May 27th 2025: Cat Rocks, Finally

 Today, I had a second go at finding Cat Rocks in Sterling. This time, the path I took is shown below in pink.

The path to get to the rocks was really hard to find, being a somewhat hidden side trail to the left after having turned right at a fork in the cart road we had taken to get to the Onion Patch before. Thankfully I managed to find it, not being prepared for the steep uphill bushwhack I had to make to get to the top of Cat Rocks. Even so, the great view was only at one spot.

It was another bushwhack to the west to get back to the trail leading to Leominster State Forest northward, which I then took to get back to the road to lead me back to the car. Definitely not worth coming back again until they develop the paths here.

Recommended Places to Visit: Sterling

Recreation

Biking
Mass Central Rail Trail
15 Waushacum Road


Kids

Davis Family Fun Adventures
145 Redstone Hill


Parks
Sterling Greenery Community Park
36 Muddy Pond Road


Museums
Historical Society
7 Pine Street

Water Bodies
Stuart Pond
Justice Hill Cutoff near Farm Road

West Waushacum Pond
31 Gates Road 

The Quag
83 Gates Road on the Central Mass Rail Trail

Hy-Crest Pond
350 Upper North Row Road

Hiking
Recommended:
Muddy Pond

68 Muddy Pond Road

East Waushacum Overlook
End of Tara Lane

Wekepeke Conservation Land/Allenwood Trail
48 Heywood Road

Fitch Basin/Gaylord Trail
47 Heywood Road

Heywood Reservoir
218 Upper North Row Road

Wachusett Reservoir
Chace Hill Road and Metropolitan Road

Tried:

Rocky Brook Conservation Area

129 Beaman Road 

Cat Rocks

39 Lucas Road

Hog Hill Trail

End of Merrill Road

Beaches

Sholan Park
30 Hall Avenue


Architecture

Town Facilities
Conant Public Library
4 Meetinghouse Hill Road

Sterling Airport

121 Greenland Road

Schools

Houghton Elementary School
32 Boutelle Road

Monuments

Town Common
Main Street and Meetinghouse Hill Road

Places of Worship
First Church in Sterling
6 Meetinghouse Hill Road

Sterling Seventh Day Adventist Church
29 Maple Street

St. Richard of Chichester
4 Bridge Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Mexican

The Brick Mexican Grill

27 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:

Homemade Red Sangria

The Brick Chicken Mole

Lentil Soup

Tres Leches Cake

Western
Davis BBQ

145 Redstone Hill Road

Recommended Dishes:

Keto Bowl

Chicken Nuggets

Belichick Sandwich

Harvest Grille
27 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Seafood Trio
Kale Salad
Mushroom and Tarragon Soup


Tried:
Deli:

Emma's Cafe
37 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:

The Antioxidants

Pesto Chicken Panini

Our Signature Turkey Chili

Dessert

Rota Spring Farm
117 Chace Hill Road

Recommended Dishes:

Kiddie Sundae

Chinese
Sterling Deli and Chinese Takeout
50 Leominster Road
Recommended Dishes:
General Gau's Chicken
Pork Fried Rice
Egg Roll

Western
Black Sheep Tavern
261 Leominster Road
Recommended Dishes:
Thai Peanut Chicken

Chocksett Cellar Grille
59 Laurelwood Road
Recommended Dishes:
Duck Confit Potstickers
Blood Orange Scallops
Frozen Chocolate Souffle


Breakfast
Over Easy Cafe
4 Johnson Road

Recommended Places to Visit: Princeton

Recreation
Horseback Riding
Cornerstone Ranch
29 Dowds Lane

Water Bodies
Snow Pond
Deer Path

Glutner Pond
186 East Princeton Road

Paradise Pond
35 Fitchburg Road

Crow Hills Pond
270 Fitchburg Road

Minns Wildlife Management Area

110 Thompson Road

Parks

Sawyer Field

Main Street and Leominster Road

Skiing

Wachusett Mountain Ski Area
499 Mountain Road

Museums
Princeton Historical Society
2 Town Hall Drive


Hiking
Recommended:
Mount Wachusett State Reservation
345 Mountain Road

Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
113 Goodnow Road

Cobb Brook Trails

179 Worcester Road

Metcalf Prescott Trails
25 Sterling Road

Bullock/McElroy Trails
15 Bullock Lane

Calamint Hill Conservation Area

20 Calamint Hill Road North

Tried:

Boylston Park

Calamint Hill Road North, 42.43770024391823, -71.90281641321407

Hall Field

East Princeton Road and Sterling Road

Architecture

Historical Buildings
Old Congregational Mission Chapel

81 Main Street


Monuments
Town Common
Hubbardston Road and Mountain Road

Commercial Buildings
206 Worcester Road
206 Worcester Road

Places of Worship
Heritage Bible Chapel
182 Brooks Station Road

Prince of Peace Parish Church
5 Worcester Road

First Congregational Church
14 Mountain Road

206 Worcester Road
206 Worcester Road

Town Facilities

Town Hall
6 Town Hall Drive

Public Library
2 Town Hall Drive

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Western
Mountain Barn Restaurant
174 Worcester Road
Recommended Dishes:
Potato Gnocchi


French
Sonoma
106 Worcester Road
Recommended Dishes:
Grilled Shrimp Bisque
Duck Under Glass


Tried:
Deli
The Thirsty Lab
206 Worcester Road
Recommended Dishes:
Moroccan Potato and Leek Soup

Western
Captain Bob's Drive In
3 Redemption Rock Trail North
Recommended Dishes:

Hot Dog

May 26th 2025: In Search of Cat Rocks, Sterling

 Today, we decided to go on a hike in Sterling,

Sterling Airport

checking out the Cat Rocks area. The gated entrance is not where it seems to be on the map, but rather at around 39 Lucas Road. The path we took today is shown below in pink.

After finally finding the gate to start our trek, it was pretty hard to find the trails which were blocked by fallen trees, but we managed to get through with some views of Stuart Pond.

We tried to find the trail to Cat Rocks from the west side but could not, and had to give up and go towards the Onion Patch in Princeton. 

There, we found our way out cut off by the stream here,

with only a log to cross it, so we actually did, sitting on it while inching along it, and we managed to cross the stream. From here, it was a long road back along the streets of Princeton and Sterling, stopping by Sawyer Field in Princeton for a bit.

Going to come back again to find Cat Rocks, so stay tuned!

May 18th 2025: Chicken in Quincy, Baklava in Worcester

 Today, after checking out bb.q Chicken in Quincy, getting the Hot Spicy (A gochujang sauce gives these serious heat, and serious flavor.), which was pretty spicy,

we decided to get some dessert back in Worcester, 

Biotech Park Lake,
381 Plantation Street

checking out Golden Semiramis Bakery, a new Mediterranean bakery in town.

We got the Cookies, Tulumba, Pistachio baklava, Blouryeh.

Pretty good I must say for baklava, not being too sweet.