October 8th 2016: Partaking in the Fall Foliage

We started out this morning with breakfast at Birchtree Bread Company in Worcester, getting a Pumpkin Spice Latte, an Almond Croissant

and the Justino's Quiche (roasted sweet potato with spinach and ricotta, served with side salad).

The croissant was pretty buttery and tasty, although there wasn't much almond filling. I think my wife's one is still better. The quiche was pretty good as well.

From here, it was on to my next meal at Sunburst Restaurant, a small town diner at 484 Main Street in Sturbridge for older folks with a somewhat cosy feeling, though in an archaic way.

I got the only interesting thing on the menu, the Sunburst Quiche with Fruit,

which I did not take to because of the peppers in it, and because I already had a much better one this morning.

Next, it was on to the town of Union CT,

Goodhall Pond, 11 Mashapaug Road

going on a short hike at Bigelow Hollow State Park. The path I took here is shown below in brown.

I drove around to get pictures of Bigelow Pond

And Mashapaug Pond,

Then parked and hiked to Breakneck Pond.

Nice walk in the woods, to say the least.

Next, it was on to the town of Woodstock,

Keach Pond, 270 Old Turnpike Road

Where I went to grab lunch at Sherwood's Restaurant and Bar, a sports bar in town,

Where I got the Chicken Pesto Penne (Sauteed sliced chicken Breast and grape tomatoes in creamy Pesto sauce tossed with penne pasta),

Which came with a side salad as well.

Pretty creamy and tasty, actually,  not bad for a sports bar.

On that back, I passed through the towns of Dudley

First Congregational Church of Dudley

Nichols College

And Oxford.

28 Charlton Street

Next, we decided to go for a short hike at the Moore State Park in Paxton.

Unfortunately, due to the drought,  none of the waterfalls were flowing today.

Next, we visited the Rutland State Park in Rutland for a bit,

Then on to Barre, where we chanced upon the Harvest Festival going on at the Carter and Stevens Farm.

We got to see pumpkins being launched into the air to try to hit a car below,

And also got a Harvest Festival Grass Fed Beef Hot Dog with Carrot and Ginger Slaw and Cornbread,

which did not really taste any good, especially at the price we paid for it.

After leaving the farm, we drove around the entire Quabbin Reservoir, and decided to stop for dinner at the Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, which apparently is one of the best restaurants outside of suburban Boston and Worcester.

We got the Harvest Sangria (Pinot grigio, ginger brandy, fresh local cider, apples. pears),

 

that was just alright I guess. I really liked the platter of bread they provided for starters though.

For food, we got the Baked Oysters Casino (red bell pepper compound butter, bacon swiss cheese, dill crumbs)

and the Rosemary Duck (seared duck breast served medium rare with duck leg confit and rosemary maple demi-glaze, accompanied by arugula, strawberry salad with toasted pine nuts and chopped shallots).

The oysters were a little on the salty side, and the duck leg was a little dry, although the flavors were very good. Not sure why this place is one of the top restaurants in the area.