste” woodlands at a rate “not exceeding an average cost of five dollars per acre”. It was one of the first state forests, and was named in honor of the state’s first Chairman of the State Forest Commission, who died in 1916. Reforestation began immediately. In 1930, the Department of Conservation employed “emergency unemployment crews” of 30 to 80 men, who worked to plant trees, build roads and combat gypsy moths. Beginning in 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps, a federal jobs program, had two camps here. Thousands of CCC workers planted pine plantations, and built many of the man-made ponds, dams and park structures that remain to this day. The young men lived in barracks and earned $1 a day, most of which could be sent home to family.
Of the eleven ponds at Harold Parker, nine are man-made. Bear Pond and Berry Pond are natural kettle hole ponds. Up until 1983 the series of man-made ponds and spillways in Andover were used as a fish hatchery. All of the ponds are now open to fishing and boating, and Berry Pond continues to be stocked with trout. We walked to Berry Pond and then back through the forest to Harold Parker Road.
Neal S
A beautiful Autumn day awaited eight TOHG members who biked from Newburyport to Salisbury and the Seabrook NH town line.
Beginning in Newburyport we followed the trail over the Greenleaf Whittier Bridge which spans the Merrimack River and separates Newburyport from Salisbury. Stopping halfway across the bridge we stopped to take in the view of Deer Island and the Chain Bridge below as well as a take a group photo. Continuing on we picked up the Old Eastern Marsh Trail and Ghost Trail in Salisbury. The Ghost Trail got its name from the white shroud wrapped carriages and autos carried by the train cars many years ago. Along this route we also noted the site of The Great Train Robbery in 1926 in which $65,000 was stolen from the B&M baggage car.
We continued along a paved trail through the woods to just over the line in Seabrook NH where this trail will eventually connect with the rail trail beginning in Portsmouth NH. Turning around we biked to the end of this part of the trail where it meets the Merrimack River before returning to our start and finishing with coffee and a bite to eat.
Alan U
Led by Neal Schmitt, ten members of the hiking group went on a walk at Appleton Farms in Ipswich. It was a wet morning but it did not rain while we were walking.
Appleton Farms is a park in Ipswich, Massachusetts, owned and maintained by The Trustees of Reservations. The property was deeded to the Trustees in 1998. The land was granted to Samuel Appleton, an immigrant from Little Waldingfield, England, in 1638 by the town of Ipswich and is one of the oldest continuously operating farms in Massachusetts. In 2002, The Trustees of Reservations established a vegetable Community Supported Agriculture Program. Also maintained by the Trustees of Reservations is the adjacent Appleton Farms Grass Rides. The properties include 4 miles of walking trails. The original house can be explored as well as some of the farm buildings. It also operates a store in which farm and local produce is sold.
After the walk, eight of us enjoyed lunch at the Farm Bar and Grille in Essex.
Neil S
Was it a hat trick? Was it a trifecta? No matter. 31 Gang members made the trip north to Burlington Vermont for 3 days of biking, entertainment and collegiality.
Despite earlier forecasts we had great weather for biking all 3 days. On Monday most of us biked from Oakledge Park in Burlington to “The Cut” on the causeway in Lake Champlain before returning. The ride was 24 miles round trip under beautiful sunny skies. We later boarded The Spirit of Ethan Allen for a ninety minute narrated tour on Lake Champlain. Our day ended with a pizza and Italian buffet at Zachary’s restaurant.
Tuesday started off cloudy as we drove to St Albans to ride 20 miles round trip to Sheldon Junction past cornfields, farms, woods and ended where the Missisquoi Trail intersects with the Lamoille Valley River Trail.
And our trip ended on Wednesday with a 10.6 mile round trip ride on the Stowe Recreation Path where we crossed 10 bridges on this short ride.
Lots of weary bones and tired riders after this but a beautiful trip was had by all.
Alan U.
It was a great day for a bike ride. Not too hot, not too humid, a gentle breeze to keep us cool. 11 TOHG members met in Nashua and 1 in Pepperell to bike 25 miles round trip. Along the way we saw fields with corn growing, horse corrals, marshes and of course the Nashua River.
We stopped at trails’ end in downtown Ayer for coffee and watched MBTA commuter trains as well as freight trains coming and going right across the street from us. Coffee and a bite to eat we headed north and grabbed a picture in Groton.
Thirteen TOHG members hiked the circular loop around Weir reservation. Rising above Lake Cochichewick, Weir Hill (pronounced “wire hill”) offers hiking trails that lead you over the crest of this 305-foot double drumlin and track more than a mile of lake shoreline. The reservation is named for the fish weirs or woven fences with stakes, that were once submerged by Indigenous people in Cochichewick Brook to catch alewives before they reached Lake Cochichewick to spawn. In Colonial days, sheep and cattle grazed on the hill and nearby brooks powered gristmills. Generations of agricultural use, a history of fire, and cutting and mowing practices have created a patchwork landscape. Today the lake serves as a source of water for the local community.
After the three mile hike, eight of us enjoyed lunch at Joe Fish in North Andover.
An absolutely beautiful day awaited 18 TOHG members as we met along the Merrimack River in Newburyport for our ride to Plum Island. We passed numerous art sculptures and installations along the trail as we rode along part of the Clipper City Rail Trail before getting onto the on road portion of our ride. Sadly the three penguins we’ve seen in previous years were nowhere to be found today. Perhaps they left for cooler climes? We continued past Plum Island Airport and then headed to the beach at the north end of the island where we stopped and wiggled our toes in the sand. Next, we stopped for a photo op (kindly taken by another visitor) at the nearby lighthouse.
We finished our ride at Cathy A’s house where we stopped for beverages and a bite to eat. A great ending to a wonderful ride.
Eight Gang members spent the morning exploring the Hundred Acre Cove area in Barrington, RI - a new location for many of us. Fortunately, the weather was favorable. There was some cloud cover and a slight breeze making it quite pleasant for an August trip. Currents weren’t too strong either…overall, an excellent day for a paddle! There were plenty of opportunities for bird sightings as we went, particularly Egrets, which were abundant. There were also many Osprey nests along the route and one large Osprey was spotted high in a tree and another one was on its nest. On the negative side, Tina and Laurie were disappointed to see invasive Spotted Lanternflies on the water, especially since we didn’t know they could float/swim!
That aside, it was great to catch up with old friends and to welcome new club members to the group!
Laurie W
Along the Trail in Hudson
Despite mixed weather forecasts, 25 TOHG members decided to throw caution to the wind and gather for our bike ride. We rode about 1 1/2 miles on the Bruce Freeman Trail to the intersection with The Mass Central Rail Trail at the Diamond in Sudbury. Eventually this trail will lead from Boston to Northampton, a distance of over 11 miles.
The portion we rode on was mostly suburban and wooded and skirted the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge. At about 7 miles into our trip it passed through a large marsh adorned with lots of pink wildflowers. Continuing on our ride we passed into Hudson where we stopped at The Vintage Cafe for coffee and the best strawberry Irish scones with clotted cream. A great treat and a nice send off before our return to Sudbury.
The ride included Wompatuck State Park and Whitney Rail Spur with stops at the Aaron River Reservoir, Mt. Blue Spring, Holly Pond, and JJ's Dairy Stand in Cohasset for some award winning Gifford's Ice Cream. An enjoyable time!
Dick R
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