Once again we hiked with Bob Leverett, Massachusetts’ Old Growth Forest expert. Bob gave us lots of high level information so we had a day of lots of learning as well as comparison of newer forest with actual old growth forest – trees of such girth and height that it simply dwarfs you. As well, all of the Thursday hikers are quite young (!) compared to those great 300+ year old trees. With the weather at 37 degrees and with intermittent snow and rain and much wind we just acclimated to the cold and got used to standing and listening. In 2 1/2 hours I guess we only covered about 2 miles. But an amazing 2 miles! Bob’s really lovely and very accomplished wife Monica, a world concert pianist and one time Professor of music at Smith College, was with us today. So I’d have to say that our behavior was overall very good today, even the dogs minded their manners. Lunch was at The Creamery in Cummington. I had a spectacular foccacio bread panini with Brie, caramelized red peppers and onions and fresh spinach. Others had lentil chile with cornbread, seafood chowder, curried lentil soup with (free) water all around! Time to put on the flannel sheets if you haven’t done it already, xo Penny 
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