???

Enfield Lookout Trail, Ware, Massachusetts

I'm always curious about the stuff I find lying on forest floors. In this case, I couldn't quite figure out what this was. I found it on the trail along with almost countless fallen acorns. Any guesses as to what it might be?

Enfield Lookout Trail

After hiking the length of Winsor Dam and back, I decided to hike the Enfield Lookout Trail. Enfield was one of the towns flooded to make way for the Quabbin Reservoir. 

Cross Path Road

I know that visually this probably is not the most interesting photo. I was just curious about the street's name as it--ahem--crosses the Norwottuck Rail Trail in Hadley, Massachusetts. I mean, it's pretty straightforward as street names go. Sort of like Main Street or High Street. There's a street near me called Center Street, which I suppose got it's name from the fact that it runs smack dab down the "center" of a subdivision, even though it is--if I might say so--rather tangential to everything else around it, now that I think about it. 

What about the street names near you? Got any zingers? :-)

Bridge

I've photographed this bridge many times over the past few years. The last time was last year on the Fourth of July. It's become something of a go-to destination every time I visit this region.

According to Wikipedia, the "Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge is an eight-span steel lattice truss bridge. It crosses Elwell Island in the middle of the river, providing no access to the island in an attempt to keep the island otherwise untouched. Riding over the bridge shows eight spans, with two of them over Elwell Island. It was built by the R. F. Hawkins Ironworks Company. The bridge was redesigned by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. of Watertown, rebuilt by MassHighway, and opened in 1992 to bicycle and foot traffic as part of the Norwottuck Rail Trail."

View of the Connecticut River and Elwell Island

Fly or Drive

Honestly, I debated long and hard about whether to fly or drive to Massachusetts this year. I drove last year after several years of flying. What finally convinced me to fly again this year was the convenience. I REALLY like to hike every day, up to five miles or more a day. But driving to Massachusetts almost certainly meant spending more time in the car rather than on the trail. The cost, I figured, was about the same. What's more, by flying, I was able to fly AND hike in the same day, even with the unexpected delay this time in getting out of Richmond. On this particular trip, I was able to hike again one of my very favorite sections of the Norwottuck Rail Trail (above).

Suspension Bridge

Looking back here to my hike last Friday from Richmond to Belle Isle, Virginia. This is the ramp leading to the suspension bridge that takes pedestrians across to Belle Isle.

Elves?

Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Late Afternoon Light

Virginia Capitol Trail

Capitol Trail

The Virginia Capitol Trail, as its name suggests, is a multi-use trail connecting the former capitol of Virginia, Williamsburg, with the current capitol, Richmond, a distance of some 50 miles one-way.

The Swamp

As I recall, it was DJT who promised to "drain the swamp" some eight years ago when he ran for president the first time. Now, as the Washington Post put it this past October, "he swims in it." According to the article, the Duck said, “I had no idea the swamp was that dirty, that disgusting and that deep.” 

Well, Donald, now you know. 

Calm

Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday

Election Eve

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Well, folks, I'll be at the polls tomorrow well before dawn in order to greet folks as they arrive to vote beginning at 6 a.m. I don't expect to be home again until . . . well, who knows when. More than 40% of the registered voters in my precinct have already voted, suggesting that we well may be heading toward a record turnout for a presidential election. 

Will we know the result before I get home? Not likely, given our multiple time zones in the States. More likely, the race will be called in the wee hours of Wednesday morning when I HOPE to be fast asleep in bed. :-)

Hikers

Takinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

 

Decay

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

The Path Ahead

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Another World

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

There's been a good deal said as of late here in the United States about what helps keep people sane during what has been an extraordinarily fractious presidential campaign. For me, it's long walks, especially in the woods. I relish these moments, especially as I will be pretty much in the thick of things as I go to work the polls on Election Day from five o-clock in the morning until--well, until all the votes in that precinct are counted, no matter how long that may take. I think it was the last presidential election when I didn't get back home until the wee hours of the next morning. 

I know none of my blogger friends would dream of cursing or abusing election officials. But every election there are some who do so. All we can do in response is just to smile and thank them for voting. It's in moments like those that I it helps, I think, to remember that there's another world out there filled with wonder and beauty, waiting to be enjoyed.

Light

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Late afternoon. Sunlight still stealing its way through breaks in the forest cover. Pools of light gathering on the forest floor. My favorite time to be in the woods.

Gate

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Overlook

Bald Eagle Overlook

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Gnarly

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

My old favorite.