Our first hike in April – at 29 degrees with wind chills as low as 16 degrees, but always wonderful to get going out in the woods. This is a trail that I especially love, with it’s old moss covered stone walls, two wonderful stone cellar holes, proximity to the “Military Trail” used in the American Revolution, glacial erratics, fast flowing streams, and a steady downhill trek to the Pony Cliffs and Chapel Falls. We came upon an old Beech tree that had more bear claw marks than we’d ever seen before on a tree and that continued to go on up into the tree as far as we could see. The gang stopped to pose by a tall rock wall covered with Rock Tripe. Rock Tripe is edible, but there were just “No Thank You”s today. Exploring the Rock Tripe we sw that it is atached to the rock just at one small spot – rather like an umbilical cord. Once home, Joe sent information on Rick Tripe and it is indeed “umilicaria mammulata”. I found a dead branch with old insect cases that reminded me so much of those dots of candies “glued” to paper that we used to eat when we were kids. Off to Snack Shack for lunch. I had a marvelous BLT while others feasted on clam strips, lobster rolls, and New England Clam Chowder (never as good as Charlie’s Manhattan version). We detoured on the way home to see if the herons have returned to their nests on Whately Roa d – and they have!!!!! I’ve included a photo in which I think you can see one heron. They were very active! Lots and lots of love, Penny 
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