Throwback Adventure – Middlesex Fells – Massachusetts

I have decided to return to posting new “Throwback Adventures” after taking time to re-post some of my favorites with Shadow. This has been a therapeutic process for me to share. We are devastated that both Shadow and Buster have both passed, but find peace knowing we can continue to remember them through our “Throwback Adventures”. They were amazing boys and are forever in our hearts.

I have decided to make some changes to my Throwback section. This is partly because I have had the blog for about two and a half year and each week I have posted an Adventure from before I started the blog. This has become more challenging between finding old photographs, and identifying the location. Although I will still be adding some here and and there I thought I would also use the Throwback Adventure to share past Adventures I have posted. I have new followers, and of course not every follower has been able to view all blogs.

So today I am sharing a post from Middlesex Fells Reservation with Shadow and Buster back in June 2014. Middlesex Fells Reservation is a 2,200 State Park located in Stoneham, Massachusetts. It is filled with numerous reservoirs. It is a popular park for: biking, boat rentals, hiking, and fishing. Reportedly the Park has areas reserved for on-leash and off-leash dog hiking.

We had a warm Adventure to Middlesex Fells Reservation. I am always embarrassed to admit that I do not remember numerous details of an Adventure but this is the case with Middlesex Fells Reservation. I recollect numerous trails and lots of hiking with my amazing boys. I do not recall seeing many others at this location. Wilma and I will just have to return at some point to provide a more in depth description. However, still glad to share yet another dog friendly location in Massachusetts (Throwback Adventures will not always be rated).

Weekly Video/Photo

If you follow my blog regularly please skip down to the last paragraph…

I have decided to return to the “normal” Weekly Video/Photo section of my blog. As you likely know we lost Shadow about two months ago and I have been focusing this section on Shadow. However, I have peace knowing I will continue to highlight favorite photographs including Shadow and Buster. The plan will still be to still display a video or photo, usually highlighting an Adventure, while I might also sneak in some that are humorous, adorable, or just other fun dog moments.

If you have followed my blog from the beginning you will know that I adopted Shadow as a puppy, and about a year later adopted Buster as a puppy. We had many wonderful years together before experiencing the devastating loss of Buster at just seven. It took a long time for our hearts to heal, but almost a year later we welcomed little Wilma into our world. We were recently devastated to loose Shadow on April 3, 2020. It is so painful to know Shadow and Buster are both gone, but they will be in our hearts forever!

Today’s video is an Adventure I had with Shadow and Wilma back in April 2019 to Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, Maine. I have been to Cadillac Mountain three times, and on this occasion the sky and view were absolutely lovely. We enjoyed walking the paved paths, relaxing and checking out the scene. The experience was so spectacular that we came back to watch the sunset later in the day. Such an amazing memory at a gorgeous location. Here it is:

January 9, 2020 – Scituate, Massachusetts

Today Wilma and I Adventured to Scituate, Massachusetts. Scituate is a coastal town in Southern Massachusetts. It is a small town known for the beaches, history, restaurants, shops, and the fishing community.

We had a walking-filled Adventure to Scituate on a beautiful winter day. Although we have been to many of the locations we visited today, I have only blogged about the Scituate Lighthouse, so decided to do a blog about the town. Today we explored: Scituate Harbor, the Harborwalk, the shopping district, Lawson Tower, Veteran’s Memorial Bridge, and the Scituate Lighthouse. We walked and walked, and enjoyed the spectacular sun on this winter day.

The most beautiful stop in Scituate today was definitely the Scituate Lighthouse. It is one of the most gorgeous Lighthouses in New England with several breakwaters, and rocky beaches surrounding. One of the special features about the Scituate Lighthouse is you can get up-close to view this spectacular structure. While at the Lighthouse Wilma especially loved exploring the beach, covered with rounded beautifully colored rocks, and hoping along the breakwater rocks. We have been to the Scituate Lighthouse numerous times, and it never disappoints.

We also stopped at Lawson Tower, which we had not been to before. This was a grandly tall structure, surrounded by gating, but yet a unique and unusual Tower. I initially was planning on just blogging about this Tower but decided to share the summary of our time in Scituate due to our numerous other stops, and time spent exploring.

Throughout the day Wilma enjoyed charming those around us, rolling in the grass, walking, and exploring the coastal smells. I was planning on a half day trip today but between Scituate and our previous stop we walked the day away! So glad we could visit Scituate today (Rating: 4)

Throwback Adventure – Chesterfield Gorge – Massachusetts

In August 2016 Shadow, Buster, and I Adventured to the Chesterfield Gorge with my Aunt and Uncle. If you are a follower of my blog, or a fanatic of New England Gorge’s you may be aware that there are two Chesterfield Gorge’s in New England – one in New Hampshire, and one in Massachusetts. Today my blog will be about the Chesterfield Gorge in Chesterfield, Massachusetts. The Chesterfield Gorge in Massachusetts is located in a steep rock canyon along the Westfield River. The Gorge has trails and is a popular location for fishing. It is a park of the Trustees of Reservation.

We had a wonderful Adventure to the Chesterfield Gorge with perfect company. I remember appreciating views of the Gorge from high above before walking down a hill to get to the water’s edge. The boys enjoyed drinking from the clear River water, framed by beautiful evergreen trees. The River was filled with rocks adding a variety of color to the scene. We enjoyed wandering down the trail parallel to the water and fantastic company. I look forward to exploring the Chesterfield Gorge again in the future (Throwback blogs will not always be rated).

Weekly Video/Photo

If you follow my blog regularly please skip down to the last paragraph…

Today’s photograph is one I took last week of Wilma in Provincetown, Massachusetts, part of Cape Cod. I was looking forward to posing Wilma on this bench, and was quite thrilled to remember the location. It is so colorful, and the perfect summary of the coast. A good memory of our wonderful day on the ocean!

January 2, 2020 – Franklin Park (Including Schoolmaster Hill Ruins)

Today Wilma and I Adventured to Franklin Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Franklin Park is the largest park in the Emerald Necklace at approximately 527 acres. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the 1890s. Franklin Park includes: trails, history, a public golf course, Schoolmaster Hill and the ruins, Scarboro Pond, and the Franklin Park Zoo.

We had an unexpected Adventure to Franklin Park. My initial plan was to visit the ruins at Schoolmaster Hill and then likely head to the Arnold Arboretum nearby. However, not knowing exactly where it was located we parked and began walking. I soon realized we were in Franklin Park, and decided to just explore, and hopefully locate the Schoolmaster Hill in the process. We immediately stumbled on Scarboro Pond, and decided to walk on the loop around this Pond. The Pond was simple, but lovely, filled with ducks and framed by two two bridges on the near and far ends. The people we passed were friendly, which is not something I would have expected in the city. Along this tiny loop we found a map to help us navigate our route.

After Scarboro Pond we headed on the main loop around the Park. The Park was centered by the golf course, and the clouds and sun were just right. We passed various things including a playground and cafe before arriving at the Schoolmaster Hill. I was so excited to head up the Hill to check out the ruins. We arrived at the ruins after a short walk up the Hill, trotting through the ruins several times, appreciating each moment of the experience. Wilma appeared extra curious, jumping up, putting her front paws up to look through, and peaking into each corner. I absolutely loved the ruins, they were beautiful. Definitely exceeded my expectations! (Please see below for a video as well as numerous photographs).

After spending time at Schoolmaster Hill we continued to explore the Park, including: The 99 Steps/Ellicott Arch, and Scarboro Hill with the “vista” lookout. We spent about two and a half hours walking on the paved trails, and trying to see what we could find. I absolutely loved watching the sun setting the clouds were framed by all colors, and sunlight creating a spectacular scene. I wish this beauty was easier to capture on camera. As you may expect the sunset and ruins were my favorite parts of today’s Adventure, while Wilma loved walking along the stone fences, jumping on the rocks, and the expected walking and sniffing. Although I had heard of Franklin Park I never thought of exploring it until our accidental find. So glad we could Adventure to Franklin Park today (Rating: 3.5)

Throwback Adventure

So today I am sharing my blog from Fort Foster Park in Kittery, Maine. I have fond memories of my Adventure there with Shadow and Wilma back in November 2018. Fort Foster was a beautiful Park filled with the beautiful coast and Fort remnants. In addition we walked through a wind and hail storm, a crazy weather experience. We will definitely have to get there in the summer months. Please enjoy this previous blog on Fort Foster:

November 10, 2018 – Fort Foster Park – Maine.

A quick snapshot of our Adventure to Fort Foster Park…see our blog for more!