December 28th 2022: Checking Out New Places in Worcester, Millbury, Grafton and Westborough

 Today, I decided to go around checking out places I missed in several towns, starting off with Worcester,

Dodge Park

Blackstone River Valley Heritage Center

checking out the new Blackstone Gateway Park. Really nice area with lots of boardwalks.

From here, I headed into Millbury,

Riverlin Street Pond,
119 Riverlin Street

going on a short hike at Stowe Meadows Conservation Area, where the path I took from 51 Carleton Road to get to Riches Mill Dam is shown below in pink.

Nice waterfall, but hard to reach.

Next, passing through Grafton,

Hayes Pond,
15 Waterville Street

Cider Mill Pond,
29 Stowe Road

I decided to revisit Mill Pond in Westborough at the end of Andrews Street to find two water bodies I missed out on the last time I was here. The path I took this time around is shown below in pink.

The water bodies themselves were nothing to look at, but Mill Pond was nice and serene.

Overall, a pretty productive day for exploring, I will say.

December 26th 2022: Karma, Burlington

 Today, while at the Burlington Mall in Burlington, we decided to have lunch at Karma Restaurant, an Asian fusion restaurant here. I have been to the Westford location in the past, but never the Burlington one. Really nice inside 

and outside, I must say.

This time around, we got the Ma La Chilli Prawns,

the Caterpillar Maki (eel, cucumber, tobiko, topped with layer of avocado, eel sauce)

and the Pad Thai (Thai noodle dish, stir fried with shrimp, chicken, vegetables, topped with ground peanuts).

Surprisingly good for an Americanized Chinese restaurant.

December 22nd 2022: Jolly Rogers Diner, Northborough

 Today, not satisfied with the instant lunch I had, I decided to check out the new diner in Northborough, Jolly Rogers Diner, which has taken the place of Two Doors Away Cafe, which I visited once a while back. Same decor really. I got the 1 Slider (Smoked Brisket topped with Garlic Jalapeno Mayo and Sweet Potato Fries).

A little short on fries in my opinion, but it did the trick for cheap.

December 21st 2022: Hiking in Douglas MA and Thompson CT

 As promised, I went on a hike at Douglas State Forest in Douglas today to check out Sassafras Pond. The path I took today is shown below in pink.

Nice views were had of Coopertown Brook

and Whitin Reservoir,

but the view of Sassafras Pond itself was not that great.

Next, I went to Thompson CT,

Skedgill Pond,
2 West Thompson Road

on a hike to find Lily Pond in Thompson CT, which I got to from Heritage Way Park. The path I took is shown below in pink.

Pretty good views of the pond once I got to it.

With that, an end to a day of hiking in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

December 20th 2022: Chamberlain Pond at Douglas State Forest, Douglas

 Today, I went on a hike at Douglas State Forest in Douglas. This time around, the path I took to try to explore water bodies including Chamberlain Pond is shown below in pink.

Chamberlain Pond wasn't a water body I was expecting to get to see, but all the other water bodies in the areas I explored today were too far from the trail for any views to be had. Decent views of Chamberlain Pond though.

Overall, a pretty long hike, but I still have Sassafras Pond to check out next time, in the north of the area.

December 17th 2022: Shrewsbury House of Pizza, Shrewsbury

 Today, we decided to get pizza takeout from Shrewsbury House of Pizza in Shrewsbury, getting the Super Veggie (Fresh Mushroom, Onion, Peppers, Olives, Broccoli & Tomato).

Just alright in my opinion, but likely due to the peppers and onions which are not to my liking.

December 16th 2022: Company Lunch from The Fix Burger Bar, Worcester

 Today, we had a company lunch, this time getting food from The Fix Burger Bar in Worcester. This time, I got The Ghostface (roasted garlic turkey patty, pepper jack, spicy chili slaw, ginger mayo, sesame bun),

and the Spicy & Sweet Snaps (roasted sugar snap peas, spicy sweet soy glaze, crushed cashews, red pepper flakes). 

Really good burger, and I didn't even realize it was a turkey burger until now as I write this blog entry. Wow! The pease were pretty flavorful too. Excellent meal this time although I had to eat away from everyone else due to my sickness.