grouseking
Well-known member
I have no car.
I have no license. Boy aren't I a ladies man?
But I recently moved to Lebanon NH where hiking trails flirt with me everyday. Sadly they are normally out of reach because either I'm working or...you guessed it...I have no car! Recently I discovered the rails to trails website and they led me to the Northern Rail Trail which, luckily for me, starts in downtown Lebanon....a 5 minute walk! I did some research on the trail and decided I would hike the 6 miles up to Enfield, check out the sights, maybe get a bite to eat and come back before the potential rain/thunder.
Normally I'm a bump on a log and don't get up till near of after 11 (I work 2nd shift). But I was excited to get going and I was up by 8 and out the door by 8:30. Best part of it was, I didn't have to drive. I new it was going to be a hot day, so I came prepared with a lot of water and some wheat thins to snack on.
I started the hike around 8:45am. It was a long and flat scene, but very pleasant. Dozens of joggers and bikers were out. I think I was the only one with a hiking pack and camera. I must have looked silly. Anyways, the old railroad snakes through the Mascoma River Valley and there was little elevation gain throughout. I couldn't tell the difference. There were many spots to get pics..mainly of the river. It was high thanks to yesterdays torrential downpours. Before I knew it I was walking under I-89 and finally walked completely undreneath the upper reaches of the trees. This was a welcome change because the heat was beginning to increase.
Before I knew it, I had walked the 4 miles to the corner of Mascoma Lake. There is an exquisite place to sit and enjoy a view of the lake at the Eagle Scouts Park, just off the trail. You can't miss it. The water was still calm and it looked very peaceful. The normal motor boat sound was completely absent for the few minutes I sat there, so I believe that it was about as peaceful as Mascoma Lake can get on a hot sunny Saturday.
The walk along the lake was wonderful, and occasionally I got a breeze, which cooled me off considerably. Soon I entered the center of Enfield...at 11:00am...6 miles in 2 hr 15 min...not bad. I was starving so I decided to eat somewhere. And with my luck, I walked into a place called Twigs Bakery Cafe. It was hands down the best food I have ever ordered. I had a Roast Beef wrap with green leaf lettuce, bacon, cheddar, and Horseradish! The wrap was a homeade tortilla wrap. To top it off, I had a delectable cheese raspberry danish for dessert. I need to reccomend this place, it blew me away! And the people were very nice too. Give it a try if you are in the area.
Now it was time to head back. The heat was building and so were the late morning/early afternoon cumulus, so I kept an eye to the sky. Unfortunatley I had to take a necessary pit stop off trail at the Enfield Gas Station, so that threw me off time. Also I didn't feel like backtracking, so I just walked along US 4 for a bit until I came to a dirt rd which I knew would lead back to the trail. By now my feet were beginning to complain with all of its new hot spots, but I trudged on, only taking small breaks here and there. Clouds were rapidly developing and I wanted to make it back before a deluge, or more important, thunder and lightning.
The miles went by quick, but I was hurting thanks to the hot spots. To top it off, the clouds had bubbled up to the point of no return and it looked like I was going to get dumped on. I could hear it coming in the distance, HEAVY RAIN. But all I got was 10 drops. Then the sun came out and it was scorching hot, and more humid thanks to the rainshower. Then I saw the light at the end of the tunnel....CARS...from the parking lot. I continued my way along at my normal pace and reached the end (or beginning) of the trail around 2:15pm....5 hr 30 min...about 12-13 miles. Now the worst part of the walk....out on hard pavement in sweltering heat and humidity back to the house. I got home around 2:25, hot, tired and smelly, just dying to hop inthe shower. The Northern Rail Trail is a great idea, but I will be biking it next time, thank you very much! It was just a little too far on feet. I
I can't wait to get back into the mtns, but this more than made up for it...and one of these days, I'll be able to get onto one of those trails that's been flirting with me! Here are the pictrues.
A badly burned
grouseking
I have no license. Boy aren't I a ladies man?
But I recently moved to Lebanon NH where hiking trails flirt with me everyday. Sadly they are normally out of reach because either I'm working or...you guessed it...I have no car! Recently I discovered the rails to trails website and they led me to the Northern Rail Trail which, luckily for me, starts in downtown Lebanon....a 5 minute walk! I did some research on the trail and decided I would hike the 6 miles up to Enfield, check out the sights, maybe get a bite to eat and come back before the potential rain/thunder.
Normally I'm a bump on a log and don't get up till near of after 11 (I work 2nd shift). But I was excited to get going and I was up by 8 and out the door by 8:30. Best part of it was, I didn't have to drive. I new it was going to be a hot day, so I came prepared with a lot of water and some wheat thins to snack on.
I started the hike around 8:45am. It was a long and flat scene, but very pleasant. Dozens of joggers and bikers were out. I think I was the only one with a hiking pack and camera. I must have looked silly. Anyways, the old railroad snakes through the Mascoma River Valley and there was little elevation gain throughout. I couldn't tell the difference. There were many spots to get pics..mainly of the river. It was high thanks to yesterdays torrential downpours. Before I knew it I was walking under I-89 and finally walked completely undreneath the upper reaches of the trees. This was a welcome change because the heat was beginning to increase.
Before I knew it, I had walked the 4 miles to the corner of Mascoma Lake. There is an exquisite place to sit and enjoy a view of the lake at the Eagle Scouts Park, just off the trail. You can't miss it. The water was still calm and it looked very peaceful. The normal motor boat sound was completely absent for the few minutes I sat there, so I believe that it was about as peaceful as Mascoma Lake can get on a hot sunny Saturday.
The walk along the lake was wonderful, and occasionally I got a breeze, which cooled me off considerably. Soon I entered the center of Enfield...at 11:00am...6 miles in 2 hr 15 min...not bad. I was starving so I decided to eat somewhere. And with my luck, I walked into a place called Twigs Bakery Cafe. It was hands down the best food I have ever ordered. I had a Roast Beef wrap with green leaf lettuce, bacon, cheddar, and Horseradish! The wrap was a homeade tortilla wrap. To top it off, I had a delectable cheese raspberry danish for dessert. I need to reccomend this place, it blew me away! And the people were very nice too. Give it a try if you are in the area.
Now it was time to head back. The heat was building and so were the late morning/early afternoon cumulus, so I kept an eye to the sky. Unfortunatley I had to take a necessary pit stop off trail at the Enfield Gas Station, so that threw me off time. Also I didn't feel like backtracking, so I just walked along US 4 for a bit until I came to a dirt rd which I knew would lead back to the trail. By now my feet were beginning to complain with all of its new hot spots, but I trudged on, only taking small breaks here and there. Clouds were rapidly developing and I wanted to make it back before a deluge, or more important, thunder and lightning.
The miles went by quick, but I was hurting thanks to the hot spots. To top it off, the clouds had bubbled up to the point of no return and it looked like I was going to get dumped on. I could hear it coming in the distance, HEAVY RAIN. But all I got was 10 drops. Then the sun came out and it was scorching hot, and more humid thanks to the rainshower. Then I saw the light at the end of the tunnel....CARS...from the parking lot. I continued my way along at my normal pace and reached the end (or beginning) of the trail around 2:15pm....5 hr 30 min...about 12-13 miles. Now the worst part of the walk....out on hard pavement in sweltering heat and humidity back to the house. I got home around 2:25, hot, tired and smelly, just dying to hop inthe shower. The Northern Rail Trail is a great idea, but I will be biking it next time, thank you very much! It was just a little too far on feet.
II can't wait to get back into the mtns, but this more than made up for it...and one of these days, I'll be able to get onto one of those trails that's been flirting with me! Here are the pictrues.
A badly burned
grouseking
