Thursday Hikers

The Walnut Hill property is newly conserved by Franklin Land Trust. We parked at Mary Lyon Church, had a lovely walk up a black top road, onto dirt Maynard Road, and into the 90 acre property. Tony led us on a constantly climbing trail that was a washed out old town road now made into a good network of hiking trails by Americorp volunteers who worked with an trail engineer for 2 years to accomplish the work on the climb.. Their work was admirable, with imaginative stone steps and bridges, as well as hand hewn log bridges and steps. A snakelike shape on a small boulder was a fine example of an intrusion with differential erosion (!) The weather was very damp and cool when we started out, but by the end of the hike it was simply a perfect, sunny, early autumn day. We were practically giddy from the delights along the trail and the glorious weather and the fun our friendship. Lynn, Elaine, and Madge found fungi facsimiles of tomahawks which inspired some singing and other nonsense. We returned to the cars, visited the old cemetery at Mary Lyon Church, and drove to Elmer’s store for lunch with pitchers of ice water and tasty sandwiches. I had chicken curry with raisins and apples on three seed bread. As Tony had left his car keys in the ignition last night, his car battery was dead this morning so I had the fun of riding in his old Dodge Ram with himself and Sukee. I hope you get to take a ride in an old truck with a German Shepherd one of these days:) Love, Penny 🙂