November 22nd 2017: Hiking in the Rain

I started out this morning at the Worcester Technical High School in Worcester,

heading to the back of the school to find the Millstone Trail in the East Side Trail network behind 2 dumpsters. The path I took here to find the water body and the Knob is highlighted below in pink.

Nothing much to see here though.

Next, I went into the towns of Holden

Holden Christian Academy

and Paxton to hike the Asnebumskit Ridge. The paths I took here to visit the Holden and Paxton sections is shown below in pink.

There were no views to be had on the Holden side, and the trail on the Paxton side is actually on private property to reach the water tower, but I risked it anyway.

There is a multitude of side trails here, and I was pretty much lost, just relying on my compass and somehow I found the overlook, which apparently is Thoreau's Seat and separate from the Asnebumskit Ridge. Unfortunately, it was way too foggy this rainy day.

To get back to my car, I had to pass through private property again, passing by the communications towers.

From here, I headed into Princeton to try to look for the trailhead to the Sandstrom-Red Fox Farm area on Worcester Road. Unfortunately, it is currently not developed, so I had to give up after a while.

Next I went to find the Metcalf Prescott Trails in town, and this time I managed to find it at 25 Sterling Road. The trail I took here to get to the beaver pond here is shown below in pink.

There was one spot where I could head down to the pond itself, which was a pretty nice view.

From here, I followed the loop, and somehow came onto an open area on private property, and decided to take the easy way out to the main road, then walk back to my car. Not a bad hike though, with well blazed trails.

From here, I decided to head into Fitchburg,

SS Lobster

getting some lunch at Il Ricordi, an Italian restaurant in town that has a look of a pizza takeout place.

I got the Fettuccine Alfredo (Tossed with creamy Alfredo sauce and parmesan)

and the Baked Eggplant Rollatini (Rolled with ham, ricotta, cheddar and marinara sauce).

The alfredo was just alright, although the marinara was too sour for my liking. Overall, nothing special.

The last place I visited today was the Fitchburg Historical Society in town. They were in the midst of preparing the place for the holidays. Pictures I took here follow.

With that, I called it a day for exploring. I was hoping to reach New Hampshire today, but it was not to be. Next time I guess.

November 21st 2017: Quick Bite at Recalde's Sidwalk Cafe, Worcester

While waiting for the bank to open today, I decided to check out Recalde's Sidewalk Cafe, a small Latin American cafe in Worcester. I got the Tres Leches cake,

which would have been good if not for the cinnamon in it. Oh well.

November 18th 2017: Hot Pot Buffet Lunch at Spring Shabu Shabu, Boston

For lunch today, we decided to go check out a new hot pot place in Boston, Spring Shabu Shabu, which has a location in New York, and took over Maki Maki, which I have visited several times in the past.

Very interesting concept, with only the meat being a la carte, each person having an individual pot of soup to themselves, and everything else being buffet style.

A wide selection of noodles, vegetables, sauces

and fishcakes.

Of which we sampled all of them today.

For broth, we got the Dashi (bonito flakes and kelp) and the Spicy Pork Bone (spicy broad bean paste and soy bean oil added to pork bone base). For meats, we got the Seafood Combo, Non Fatty Beef and Lamb.

Definitely the best hot pot place I have been to to date, and value for money too. Will bring our family here next time for sure.

November 15th 2017: Back to New Hampshire

I started my day off today back in the town of Lancaster,

Village Church of Seventh Day Adventists

Southern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

for a hike at the Parker Family Woods. The path I took here to get to the water body is shown below in black.

The water body was nothing to look at though.

The Cook Conservation Area was next, where the path I took is shown below in black.

Nice walk by the Nashua River,

with okay views by the powerlines,

though nothing special.

From here, I passed through Shirley

Trinity Chapel Episcopal Church

on the way to Groton,

Boutwell Early Childhood Center

American Legion Post #55

where I went on a hike at the Bertozzi Wildlife Management Area. The path I took here from 731 Townsend Road is shown below in pink.

Nice views of the Squannacook River,

and the swimming hole in this area.

Next, I headed into the town of Pepperell for several hikes there, with my first one at Mount Lebanon, where the path I took from 63 Mt Lebanon Street is shown below in pink.

The water body here was nothing to look at though.

My next hike in town was at the northern end of the Walent Property, where the path I took to get a beautiful view of the Nashua River is shown below in pink.

The views here follow.

My final hike in town was at the Gulf Brook Conservation Area, where the path I took on the Jeff Smith Trail to get to the water body here is shown below in pink.

Unfortunately, there was nothing to see here.

From here, I headed into the town of Brookline NH

Brookline Chapel

to explore the Hobart Fessenden Forest, where the many paths I took to visit several sites within the area are shown below in pink.

First I checked out the Cider Mill Pond area,

hiking to get to Pout Pond,

both of which weren't anything special.

Next, I went in search of the Stone House, which apparently can be accessed from 17 Old Milford Road, but it is actually private property. Thankfully, the owner was nice enough to let me pass through, even lending me an orange outfit to avoid hunters in the area. Taking the path behind his house, I pushed ahead, not knowing what to find as the path became more and more overgrown. Thankfully, I saw the stone formations in front of me, so I bushwhacked my way up to them, finally spotting the supposed house itself, which has inscriptions in the rock from visitors old and new, which really wasn't that impressive after all.

Making my way back from there wasn't much easier, but somehow I made my way back. Finally, I went to Pope Road to find Corey's Hill, which had no views to be had from the top.

With that, I headed into the town of Hollis NH,

Monument Square,
Broad Street and Monument Square

Town Hall, 7 Monument Square

Hollis Social Library

The Congregational Church of Hollis

Rocky Pond

Worcesters Millpond,
Roxky Pond Road, 42.753315, -71.624285

for my final hike of the day in the Merganser Pond area of Beaver Brook. where the path I took along the Old City Trail from Rocky Pond Road is shown below in black.

There was a nice waterfall at the beginning,

but nothing much else along the way.

Apparently there was an overlook of Merganser Pond I missed out on which was on the Hatfield Trail, so I guess I will have to come back here for that.

I also went to visit the Hollis Historical Society, which happened to be open today.

With that, I called it a day for sightseeing, heading back to Massachusetts to the town of Marlborough to get some Brazilian food from Labaredas Brazilian BBQ.

The buffet style food itself was alright, though it had been left out the whole day. Nothing special though.