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!