Adventures in the Outdoors

For our first adventure, we tried some Greenbelt Properties.

The first property we visited was Thurlow’s Field.  This property is not listed on their website and is located on Bachelor St in West Newbury, Massachusetts.  My husband had found this location with a friend of his when they had gone out photographing birds.  This small property is meadow with a pond at the back end of it.  There did not appear to be many trails here and the one trail we found and went to the back side of the pond was soggy and tried to suck your shoes off your feet.  On the plus side, my husband saw some ring necked ducks to photograph and I found the top half of a baby deer skull stuck in  tree and picked clean.

The second place we popped in at was Allyn Cox Reservation in Essex, Massachusetts.  This property was supposed to have a trail that ran between two private properties to something called Clam House Landing.  My husband and I could not find that trail when we arrived at the property and did not want to trespass on private property.  There is a meadow on this property that looks out over the salt marsh and parts of Eben Creek.  You are able to see an osprey nesting platform, which was vacant at that time.  We did find one of the two scenic viewpoints on this property and it was a beautiful view looking out over the salt marsh.  The website says you can launch canoes and kayaks into the Essex River from the Clam House Landing.  I wish we had found that trail that would lead there.  I would love to check out the area and possibly go kayaking here.  The meadow here was also soggy but at least it did not try to suck your shoes off your feet.

The last place we went to was the Julia Bird Reservation in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  Once we arrived we looked at the trail and it was flooded.  As a result, we made the decision to not explore this property.

We will probably try more Greenbelt properties later in the year.  Currently it just seems that many of them are flooded due to the winter snow and spring rains we have had.

Little did I know that when I made my first post, that I would have health issues that limited my mobility to the point that doing anything was very difficult.  Three surgeries and many physical therapy visits later, I am finally back on my feet and ready to tackle the great outdoors again.   The children are all grown and able to take care of themselves.  Health issues have been resolved for the most part.  Going on adventures will only help me get healthier by moving.

My goal is to do at least one outdoor adventure every weekend weather permitting.  Adventures will happen mostly in New England.  Have you heard of a interesting place in New England?  Have you visited an exciting place in New England?  Tell me about it.  You could inspire my next adventure!

The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is a favorite of mine with over 12 miles of hiking trails and a large variety of bird species.  I have been here many times and there are still trails I have not yet walked.  There are trails that are very easy terrain and others that are more moderate.  I have yet to run across a trail that is difficult.

Today was my first visit this season to the sanctuary.  The word sanctuary is good way to describe this place.  I find it very relaxing to go here and walk around and observe the birds and other wildlife.  While walking the trail today, I saw black capped chickadees, white breasted nuthatches, tufted titmice, red bellied woodpeckers, northern cardinals, and mallard ducks.

Today was a fairly nice day and the entire family played hookey and we took a trip to Sachuset Point National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is one of five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island.

The day was a bit breezy with 17mph winds and we walked the Ocean View Loop which is about 1.5 miles of fairly easy terrain to navigate.  While walking the trail we saw a deer, a snowy owl, and many robins.  It is a place I would definitely visit again.

My goal is to take at a minimum one new adventure every week and share it with you.  I intend to make as many of these adventures in the outdoors by hiking, kayaking, or some other outdoor activity.  I will share pictures of the places I visit and share some of the positives and negatives of my adventure.  My hope is that I will make you aware of a hidden jewel that is hiding right under our nose so that you may also enjoy this treasure.  I will always promote leave no trace, what you carry in you must carry out or these gems will disappear forever to never be enjoyed again.

I anticipate that most of my current adventures will happen in the New England area as I live just outside the Boston, Massachusetts area.  Most of my adventures will be day trips, although I also hope to make a weekend out of some of them now that my children are pretty much grown and able to take care of themselves.  As I get closer to retirement, I would love to take my adventures further from home and hopefully one day make them international adventures!  Wouldn’t that be exciting?

Please join me on my adventures and please feel free to share your adventures.  Maybe you know of a hidden jewel at this moment and can help me discover it!

Hi all.  I am starting this blog to tell you about my adventures in the outdoors.  For the last couple years, I have not been as active as I would have liked to be.   I have all kinds of excuses but the biggest one is that life just sometimes gets in the way and you do not have enough time or energy to do the things that make you happy.

With spring starting today, I have decided it is time to turn over a new leaf and start thinking about me and doing the things that make me happy and healthy.  I enjoy being in the outdoors exploring, observing, and experiencing the world around me.  My hope is with this blog, I can share my adventures with you and at the same time keep myself motivated to make time to have all the adventures I would like to have.

Please join me on this journey to become happy and healthy and feel free to share your own adventures with me.