July 1, 2020 – Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (Acton) – Massachusetts

Today Wilma and I Adventured to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Acton, Massachusetts. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail is a twenty five mile Trail that includes the towns of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Framingham, and Sudbury. The Trail is 10 feet in width and is popular for: biking, skiing, walking, jogging, and rollerblading.

We had a surprisingly lovely Adventure to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. I was eager to take a walk on this Trail but did not have high expectations specific to scenery. We parked in a designated parking area on Route 27. Upon arrival we were greeted by the loud songs of cheerful frogs, perking up the ears of my curious Wilma. The Trail entrance was quite formal lined by black fencing and scattered with flowers. From there we turned right and began our walk. The Trail was framed by a scenic wooden fence. I was pleased to find the Trail quite wide, perfect for a mixture of those walking, running, and biking, and of course a safe distance in these days of COVID. We could hear the traffic on Route 27 but overall it was a peaceful setting.

The Trail was continually framed with rustic fencing, a simple feature that I appreciated. It did not take us long to arrive at a wetlands area filled with pussy willows, frogs, and birds. I was quite elated to find this knowing we were only exploring a small portion of this Trail. There were several more of these wetlands areas along the way, we even located some benches for visitors to sit and relax.

It is always nice when an Adventure exceeds my expectations. Wilma seemed hot today, even laying down for a quick nap, so we only walked about an hour. We definitely will be back to visit the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail (Rating: Adventure will not be rated as only a small section of this 25 mile Trail was explored).

Throwback Adventure – The Nashua River Rail Trail (Pepperell) -2015-2016

I will have sections of my blog that I will title “Throwback Adventure”, and will plan on posting them every Thursday. These are journeys we have taken before I started the blog, but are well worth sharing. Many of these Throwback Adventures will include our Buster, who was known for his crazy tail, his happy howl, and his zest for life. We miss him dearly…he is forever in our hearts!

Shadow, Buster, and I had many, many Adventures to The Nashua River Rail Trail between 2015-2016 while living locally. The Nashua River Rail Trail is an approximately eleven mile trail that runs from Nashua, New Hampshire to Ayer, Massachusetts. As expected it is built on a former railroad. The Nashua River Rail Trail is popular for biking, horseback riding, walking, fishing, and roller blading.

We had many wonderful Adventures to the Nashua River Rail Trail. Our walks always began in Pepperell, and I often wondered if we ventured into another town as we wandered for hours. We found trails off the paved trail to rivers, and scenic, quiet spots. One time we even spotted a horse, who was far from thrilled to spot two large dogs. Even after heading far off the trail to avoid the horse, it just about bucked the rider off. Luckily she stayed on and we returned to the path to continue our walk.

I found the Nashua River Rail Trail to be especially pretty in the Fall months, the sun streaming over the water. The trail did parallel homes at some points, but often was deep in the woods, quite peaceful. There were some simple fences along the trail, in one location framing a marsh-like area. I did my best to locate a variety of photographs from our many Adventures. Definitely a lovely rail trail to explore (Rating: 4).

January 11, 2020 – Canalside Rail Trail – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Canalside Rail Trail in Turner Falls, Massachusetts. The Canalside Rail Trail is a Connecticut River Greenway State Park, part of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Trail is an approximate 3.7 miles beginning in Deerfield and ending in Montague. The Trail provides views of the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers. It is a popular Trail for biking, walking, and rollerblading.

We had an icy Adventure to the Canalside Rail Trail. We parked at the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turner Falls, and then followed the signs directing us to the Rail Trail. I was quite disheartened to see the ice rink the Trail had become and even more disappointed that I had neglected to pack my ice cleats. However, we carried on slipping and sliding in our attempt to begin our Adventure. After some time I decided that we could succeed on a walk, so we shuffled along slowly but surely toward the Trail.

Our walk began at the merging of the Connecticut and Deerfield Rivers. We traversed a pedestrian bridge, the water rushing below, appearing almost dangerously close. We appreciated the views above the Rivers before carefully heading back to the Trail. The gate in the direction of the Connecticut River was closed so we headed the opposite direction toward the town of Deerfield. Along the way we saw many trestle bridges, pedestrian bridges, old rail tracks, and mill-like buildings. The Trail was peaceful, with few others battling the ice. We walked and exploring enjoying the unique views of the River and diverse scenery. I was eager to round each turn locating numerous bridges and continued variety. The Trail was lined with various fencing which I definitely was thankful for with the treacherous conditions. It was fun to locate a new Trail with distinct features. We definitely will be back for a walk on the Canalside Rail Trail(Rating: 4).

January 5, 2019 – Northern Rail Trail – New Hampshire

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Northern Rail Trail in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The Northern Rail Trail is a 58 mile multi-use trail popular for dog walking, running, skiing, biking, and snowmobiling. It runs from Lebanon to Boscawen and is the longest Rail Trail in New Hampshire

We had a simple Adventure to the Northern Rail Trail. I planned this stop to break up our trip which involved various Adventures throughout Vermont. I was quite curious to explore this Trail as I had read that it often parallels the river and has bridges along the route. There was a brief jaunt where we were able to see the River, which I believe was the Connecticut River. We were able too locate a little trail that went directly to the River’s edge although too far above the River for Shadow and Wilma to drink or swim. (The video below is from the River as we walked back to the Trail).

Throughout our walk I was glad to see that the trail was not just behind backyards, but also traversed the woods, paralleled the river, and went through field-type landscape. I was disappointed to only spot one bridge, concrete, and dull, but yet had realized we might not see any bridges due to the sheer length of the Trail.

Along our walk we saw many dog walkers, and were quite glad to not run into any snowmobiles. So overall I would say this was typical to my other visits to Rail Trails, a simple, and long walk with no memorable landmarks. However, likely a much different experience for those on a bicycle. Nevertheless still glad we could walk on the Northern Rail Trail today (Rating: 3).

January 1, 2020 – Minuteman Bikeway – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway in Lexington, Massachusetts. The Minuteman Bikeway was built between 1992-1993 along an inactive railroad corridor and runs from Cambridge to Bedford. The Bikeway is a paved trail and is 10 miles in length.

We had a blue-sky Adventure to the Minuteman Commuter Bikeway on our first Adventure of the New Year. My plan initially was to take a day-trip to Connecticut but after injuring my back yesterday, I thought a local, and predictable walk would be best. I am grateful that Shadow and Wilma are great walkers and I could still take them out with shooting back pain. So off we went on our Adventure….

I located the Minuteman Bikeway on route to a different location, and thought it would be a good path to explore. We walked and walked, of course taking some time to sniff all the new smells. We were careful to stay on the right side as we walked, bicycles often flying by dangerously. There were runners, dog walkers, and families out enjoying this gorgeous New Years day. The pathway ran adjacent to the Center of Lexington, at one point opening up so we could see Buckman Tavern, a scenic historic building. The pathway passed behind backyards, at some time closer then others. The bikeway was simple and unappealing, but obviously built as a commuter route for bicyclists, therefore quite a convenient for those traveling by bike. So although the Minuteman Bikeway is nothing exciting for those on a walk, still a great place to get some exercise. Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years (Rating: The Minuteman Bikeway will not be rated as it is a location created for bicycle commuters)

August 7, 2019 – Amesbury Riverwalk – Massachusetts

On August 7, 2019 Wilma and I Adventured to the Amesbury Riverwalk while Shadow spent the morning with my parents. The Amesbury Riverwalk is a 1.3 mile paved, rail trail located in Amesbury, Massachusetts. The Riverwalk follows the Powow River which is distantly visible through the trees on several occasions. The Amesbury Riverwalk connects downtown Amesbury and the Carriagetwon Marketplace. It is a popular walk for bikers, joggers, and dog walkers.

We had a steady paced Adventure to the Amesbury Riverwalk. Shadow was thrilled to spend the morning at Grandma and Grandpa’s spa, so I decided to take an extra long walk with Wilma, and work on some on-leash training. We had a little bit of difficulty locating the trail, walking around the area a bit before finding what appeared to be the beginning of the trail. The entrance was not labeled but we began walking and soon spotted a mile marker noting we were officially on the Amesbury Riverwalk. The trail started in the parking lot before heading into the woods, and bordering many homes, an apartment complex, and then became a little farther away from the residences. The trail was simple, full of many walkers, families, and our furry best friends. There were benches along the route, wildflowers, and very distant views of the River. Often you could hear the sounds of the highway, and children playing. Wilma took several breaks to nap, but overall we had an energetic walk, enjoying a new experience. We turned around at Elm Street as I was a little unclear if the trail was merging into another, or if it was about to officially end. I did not want to push Wilma too much in the heat, and we were past the 1.2 mile mark, so it is possible that we missed the last .1 mile.

The Amesbury Riverwalk was not a very scenic walk, but yet always nice to experience a new location. Wilma did extra-ordinary in her training, ending our walk with a very proud mama. We missed our Shadow today, but know he would not have appreciated an extra-long walk in the heat, with no swimming opportunities. A good excuse to say thank you to my amazing parents! (Rating: 3).

I have begun reading more about Rail Trails so you may see more Adventures to Rail Trails in the future. I would love to hear if you have any favorites of your own??

January 1, 2019 – Downtown Newburyport and the Clipper City Rail Trail – Massachusetts

Today Shadow, Wilma, and I Adventured to Downtown Newburyport, and the adjacent Clipper City Rail Trail. Downtown Newburyport is a charming area with restaurants, boutiques, and a waterfront park. The Clipper City Rail Trail goes through this area, and also extends into neighboring towns. The Trail runs along the Merrimack River, and includes: lovely coastal views, sculptures, murals, boardwalks, and more. The Rail Trail is still being built, with one Phase remaining in construction.

We had a refreshing coastal Adventure to begin the New Year, spending about two and a half hours in Newburyport. The sun was shining, and the wind gusty, the perfect mix on this winter day. I had been to the area back in July 2011 with Shadow and Buster, on a much hotter day, but had not explored much of the Rail trail. We began our Adventure at the waterfront park, instantly feeling refreshed with the sun streaming down on the beautiful blue River. We started down one side of the trail until the trail ended in construction, where we quickly turned around. This location of the trail wove through areas of sculptures, along the water, past many boats, and near two shore-lighthouses. One lighthouse seeming to be decorative, while the other appearing to be a working lighthouse for the Coast Guard. There were several dogs, bikers, joggers, and walkers also enjoying this fun Trail.

After completing this portion of the Trail we wandered throughout the Downtown area, filled with shops and restaurants, many still decorated from the holidays. The streets were stone, the buildings brick, providing a unique and picturesque spot. We walked and walked enjoying to exercise, and cool breeze. We visited Frog Pond the center of “Bartlett Mall” before turning around weaving in and out of each street. Many others out shopping, feasting, and relaxing with family and friends.

Lastly, we headed over to the other end of the Clipper City Rail Trail. The Trail lead along the River, next to a restaurant, and then under several large bridges. The area had various sculptures and even a mural painted under the bridge. From there we crossed over to a sitting area with rounded benches before heading over a boardwalk to the section along a beach-like area. We strolled for awhile before turning around and heading back. Definitely a lovely day to be out enjoying this special Trail, a place I am sure we will return in the future (Rating: 4).

P.S. – Hoping video’s will agree to download in the near future, but now for a picture collage – please see below.