Thanksgiving Trip - Day 5

After having a great Thanksgiving Weekend, I left Katie's (after saying goodbye to John) at around 0645.  I then drove to Burlington, MA via MA-139, MA-28, I-93, I-95 (MA-128) and US-3.  Arrived at the FAA Northeast Regional Office at 0800 and picked up my new ID (0800).  That only took a little while and I was back in my car by 0830.  I then dialed into work meetings and made work phone calls as I drove north (using US-3, other back roads, NH-101A and NH-13) - also stopped a few times so I could work on some easy assignments on my computer.  Since it was a beautiful Fall day, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to take a nice walk.  Located a trailhead for the Granite Town Rail Trail on NH-13 in Milford (NH) and then spent over an hour walking the northern two miles (along with the backtrack).  Due to neighborhood development in several places, I ended up having to scramble up and down some pretty good size hills (certainly not the typical rail trail). Turned around at the parking lot at Melendy Road.  Will have to come back again soon to finish the rest...  Back at my car, I cleaned myself up and then drove home (via NH-13, NH-77, NH-144, NH-77, Sugar Hill Road and I-89).  Arrived at my condo by 1330 and spent the rest of the afternoon teleworking.  Really glad for this getaway!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 4

Woke up early (after another good sleep) and read for about an hour.  Most of the family had gone out for the day so it was pretty quiet at the house.  After taking my time to get ready and eating some leftover pizza, I departing for the Blue Hills Reservation in Canton.  Basically used MA-139 to reach the Ponkapoag Pond Parking area (0915) and started walking.  It was a little cold but I had a nice time walking on a four mile clockwise circuit (boardwalk included) of Ponkapoag Pond.  When I got finished, I drove back to Katie's (reverse of the same route from this morning).  Ella was home when I got there (1155) but immediately left for work.  Again, I had the house to myself (to read, relax and watch NFL games) for several hours.  After everyone got home, spent lots of time talking and visiting (highlights: more peanut butter whiskey and buffalo chicken dip with chips).  Went to bed at around 2230 after another great day of vacation.

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 3

This morning, I got up early, feeling cold.  I went into the kitchen and found the door to the garage open (brrr) - I guess a cat used it during the night...  I got ready and then read a bit while I waited for Gerard to respond to my "can I stop by soon?" text.  Taking a chance, I left Katie's (at around 0800) and headed to Gerard's in Plymouth (used MA-3, US-44, Federal Furnace Road).  Arrived at around 0845 and tried both of his doorbells but he didn't come to the door.  I waited in my car until around 0900 and then tried knocking.  At that point, Gerard came to the door and figured out his doorbells had been "fried" when he lost power earlier in the month.  We ended up visiting for almost two hours (it was a nice time).  Eventually, I said goodbye to Gerard and drove down to Cape Cod (backtracked on roads I'd used earlier in the morning until I was on MA-3), crossed the Canal and then used US-6 to reach the exit for Sandwich.  Arrived at my dad's house at around 1130 and got to see his dogs.  Then, Dad and Beth got in my car and we drove to a restaurant on MA-6A called the Marshland.  It was a diner and very crowded.  However, we sat at the counter and got some yummy food, visiting for over an hour there - we talked a lot during the  meal and on the way back to Dad's.  By 1300, I got on the road again (MA-6A) and drove towards Brewster.  I stopped at the Cemetery to visit my mom's grave and then drove south to where Dick and Judy lived.  Happily, I was able to spend over an hour visiting with them, too.  Didn't get to see my cousins but it felt good to be back in my old stomping grounds.  Leaving Brewster, I headed west towards my childhood home and checked it out (it seemed so different).  Instead of getting back on MA-6A, I took North Dennis Road down to the Bass River area - I drove by my old High School and checked out a lot of new school construction and bike trail development on Station Avenue.  Then got on US-6 and left the Cape.  I used MA-3 to get back to Katie's (MA-53 and MA-139 at the end) and arrived by 1630. Ella was home but everyone else was out.  Feeling a bit bored, I went for a four mile walk near Katie's house (1700).  It was really cold but I was glad that there wasn't snow on the ground like there was back at my condo.  Finished walking by 1830 and returned to Katie's.  By then, many more people were home and we decided to order some pizzas from Bertucci's (I had a coupon).  The food wasn't ready for over 1.5 hours and there was added drama with customer service when Ella went to get it - ultimately, I didn't end up eating any of it (didn't want nightmares). Meanwhile, I watched the ND-Stanford football game (muted so we could all talk).  Katie and John shared some "peanut butter whiskey" - it was really good!  The game went until late and I ended up being one of the only people awake at the end (2315).  Before I headed to bed, I visited with Johnnie because he was going to leave the next day - didn't get to sleep until after midnight.  Another great day of visiting and sight seeing!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 2

I was up early this morning after an extremely restful sleep.  Despite the fact that it was raining, I still went for a walk near Katie's house.  After that, I waited on everyone else to get up (0945).  Made plans for Saturday and Sunday (Dad, Gerard and Judy/Dick).  Johnnie was ready to leave for Boston by 1030 but we had to stop for gas on the way.  There was lots of traffic on MA-3 and I-93 and, as a result, we didn't arrive at Copley Plaza until after 1130.  We found a parking garage ("Back Bay") but the cost seemed prohibitive ($30 for an hour).  When I attempted to get permission to leave the garage, the manager offered us a one-time discount so we wouldn't have to worry about the large expense.  This was a nice bonus, since I hate the parking situation in Boston.  When Johnnie and I walked out of the garage, we came out on the Trinity Church side of the Plaza - this brought back memories from my High School days.  We then only had to walk a short distance to Fogo de Chao and were seated by about 1145.  From there, we had an amazing meal!  Johnnie had never been there and I'd been promising I'd take him for a long time.  We spent more than two hours gorging ourselves before we staggered out of the restaurant.  To burn off some of the food, we walked several blocks through the Back Bay (pretty neighborhood) and across Storrow Drive (Dartmouth Street Bridge) onto the Charles River Esplanade.  It was windy and cold but we could see a lot of landmarks (Fenway Park Citgo Sign, MIT Campus, Bunker Hill Monument) and got a lot of exercise.  We then headed back to Copley Plaza before getting our car from the garage again (1445).  From there, we drove back to Katie's (lots more traffic on I-93 and MA-3).  Johnnie had lots of schoolwork to do so I relaxed/read in the living room.  The house got really busy at around 1700 as everyone came home from where they'd been during the daylight hours.  John and I decided to head over to watch Ella sing at a local venue but, before we could leave, she called to say that the event had ended early.  Instead, John drove me to Quincy (Hancock-Adams Common) for a Christmas Tree lighting.  It had been raining off and on all day and got much colder as it got darker.  John found a good parking spot and we ended up walking around a lot to learn more about the history and experience the pageantry of the event.  Fortunately, we got to see Katie and her singing group perform (she even gave me a chance to choose a song) and got some hot chocolate.  When the rain got to be too much (1845), John and I went to a nearby Mexican restaurant (Acapulcos) and had margaritas, chips and queso.  We ultimately missed the tree lighting but later went back to see the pretty lights.  Surprisingly, we ran into Aria (she lived nearby) and, when Katie was done performing, they left for a dinner together.  Meanwhile, John and I went back to Hanover and I spent the rest of the night relaxing.  I went to bed at around 2200 after a VERY full (pun intended) day!

Thanksgiving Trip - Day 1

Our Community Thanksgiving Dinner event culminated this morning with the drop off (and some pickups) of over 1500 meals to homes and health care facilities across the Upper Valley.  I was privileged to be able to bring some assembled dinners to some of my neighbors in Hanover - experiencing the positive impact of church’s commitment to our local area was very uplifting.  Kudos to Sacred Heart Church, Lebanon, NH, Sacred Heart Knights of Columbus Council 2656, generous local businesses and all the volunteers from near and far who help make this event a reality each year.  After finishing my deliveries, I left for Boston (just before 0900).  Used I-89 and NH-3A (talked to Mollie on the way) before stopping for gas at Irving in Hooksett (1000).  Continued to "Hanover South" on I-93.  There was lots of traffic in Boston and in Quincy (accidents) and I ended up getting "turned around" near the old MA-3 exit for Hanover.  Proceeded proceeded south on the highway until I reached another exit.  Up until then, I hadn't used a map all day and, when I tried Google Maps, found that I was only a few miles away (fortunately, didn't have to turn around) and arrived at Katie's at around 1130.  Almost everyone was there (Katie, John, Aria, Dan, Johnnie, Gabi, Ella, Theresa, Maureen, Brian and his twin boys).  During the lead up to dinner, enjoyed some charcuterie boards, special drinks and a "Thankful Thoughts Board." Watched some of the Macy's parade as a few more people arrived.  We ate dinner together at around 1430 and, along with good food, enjoyed some inspirational quotes, visiting, holiday games (with cards).  After eating, we went on a walk hear Katie's house.  Just then, my dad, his wife and their puppy arrived - they joined us on the walk and then we all went back to the house to have dessert.  We then watched some football, Johnnie's band performances in the Plymouth Thanksgiving Day parade and then "A Charlie Brown Christmas".  I also helped with the cleanup before realizing I was VERY tired.  After the long day and lots of delicious food, I had to fight to stay awake for several hours.  Managed to delay bedtime until almost 2130 and then went to bed.  Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Burlington, VT (USA)

The weather forecast for the Green Mountains looked excellent this morning!  With snow on all the AT sections I still have left to hike, I decided to head west into Vermont to check out new sections of the Long Trail.  Left my condo at 0815 - all I had to do was take I-89 to the town of Duxbury, where I got off the Interstate and went exploring in the area near Camel’s Hump State Park.  After checking a few dirt/gravel roads, I found several trailhead parking lots that were full of cars - I decided to park at the last one, which was located along the Winooski River.  From about 1000 to 1230, I walked the Long Trail (NOBO) until I reached a place north of I-89 (Notch Road) where the trail went back into the deep woods.  Along the way, I passed through farm fields (lots of stiles and fences), wetlands, railroad crossings (I actually saw “The Vermonter” pass) and country roads.  The views were tremendous all day and I was comfortable (temps high 30s to mid 40s) in two light layers.  Only saw a few other people on the route I took - the climb of Camel’s Back was much more popular.  Highlight: crossing a long suspension bridge across the Winooski.  Got back to my car after walking almost 7 miles and had a head full of ideas for more hikes on the LT in 2022!  Afterwards, I drove west to Burlington; mostly used US-2 and some I-89.  Got off at Main Street exit and drove towards the Waterfront.  Spent some time exploring Perkins Pier and the Ferry Landing - there were some very pretty views of the Adirondacks on the far side of Lake Champlain...  After finishing my explorations, I backtracked to the east and walked around for a little while on the UVM campus.  I then drove south (via US-7) towards I-189 until I located Overledge Park, where I hoped to be able to walk along Lake Champlain.  There were lots of parking meters and signs about "no parking" so it was a little disconcerting to leave my car while I strolled on some bike paths nearby.  I enjoyed seeing a man playing ball with his dog - the animal NEVER got too tired from all the fetching...  Once I was finished, I used Google Maps to find I-189 and drove to I-89 S intersection.  I got off the Interstate at Williston and located the Mall area - I'd heard about it but it was much more impressive than I'd expected!  I did a little shopping at REI (got a Long Trail Map) at 1515.  After that, I got back on I-89 and drove home (arrived by 1645).  Today was an enjoyable jaunt to a part of Vermont that I haven't visited very often - hope I can return again soon!  Long Trail Today = 3.3 miles / Grand Total LT = 116.9 miles

Woodsville, NH (USA)

It’s rare, but sometime Google Maps doesn’t have a record of the place I want to go.  Today included such an experience!  After leaving my house (1100) and filling up my gas tank at the Irving in Hanover (1115), I used I-91, VT/NH-25, River Road, NH-10, Hospital Road (NH-135) and US-302 to reach the town of Woodsville.  The pathway I wanted to walk, Woodsville-Haverhill (Blackmount) Rail Trail, wasn’t in Google’s database and also has no “you are here” signs, no parking areas, no distance markers and it meanders back and forth across the road it parallels. Fortunately, it just took a little exploring (in my car) along NH-10 and the Connecticut River (in the towns of North Haverhill and Woodsville)... I eventually found enough clues to deduce where it must be.  By 1200, I felt confident enough to transition to walking and departed from the Woodsville High School (“Home of the Engineers”) and followed Smith Street until I saw a sign for a snowmobile track.  I used the pathway and soon found myself walking across old rails and ties.  This trail was mostly straight and elevated on a decent berm - it was clearly an old railroad.  It was perched on a bluff above the Connecticut and I saw lots of places that called to me: “put your kayak in here”. At times, I passed large retaining walls that indicated a deliberate route, rather than just an old road, but the trail wasn’t well maintained.  At no time did I ever see anything that proved definitively that I was on a Rail Trail.  Occasionally, I saw signs with rules for snowmobiles and locations for 911 calls - but it looked like they had only been added in anticipation for the snow season.  I reached the Grafton County Government Campus and had to really search for where the trail went after that - it actually followed some gravel roads inside a trailer parked… When I came out of that area, though, I found myself on a barely discernible path that followed the edges of some huge farm fields.  The views of the White Mountains from here (now in North Haverhill) were tremendous!  Moosilauke had a snowy cap but mostly looked like a lightly powdered donut.  The Kinsmans and Franconia Ridge, however, were bright, solid white.  I couldn’t identify the exact peaks that were fully snow covered but I suspect one was Lafayette.  As I got into another residential area, the trail entered a big gravel lot across from the Agway and near Hatchland Farm  (Clark Pond Road).  I could see a trace of the trail that continued south but it was on private land (there were signs) so I turned around.  Backtracked on almost the route but detoured into the Government Campus - County Farm looked interesting.  A side benefit of it being hard to find was that this trail wasn’t well traveled - during my six mile walk, I only met four people.  The last one was an older gentleman who had lived in the area many years.  He was a great walking companion for a little while and, like almost everyone I meet in New Hampshire, he shared his “secret” trails and paddling spots. I was done walking by 1445 and felt really good.  Decided to head south on NH-10 and, along the way, treat myself to some delicious organics at the Hatchland Farm Stand (they were having a ”tasting day”).  I bought some plain and chocolate milk, maple candies and fudge - mmmmm!  Back in my car again, I continued down NH-10 (saw fields covered with pumpkins on the way) until I was able to get on River Road in Piermont.  Then used NH/VT-25 and I-91 to get to my condo (arrived at 1600).  Conclusions from today: temps may only be in the high 30s these days (can get up to low 50s on a good day) but there is still plenty of outdoor weather to enjoy up here in the Granite State!

Amtrak Trip to DC - Day 3

I was awake before my alarm at 0545, got ready and said goodbye to Erin (who'd woken up to be my backup transportation).  I then walked to the Vienna/Fairfax Metro Station (still early) because the trains were on a completely different cycle and I was worried there might be delays.  In fact, a disabled train on the east side of the city was threatening to cause major problems for me but I was able to board an Orange line train at 0620.  Made my way into DC without much incident and I breathed a sigh of relief when the train reached Metro Center - the delays got worse for O/S/B after this...  I quickly changed to the Red line and got off at Union Station before 0710.  After figuring out how the Amtrak boarding process worked, I walked around in Union Station, getting food (Starbucks at 0715) and taking photos of familiar sights, before the departure time of "The Vermonter".  I was on the train by 0800 and we left the station almost exactly on time.  I was settled down in the "quiet car" and started to telework but then noticed that the train had stopped just as we left the station.  The delay was about 10 minutes (switch problem) but then we got on our way again.  Relieved, I was then able to do about six hours of work (lots of meetings) - the internet was very reliable and I had plenty of room/privacy in the quiet car.  Meanwhile, I was treated to lots of pretty scenery - we had beautiful weather!  I also snacked on food I'd gotten at Union Station and some delicious cookies that Erin had made.  The train started to empty out a lot as we proceeded north - by the time we stopped for our engine change in New Haven (CT), there couldn't have been many people on board.  I got off the train there and got some exercise on the platform.  Bonus: was able to watch the electric engine & diesel engine swap procedure at New Haven.  After that, we headed north and made a long stop at Springfield (MA).  While there, I got some more exercise (roughly 20 minutes).  After the train started moving again, I perused some more of the reading material (from my big stack at home) I'd brought - really enjoyed my new "Appalachia" magazine subscription.  It eventually got dark and we skipped some stations as we proceeded north (no people were scheduled to get off).  We arrived at White River Junction at around 1825 (roughly 10 minutes late) and I quickly got my stuff into my car.  Headed home and arrived at around 1845. Overall, this was a tiring three day adventure!  The itinerary I selected was aggressive, mostly because I wanted to see if I could travel to DC and back on short notice.  Takeaways: I was able to attend my planned meeting and spend time with my daughter at her new place - I feel much better equipped to use the train for quick trips to DC.  Based on this experience (and the encouragement / proselytizing of many of my friends), I think I can confidently say that this mode of travel works well for me to stay connected with my family and friends.  Hope they all know that it works both ways (hint, hint)...

Amtrak Trip to DC - Day 2

I got up this morning at 0600, got ready and then walked to the Vienna/Fairfax Metro Station.  Because of Metro construction delays, I was able to spend some time walking on the platform (for steps).  I'd been following the progress of the Orange Line trains before arriving and was glad when the next train left at around 0710.  Previously, I'd coordinated with my project team to get a ride from the Dunn Loring Station but arrived much earlier than I'd planned.  As a result, I had to wait until Rasha came to get me (0755).  Meanwhile, Gabriella arrived on the Metro from Beltsville and we waited together.  After getting picked up, we drove a short distance to the Team Off-Site Location (business park off US-50) in Falls Church.  We then had about an hour of social time because this was the first time our entire team had been together in person since before COVID-19 began.  Almost everyone was there!  The main meetings began at around 0900 and we spent time with icebreakers, puzzles, brainstorming sessions and sharing until lunch time.  We ate lunch together (I bought a sandwich at Java Works, located inside the building, at 1125) in the big conference room and caught up on each others' lives.  After our meal, we took a walk and got a Team photo.  The afternoon sessions focused completely on work-related projects (schedules, strategies, roles, responsibilities).  We wrapped up work at around 1645.  I wanted to stay for happy hour but had promised Erin I'd take her to dinner.  My client (John) drove me to my daughter's house (arrived at 1705).  I then cleaned up and then rode with Erin to Old Town Fairfax.  Erin had selected a restaurant called Sister Thai and the food was really good.  We had a nice time relaxing and talking.  After we were done (1835), we walked around in the area and stopped at the Library (new? refurbished?).  We explored the inside and then walked back to our car.  From there, we retraced our drive to Erin's apartment.  We spent the rest of the evening talking.  When I started prepping for the next (travel) day, I learned that "The Vermonter" of the day had been involved with a collision fatality north of White River Junction and been delayed by almost three hours (my delay seemed very inconsequential as a result).   After a whirlwind of traveling and visiting, I was VERY tired and, frankly, a bit worried about the Metro logistics of getting to Union Station on time in the morning.  I went to bed at 2200 (after staying awake as long as I could).  Crossing fingers for a good day tomorrow!

Amtrak Trip to DC - Day 1

Took my first Amtrak trip in over 40 years today!  I've been wanting to try out the daily service between DC and Vermont since I moved to New Hampshire but the train wasn't running for more than a year.  Recently, I found out I had a work meeting in DC this week - it seemed like a good time to use the train.  Armed with Intel from Mollie (who is now an "old pro" at riding the train), I made arrangements for my journey south...  This morning, I got up early and teleworked.  I ate and early lunch at home before leaving my condo (1115) and driving to the train station in White River Junction.  After waiting about 15 minutes for the train's arrival, I got notified (email and text) that my ride was going to be departing about 45 minute late because a train bridge had been struck by a truck and required an inspection.  Since it was intermittently raining, I waited in the station for part of the delay.  However, there was an annoying woman ("I'm from NYC") in there who was talking with the Amtrak staff, telling them all about how surprised she was that Dartmouth College was so sophisticated and modern.  After stomaching as much as I could of her opinions, I decided to go outside (in the rain) to wait for the train... Eventually, I boarded the southbound “Vermonter” (Amtrak #55) at White River Junction just after 1200.  Because of my seat choice, I was able to a lot of pretty scenery (on the Connecticut River side) as we traveled - this was a much different experience than on the Interstate!  The train wasn't very full so I was able to avoid sitting in the same car with the New Yorker (who kept talking to anyone who would listen and bothered the Amtrak staff for free upgrades).  Fortunately, I was easily able to get set up for a few more hours of telework (using the Amtrak WiFi) and was able to watch our train's progress on a map.  After switching tracks in Springfield (MA), switching engines in New Haven (CT) and switching crews (NYC), the train picked up a lot of speed (100+ mph) and made fewer stops south of NYC.  I did a lot of reading (several months' worth of magazines and online books) and watched a movie.  I bought some lunch in the "dining car" (1500) and it was pretty good.  As more and more people boarded the train, I realized that there was a lot of spare room in the "quiet car" so I moved my seat to that part of the train,  Meanwhile, the delay never really got better than 30 minutes behind schedule and I started to wonder if I'd be able to use the Metro when I arrived...  We finally got into Union Station at around 2245 and I had to rush to get on a Red Line train, which came shortly after I reached the platform.  Unfortunately, I then determined that I was about five minutes behind the best-case schedule because the Orange/Blue/Silver lines were only operating every 30 minutes and I'd missed the closest one.  At Metro Center, I got on a Blue line and, with that, was able to make it to Rosslyn.  From there, I was able to take a Silver line train to East Falls Church.  Meanwhile, I was able to convince Erin that we could save almost 30 minutes of time if she got me there (rather than wait until the next Orange train came) so she met me at close to 2315.  She then drove me to her apartment and we were inside (getting ready for bed) by 2345 (just as the Orange train was arriving in Vienna).  Erin gave me a tour of her place and we talked for a little while before I actually went to bed (0015) - I was VERY tired...  It’s possibly the long travel day talking (or doubts about my impending transfer to unreliable WMATA) but I’m not certain that this was better than driving.  Positives: not a lot of passengers, no traffic to fight, no weather hazards (or road construction) to avoid, good internet service (so I could work onboard), space to relax (including a “quiet car”), a dining car, nice scenery.  Negative: Amtrak did not stay on schedule and was slow to update passengers.  After waiting for over a year to be able to make my first attempt at this ride, perhaps my expectations exceeded reality.  With that in mind, I’ll let the jury decide whether to frequent this mode of transportation after my return trip.

Enfield, NH (USA)

After taking care of some chores around the condo this morning (until 1000), I drove over to the southern side of Enfield to check out two walks on town conservation land I’d heard about: the Colette Trail and Bicknell Brook Loop Trail.  Just before I reached the trailhead, I passed though an area with the first snow accumulation of the year. I was concerned that I might not have dressed warmly enough but, fortunately, the temps had risen into 40s by the time I got going into the woods (1100).  The trail was well marked (white blazes like the AT) and mostly dry (except for a few wet crossings and some snow spots).  Given a choice of the Upper or Lower loop, I chose the former and then easily navigated my way through the trees until I reached the Bicknell Brook.  It started as a pleasant, meandering stream (with some nice bridges) but soon started to get wilder.  By the time I reached Boys Camp Road and transitioned to the Collette Trail, the stream had turned into a series of major cascades - wow!  I continued walking and soon reached Crystal Lake, a place I’d seen on a map but not on the ground.  The low water levels gave me the impression of some lakes and inlets I’ve visited in the Pacific Northwest... From there, I backtracked to my car via the Lower Loop (finished at about 1300).  In addition to getting about five miles of walking on a (partly) snowy day, I also encountered several nice folks (and several dogs) who gave me *even more* ideas for local hikes, paddles and social activities.  I felt pretty good during my drive home (arrived at my condo by 1400).  The longer I live in the Upper Valley, the more I’m convinced that I’ll never have enough time to find all the hidden gems that only locals know.  But I’ll keep trying!

Montpelier, VT (USA)

Sadly, I had to attend a funeral of my friend, Liz, in Montpelier today.  I left my condo at around 0930 and drove into Vermont.  On the way, I stopped at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center to pick up my free visitor pass.  Then drove north on I-89 - the drive was mostly uneventful except for one point where a turkey flew across the road in front of me and I had to brake.  Got off the Interstate at Montpelier and soon located St. Augustine Catholic Church so I could attend the funeral.  Had to park a long way from the church but the rain stopped long enough to stay dry...  Jennifer, Karen and Amy recognized me from far away and I was able to hang out with them while we waited for the service to begin (1100).  After the Funeral Mass, we drove a short distance to the Capital Plaza Hotel and had a reception for family and friends in one of the Ballrooms.  I met Jennifer's husband (Rich) and several of Liz's family members.  The food was good, the photos and memories we all shared were precious and the time was spent recalling Liz.  We left the event at around 1500 and I drove back to Lebanon (talking to Mollie and my dad on the phone).  Went to Mass at Sacred Heart and stayed afterwards for Italian Night, enjoying lots of good food and fellowship.  Didn't leave until almost 2000!  On the way home, the raindrops were HUGE and the temps were dropping - winter is coming...

Enfield, NH (USA)

In the evening, I drove over to Whaleback so I could attend their first attempt at an Open Mic night.  I arrived at around 1900 and met some "regulars" at the bar.  Also met one of the musicians that was going to play (Ethan).  Overall, the event was very nice - lots of good family and musical vibes.  Stayed until around 2100 and then drove home - fun night!

Manchester, NH (USA)

Beautiful weather for my day off today!  To take full advantage of the multitude of Veterans Day appreciation meals in my state, I'd made a list (the night before) of all the potential stops I could make as part of my annual pursuit of available perks.  Also started very early - left my condo by 0610.  My first stop was to eat breakfast at Dennys in West Lebanon.  I finished at 0650 and then drove south on I-89, continuing to the end and then proceeding down NH-3A to Hooksett.  At 0805, stopped for a free breakfast (to go) at Wendy's and then (0815) drove across the street to Dunkin Donuts to get a free donut (to go).  Instead of getting on I-93, I took NH-3A to reach a bike trail I'd seen on the map that was just on the outskirts of Manchester.  To make room for lunch, I took a walk on the (paved) Piscataquog River Rail Trail (completed) and Goffstown Rail Trail (eastern half mile).  Not a lot of people were out when I started (temps in 30s) but the crowds grew as it got warmer (mid 50s).  This gave me a chance to ask locals about the area and I got a lot more good ideas for walking, paddling, skiing, restaurants and watching minor league baseball.  Crossed the Merrimack River on a nice pedestrian bridge - wow! Finished up at around 1100 (after around five miles in two hours, counting the socializing).  There was still lots of daylight so decided that I should pursue more outdoor time before I head home.   I left the trailhead and drove (using some back roads until reaching I-293) to the Mall of New Hampshire.  My first stop in that area was at the Texas Roadhouse, which had advertised a free meal voucher.  There was a already a big line of cars when I arrived (1115) but I got the coupon easily.  I then drove across NH-28 to reach the Buffalo Wild Wings (1130) for another free meal (to go).  While waiting, I talked to a lot of other veterans who were doing the same "free stuff scramble" as me.  Got back in the car and drove around to the other side of the mall to get a free burger from Red Robin (1145).  Had thought I would need to eat in the restaurant but they let me take the meal to go (1200).  This gave me an opportunity to have lunch at Bertuccis (finished at 1245).  Despite only actually eating two free meals, I felt very full after this...  And my car smelled really good!  Getting greedy, I tried to see about another free meal voucher at Golden Corral but the line was huge (and, I guess, they were only allowing Veterans to eat free in person).  This was my only "strike-out" but I didn't feel the need to keep pushing for more free stuff.  By this point, I was forced to admit that my walk this morning probably wasn’t long enough to balance out my caloric intake… So, I looked at my rail trail map to see if another was close by - luckily, I found one in the town of Hooksett.  Drove north, following US-3/NH-28, to a residential area on the east side of Concord/Manchester.  After figuring out that Google maps took me to the wrong place, I finally located the parking for Head’s Pond Trail on US-3.  The lot was completely full and only got a spot because someone was leaving.  Just after 1330, I started walking to the southeast on a well maintained rail bed.  I turned around after walking part way around Town Pond (after the rail bed disappeared).  The contrasts between the morning walk and the afternoon walk were stark: the latter was warmer, busier and more remote.  The swanky neighborhood (“Carriage Hill”) that was located just up again the trail boundary was also nothing like the graffiti-covered, gritty and homeless-camp-filled environment I’d seen earlier… Despite the differences, the exercise was almost the same - I wrapped up over four miles (after bushwhacking to one of the ponds) in about 1.5 hours.  Best part: feel a bit less full of fatty cells after the walk-in-lieu-of-siesta!  After I was done with my walk, used US-3/NH-28 (and some back roads) to get to the Friendly's on Loudon Road in Concord and, since it wasn't busy, went inside to get my free burger, fries and drink.  Actually, I didn't really feel like eating them right then so I ordered a small sundae instead and enjoyed that while they made the rest of my dinner to-go (it was very nice of them).  At 1615, I left for home (used I-93 and I-89) and arrived at my condo by 1715.  Today was even better than last year, in terms of collecting "loot."  I don't remember there being this many "thank you" gifts when I was on active duty - the businesses really go all-out now.  I've got meals for almost a week now and can deliberately space out the calories...  Plus, I had some fun and got some exercise.  Happy Veteran's Day!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

After work (1730), I drove over to join an Exercise Class at the Upper Valley Aquatic Center (BE Fit side). Since I had some time before the class began, I explored the fitness center and learned that I could try out a free day (Veterans Day coupon) during a future visit. Once the class (taught by Kevin) began, I learned a lot about exercises that would help me prepare for the cross country skiing.  There were actually a lot of people there, which was nice to see after all the COVID closures.  When the class was over (1915), I headed home, armed with a nice hand-out for new exercises for knee and back health.  Really glad to have had the chance to learn from a real PT!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[at 1100, drove to White River Junction (via NH-120, I-89, I-91, back roads through town) to talk to the Amtrak staff at the train station (prepping for my trip to DC) - found out I could park my car at the station for up to a month - then drove across the River (US-4 and NH-12A) to go shopping in West Lebanon (Walmart, Shaws, EMS) before going back to work (1230)]

Warner, NH (USA)

It’s gotten a lot cooler recently so I haven’t ventured too far from home.  Today, however, I decided to take advantage of the extra hour of warming sun to walk on another trail!  I first went to Mass in Lebanon (0800) and, when it was over, got on I-89 and drove south to Warner.  Getting off at the exit for NH-103, I explored the little town beyond the Market Basket.  I’d tried to locate the Warner Rail Trail a few months ago but Google Maps steered me to the Stevens Tail Trail (on the opposite side of I-89).  Using old fashioned logic, I didn’t follow a computer’s recommendation this time and located the trailhead next to the Pillsbury Library (off NH-103).  From the (empty) parking lot, I walked for less than a mile on the old railroad bed, following the Warner River.  The temps had risen into the 50s but there were patches of ice along the river’s edge.  Surprisingly, despite what I’ve seen lately in Hanover, there was still some pretty foliage to see.  Along the way, I passed display storybook excerpts taken from “Becoming a Good Creature” (by a NH author, Sy Montgomery).  I soon arrived at a pretty covered bridge - and what appeared to be the end of the trail.  Since there weren’t any “No Trespassing” signs, I decided to keep walking until I re-located the railroad grade again.  After crossing a big field, I found a narrow trail and followed it a short distance - it took me to an old road that clearly picked up the trail again.  There were no signs or indications that I was still on the Rail Trail so I kept going.  It wasn’t long before I found myself at a dead end caused by the northbound land of I-89.  Since I knew from researching online that there was another section on the other side of the Interstate, I walked towards the sounds of NH-103 and, when I reached the pavement, walked south until I was able to cross a bridge over the highway.  In the median, I was surprised to find some historic graves (Lower Warner Cemetery) - they’d be invisible if you weren’t walking…  As I continued, I looked for signs of an old railroad bridge across the Warner River (indications of where the trail resumed).  When I found that (after almost a mile), it became clear that the builders of the Interstate had used the railroad bed during their construction.  I accessed the Rail Trail by walking behind the Braeside Apartments (again, no signs prohibiting me).  This section of trail crossed the river to the north (to another dead end) - there were signs of construction of an extension but there wasn’t a lot of room before the trail would hit the southbound lane of I-89.  I reversed direction and walked about a half bike to the southern terminus (abrupt dead end) near Bagley Field.  I saw some maps in the area that indicated these sections were part of the longer Concord / Lake Sunapee Rail Trail - I also encountered a distance marker - 16 miles to Concord and 41 miles to a place called “CJ”.  Will have to pull on these threads to see where they go!  Backtracked along the same route and reached my car at about noon (almost six miles of walking in just under two hours).  Strangely, I didn’t see anyone else doing the same walk.  It was their loss, though - it was a beautiful Fall day.  After reaching my car, I drove (via NH-103) to I-89 and drove north on the Interstate until I reached Gile Pond Road.  Continued east (N Road, Kearsarge Valley Road) and then used back roads to reach Winslow State Park, nestled on the northern side of Mount Kearsarge.  With my Disabled Veteran paperwork, I got free entry to the parking lot - first time I'd tried that.  Earlier in 2021, I'd climbed the mountain from the south side and, because of today's unbelievable weather and views, was tempted to climb it again.  Because I'd already had a great walk, I decided to save this newer adventure for another day...  After exploring the park grounds and nice view, I left the park and, using more back roads, reached NH-11.  From there, I backtracked to NH-114 and drove to the town of Sutton.  My target was Wadleigh State Park, which I determined was another good place to paddle (and swim).  Although it was closed, I was able to find a place to park and walk around the grounds for about 30 minutes.  There were lots of other people there (most with dogs) and the views across Kezar Lake were very pretty.  Reluctantly, I left the area and, using NH-114 to reach Gile Pond Road, made my way back at I-89.  By 1400, I got off the Interstate in Grantham and stopped for a visit at the Eastman Cross Country Clubhouse (and later went to South Cove Office) to get information about the annual passes for 2021/2022 (they said it was WAY too early).  Got gas at Irving in town (1445) before heading back to my condo (arrived by 1530).  Great day of exploring!