Camp Road Circuit

We are in a lousy weather pattern as it is very humid and we are getting rain every day and if it
turns sunny it is HOT. Today was in the 70s and cloudy when we walked.  There was a window of dry weather from 9-12 so we lucked out.  There were 8 adults, 2 children and one dog.

We walked from the Meriden Library down Camp Rd which becomes Burr Rd in Cornish. The walk
is five miles and the halfway point is at a beautiful stone house with views (we think!). It was very hazy!

Here are the photos.

First: Helen's grandkids, Ava and Emily, great kids!



6 of the walkers coming towards me on the road. Again Cathy is hiding!

The lovely stone house

The children who live in the stone house

Mount Tom Musings

Yesterday six of us went to the Hartland/Woodstock, Vermont area to view several interesting
sites. First we went to the Eshqua Bog in Hartland which has a loop trail with boardwalks to view
the marshy areas. Technically this is not really a bog despite its name. It is a fen which has more sedge plants and mosses and is actually more diverse in vegetation than a bog.  A fen is alkaline, while a bog is acidic so the pH level is important for certain orchids to bloom. Eshqua is an unusual name and it may be Abernaki, origin unknown for sure.

The reason we came was to see the Showy Lady's Slipper and the White Bog Orchid, both in bloom
and on a beautiful almost summer day, they did not disappoint as you can see by the pictures.  We also saw many dragonflies, mostly the common whitetail I believe, though I wasn't focusing on the insects as you will understand when you look at the pictures below!  These plants are not common and are protected it this area. If you pick them, you'll be sorry as they give off a chemical that can cause severe dermatitis to hands and face. First three photos are the showy lady's slipper.

Now the white bog orchid

Next we went to Woodstock to climb Mt Tom. We choose the carriage road approach so we could
also go to the pogue.  If you are wondering what a pogue is, it is a 14 acre man-made pond on the
Rockefeller Historical Site which was constructed in the 1880s.  The name pogue either comes from the Scottish or it is Abenaki, no one seems to know but it is a lovely pond.  We saw many dragonflies again and often you see ducks and turtles. The water was very clear so we could see many fish, not sure if they were trout or not. On our way up the road we met a couple from Yorkshire, England coming down. They had enjoyed watching the turtles but by the time we had detoured off the road to Mt Tom, ate lunch  on the top and come back down to the pond,  the turtles were gone. We did take the nice loop trail  around the pond.
There are many trails from the pond loop we want to try at a later date.  This area is spectacular when Fall foliage is at its peak.

The Pogue

Mt Tom overlooks the village of Woodstock.  All these pictures are credited to Kathy.  I'll add a few more later.

Another view of the pond

Another view from the top

Wednesday Wanderings

I was away on vacation last week so this week I am posting information on two walks.  The walk last
week started in the Cornish Town Forest and the trail climbs to a clearing where there are good views
of Mt Ascutney. There were 9 walkers and two dogs and I gathered it was a beautiful day.  Before I
post the pictures I thought I'd let everyone know that I hiked in the National Shenandoah Park with my
sister and cousin last week to a beautiful waterfall. Of course I did not have my camera with me. We also walked on some wood trails behind the Montpelier estate (James Madison home) in Virginia.

Walk on Wednesday  June 5 Photos by Mary
Figuring out where to go and the views at the top

The group starting up the trail

Walk on Wednesday June 12

We walked on the roads today after a few very soggy days of weather thanks to tropical storms
though the weather wasn't tropical.  We took a five mile loop starting at Hell Hollow Road, continuing
onto Kenyon, Dodge, Lang , St Gaudens and back to Hell Hollow.  We walk by some famous
places mainly the home of the late JD Salinger.  The views from his estate are wonderful though
because of the clouds we didn't get great pictures.  There were 9 adults, one baby and 4 dogs. This
time I did take a good picture of the baby.  This walk goes up and down the hills of Plainfield and
Cornish and we pass by some beautiful gardens. Pictures to follow shortly.

Next week we go to the Eshqua  Bog to find lady slippers and then hike Mt Tom in Woodstock. I
hope we get fabulous pictures. Our camera pros weren't on today's walk!

A good picture of Charlotte, born March 31, 2013

Susan handling her dogs

Cathy and her new backpack
for shorter hikes

Wild Roses, evasive plants

Views and Barn