Check Out These Windham Rail Trail Photos

I'm definitely in denial about winter approaching and the end of our paddling and biking season. In fact, we had our first snowflakes today -- a slushy mess! Never mind. I recently discovered a great blog by fellow Granite Stater Jim Johnson of Salem. Jim is into running, hiking, and biking, with a big emphasis on running. His blog has an incredible amount of detail about road races, his workouts and his results (everything from 5Ks to the run up Mount Washington.) You can check it out at http://www.doublejrunning.blogspot.com/.

What especially caught my eye on the blog is the photo gallery -- including some great photos Jim and his girlfriend Kristin took of the Windham Rail Trail during foliage season. We biked this trail a few years back, but I've never reviewed it.

The Windham Rail Trail runs just 4.1 miles, beginning at the intersection of Routes 111 and 28 in Salem and running to North Lowell Road in Windham. (We rode it in reverse.) It's a great excursion when you're short on time or energy, but you still want to get out and enjoy nature. I could try to describe the trail, but the photos say it so much better. See for yourself at Jim and Kristin's photo gallery.

Reflections on Our NH Paddling Season

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order." (John Burroughs)

Someone asked me recently what I like about quiet water kayaking, as in, "What's the thrill?" Well, there is no thrill really. No speed, no cheering crowds and no adrenaline rush of victory. And that's exactly what I love about it!

I love the peacefulness, being close to nature, being on the water. When you're kayaking, you can touch the water, smell the water lilies, watch a dragon fly, listen to the call of the loon. It's like hitting the "pause" button in the daily grind of life.

With that said, let's take a look back at some of our favorite spots this season. Be sure to send us comments and let us know about your favorite places.

A Perennial Favorite: It's no secret that we love Gilmore Pond in Jaffrey. Call it serendipity. Each time we've paddled here, everything seems to come together. The bluest sky ever, the warming rays of the sun, crystal clear water, an eagle soaring overhead. I realize that not everyone will score a "hat trick" when it comes to Gilmore, but we've been lucky each time we've paddled here.

Worth the Effort: The Turkey Ponds in Concord aren't the easiest to access. There's a bumpy, rocky road to the put-in. But they are definitely worth the effort. There's virtually no shoreline development and when we paddled here, there was very little boat traffic. The plant life, intriguing granite rocks, small islands and lots of acreage make for a very pleasant paddle.

Most Peaceful: For us this year, it was Willard Pond in Antrim, NH. Again, there's virtually no shoreline development and motor boats are not allowed. The water is clear; loons and other wildlife dominate and there's a view of Bald Mountain. Not a large pond, but very inviting, relaxing and easy to access.

I don't know about you, but I'm already looking forward to next season on the water. I just joined a kayaking group near Hampstead, NH. They use the internet to plan trips together and it seems like a diverse, friendly bunch of all ages and skill levels. While there are times that Doug and I just want to get away and enjoy the peace and quiet together, there are also times when we'd love to venture out to new places with new people. Check out the group on MeetUp.com.

Enjoy a NH Love it or Leaf it Photo Tour

Turkey Pond in Concord, NH

It's November (cold and gray) and our kayaking and biking season is quickly coming to a close. I plan to spend the next few months researching some great places to explore for next season and trying to get outdoors to enjoy winter. But to be honest, I'm not a big fan of snow, cold, and ice (brrrr!).

I'll also write a season wrap-up soon, highlighting our favorite spots and experiences for 2008. In the meantime, you're invited to take a brief tour from our photo album. This one is a mix of photos on smugmug.com from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. Enjoy!

Get Ready to Fire Up the Trebuchet

We have some punkin chunkin to do! If you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about, then maybe you should plan a visit to the Yankee Farmer on Route 31 in Greenfield, NH. We learned about the farm on a whim this morning and decided to take a short drive out there this afternoon to watch some pumpkin throwing.

We drove about 10 miles down a pleasant but deserted country road before coming upon the Yankee Farmer -- a nice New England farm stand with a twist. Farmer Steve Seigars and his family operate a trebuchet, the oldest type of catapult known to man. They use this impressive machine (more than 50-feet high) to launch pumpkins into a hillside. But there's more...this is a worldwide competitive sport and the Seigars currently hold the world championship record throw of 1,658 feet!

This was all new to me, but apparently not new to the rest of the world. There were about 150 to 200 people milling around the hillside waiting to see an 8 to 10-pound pumpkin sail through the air. What a fun way to spend time outdoors on a beautiful fall day! Not to mention there are lots of great pumpkins, apple cider, home-baked bread, an ox-driven cart (and more!) at the Yankee Farmer.

The pumpkins fly each Saturday and Sunday afternoon between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. until October 25th. Check out the Yankee Farmer website for directions and more details. We saw an orange pumpkin hurl through the air today, but I learned that competitive "chunkers" (that's what they call themselves) generally use white pumpkins, but not just any old garden variety white pumpkin. The Lumina is much-preferred for its smooth skin, spherical shape and density. Who knew? For me, punkin chunkin is one more reason to love New Hampshire!

History is a Highlight of Minuteman Bikeway

The Minuteman Statue on Lexington Battle Green

We biked a portion of the Minuteman Bikeway yesterday, starting in Bedford, and passing through Lexington and Arlington. Yes -- it's in Massachusetts, not New Hampshire, but it's only about a 35-minute drive from us. This bikeway is in the Bike Trail Hall of Fame.

The entire 11-mile trail spans from Depot Park in Bedford to Alewife Station in Cambridge and is heavily used by bicyclists, joggers, inline skaters, and walkers. It's 12-feet wide, paved, and mostly flat, making for easy biking.

It was cool and overcast as we started out. The highlight of the ride for me was a stop at the historic Lexington Battle Green. If you start in Bedford, this comes up around mile four and requires a slight detour from the path. (The Bikeway has mile markers.)

We've visited the Lexington Battle Green before, but it's always interesting to see. This is the actual spot where the American Revolution began in 1775. There's an impressive Minuteman statue, a Revolutionary Monument (where the colonists who lost their lives are buried); a historic tavern; and nearby, the Old Burying Ground with gravestones dating from 1690. Well worth a detour from the bikeway!

The rest of the bike path was mostly tree-lined, passing fairly close behind homes, shops, and factories. Given the bikeway's close proximity to the towns of Bedford, Lexington, and Arlington, you have several options for lunch or a break. There's even access to a StarBucks from the trail. Compared with other rail trails we've been on, this one crossed many more roads, including above busy Interstate 95. As we approached mile seven, it started to rain, so we turned around and headed back, riding the last two miles in a chilly rain.

I'd recommend the Minuteman Bikeway if you want an easy ride and you enjoy American history or at the very least -- a pleasant stop in a beautiful New England town green.

Things to Know Before You Go: The best source of information can be found on the official website, http://www.minutemanbikeway.org/. To find directions quickly, select "Bikeway Basics," and then "maps."